Rat running across Russell Road last night.
Thought it was a certain local resident's familiar.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Leisure
Wildlife highlight of the day
(7223 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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I think that I might have alarmed Lilac Helmet Lady this morning
Let's hope not. A batsman leaving the crease during a cricket match I was playing in once belowed 'Sparrowhawk!' and I thought he was mad or engaging in euphemism. Took years to realise he'd just seen one and wanted to let us know.
Posted 8 years ago # -
This morning I spotted a rather large black object in the branches of one of the trees on the far bank of the canal just west of Meggetland, which I immediately assumed to be a bin bag, but it turned out to be a black cat which was staring intently into the water from an overhanging branch. Perhaps it has been inspired to try new fishing techniques by the kingfisher? (Hopefully not chasing it!)
Posted 8 years ago # -
Not rare, but you don't see that often in urban areas.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@chdot
I am delighted to say that I both participated in and enabled that survey by prompting one of the recorders to take up wilderness cycling. As you might imagine, a lot of the nest sites can only be accessed after a long hike up estate roads lugging climbing and cold weather gear.
Also to be noted - the survey has revealed that eagles are omni-absent from the eastern Cairngorms, where they keep committing suicide by eating exotic pesticides when they can't get access to a shotgun to shoot themselves.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"I am delighted to say that I both participated in and enabled that survey by prompting one of the recorders to take up wilderness cycling."
Well done.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Nota bene The waxwings are coming to a berry bearing tree near you any day and in enormous numbers this year.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"
WaxwingsUK
WaxwingsUK @WaxwingsUK12th Nov: 35 west over the Prestongrange Industrial Museum - Musselburgh (Lothian), 6 by Travis Perkins Mintsfleet Rd - Kendal (Cumbria)
"
https://mobile.twitter.com/WaxwingsUK/status/797477204192006144
Posted 8 years ago # -
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Jamie (@Gibsonman53)
13/11/2016, 08:55
@WaxwingsUK Gullane East Lothianhttp://pic.twitter.com/8yrbIpRLJT
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Also (nice pic)
https://mobile.twitter.com/Gibsonman53/status/797455917516288000
Posted 8 years ago # -
Fabulous photo
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Owen Selly (@Owen_Selly)
11/11/2016, 11:19
20+ Waxwings in Whitefriar's Crescent, Perth this morning @WaxwingsUKhttp://pic.twitter.com/4imdnt1FTI
"
Posted 8 years ago # -
I cycled to Gullane to search for waxwings but saw none. I did see quite a few birders with mahoosive camera lenses looking even more frustrated than me
Posted 8 years ago # -
The Meggetland kingfisher was perched on a branch just to the east of North Meggetland double-bridge this morning.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Bike in front of me on the towpath beside the Meggetland flats these evening ran over a
large water volerat. Thelarge water volerat passed under the bike between the front and back wheels and was knocked off its feet, but scurried off into the reeds at the edge of the canal.It was a surprisingly large
large water volerat.Posted 8 years ago # -
Five swans flying startlingly low over Craigmillar Park in a perfect vee formation.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@iwrats at close quarters the wing beat of the swan makes an audible whoop whoop noise and causes much turbulence
Posted 8 years ago # -
A very small mouse with rather appealing large ears frozen in my headlight on the towpath out beyond the bypass this evening.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@grrenroofer I saw one just like that with its wee teeth wrapped around a sliver of fudge in the trap next to my washing machine this morning. First of the winter. Unlikely to be the last if cold. Little field mice coming in from the cauld blast only to be slaughtered. Still they feel no pain and die with a taste of fudge which they love.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@gembo
We have a large orange cat which installed itself in the house and no mice. There was a mouse yesterday, outside, up on its back legs and preparing to fight said feline. It passed on without ever tasting fudge I fear, but it was an impressive dispay of defiance.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Small deer - type animal just on the West Side of the acquaduct this morning. Disappeared into the undergrowth as another cyclist went past and before I had time to get my phone out.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@iwrats we have two cats on either side so the mice see our garden as UN Mice Safe Zone but alas if they eat the fudge they die. Another this morning. So dependent on the breeding cycle, that is it or another six to take out. That is where the cross section of fudge helps to keep costs down. The little blighters have gnawed through too many dishwasher pipes to be all zen about them.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Deer on the canal towpath this morning.
Just before the aqueduct, heading in to town.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Waxwing sightings here: https://twitter.com/waxwingsuk?lang=en-gb
Posted 7 years ago # -
@CJC - wow - do you think it came up the stairs or crossed the aqueduct? Was it heading in to town for xmas shopping?
Posted 7 years ago # -
A couple of deer on the towpath this morning around 9 am at the same place that chrisfl and CJC spotted them above. They were remarkably unperturbed until I was quite close, at which point they ran towards me before leaping into the strip of woodland running between the towpath and railway. I assume that they must have wandered over the bridge from Colinton Dell at some point. Given their diminutive size (although they are possibly also juveniles), distinctive white tails and proximity to a navigable waterway, I conclude that they must be roe, roe, roe your boat deer.
Posted 7 years ago # -
@Cyclingmollie
I half wondered if a small flock hadn't flown over the house yesterday. Not a bird I know well enough to spot at distance, but they weren't thrushes or starlings....
Posted 7 years ago # -
they weren't thrushes or starlings....
IWRATS - that is the main ID point for Waxwings so it is possible. I have been keeping an eye out myself but haven't seen any yet.Posted 7 years ago # -
that is the main ID point for Waxwings
I did not know that. I also shall keep my peepers peeled.
Posted 7 years ago #
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