CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Leisure

Wildlife highlight of the day

(7270 posts)

  1. Min
    Member

    I just went out for a walk at lunchtime and saw a Reed Bunting. Cool.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  2. amir
    Member

    It's now that time of year when you need to remember to keep your mouth shut when cycling. Unless you need the protein

    Posted 10 years ago #
  3. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    Was this the recording scheme you mentioned the other day amir: Biological Records Centre? I downloaded the Mammal Society Tracker app and submitted a couple of sightings.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  4. amir
    Member

    I don't think so, though my mum did used to do Bot Soc records. I was probably referring to http://www.naturescalendar.org.uk/

    Posted 10 years ago #
  5. amir
    Member

    And there's also http://www.scottishbadgers.org.uk/about-us.asp if you like badgers

    Posted 10 years ago #
  6. slowcoach
    Member

    thanks for link Amir. We saw a badger outside the bike shop in Peebles late on Tuesday night.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  7. I'm not local during the week at the mo....

    All Photos-144 by blackpuddinonnabike, on Flickr

    All Photos-143 by blackpuddinonnabike, on Flickr

    All Photos-134 by blackpuddinonnabike, on Flickr

    Posted 10 years ago #
  8. jdanielp
    Member

    A heron fishing from the towpath side of the canal this morning, which took exception to my approach, took off, and then flew a little ahead of me for a short while. It chose to fly over the canal bridge which I cycled under, before landing on the far bank in Hermiston House garden.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  9. iweir1
    Member

    Counted 54 toads on the towpath between Harrison Park and Kingsknowe a few nights ago. Heron fishing on Water of Leith between Sainsbury and Asda. Also dead fox which had presumably died of death.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  10. gembo
    Member

    Saw a sheep out in the pentlands last Sunday that looked like it had very recently died of death.

    Years ago on towpath in west lothian came across betweeded huntin n shootin types who were looking to shoot birdies to death but even if not banned doubt the fox hunters would follow a fox on to the canal?

    Posted 10 years ago #
  11. amir
    Member

    Jay and hare (lying on a form?) on quick spin in Midlothian, a mallard on nest in tree in the Botanic Garden

    Posted 10 years ago #
  12. Min
    Member

    Four Buzzards wheeling above the B&Q at Powderhall earlier on today. We then went batting this evening and although it is a bit chilly we found some Soprano Pipistrelles

    Posted 10 years ago #
  13. Black Grouse on the road over to Innerliethen on Saturday in the snow. First I've seen.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  14. wingpig
    Member

    A cormorant actually swimming in the WoL just upstream of the Sandport on Sunday afternoon. I usually only see them sitting on something stretching their wings.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  15. kaputnik
    Moderator

    There's a regular pair of teal in Lochend Loch. They're quite shy though and head for the centre whenever you approach them on the path.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  16. Roibeard
    Member

    I'm stretching the thread to potential breaking point, but I did see Echinus esculentus spawning on Saturday.

    I wasn't cycling at the time, but was breathing something collected by bicycle, much to the amusement of the dive shop...

    Robert

    Posted 10 years ago #
  17. BenN
    Member

    What my ornithologically minded colleague informs me was a Ringed Ouzel on the Water Of Leith path upstream from the Dean Village this morning.

    I thought someone had spilled paint on a Blackbird...

    Posted 10 years ago #
  18. That's a seriously impressive spot (and something I've still to see). Have heard of them being seen very very occasionally on Arthur's Seat, but normally hole out in the hills (there are some in the Pentlands), completely eschewing the cities. Argh, if I was in Edinburgh just now I'd be camping out there!

    Posted 10 years ago #
  19. BenN
    Member

    Well, it may still turn out to have been a be-painted blackbird!

    Posted 10 years ago #
  20. I've had a read up, and as March is noted as their migration month, and we're a bit further north than the usual RSPB estimates, I reckon it's probably en route somewhere uplandy. So my camping out wouldn't work as he's probably already moved on. Boo!

    Red status bird, and something fab to see. You may be able to tell I'm more than a little jealous....

    Posted 10 years ago #
  21. BenN
    Member

    Feels a bit like a wasted opportunity now. I stopped the bike for all of ten seconds so I could have a closer look, and commit to memory the identifying features. Wish I had got the camera out at least!

    Posted 10 years ago #
  22. wingpig
    Member

    Barn. Owl.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  23. Ooh, where where?

    I was watching some dolphins in the mouth of Aberdeen harbour this morning. Come 5pm tonight I'll be off on a little coastal meander to see the puffins again...

    Posted 10 years ago #
  24. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @BenN

    Sure it wasn't a dipper?

    @Wilmington's Cow

    I can take you straight to Ring Ouzels if you wish?

    If I ain't mistaken, there's a kestrel's nest right under the bypass on the Lasswade Road flyover.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  25. Hadn't considered a Dipper. IWRATS, it's a date (as soon as I can work out a date).

    My last week of being near one of the few accessible mainland (small) puffin colonies, so took a ride yesterday...

    All Photos-179 by blackpuddinonnabike, on Flickr

    Posted 10 years ago #
  26. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Dippers fairly easy to spot on WoL if you look long enough, and easy enough to confuse for a blackbird with a white scarf on.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  27. gembo
    Member

    Very hard working bird the dipper. Up and down about a mile long range in and out of the water. Smaller and more plump than a blackbird. I like 'em.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  28. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Female sparrowhawk sitting on the garden wall. You don't often see them sat still as they're very wary, but I'd expect to see one on the wing around town weekly.

    But the males - only ever seen three in my whole life. They take murderous self-effacement to a whole new level.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  29. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @Wilmington's Cow

    My favourite Ouzel site is, happily, on NR1, so will make a nice jaunt à vélo. (Italics to ensure that @gembo will come with us?)

    If you're ever going north on the A9 in summer stop your car on the Slochd summit. There are a couple of pairs live on the scree slope behind the lay-by.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  30. gembo
    Member

    Happy to come ouzel spotting and espresso providing chez gembo

    Posted 10 years ago #

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