Loads of dead rabbits on the roads of Fife today. One near inverkeithing had almost made it across, wee foot on the pavement, nearly lucky. Nearly a highlight.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Leisure
Wildlife highlight of the day
(7223 posts)-
Posted 6 years ago #
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Canal swan situation is quite confusing currently. I think the last 2 teen children of Mr and Mrs WesterHailes-Swan have left their parents. Although one was still on the canal this morning, s/he was a good bit away from the 'rents. Quite probably not far enough away for harmony though.
I saw the heron at the Bridge 8 Hub this morning too. I say the, there might be 10 of them but I only ever see one at a time so it's singular til proven otherwise.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I was away in West Yorkshire for a few days and managed to spot a kingfisher for the first time since very early this year. It took flight at almost the exact same spot on the River Wharfe near Addingham where I saw one two years ago. I also spotted hares, multitudinous dippers and herons, a kestrel, buzzards, and, most excitingly, what I initially thought was just another buzzard due to its size, but upon lengthier inspection (it soared above me for a minute or two), its quite distinct colour and the streamlined shape of its wings and tail helped me identify it as a red kite!
Posted 6 years ago # -
Hmm, not sure I'd call a red kite "streamlined", even in comparison to a buzzard - more applicable to falcons like peregrines, hobbies and merlins IMO. That said, once you've had a good sighting of a red kite, you'll find it much easier to pick them out in future (what birdwatchers call "getting the jizz"). I once spotted a red kite over Roundhay Park in Leeds from a moving taxi: I only had a fleeting glimpse of it between some trees but there was no doubt what it was.
I saw a red kite at Yellowcraigs beach a while back. The corvids in the rookery in the pine trees behind the beach were not impressed by its unexpected appearance.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Another, rather puzzling, observation during our Pentlands stravaig yesterday - olfactory rather than optical on this occasion. As we followed the rising traverse on the north side of Byreside Hill heading towards Allermuir Hill, we both detected the unmistakable aroma of cinnamon. We hunted around a bit in the surrounding vegetation but couldn't find anything that seemed to be the cause.
Anyone know of any plants that might be found in such an environment which emit such an odour? If not then I may be forced to ascribe the phenomenon to someone having carried some warm cinnamon buns up with them to enjoy on the summit. (We had nothing more exotic than chocolate biscuits in the wee rucksack.)
Posted 6 years ago # -
@ejstubbs, if a cinnamon smell was noticeable when we were up at Caerketton yesterday, we would have been told in no uncertain terms by micropaddy that it smelled like Dobbies, which was as far from a compliment as she could get.
So guessing that it will be pretty localised.
Posted 6 years ago # -
What I think was a kestrel hovering over Arthur's Seat. Its wings were swept back far further than normal, though, which made me wonder if it was some other bird of prey, but was probably just due to the high winds?
Posted 6 years ago # -
Hovering in UK in November = kestrel or buzzard. Buzzards rarely sustained and much bigger. Both possible on the Seat.
Posted 6 years ago # -
This een wis definitely ooer sma fur a buzzard. Fit ither birds hover at ither times o year?
Posted 6 years ago # -
A guided tour of Saughton Park today before it opens officially. Guide kept on pointing out otter footprints and spraint. It looked like herds of otters were pouring through the park early in the morning.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@frenchy, supposed to be Gyr saker falcon on the crags (possibly legged it from killing pigeons at Parliament) possibly called Tweed but someone will have better info I am sure.
Maybe actually Lanner. Or peregrine cross. There was a successful peregrine breeding pair south Edinbrgh 2010 with 24/7 surveillance
Googling reveals Tweed was a Harris Hawk
Posted 6 years ago # -
@Frenchy
An osprey will hover. Bit nae ower the Seat in Novimber.
Posted 6 years ago # -
successful peregrine breeding pair south Edinbrgh 2010
Far aboot loon? I nivir kint that. Kirk or crag?
Posted 6 years ago # -
Giant northern hummingbird?
Posted 6 years ago # -
@iwrats The hawk watch site was deliberately vague on exactly where. They mention unsuccessful attempts on side of a building earlier in that decade.
Posted 6 years ago # -
A squirrel which though better of running across the width limited section of MMW as I was rolling slowly towards it. Another squirrel running like a lunatic around the corner of Lower Gilmore Place, seemingly pursued by a cyclist. A large, writhing mass of fur on the grass just inside the north gate of Heriot-Watt, a thin part of which detached and scuttled under the trees to watch me as I passed by, leaving a bloody and immobile mass of now rabbit-shaped fur behind. What a stoater for the Heriot-Watt Stoat...
Posted 6 years ago # -
wee dead stoat on lang whang yesterday. 200 geese. amassing west Linton. Some crows trying to communicate something vital near elsrickle.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Spotted a heron flying from the Rosyth Sewage plant across the motorway. I then though I saw a buzzard above the trees but as I got closer it turned out to be some ravens.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I followed a bat along Ellen's Glen Road yesterday evening.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Loads of bats in the dusk over the Water of Leith at the exEarthy bridge last Saturday. Technically @Iain McR's spot as he pointed them out.
This morning, one of the lowest tides I've ever seen at Porty had brought a mix of waders (unidentified - not redshank is all I got, plus oystercatchers) and gulls down onto the tideline in some lovely post-sunrise light effects. The ends of a lot of some sort of bristly wormy things sticking out the sand that's usually always under water, plus loads of razor shells/spoots. Shallow way out, we were halfway to Fife before it was swimmable. Big fat rainbow landing in the Kingdom.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Big fat rainbow landing in the Kingdom.
Not the united one I don't suppose?
Posted 6 years ago # -
Bats on the NEPN east of Wardie Road last night. One (or a succession with very smooth changeovers) flipping quite happily along a bike length in front of me for a good five seconds.
Posted 6 years ago # -
The Stockbridge woodpecker outside my kitchen window this morning.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Rat!!!! climbing up the trellis to reach into the bird-house feeder that hangs on a clothes pole by the shed. Aaaargh.
(Rattus norvegicus I think).
Posted 6 years ago # -
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Posted 6 years ago # -
On Monday morning I had a great ride exploring off road between Auchtertool and Cardenden- saw half a dozen deer, rabbits, dozens of pheasants, a massive hare, and a couple of unidentifed birds of prey. In the early morning they seemed to have the run of the place.
Posted 6 years ago # -
As I rang my bell and proceeded under the bridge west of Harrison Park this morning, I was surprised when a tiny dog appeared heading towards me before taking fright and retreating to cower behind the legs of its owner who was just behind, but who should have been keeping it closer.
(This is clearly far more suited to today's rubbish dog walking thread but that wasn't handy on the front page.)
Posted 6 years ago # -
The Kingsknowe Rat was looking the worse for wear on the towpath at Wester Hailes, partly obscured by some canal weed and a plastic bottle. It wasn't entirely clear how that had come to pass, but long live The Kingsknowe Rat.
I also spotted what I'd initially thought was a massive squirrel in a bush on the far side of the canal between Yeaman Place and Harrison Park, but it turned out to be a long-haired, squirrel-coloured cat stalking some birds.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Oblivious small deer crossing tarmac between scout centre and the Llamas/alpacas as we headed up for an early morning MTB via bonaly this morning.
Didn't seem alarmed so perhaps we were quiet enough, it was dark enough, or it couldn't smell us. Quite nice to see it and it was nice and peaceful.
Rest of ride slippy and muddy.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Heron watching traffic on the way to Dunbar, near West Barns I think. Quite a few buzzards as well.
EDIT: Forgot about the two wee deer on the way back, somewhere near Pencaitland.
Posted 6 years ago #
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