@gembo it's been quite a year for cotton grass
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Leisure
Wildlife highlight of the day
(7221 posts)-
Posted 4 years ago #
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@amir, Bumper, I have enough for a jumper
Posted 4 years ago # -
I had a glorious cycle this morning. On the way out my neighbour said the weather was terrible. But it largely dried off and left one of those still, damp mornings when the scents are powerful and the birdsong echoes. Up on the moors there were curlews acalling and alarming, and skylarks pretending to be Vaughan Williams (including one sitting down on the job, lazy b***). And finally, a cuckoo calling (west end of Gladhouse - never heard there before or in similar bioscape).
Posted 4 years ago # -
one of those still, damp mornings when the scents are powerful
Glorious.
Posted 4 years ago # -
That sounds amazing. Lots of skylarks this year. I went out to Fernieness on Monday. Lots of Bloody Cranesbill, Viper's Bugloss, Weld, Thrift, some Hemlock. Got chatting to a guy on a Brompton who was using the closed car-park as a circuit to help him get his confidence back on the bike after giving it up due to illness. He used to be a cycle courier. Counting my blessings after that conversation.
Posted 4 years ago # -
We had cuckoo at Colzium for about 5 minutes the other night. We saw it first so were waiting but did not think that long. Think was warning us our route to west cairn was cuckoo
Posted 4 years ago # -
Skylark hovering over the path and singing its heart out as I passed under.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Coming home along the A703/Seafield Moor Road near Bush, a bit past 10pm, and I saw a big bird ahead and flying in the same direction I was going. It was below treetop height, maybe five to ten metres. At first I thought it was a pigeon up late, then wondered if it was a buzzard, because it seemed quite big, and as I passed beneath I saw the flat head and beak and realised it was a Tawny Owl. Just effortlessly gliding along, barely a flap of the wings.
I was in the torpedo doing about 26mph, and the owl was nearly matching that.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Deer spotted in Holyrood Park by somebody on the Edinburgh reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Edinburgh/comments/h0vg3k/can_you_spot_them_arthursseat/
Posted 4 years ago # -
That's looking east from Salisbury Crags, right?
Have seen deer from the Innocent path before, near Duddingston loch, but am pleasantly surprised to see them venturing into the middle of the park.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@Frenchy yeah. I'm yet to spot deer anywhere near Holyrood Park.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Seagull chicks have hatched again on nearby stack. Only one will make it.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Only one will make it.
Stone cold threat.
Posted 4 years ago # -
the words of a man with a black widow catapult
Posted 4 years ago # -
Phil The Greek will be out with the Riflle for those deer. Mine he will say in his crazy accents
Posted 4 years ago # -
Cygnets at Heriot-Watt! Might have to cycle out that way to visit them and see how the campus rewilding is going at some point. https://twitter.com/santababy100/status/1271401395988676608
Posted 4 years ago # -
Spotted a fledgling dipper on the Glencorse Burn this morning, just a few yards from the picnic area near the Flotterstone car park. It was just sitting there quietly at the edge of the burn waiting for mama or papa to return with some goodies. (I didn't see the adults, I assume they must have been busy foraging nearby.)
Also, a sand martin catching insects over the burn at the point where the path for Turnhouse Hill bears off. And lots of swifts above the woodland in the glen below the reservoir.
I moved my main bird feeder the other day, a bit further away from the house and a lot further away from any shrubs or trees that the local squirrel can use to gain access and gorge itself. Since then I've seen a siskin and a pair of greenfinch on the seed feeder, neither of which I'd seen in this garden for a good couple of years. Maybe they like it where it is now (though the missus was sure that they'd find it too exposed).
Posted 4 years ago # -
jealous of your siskin, stubbsie
i find that exposed feeders are only an issue for finches over winter/early spring, when the fear of being singled out by the ravenous sparrowhawk is of paramount concern
Posted 4 years ago # -
Two male pheasants poking around in Edmonstone Policies at lunchtime, and later, two families of swans at Straiton Pond.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Jet black llamas on emerald green field near elsrickle
Unreal looking the black llamas like a void or wormhole (I am reading M John Harrison of course)
Later a camouflaged rhea or other flightless bird in corner of field at newbigging
Posted 4 years ago # -
A tree sparrow on Braid Hill. I don't often notice them.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Swifts hawking for insects above the Howden Burn downstream from the water board building.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Protection to mountain hares passed at Holyrood.
https://twitter.com/andywightman/status/1273324112539267072
I was quite taken aback that anyone would hunt such beautiful creatures. I was thrilled to bits when I saw them in the Lammermuirs one winter.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Saw snow hare at Gargunnock many years ago
Tonight murmuration of 100s of juvenile starling - they are brown as I learnt on here (maybe from @ejstubbs himself)
Then at Colzium a lark ascending above me in the quietude
Posted 4 years ago # -
I was quite taken aback that anyone would hunt such beautiful creatures.
They are, alas, culled not hunted. Lines of quad bikes, nets, shooters. The bodies go to the dogs.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Woken by a magpie tapping on the bedroom window. Looked through between the curtains and came eye to eye with the clever bird. 'Log in to virtual PY' it cawed, sadly.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@IWRATS: Culled because they are perceived somehow to interfere with the organised killing of other, intensively managed, upland species.
It really is time that this bloody* industry was subject to effective** regulation, rather than being allowed to dictate its own terms. IMO.
* Literally, hence rule 2 does not apply.
** As opposed to the current rag-bag collection of largely inadequate laws which are barely if ever enforced.Posted 4 years ago # -
Little shrew out of its hole Birlin round stalk of grass Then went still trying to hide from me
Hopefully went back down its wee hole before the cats got it
Lovely yellow flowers like Iris out the Whang yesterday and on canal today
Posted 4 years ago # -
Posted 4 years ago #
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