Leith; buildings and birds

 

2nd Jan

An unusually bright and sunny day. Mary still unable to run properly so we went for a walk, locally with bridge cameras. It's fascinating to take a closer look at all the stuff that surrounds you - most of the time we are hurrying past and don't take much notice of the details. Especially the loftier detailing of local buildings. 

someone had put this splendid chintzy bag out to the rubbish

"king of the world"

nautical but nice

There was a lively gang of maybe 20 sparrows on the bushes at the side of the Water of Leith walkway. They would sit on the railings and were feeding on seeds on a wall nearby. Unfortunately the nearly constant human traffic continually disturbed them. I felt I must go back on a quieter weekday and have a proper photo session. Managed to get a few pics but felt there was potential for much better.

I got in a real fury about the "ducks". There was a cluster of goosander, mallards and tufted ducks on a dull section of the WoL. I thought I would lure them upstream to a sunnier, well lit spot (more suitable for a photoshoot) by throwing bread for them. Unfortunately before I could get this scheme properly underway a couple of thickasfuck numpties (at the unlit dull section) started chucking whole slices of nasty white bread into the water. Although a pair of goosanders had swum up to where I was introducing small nibbles of artisanal loaf, they could see there was a carb-loading party downstream and re-joined the feeding frenzy. Best to just walk away shouting obscenities about the general public and how they shouldn't be allowed out, rather than pick a fight with some Leith low-lives. It does put me off taking walks at the weekend when so many fuckwits are let out for walkies.

With the same generosity of spirit, I initially thought this fluro-clad community were on day release from the prison or similar institution. On closer inspection they were far too middle class and polite. I believe they might have been tidying the walkway, or having an extended lunch break while preparing to remove litter, weeds and tidy up, though we didn't hang about long enough to ascertain. 

Almost inevitably we headed into Warriston Cemetery. It was another of those days when the sun was out but the wildlife wasn't. I had hoped to see the kestrel and a few of the other birds there, but very little showed itself - there must have been something good on telly. Or maybe the higher-than-usual count of weekend dogwalkers had discouraged the birds. There was a dead pigeon on the large monument of Rev J Peddie. Presumably a dog-walker had thoughtfully placed it there after their dog had dispatched it. (Next visit and 95% of the pigeon had gone and there was just a morsel of red meat and a scattered pile of feathers. So it didn't go to waste.) I don't know if a sparrowhawk would take a dead bird. Or if it was more likely the nocturnal visitors - foxes and owls. 

secret garden looking attractive
but too cold to hang about for a crowd

riverside robin

Mary had had plenty by this point. She left to go home and I went back for a another circuit to see if anything had turned up. There was a blackbird at the feeding tables but nothing else of note. On the way home I took photos of the flats you can see from MacDonald Road. They sometimes catch the sun and glow white-silver. And the uneven arc of the roof pitch is so much more attractive (and practical - for shedding rainwater) than a standard square flat roof. A very pleasant day out. (Apart from the people!)