saturday smiles

 

23rd Jan

It was probably myself talked Mary into this Saturday Special, the 10 miler to Corstorph Hill and (if anything left in the tank) a quick sweep round Warriston on the way home. The blue skies were really getting us out the door but somehow it was quite late (nearly midday) when we set off. 

midday sun

Large tree that fell over at Warriston wall
from other side of Water of Leith

While we were admiring the fallen tree this large heron landed in the trees next door. They are not the most elegant of birds and some of their habits (eating baby ducklings 😢) are not lovely. However they can be fairly spectacular esp when perched up a tree!

3 herons - like polythene bags caught in the trees!

Rather than go into Warriston cemetery we ran on up the Water of Leith. There were plenty birds in the bushes and we stopped at Rochied Path to photograph a couple of robins and a wren that were singing away. The wren photo is the best I've taken this season but still a long way from great. The robins were happy to sit really close and pose for photos.

grey wagtail

gallery of modern....

You can tell you are in a posh area of town (Dean Village)
when the tree decorations are of this quality. 

This photo of Mary not looking her best for Kevin who thinks I take them deliberately. You should see the unflattering photos I don't use Kevin! The coop bars were quite good with only a slight earthy beetrooty aftertaste that wasn't ideal!

all the rage

Corstorphine Hill still had the last of the snow cover and was looking fab. Unfortunately we came across next to no birds to photo. Don't know where they had all gone but we didn't hang about to find out if they were going to return. Mary was feeling a bit tired so we headed over to the Ravelston entrance and exited down Ravelston Dykes. I am not a fan of this long boring road but Mary feels it is the most direct way home. 

We ran through town then parted company near Canonmills and I went over to Warriston to check for bird activity. There was nothing much to speak of apart from the Buzzard perched in a tree. The sun had almost gone down so there was little point in hanging around.

Tesco's "owl"

just under 12miles, just under 4hrs