Red kites, spotted from a train somewhere in Shropshire. I think the first time I've been sure that I was seeing kites rather than buzzards.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Leisure
Wildlife highlight of the day
(7328 posts)-
Posted 3 months ago #
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There are swans on The Loch at Heriot-Watt for the first time since spring when bird flu warning signs suddenly appeared on campus. It is unclear as to whether they are previous residents who have been brought back on site or a new pair that spotted available territory.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Four cygnets and two adults swans from Western Harbour have been moved to Blackford Pond as the Western Harbour pond was drying out. Good to see swans back at Blackford Pond.
Posted 3 months ago # -
A swan-off on the canal this morning that was causing quite a lot of people to stop to take photos. The Boroughmuir cygnets with one parent were chasing off the Wester Hailes cygnets who were seemingly being led by both of their parents. There was another adult swan beyond them, which was possibly the other Boroughmuir parent, but could be another adult swan that has arrived. It all seemed quite tense and confusing in any case.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Popped by Blackford Pond yesterday to see the new swan residents. They seemed quite content with their new habitat - possibly because someone had left two large piles of grain on the shore of the pond, which they were tucking in to quite happily (they did also take some of the peas which I'd taken with me, the ones they didn't take being quickly snaffled up by mallard).
It looks like someone (possibly the Friends of The Hermitage) has cut back some of the reedbed at the west end of the pond, maybe just to stop it spreading too far across the pond. Likely the same person or persons has cut back all the rhododendron which was covering the triangular piece ground in the corner adjacent to the gate at the foot of the steep path which leads up to the bowling club. Which was where I spotted this young heron:
It didn't seem to know what to do about a human suddenly noticing its presence while within about six feet of it, so it just stood still while I took some photos. While doing so, I also saw a deer which seemed to have wandered down the path from the bowling club. That bounded over the wall towards the old curling pond as soon as it spotted me, probably didn't want its photo taken.
Posted 3 months ago # -
I've spotted deer there a few times, always wondered where it was "based". I think there are some along Blackford Glen Road.
I saw the group out cutting back the foliage beside the west end of the pond, didn't get a chance to talk to them. Not sure it was the Friends as far as I remember they've ceased most work like that. Whoever it was has been cutting back Laurel (not rhododendrons I believe) all around the pond - it's an invasive species and was starting to block some of the paths. I've always wondered about the legal intricacies of doing that - it's outside the conservation area where everything needs a TPO but I thought Nature Reserves had some status and presumably you need permission from the rangers? I only live a few minutes away and would happily go out and tidy things up sometimes, but worried I'd get shouted at!
Posted 3 months ago # -
@ ejstubbs
Nice heron pic
Posted 3 months ago # -
“but worried I'd get shouted at“
If there are people doing things already, perhaps best to hope to come across them and see if they want another helper (likely).
After making contact it would (probably) be easier (for you) to do stuff solo - if that’s what you prefer.
Realistically, I think most people are glad that ‘someone ‘is doing something’ - litterpicking or vegetation management, so unlikely to shout.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/bike-daft-grandad-clears-dirt-12409174
Posted 3 months ago # -
2 Osprey circling near Kirkcaldy on Sunday. First time I've seen them when not looking for them.
Posted 3 months ago # -
The Heriot-Watt Stoat just made another appearance by my office.
Posted 2 months ago # -
Decent sized skein of geese over East Lothian on Sunday.
Posted 2 months ago # -
Goosanders on the canal this morning.
Posted 2 months ago # -
Swallows over bar I was in at lunch time. [dont worry @ejstubbs -above Malaga]
Posted 2 months ago # -
Also Jays, Parrakeets and huge bird of prey [pair]. Maybe Condor like but i dont have my bird book to i.d.
Posted 2 months ago # -
Oh well, if we're going that far afield:
Wildlife highlight of Friday last week was a peregrine falcon, sighted from the rooftop terrace by the pool of our rather characterful hotel in Seville. Said raptor perched on the crenellations of the tower of the Iglesia de San Bartolomé for some time but didn't seem that interested in the potential prey flying about beneath it.
Large, soaring raptor seen from the Cordoba-Granada bus (we should have been on the train but someone not us made a mess of pre-booking the tickets). In the absence of binoculars was chalked up as a buzzard of some kind.
Parakeets by the boatload in the gardens of the Alcazar in Seville. Also widely present in Cordoba and Granada.
And, yes, swallows.
(Plus plenty of sparrows, robins, blackbirds, great tits, long-tailed tits, starlings & jackdaws. Almost like being at home, but with a handful of exotics thrown into the mix.)Posted 2 months ago # -
I was 112km from Granada this very day on road to Comares
Posted 2 months ago # -
“
But the public don’t agree. Luke Tryl of More in Common told a Conservative conference fringe meeting that most Britons can’t be categorised as “nimby” or “yimby”. They want both: to build and also to protect the countryside. However, when asked whether wildlife should be protected even if it delays or raises the cost of infrastructure, every single voter group – including Labour, Conservative and Reform UK – chose wildlife. Among the general public, 62% prioritised nature protection while 18% sided with building at any cost.
“
Posted 2 months ago # -
A Heron flew past me as I had just joined the canal by Harrison Park East, had I been 15-20 seconds later I would have missed it.
Posted 2 months ago # -
There haven't obviously been swans on The Loch at Heriot-Watt in recent days so perhaps the ones I saw moved on, but as I walked around it just now the Heriot-Watt Stoat darted across the path in front of me.
Posted 2 months ago # -
Two white swans at Dope Central - banefield/boroughmuir no brown swans.liight beginning to fade One Jdanielp’s coming off the aqueduct after his stoat experieince Dark.
Posted 2 months ago # -
A dopping of goosanders on the canal yesterday close to Meggetland and today at Polwarth. One dove and caught a fairly substantial fish while I was passing this morning.
Posted 1 month ago # -
Ah yes around there I saw about 7 gooseanders about to be mowed down b y a barge with an enormous Barge Dog sitting on the roof. Sounds like they missed
Posted 1 month ago # -
Two parakeets in Duddingston this morning. Have been spotting a parakeet once every few weeks this year, but this was the first time I've seen a pair.
Posted 1 month ago # -
@Frenchy What do pairs make?
Posted 1 month ago # -
Pairs make crows angry, based on yesterday's evidence.
Posted 1 month ago # -
Crown are always angry about something
Posted 1 month ago # -
An otter, with a fish, in the Figgate Burn.
Posted 1 month ago # -
Biggest bat I've ever seen, flying around over the Innocent railway near Bingham this evening. Wingspan must have been over 30cm.
Posted 1 month ago #
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