southside swells

6th Feb. I didn't have much time for a longer circuit so caught a bus to the South side. I was waiting for a Morningside one to take me to the Hermitage but when one came along for Newington Rd I jumped on it, then got off around Mayfield. This gave me a mile warm up before I turned right, into Blackford Glen Rd and into the Hermitage from the Liberton end. I checked the Braid Burn for dippers.

There is a pair fish the water near the Howe Dean Bridge but they are a lot more nervous about humans than the dippers next to the path upstream. I only got a couple of distant pics before this one flew off. I had hoped the Japanese Butterbur would be showing more signs of flowers; attracting early season butterflies. They were not only in the shade, but also still pretty much in (under) the ground. My optimism for early butterflies was again misplaced. I resigned myself to taking pics of birds, and if there were none here, I'd pop over to Blackford Pond and see the duck-rats!

This wren was tiny and didn't look fully finished.
It almost defied the camera by merging into the background.

More friendly dippers upstream, but their part of the river is shaded by trees

and the light is a bit gloomy for decent pics. Nice to see them bopping about.

OK! Nice weather for running about the hill, but no sign of tree-creepers or woodpeckers. I went down to the pond to see if the rats were about. Nobody had been spilling their seed about the pond perimeter as last time and I was actually disappointed that there were no rats to be seen. I released small crusts of bread at a very controlled rate. If you threw large handfuls the black-headed gulls swarmed into the area squawking and bickering. And I was feeling too peaceful for all that noise and bullying. I tossed morsels to the tufted ducks and moorhens trying not to draw attention from the gull gang. It was partially successful and for a change the moorhen pics were among the highlights, their big yellow flippers visible beneath the water.

Then I saw some scurrying movement in the grasses next to the pond. There were one or 2 rats in the weeds. They had seen me and were waiting for a break, to make a dash to better cover. I retreated slightly but as soon cover was broken I started video-ing getting pretty decent footage of a handsome chap doing a very decent 10 yard dash before disappearing under a some roots. Below is a still from the clip. I left as the sun was setting on the pond, taking dozens of pics that were nearly but not quite up to scratch. It was a nice end of day scene but by the time I started running again I was stiff as a board, having stood around in damp kit. I ran through the Grange then over to Holyrood and home.

8 miles

the great otter hunt

Tuesday 4th Feb. A combination of a decent forecast and a few social media postings of Edinburgh otters, inspired a "great otter hunt." They had been photographed in Figgate Park, on the canal and on the Water of Leith. 

Of course planning a "great (......) hunt" (snake; holly blue; kingfisher etc.) ensures there is never the slightest whiff of the (......). However I was using it as leverage to motivate a few miles around town, knowing there would be stuff worth a photo or 2, even if there were no otters. I have been having trouble with a lack of running mojo of late. The dull weather is enough to keep me indoors. Some weeks I can easily miss all runs Mon~Fri. But I'm still eating as if I was running 40miles a week. It does not bode well.

The other problem was the various venues were at opposite ends of town. I solved this by doing a bike ride to Figgate Pk and back through Holyrood, returning home for lunch, then running up the WoL to the canal, after lunch. 

part 1, bike route (8 miles)

First stop was Lochend Park. I hadn't planned on stopping but it was looking more delightful than usual with the low Winter sun lighting the duckies. I lured them over with some bread and talked to a dogwalker, enquiring about sightings of otters. None here according to her but it could be the next place. I think the other sites benefit from escape routes up and down rivers. Lochend seems to have no easy access.

Next stop Figgate Park. I have seen a few of the wildlife photographers posting otter photos from here. The pond seems to have quite large carp they will feed on. When I arrived there was a dude (John M) with a long lens on a Canon, with pal Keith on the pontoon boardwalk. There were a few swans and occasional goosander but little else. We chatted about the various local places where birds and the like could be found until I noticed after about 30mins a trail of bubbles going across the pond. An otter put its head above the water then immediately dived below the surface. It was to be the only sighting of the day and I missed the photo.

