CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Leisure
Wildlife highlight of the day
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Posted 11 years ago #
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Many of those dandy lions in my garden prompting weed killer weekend. On plus side some tatties shooting into the daylight, if they grow well will be interesting as they are blue
Posted 11 years ago # -
Sadly not the Bearded Tits/Reedlings I was travelling to Errol to hunt for (though I could hear the sneaky blighters), but followed a Stoat for 100m down the road at Kinfauns, and got nice views of Sedge Warbler, Skylark, Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow and Shelduck. Heard a Woodpecker. No raptors, which was slightly odd.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I really ought to work on my birdsong recognition, but yesterday certainly heard plenty of it. Chaffinch, chiffchaff, spotted some wagtail (pied, grey) certainly, spotted a couple of raptors. Also 3 roe deer crossing the road.
Lowlight was seeing two dead badgers. I've seen a few over the years at the side of roads, always a shame.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Bats feeding over Union canal last night as I cycled back from Ingliston.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Frog in the garden the other day. And Swallows are back on the wires over the Innocent at Dudd Rd W.
Should point out I'm not a birdsong expert. Got an app for that, and the song on the app matched what I was hearing at Errol. Though some (Chiffchaffs) are easy.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I guessed there might be an app for that, but then I didn't have my smartphone with me. Will try to remember next time.
I'm sure I've seen bats flitting past my windows at dusk recently.
Posted 11 years ago # -
It's the Scottish Birdfair at Hopetoun House this weekend.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Still no housemartins on the cyclepath (NCN1) at Bingham. They're usually flying around the trees by the bridge over the burn.
Posted 11 years ago # -
An article on why birds are good for you.
"I'm not sure there is any other sound that can do what birdsong does. It should be part of the soundtrack to everyone's day."
Posted 11 years ago # -
First ducklings spotted this year :D
(on the canal just West of Harrison Gardens).
Posted 11 years ago # -
Goslings on the Figgy (sadly down to 2 form 5 yesterday), no ducklings yet though (nor Cootlets or Moorchicks, which is a little odd - and this time last year I was spotting Fox cubs, but none of them yet either).
Bad Hair Day by blackpuddinonnabike, on FlickrThe Swallows have arrived at the Figgy though, plus one House Martin. No Sand Martins or Swifts yet.
Swallow on Yellow by blackpuddinonnabike, on FlickrPosted 11 years ago # -
Awww, cute.
We saw some duckings a while ago, on the Water of Leith just above the bypass, doing battle with a pretty strong current.Posted 11 years ago # -
I saw a small red backed raptor of some description, what was it? Hovering in the not insignificant wind just below the road level yesterday evening as I was doing a quick lap of the seat. Just as I rounded the corner brining the Castle in to view, silhouetted against a wall of rain...
Posted 11 years ago # -
If properly hovering it can only be a Kestrel (which can look very red in the right light). Only other thing, if small, would be a Merlin, but they're red underneath.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I didn't see its belly, it was below me slope soaring. Must have been a Kestrel.
Quick google confirms, it must have been a Kestrel. Cheers.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Also ducklings on the semi-permanent puddle at Woodhall Farm. There were 6 on Sunday, down to 5 today. Saw a fox nearby as I passed today so I fear it will all end in tears, as it did last year.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I went on the Leith feeder ride to PoP today. We went through Lochend Park. I'd passed by before but never been in. What a revelation - it's gorgeous. I have to go back. Such a lovely place. And right beside the path some geese were nesting, and there were goslings, tiny fluffy ones, newly hatched. Beautiful. Sadly and stupidly I took no pictures since the feeder ride was rushing onwards...
Posted 11 years ago # -
Turned up Gogarstone Road at dusk and was just passing the golf club on my way to Roddinglaw when a medium-sized reddy brown bird glided across the road infront of me and up into a tree to perch. Was distinctive enough to have me double back to look. Couldn't figure out what it was until the head spun around and a big flat face with two big eyes were peering back at me. A tawny owl!
It flew slowly off to the next tree up the road so I turned the light off and followed it, then sat and watched it from about 5 metres away for about 30 seconds before it lazily flew off back down the road.
First time I've ever seen one up proper close, and what a great view I got.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Riding through Almondell & Calderwood Country Park at 10pm tonight, I stood for several minutes as at least 6 bats zoomed by in front of me and over the river, feeding. Bats always mesmerise me - it must be the Dracula effect!
Posted 11 years ago # -
(NOT)
"
Wildlife stocktake highlights UK's most threatened speciesism"
Posted 11 years ago # -
Saw an urban fox on Beaverhall road late last night
Posted 11 years ago # -
Making my way back from last night's ride at 11pm, coming from Cramond Brig, I'd just come off the path between the golf courses and was riding up the bottom stretch of Barnton Avenue only to see a young deer in front of me! A Roe deer as far as I could tell in the streetlights.
She was a bit skittish and bolted momentarily when I unclipped from a pedal. I was a bit concerned she may head towards the main roads in D Mains or even to Queensferry Road and was about to dial 999 when she went into one of the gardens backing onto the Bruntsfield Links golf course.
Hopefully she found her way home but the question is, where exactly is that? I don't remember there being any deer on the Dalmeny Estate.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Also ducklings on the semi-permanent puddle at Woodhall Farm. There were 6 on Sunday, down to 5 today. Saw a fox nearby as I passed today so I fear it will all end in tears, as it did last year.
Delighted to report that the 5 seen two weeks ago are still there, amazed that the foxes/cats haven't got to them, touch woodPosted 11 years ago # -
Focus, what you saw was absolutely normal in a suburban area, particularly beside two golf courses!
Absolutely NOT an incident to call 999 over.
There are many deer in Dalmeny estate, in Cammo, along the river, and on any golf course with tree cover.
Posted 11 years ago # -
A pre breakfast spin around the Pentlands this morning, heard my first cuckoo of the year :)
Posted 11 years ago # -
Kestrel hovering over the waste ground near my office in Livingston the other day.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Saw a jay at Glentress on Thursday. Took a while to search out what it was afterwards, thanks to Google.
Posted 11 years ago # -
First sighting of my back green bats this evening.
Pair of reasonably large newts in my parents' pond half way up Clermiston hill.
Posted 11 years ago #
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