CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 15years old!
Well done to ALL posters
It soon became useful and entertaining. There are regular posters, people who add useful info occasionally and plenty more who drop by to watch. That's fine. If you want to add news/comments it's easy to register and become a member.
RULES No personal insults. No swearing.
@chdot
Just checked. No owl.
I once saw a sparrowhawk go full tilt into the window of the kitchen I was sitting in. Knocked itself out cold, but woke up and flew off fine about forty five minutes later after a bit of staggering about.
Dead peregrine is impressive.
Looking closer at the owlprint on the window, the alulae are deployed, indicating that the bird had slowed, possibly intending to land just beyond the window surface.
"the alulae are deployed"
Wow that's chic birdy geek'
"
A bird’s deployment of alulae is a remarkably transient event. If you blink, you will probably miss it, for each event lasts less than half a second. Yet, it is fun to spot these bits of aerodynamic wizardry which perform the same function for a bird as do the slats on an aircraft.
"
A further check reveals that the owl was carrying a small mammal in its beak when it hit the window.
Iwrats - It's amazing what detail can be gained by a knowledgeable eye from an owlprint!
Robert
@Roibeard
If the print survives the night I shall attempt to photograph it tomorrow. And then set up shop as an owl detective.
PS
The black box has not yet been recovered.
None of your colleagues have 'smart' phones?
@chdot
I'm sure they all do. I, on the other hand, still own a 5"x4" plate camera that I built from scrap. Haven't used it in a while, but an owl print feels like a suitable subject.
Does it have its own trailer?
The owl smudge has proved very hard to photograph. My eyes pick it out from the background with ease in real life, but it is almost invisible on a daylight photo.
I shall await the fall of night and try again with a little bit of flash. Or ask Premises to but up scaffolding.
Canal highlights;
* A fully laden cormorant struggling to rise over a telegraph wire at Kingsknowe
* The dabchick, hiding among the mallards at Bridge 6C
Three pure white doves have just landed on the roof of the office I'm in. They must have gone missing from symbolism central.
Quite a rare sighting today. A rough legged buzzard in the Lammermuirs. Or rather I saw a bird from quite a distance that some professional looking birders assured me was an RLB. I had heard rumours over the last few weeks that there were some about. So I wasn't too surprised to a grouping of birders in the middle of the road up there. I could have a look through a telescope but I was afraid of losing the group. Perhaps I'll make an expedition up there next weekend.
That is pretty cool.
I got an excellent view of a large and plush rat in daylight yesterday. It was gliding between water and land without pause. Very impressive to watch.
Ooo I've never seen a plush rat (though apparently you can buy then on Amazon)
@amir
Rough legged buzzard is pretty cool. I have never had sufficient confidence to identify one despite a keen interest in raptors. I'm no twitcher...but this is a tempting expedition!
My third definite kingfisher sighting of autumn/winter 2014 this morning, despite the rain - it was also the first time lately that it didn't fly away while I was passing. I am becoming fairly confident about Friday.
IWRATS, if something lands practically on your doorstep then it would be rude not to go and look at it.
"
A bird of prey very similar to the much more common buzzard, though only a small number spend winter in the UK. It has the habit of 'hanging' in the air while looking for prey, hovering much more regularly than common buzzards. Key features include the black-tipped white tail, paler appearance than common buzzard, longer wings and paler head. Beware of pale common buzzards - a nororiously variable species. A close view will reveal the heavily feathered legs that give this bird its name.
"
http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/r/roughleggedbuzzard/
@Min
It had never occured to me that the rough-legged buzzard might be offended if I didn't come to see it.
I spent two very, very cold March weekends on Minch Moor this year looking for the Innerleithen goshawks - perhaps the same commitment is called for by these vole hawks?
Something else to look out for (sadly)
http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/crime/plea-over-rise-in-illegal-hare-coursing-1-3607381
and all the usual warnings about what (not) to do if you spot anything suspicious...
What if the buzzard starts chasing hares?
I was talking to the warden at Loch Ruthven in the summer, where one protected species - otters - had just eaten the entire output from the breeding season of another protected species - slavonian grebes. Ethical minefield, innit?
The cormorant was back on the little island at the bottom of the street last week. Also a dipper and the usual suspects: geese, ducks and gulls.
Kingfisher on the canal again this morning as it flew away from me. It seems that the clearer the day, the quicker it takes exception to my presence and departs.
There is a guy who I occasionally spot on the towpath who has a scarily agressive hound, which I am glad to say he keeps on a lead, and positions on the far side of his body whenever people pass by because it strains at said lead and barks crazily... I can't help but be suspicious about that dog with regards @chdot's post.
Non-bike-related but a mountain hare and ptarmigans all in winter fur/plumage up the Munros we climbed on Saturday.
Cycling home last night (@fimm!) I was delighted to notice that the herons are back in the grounds of Liberton Primary School.
They wander round the lawn, feeding by the streetlights on Gilmerton Road and look all sheepish if you peer over the wall to see them.
herons?
Can't remember when I last saw more than one in the same place!
Five or six at a time on a good night. Now, oh venerable Beade....what's the collective noun for herons? A shoal?
That reminds me that I saw a heron at Wester Hailes on the way home last night. I don't remember spotting one after dark before (possibly due to the lack of light). It was stood on the grass between the towpath and canal along the section opposite the weird totem pole thingy.
@IwratS what's the collective noun for herons?
A siege of herons.
OED - "Siege" The station of a heron on the watch for prey. Hence, a group or flock of herons.
Robert
You must log in to post.
Cycling in Edinburgh Flickr group
Video embedded using Easy Video Embed plugin
posts