After about 45mins I headed off. I do not have the patience to just hang out at a spot while nothing happens. My pal Richard spent the afternoon at this place and over 4hrs got a handful of reasonable (but not outstanding) pics of the otters fishing here. I prefer to be moving, and would rather run up and down the WoL seeing what is about, than standing still for half a day, slowly going hypothermic.

I went home for soup and bread (via Holyrood.) There had been mention that there were almost certainly otters in Duddingston Loch: the Figgate and Braid Burns connect all that wetland, but there are no easy viewpoints at the West side of Duddingston without wading waist-deep into swamp land.

Birds can often be bought with bread and seeds, but how to snag an otter? I thought about tinned fish of some sort and remembered a tin of anchovies I had bought some time back because I liked the design and layout of lettering. Ahh yes there it is in the cupboard. I bet it is a year or 2 past the best before date. 2007! Doesn't time fly. I decided not to take it along for the otters. Also I had no particular plan for a delivery system other than fling from upstream. And while on the subject of wildlife and bribes, I tried to feed some dippers in the Hermitage recently, dropping small crusts of bread upstream from them. They just watched the bits float past them with the indifference of carnivores to vegetables. 

oops
come armageddon these are going to taste a little past their best

I cycled in to Holyrood through Duddinston. I went round to where the road leaves the edge of the Loch and a small trail climbs the crag at the far end just before Murder Acre. I left my bike in the grass and climbed the high outcrop that overlooks the far end of the loch. There was a small collection of herons in trees on the other side of the loch but no sign of otters. It almost felt warm enough for butterflies so afterwards I had a wee scout about the Radical Road (still not open to the public) as the sun was blasting down on Salisbury Crags. Again nothing. Apart from a robin on the Footpath Closed sign. And a watchful crow in a tree.

part 2, run route (13miles)

Home for a bowl of soup then running shoes on and up the Water of Leith. There were a pair of goosanders near the Gormley at St Mark's Park, and a distraught dolly dropped from the viewing platform at Powderhall.

There was just time to pop through the Botanics. The gardeners were clearing out all the old shrubs and canes near the Chinese Garden pond. Ken was hanging around but there wasn't any sign of kingfishers. Or much else. I pushed on having much ground to cover and a 4 o'clock meet with a potential client. Not before giving some bread bribes to a friendly little robin near the West Gate. The light in the photos is a bit weird because it was near to the interior lights of the John Hope Gateway entrance.

Gormley at Stockbridge

St Bernard was looking Well.

Gormley beneath the modern art gallery

I'm getting that Queen album cover from this photo. You know, News of the World. Not that it looks awfy like it - just the strong jawline.

I continued up the WoL slowing and scanning the banks at the Dean Village where Mary and I had seen our otter on the first of Jan. Less than nada and the light was beginning to fade, or drop beneath the tree line. I ran on, trying to visualise where I'd leave the WoL for the canal. I reckoned around the WoL centre where the canal aquaduct passes overhead. On the way through Saughton park I spotted this fox on the opposite bank snoozing in a large spread of ivy. I was tempted to cross over and approach but the next bridge was way upstream and it would have been quite a leg scratching clamber along the brambly riverbank and possibly some back gardens. Mr. Foxy had cleverly chosen somewhere with very little access. Curses!

I threw the last of my bread for these goosanders who are now habituated to the duck feeding habits of locals and will come over for a handful of crumbs and seeds. The light wasn't great and I had to lure them close to get only average pics.

back into town on the canal

So while only one otter was seen and that only for the briefest moment, it was still a good day out and about, enjoying the sunshine and a few miles round town. There was always the feeling the next corner could reveal something wonderful and so it kept me focussed. If only there were more days like these through the Winter, when it is a pleasure to be out and about, even if the otters are keeping their distance.

and without really noticing or trying to run a half marathon
I notched up 13+ miles; last few at tempo pace through drivetime traffic