waxwings!

 

30-12-25  A fabulous finale to 2025, photo-ing the famous five of Fountain Park! 

Well the sun did come out, although I was slow to get sorted and get on my bike. It was around midday when I got to the spot where waxwings, those delightful migrants, were spotted and flagged up on Lothain Birdwatch by Holly, a regular and very enthusiastic poster.

the famous five of Fountain Park

Waxwings will flock around berry trees: usually somewhere pretty grim on the outskirts of town. Often Sighthill. This year slightly closer to the town centre but right next to the Western Approach Road at the back of Fountain Park, a fairly unlovely-looking shopping centre. Only five birds had been reported and sure enough there they were at the top of a tall lime(?) tree. Well at least I got a distant record shot. I padlocked my bike against the railings below.

Speaking to the attendant birders it seemed the birds flew down to a rowan tree (in a back garden behind the wall) that still had a few berries on the bare branches. I chatted to a couple of folk while we waited. Stewart recognised me from Warriston, and Veronica found out we had Joanie in common. Then about every 20mins to half an hour one or more waxwing would swoop down from on high and gobble the red berries to the clicking of 5 or 6 long lens cameras. It would usually stay a couple of minutes then fly back to the tree top. Then we'd wait another 20minutes or more. Did I mention it was Baltic cold? Others, gloveless, didn't seem to notice as much but I spent most of the time blowing on my hands which were in thin gloves, in thick gloves. I was also wearing a buff and my warmest woolly hat on top. 

not a waxwing

still not a waxwing

The berry tree brought all the boys to the yard. There were chaffinches, redwings, blackbirds, blue tits and perhaps a thrush. The small garden had some flats behind and I'm sure at least one of the occupants (who drew down the blind) must have wondered what he'd done to attract the attention of a dozen paprazzi looking up at his window.

I was very pleased to get my first decent waxwing photo when one landed for long enough to get a line on it. My camera is very good for finding a bird in the middle of the branches and (using animal/bird recognition) focussing on it. I imagine the branches were causing problems for those without that tool. The birds were quick to grab as many berries in a short space of time then head back to the treetop.

Chatting to the others there helped pass the long cold minutes until a bird reappeared and everyone went quiet and focussed on the little blighters. It didn't happen often although they are not particularly shy creatures so will often sit where you can get a decent shot of them. Although don't expect them to hold a pose or a berry in their beaks long. 

This one came and sat in the non-berry tree right above where we were standing which was remarkably helpful and above and beyond the call. It was almost certainly because Stuart had gone to move his car. I think he (Stuart) saw us all pointing our cameras as he returned and broke into a rare sprint to get back in position.

redwing - the answer to the question
who has been eating all the berries

I think this one ate all the pies

A last chance to get a waxwing with the blue sky behind it. It was nearly perfect weather for them today, although I was deadly cold after 2hrs of little movement and had to cycle home like a maniac to get the blood warmed up. I could see the sun going down and was keen to get going. But would there be another couple over shortly? It is a very more-ish sport and although I was pleased with my photos I still felt I hadn't got the perfect shot and that if I just waited till the next one flew over I might manage it.

When I got home I wondered if I could fix this shot which was somewhat marred by the large stick across the centre of the photo. About half an hour with various cloning brushes and to see the result you'd never guess how much of the photo was touched in by hand. I know AI can do this in seconds but I haven't yet forked out the cash for that update, being terminally careful, 😆 but Mary has it on her machine. I should try it out as I would be surprised if AI did as neat and meticulous a job as below. Although you'd hope it would. I noticed Stuart posted a very similar shot obvs taken at the same moment when he was standing next to me. I wonder if he'll notice mine is stick free unlike his version? Mind you, he caught the bird with a berry in its beak which is something I missed. Cloning the head of his bird onto my photo - now that would be a step too far! 😁

a blue tit to finish
An excellent end to the year and a delight to see the waxwings!

grey christmas

 

Like a white christmas but more shit.
25-12-25. Well actually it wasn't that bad - the car didn't drive off the road and nobody was swept out to sea. It was just dull. The forecast sun did NOT appear and the low grey cloud stayed put and we only saw a seal and zero fieldfares, redwings, waxwings etc. It was a shitshow but we got through on pure good nature and generous spirits! Haha! Fuck you Santa.

