a big otter kit about same size as a mink?
also swimming in the canal - water vole and brown rat tho they be less keen
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Leisure
Wildlife highlight of the day
(7223 posts)-
Posted 4 years ago #
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I have spotted otters in the Union Canal on three occasions in the last few years, water vole on a handful of occasions and rats every week or so. I have seen stoat on, or near, the towpath a few times but never in the water. I have yet to spot a mink in the vicinity of the Union Canal.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I spotted a small herd grazing in a field on my way to work this morning. Nothing unusual or "wildlife" about that except the herd was 4 curlews.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Herd before Curfew? But after dark a Curfew of Curlews? I sometimes get the feeling they are just making this up
Posted 4 years ago # -
Spotted the Otter this morning myself. No otter-babies to be seen. Was hanging out in the reeds and diving around near the bee hives between Harrison park and boroughmuir.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Starlings bubbling and creaking amongst themselves on the Meadows this morning. I haven't see starlings in town for ages, and they're one of my favourites.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Spotted a kingfisher. On the river Ouche in central France. Like some sort of cursed ornithological Moses I seem unable to see them in my own country.
Also spotted three white storks in a field in the Dombes and maybe I'm mad as those birds should be in Africa right now. There is a bird sanctuary just up the road from where I saw them. Maybe they'd escaped?
Posted 4 years ago # -
The three otter cubs were making noisy progress along the far side of the canal, heading west from Boroughmuir at around quarter past nine this morning. Quite a few people had stopped to watch. I didn't see any sign of either parent but I did overhear someone say that they'd seen four otters so presuambly one was somewhere nearby.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Loving all the otter updates.
Meanwhile, in South Lanarkshire: a badger having a bath!
Posted 4 years ago # -
Aww. In some ways that is cuter than multiple otter cubs.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Otters at Fountainbridge
Posted 4 years ago # -
Somewhat fearful that one or more of these otters is about to hit by a car? Same family as on river at WoL centre so the range is quite big?
Posted 4 years ago # -
Do the otters climb up the stairs from the WoL to the canal? We need to know.
Posted 4 years ago # -
This has been suggested, otherwise quite roundabout through Colinton dell and up the river then back down the WoL path and over the pedestrian/cycle flyover where the yacht used to be. Seems very roundabout.
No one saying one canal family and one wol family so steps seem likely
Posted 4 years ago # -
I might be overcome with joy to see otters tumbling down a staircase.
Posted 4 years ago # -
They climb up the staircase but they slide down the bike chute
Posted 4 years ago # -
I would love to see these otters and I've been delighted at the videos of sightings, but I am anxious that they will be endangered by all the publicity.
Would an otter climb those steps? It must look like Ben Nevis to them.
Anyway they've been seen at Saughton Park as well as Fountainbridge - that seems a huge territorial range. Wouldn't more than one family be likely?
Posted 4 years ago # -
If more than one family the anglers may notice the fish stock dwindling?
Posted 4 years ago # -
Otters occupy very large home ranges (around 32km for males and 20km for females). from SNH website
Posted 4 years ago # -
@slowcoach - that's astonishing for such a small mammal. I assume there would be more than one family in such an area?
3 roe deer running about in Prestongange, seen from the bus. White behinds flashing. I mentioned this to the friend I was visiting in East Lothian, who said they're regarded as a pest as they eat all the young trees.
Oyster catchers on the way back.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Roe deer are basically huge mice now. There's a small herd on Craigmillar Hill. They are an utter plague.
Posted 4 years ago # -
A skein of a dozen Canada geese flying low over Minto Street. Sorry, Canada plus plus geese.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@IWRATS exercising their right to freedom of movement?
Posted 4 years ago # -
@jdp
The otters on the canal are just trying to hoover up what they can before fishing rights are traded away.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Spotted from the top deck of the number 4 bus yesterday: a sparrowhawk (male I think - smaller and without the clear barring on the underside that he female has) flying through North Merchiston Cemetery and over the Caley brewery. Maybe heading for Merchiston Park/Harrison Park.
Not too surprised to see one there since the female that caught and ate a pigeon in our back garden a few years back turned out to have been ringed in that area. (She was so busy with her dinner that we were able to get several good photos of her, including some showing the ring very clearly).
Also yesterday on the bus back from Glasgow: a large, healthy-looking fox sunning itself in the grassy embankment on the north side of the motorway just after we'd passed junction 12 for the A80. At 11:45am!
Posted 4 years ago # -
Some close views of a buzzard in Livingston this lunchtime.
Posted 4 years ago # -
An adult otter casually popping its head out of the water and then diving repeatedly just east of Slateford Aqueduct this morning. I stopped to observe while it was diving and it emerged quite close to me, had a good look, then dived again before emerging under the floating pontoon thing. I took the hint and left it to its own devices.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@jdanielp
❤❤❤!
Posted 4 years ago # -
goldcrest at my feeders this afternoon, cheered me up no end
Posted 4 years ago # -
In France goldcrests are 'roitelets huppés' and you should find someone to whisper those words to you, they're as beautiful as the bird.
Posted 4 years ago #
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