Ooh, nice amir - I've not been down for a couple of years, really must get there again.
Went to Hopes reservoir today, hoping for hares standing out against the non-snowy heather with their white coats. No such luck. Loads of grouse though.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Leisure
Wildlife highlight of the day
(7166 posts)-
Posted 9 years ago #
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Go Back, Go Back, Go Back, Go Back
Departing Grouse by blackpuddinonnabike, on FlickrPosted 9 years ago # -
I thought my chance had passed. Did a pseudo-commute pottering along the Water of Leith today. Stopped at a bit I've gone to before with a friend, as we've thought it would be great for a Kingfisher, and we've never, not once, seen one there. So I was taking some long exposure water shots and just packing up when I notice the blue. Timed to perfection with a dog walker and a cyclist going past and spooking the wee colourful exocet.
I pottered back and forth along a half mile or so stretch, just about to leave for a little task for my father in law, when there it was, the King, further away than a friend of mine got a shot from a couple of days ago, but gorgeous all the same.
King_2 by blackpuddinonnabike, on Flickr(this at 500mm, I was tempted to crop, but I like the 'habitat' nature)
Posted 9 years ago # -
Goldcrest in with a flock of mixed tits on Craigmillar Hill.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I stopped to have a brief chat with a fellow cyclist who was admiring the cormorant from the canal towpath by the Calder Road bridge this morning - I had apparently just missed it catching and consuming a fairly sizeable fish.
Posted 9 years ago # -
@WC another nice kingfisher picture! I have seen no sign of kingfishers on the canal so far this year. I'd assume that a combination of wind and ice has been contributing so far, although hopefully it/they will be return soon.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Well that worked - I spotted a kingfisher perched at the usual spot near Hermiston House Road bridge this morning.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Pheasant wandering nonchalantly across a snowy road in Livingston.
Posted 9 years ago # -
@jdanielp, I'm going to have to get along there. Though I've plans for 'my' Figgate Kingfisher, who I've just had a frustrating game of cat and mouse with. Landed 5 yards from me, stayed put while I slowly shifted right to get a clearer view, but bolted as I raised the camera. Saw it again three times downstream, just momentarily for each.
But had a lovely confiding Thrush en route, and a flock of Redwings to keep me amused.
Yesterday off the coast at Seacliff there was a little group of seven Long-tailed Ducks that were lovely to see.
Day before that at Aberlady just the merest outline of one of the Long-eared Owls in the buckthorn again, then some gorgeous little Sanderlings on the beach.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I went to Aberlady yesterday and didn't manage to spot the Owls. But there were lots of thrushes in the buckthorn (fieldfares?) plus lots of orange coloured droppings.
Posted 9 years ago # -
The owls are very very tucked away (I'd never know where they were but for someon pointing them out, and then it was take a picture of the area and zoom right in).
Loads of Fieldfares, so that's likely. The orange droppings might be from them eating the buckthorn berries, though we saw loads around a crow roost, and with the size figured it was likely them.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Nice walk along the Leader Water today, and amongst some usual suspects got a Goldcrest, Treecreeper, and star of the show, a gorgeous little Nuthatch, in front of the camera.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Figgy Kingfisher was putting on a great show today. Watched on about 4 different perches as it scouted the burn looking for lunch. Last perch it stayed on for about 5 minutes as I snapped away and a group of 3 birdwatchers appeared behind me watching through binoculars.
Gangs of Redwings about in the park too, adding to a Dipper, Grey Wagtail and most of the usual suspects.
Apparently in Inverleith Pond there's a bold Water Rail at the mo. That's on the list for tomorrow.
Posted 9 years ago # -
The Inverleith Water Rail is drop dead gorgeous....
Camera Roll-192 by -blackpuddinonnabike-Can't wait to get these shots onto the computer tonight. It got too close at times :-O
Posted 9 years ago # -
@Wilmington's Cow!
I thought water rails were literally invisible...fine, fine effort.
Posted 9 years ago # -
This one has been getting race reviews for being really confiding. Folk were running by, and as long as it had reeds to run to in sight it seemed perfectly comfortable. I was sure I'd go and see nothing, but within 10 seconds of arriving it was in view!
Only seen one other before, at the Figgy a couple of years ago, and it was a master of disappearance - I should really get back to keeping a personal year list (last time I did was 2012 I think) given I've got a few birds already this year that I'm normally missing!
Posted 9 years ago # -
Lovely bird and image. Careful with the birding list through, that sort of thing leads to b+1 ;)
"how did the list do this year?"
"oh not as many as last year yet, but there's still 2 days before Hogmanay. Where's the car keys and that road atlas of Norfolk?"
Posted 9 years ago # -
Oh I'm a very bad birder. If it's not pretty I'm less interested... ;) Certainly I'd not be travelling the length of the country for a Little Brown Bird.
EDIT: that said, I think Dunnocks are pretty...
Posted 9 years ago # -
Dunnocks pretty? Quite so, and quite complex love lives too;
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v338/n6212/abs/338249a0.html
Posted 9 years ago # -
The pic above now off the camera... I think I'm going to have to go back in better light...
Water Rail 4 by -blackpuddinonnabike-And one more just cos it's so sweet.
Posted 9 years ago # -
My spotted first tawny owl last night on Pencaitland Railway Walk.
Definitely my cycling wildlife highlight so far.Posted 9 years ago # -
Cooooooool!
Posted 9 years ago # -
Rail is still there. What a wee cutie. :-)
Posted 9 years ago # -
A first for me today in Big Saltoun Wood, Common Redpoll...
Posted 9 years ago # -
Skeins of geese honking their way over Craigie's this morning.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Nice one. My first redpoll was by Loch Leven. I went there today but the Loch is frozen apart from a few holes where there are huge numbers of goldeneyes and pochard swimming around.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I'm confused.. aren't geese supposed to have finished their migration ages ago? I also saw a huge formation of geese flying south the other day. I would have thought they'd have gone at the start of winter.
Posted 9 years ago # -
a lot of ins and outs on the geese front. Different species come from different parts of the world that are North of SCOTLAND to winter here. Some are also passing through to the north of England.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Not really wildlife but a sign of the coming Spring: lambs, surprisingly mature, in field near Macmerry.
Posted 9 years ago #
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