15-10-22
Normally I'd be tempted to call this post something like the great kingfisher hunt. But we actually saw one and so it would not fit that long held tradition of fruitless search (usually snakes or unlikely butterflies) and miserable fail. I'd heard various reports of a kingfisher upstream of the Dean Village near the Belford Rd gallery bridge that was being seen regularly there. We had done a parkrun earlier that morning and unusually both of us fancied a hike up the river in what wasn't the worst available weather.
Dean Village
Normally I complain about refurbishments or new additions. But this restored part of the riverside walk which has been closed for a million years due to slippage, has been completed at long last, is now open, and actually looks very in keeping with the surroundings and is fairly attractive. Quite a surprise!
As expected there was no kingfisher at the gallery bridge, and just a swan as a very poor second to photograph. I threw it some seeds and it came right over to try and hustle me for more. Partly successful, although I am not a huge swan fan and find them a bit pushy and too white to make interesting subjects, with a bad habit of overexposure in both senses of the word.
Before we left I suggested we walk up to the next bridge as I had seen kf flypasts on that section last time I was up this way. Mary agreed and about halfway to the next bridge we saw the kingfisher sitting on a breeze block wall on the opposite side of the river. It was far enough away to not make for the best photos and it was possibly the ugliest possible background scenery. But hey! A kingfisher! And it sat still for a few moments while I took dozens of the same crappy image. Then it dived into the river, presumably caught a fish and flew to a tree to eat it. We followed and after a short while it flew back downstream to the same ugly wall. More photos, and then it flew downstream. It was a bit unsatisfactory, but better than no kingfisher. I think it was the first time Mary had seen one sat still and catching fish, and she was quite pleased till she got home and saw how non brilliant her photos were. Pretty similar to mine. However it gave us sufficient thrill to target the place for a return visit.
We walked home via the Botanics. Not much there either but always worth a visit at this time of the year if the sun is out.
buzzard over the Water of Leith
botanical robin playing hard to get
greedy pigeon stuffing itself with berries
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