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20-12-25 The sun appeared on Saturday the 20th so I took enough time off the week's work to pop along to Warriston and see how it was doing. From fb notifications I was aware it had been closed quite a lot due to high winds and storms.

On the way along Pilrig St I photographed a blackbird enjoying the berries there. The berries at this time of the year always get me thinking about waxwings. None have been reported in significant numbers yet although a few individuals have appeared in the Lothians. (Update - 5 seen in Edinburgh area near Fountain Park!)

goosander on the WoL
(no sign of the kingy)

curlews and oyster catchers on Goldenacre playing fields

There was no great sign of bird activity in the place when I arrived and I resorted to photo-ing the squirrels who are not as bold as the Botanics squirrels, but smart enough to know who might be carrying loot. This one came close when I threw it a few peanuts and then sat in the carpet of ivy with just its head above the canopy looking v cute!

a few of the usual suspects about

great tit

blackbird (m)

blackbird (f)

nice to see a coal tit come down for a splash in the tunnel stream

long-tailed tit

While I was standing by the tunnel stream I noticed a fox jump out the undergrowth on the riverside area and leg it through the tunnel into the main part of the cemetery. I followed it at a jog and asked the two women standing on the other side with their mobiles out and jaws dropped if a fox came by. They pointed which direction it had gone in but there was no way I expected to see it again.

It was the first time in 5 or 6 years coming here I have seen a fox within the cemetery. It looked fit and well but would not be hanging around for a photo given the number of folk with dogs. (Many of them still with dogs off leads despite the council tightening the rules on that and Paul coming down regularly to chat to folk about it. When I arrived he was trying to convince a rather bolshy dogwalker with 2 dogs both off lead, that that was not allowed. He was getting a surprising amount of push back from the arsehole and I didn't envy him the task in hand).

I was sorry to get only a couple of record shots hastily fired off
but it was considerably better than none

the bullfinches enjoy the new buds and old seeds on trees and shrubs

goldfinch

There was a robin that wasn't shy sitting on gravestones and letting me get close. At this point I bumped into Alan and we chatted about Tenerife and sunshine and Edinburgh and overcast grey weather. He had found a huge variety of ladybirds (not just harlequins) around the place. 

stock dove

dunnock

great tit

winter gnats in sunlight

cheeky magpie nipping in ahead of the crows

Goldenacre playing fields awash with curlews amd oystercatchers

- more than you'll find down the beach

I was back on the cyclepath just beyond the overpass (the tunnel, if down in Warriston) when I heard a commotion of bird song/calls. I wondered if a bird of prey was in the vacinity. I didn't see one but among the finches, blackbirds and tits I did see a woodpecker high in the trees. As I was taking pics, another one which had been hidden by the trees flew out and I got a lucky shot of 2 in the same photo. 

Time to get home for a late lunch and some of that great soup Mary has been making recently. Celery and beetroot based with a few other veg and hot chillies (all whizzed with a blender) to warm the soul. Excellent winter fare!