14th Feb. Lochend Park is halfway between nature reserve and desolate urban sinkhole, with elements of both. Since my favourite haunt Warriston is still (officially) closed I have been considering other local areas to visit. Lochend came up and I pushed it to one side. I was rejecting the desolate urban sinkhole part. Then I remembered it has a thriving rat community and I changed my mind. I see more kingfishers and otters than I see rats. I quite like them, as long as it isn't swarms and they aren't in my attic. And it is only a mile away. Since it was only partially sunny I opted for Lochend.
The place was littered with herons. They are large mostly solitary birds and the raft of dead trees in the centre of the pond is something of a heronry. They can make big nests in the branches and rear chicks away from the foxes, dogs and local neds. There were a couple round the edge of the pond posing like gloomy prophets but more were in the central island of trees.
lots of pigeons too, naturally
a few Canada geese
and plenty rats
If you weren't looking out for them you might not notice the rats. They are the same colour as the leaf litter they haunt and will run from humans rather than confront them. Especially dog-walkers. However if you stand still near where bird seed has been put out you might notice them keeping an eye on things and working out if you are trustworthy or slow moving enough to approach. Once they have established you are not making any sudden lunges they will come quite close. This first one was using a hole in a tree as a vantage point from which to assess me. They can be sociable. Today I saw a pair, then a single specimen, then towards the end of the visit I saw a family of four: dad (largest), mum and 2 offspring!
ducks in a row
This was a really cute rat. It looked well groomed and healthy and was just the other side of the fence which gave it the confidence to sit quite close to where I was taking photos and eat some sunflower seeds.
moorhen
moorhen feet
coot feet
coot
black-headed gulls
juv gull
coot
mallard (f)
greylag goose
feral pigeons
There is a wooden platform at the far end of the pond. It has these info signs which are aging but okay and about 30 tufted ducks in a small gang happy to be thrown bread and seeds. A few geese hanging about the edges as well. I saw no sign of the little grebe that Alan C had photo-ed fishing earlier in the day.
male tufted duck
female tufted duck
local youth reducing their carbon footprint by
travelling together on an electric vehicle
a pigeon tree
the rat family!
dad, 2 youngsters, then mum
they seem to play well together
There is a tendency for humans to hate things they have to share the planet with. Rats, due to their success and fondness for cohabiting with humans, often come into that category. I was pleased to note that the only comments from passers-by were fairly positive. I was probably drawing attention to them by pointing my camera at them, and I heard a couple of people chatting as they went past. I was pleased to hear the average comment was along the lines of "aw, look at his wee face". I believe rats have as much right to be here as otters, kingfishers and the wildlife we treasure. (As long as they stay a decent distance from my house!) They were what I spent the most time photographing today.
I always feel this was something of an optimistic naming of a street
but intend to get a butterfly photo near the roadsign at some point
but intend to get a butterfly photo near the roadsign at some point
On the way home I took a quick look round Edinburgh Eastern Cemetery. It is a pretty neat and tidy cemetery and not one where you'd expect much wildlife. It is also quite busy with recent memorials and maybe not the best place to wander round taking photos. However there were no mourners on this occasion and it was ages since I'd last (if ever) checked it out. The front gate is off Easter Road and it is not far at all from the famous football ground. It is far too well groomed to encourage wildlife and the only things worth pointing the camera at were a few redwings, some finches flying through and a rather nice mistle thrush.
Hopefully Warriston will be open again soon.
just under 3 miles in 2hrs25
