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22-11-25 Mary had seen the kingfisher at Powderhall the previous day. Since the sun was shining and we needed some exercise we headed in that direction to see if the wee bastard was there again. If you live locally you'll know the small lane St Marks Path opposite MacDonald Road is currently closed (construction site next door) and you have to go up past the old Broughton (Primary) School and turn down the steep lane to Dunedin St / Powderhall Rd.

Which is a pain but also walks you past a berry tree currently being stripped by members of the  unfortunately named Turdus family. Lovely birds, blackbirds and thrushes, not the loveliest name. Although when pedestrians went by, they flew across the road into better cover. I was more careful on the return journey.

song thrush

literally, blackbird

goosander (f)

patiently waiting for the f'kingfisher

photo Mary took the previous day

heron checking his pockets for missing car keys

coal tit

sawfly larva

long-tailed tit

treecreeper

Nice to bump into into Colin R at the tunnel and we exchanged wildlife hits and misses of late. He had been to see the bearded reedlings at Errol and having chosen a better time of day than myself got lots of photos of them. Apparently they are not bothered by human proximity and pose well. If you go early enough. Curses! That's him speaking on the video below as the wren is having a splash.

video of sawfly larva, treecreeper and wren

The above video was swithering about whether it was worth the effort. Mary, looking over my shoulder, said she liked the sawfly caterpillar (realtime not slo-mo, though looks slo-mo) due to it being backlit by bright sunshine. And that she was getting past the yuck factor of creatures a different shape and form to ourselves recognising they have an interest beyond the horror film immediacy of something weird looking. I think that's what she was saying although I may have wrongly mansplained her compliment. Anyway she said she liked it more that the other two creatures, the woodpecker and sparrow. 😉

Obsidentify says Bjerkandera adusta

squirrel on an elephants nose
(the trunk of a tree)

great tit

I took a rare wander up the North part of the cemetery as there was bountiful cheeping and peeping coming from the gardens, trees and birdfeeders there. A squirrel or two were in the area as well as reluctant starlings and many of the small garden birds.

mistle thrush
all the others were song thrushes

goldfinch

grey wagtail

Due to the St Mark’s park diversion I went past the berry trees and blackbirds again.

information

5.4miles in 3hrs20

right, m’off to Tenerife!