I put that photo at the top just to underscore I did not go out to prove christmas was shit. In fact I really enjoyed the prospect of a day off work. While it was good to successfully conclude a week's work and prove I was not over the painting-and-decorating hill, I should really be doing that in a home that hasn't been va-va-voomed in 20 years. (Ours.) Never mind, we didn't have any awful xmas dinners or parties to attend and chose to spend the day going for a walk at Gullane, a favourite place. 

not as good as the original tree troll

It is probably the least I have enjoyed a walk around Gullane in I-can't-remember-how-long. It wasn't even that cold or unpleasant. Just no wildlife bar a curious seal. And the light was so utterly crap it was hardly worth carrying a camera. No half decent photos were taken. I am not just comparing this to Tenerife, I am comparing it to Gullane on a crisp Winter's day when the frost sparkles in the low sun. Anyway it was pretty rubbish so we will fast-forward to the only tiny highlight of the day which was after we parked the car back in Iona Street and were walking back to the flat. 

this insults bird photography

turnstone

Then there was a christmas miracle.
This seal swam right up to the beach we were on and barked out...

"I have a christmas message for you..."

"Merry Fucking Christmas!"

mergansers kept out of range

is that a dude with his dog on a paddleboard??!
(sadly no, just his kid)

Okay so back in the city and we see these 2 delightful pied wagtails outside our flat. Unfortunately they were unfamiliar with the usual arrangements. That for an unlimited salary of seeds or peanuts they have to stand and face the camera. I'm guessing the people of Leith haven't acquainted these 2 with the arcane practice of throwing food for birds. They did not approach the seed I was scattering and only moved further down the road pecking at trash and bits of discarded semi-organic rubbish from bins. Yuck! They are properly urban dwellers though, and seem to have adopted mid-Leith as their stomping ground. There was one that was very bold along London Road and Elm Row for a while. I can't be sure one of these isn't that one - or related. I've seen them since and they regularly haunt Leith Walk, Pilrig Street and MacDonald Road. If they are all the same pair and not just cousins. 

I was trying to get a comparative of them both in the same photo. I think (if one is male and the other female) the one with more contrastful face markings would be the male. The female appears to have some mottled feathers just behind/below the eye whereas the male (if that is he) has just black and white face plumage and mostly white. As you can tell I am no expert. Feel free to google it or comment if you have any insights!

the mister?

It makes me think I must try and adopt them, at least as photographic models, the next time the sun shines. If it ever does again. I had been hoping for waxwings but it seems whoever was taking orders misheard but knew it started with a W. And they are very cute. A few waxwings have arrived in town and if the sun does ever come out I might go on that wild goose chase. All the berries have fallen or been eaten off the trees in Dalmeny Park so they won't be coming back here if they do show up this year.

female?

And in case you are thinking "why bother writing up such a dull walk to Gullane then?"

Well, if it fulfils no other brief it at least hits a target I have been considering since the Summer, when the great weather produced a number of adventures and trips outdoors which then produced a high number of blog entries. At some point around September or October I realised I was potentially on course for a record high number of posts in a single year, the previous best being 133 in 2017 and 132 in 2013. This is the 134th blog this year and has just crossed the line before the end of year cut-off which might be a bit earlier than midnight on the 31st because it is on an American template which probably uses Amercan time not UK. (From my limited understanding.) Now I don't normally sail under the flag of "never mind the quality, feel the width" but I won't stop you raising a glass to this small achievement, won by the smallest increment (in true Duplantis style), but won nevertheless! Cheers!

...maybe time yet for another entry, if I get my skates on...