CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Leisure

Wildlife highlight of the day

(7166 posts)

  1. gembo
    Member

    Weasel tiny, stoats a little bigger. Neither make ideal pets. Ferrets bigger will accept a leash. Pink eyed albinos not uncommon.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  2. My wildlife photo exhibition is currently on display in the Porty library. It'll be moving to Piershill next, not sure when.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  3. unhurt
    Member

    I believe the distinction is that "weasels are weasily recongnised while stoats are stoataly different".

    More cygnets on WoL by Rocheid path this evening. I would say only three, but then one scrambled out of sight onto a parental back, and from the way the adults were moving it's possible there was a whole collection of extra swanlets under their wings.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  4. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Fantastic rumble round the cleuchs of the Pentlands in blazing sunshine culminating in an hour spent watching a tiercel peregrine tear up a pigeon for its nestlings as the falcon looked on from a nearby tree. Quite astonishing.

    They were being so indiscrete that the site must be well known, so its heartening that they've been left alone. If a wildlife photographer had a long lens they could get some dazzling images quite safely.

    Also dippers, grey wagtails, long tailed tits, a cuckoo etc etc.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  5. HankChief
    Member

    Another deer sighting in the International Business Gateway site tonight.

    Just the one this time, previously seen a few.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  6. unhurt
    Member

    IWRATS, I suspect I know the peregrine spot you mean - if so, there have been peregrines nesting there more often than not since I was at secondary school. Seems to be a secure spot, which is great. Amazing to see them peregrining away like that though!

    Posted 7 years ago #
  7. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @unhurt

    Then I'm a dolt for not spotting them before. I knew about the quarry pair and the island pair and the gasometer pair, but I've always wondered why the city centre didn't have one. The cathedral pair never seemed to take.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  8. gembo
    Member

    Several red kites in Galloway today, including one directly above my head when I was sitting outside Mossdale Village Shop. Awesome

    Posted 7 years ago #
  9. jdanielp
    Member

    Lots of little fishes in the shallow water of the canal around the lifting bridge and The Counter.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  10. Growing Eider Ducklings on the Shore on my way to race dragon boats at Ocean Terminal...

    Eider Duckling Pose by Anthony Robson, on Flickr

    Posted 7 years ago #
  11. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Walking up Arthur's Seat in a rather wonderful haar-induced inversion, I was repeatedly buzzed by swifts, some of which came so close I could hear their wings flapping. Quite special to be up in the clouds with these magical wee birds.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  12. wingpig
    Member

    Some swifty-looking things skittering around near a pond in Fourth-quarter Park.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  13. jdanielp
    Member

    A large rat scuttled by in front of my bicycle as I was about to exit the longest canal bridge in Wester Hailes.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  14. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Some swifty-looking things skittering around near a pond in Fourth-quarter Park.

    Swallows or House Martins more likely buzzing the ponds. Swifts will occasionally skim a pond for a drink but are more at home hoovering up insects higher up. Swallows and Martins will prey on the insects hovering over the water or even pick them off the surface.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  15. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    What kaputnik said. I watched a swallow picking big fat mayflies off the surface of Loch Rannoch the other weekend, like a miniature osprey.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  16. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    A nuthatch at Mortonhall. They are definitely on the march north.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  17. LOADS of fox action in the garden the last few days. Spent 20 minutes tonight foraging the spilled bird seed from the feeders.

    Fox Again_7 by Anthony Robson, on Flickr

    Posted 7 years ago #
  18. gembo
    Member

    There was an article on Fox News about you getting a new camera so they are queueing up for your work. Fantastic photos as ever.

    I spotted a very furry if small black rodent scuttling into bushes from WoL path the other morning - I am going to say young mink or very furry black stoat

    Posted 7 years ago #
  19. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Scottish pine martens breeding in Wales

    "

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-36498518

    Posted 7 years ago #
  20. New lens rather than camera gembo, but the effect is much the same.

    Apologies for the rash of photos, promise last for a while. Sometimes it pays to sit and watch the more common species...

    Figgate Reflective Mallard by Anthony Robson, on Flickr

    Posted 7 years ago #
  21. chdot
    Admin

    "Apologies for the rash of photos, promise last for a while."

    No need.

    Keep posting.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  22. chdot
    Admin

  23. Otter in the Figgate at 7am today, though I did see him snaffle a moorhen chick, so double-edged sword. Its siblings seemed to escape though.

    Otter Crop_2 by Anthony Robson, on Flickr

    Otter Crop by Anthony Robson, on Flickr

    Moorhen Crop by Anthony Robson, on Flickr

    Posted 7 years ago #
  24. gembo
    Member

    Lovely pictures

    Spotted an ashy mining bee in the garden (all black)

    Which is curious as I had no idea such a bee existed until two weeks ago when a friend gave me a bee chart.

    Bees also going mad this afternoon on the bushes at the front of the house Which are normally Very dull

    Was also stung by a dead bee the other night (Walter Brennan asks Lauren Bacall in to have and to have not if she was ever stung by a dead bee)

    Posted 7 years ago #
  25. amir
    Member

    Good one WC.

    Lovely ride to St Abbs today. Plenty of Vipers Bugloss and Marsh Orchids, a few hares and a roe deer playing chicken

    Posted 7 years ago #
  26. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    Don't forget the gull that stole my bread roll.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  27. unhurt
    Member

    Those otter pics are great! Er... is the moorhen chick the victim?

    Posted 7 years ago #
  28. No, that's one of the survivors that I was watching for a good 15 minutes after it got separated from the rest. I was fearful for it, but one of the adults, and the other chick, eventually reunited with it. Nature's tough really.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  29. Greenroofer
    Member

    Fox crossing Comiston Road by the Shell Garage at 0230 with something quite big in its mouth. Baby rabbit?

    A small raptor with very swept-back wings flew beside me for several minutes as I crossed the River Esk beside the M74 last night.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  30. chdot
    Admin


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