up the WoL

 

The 5th Feb was supposed to be glorious sunshine all day according to the forecast. I packed sandwiches and set off as early as seemed sane. I think I left the house around 9am with the idea of hitting Warriston, the Botanics then getting up the Water of Leith as far as I could be bothered. Unfortunately the weather did not match the forecast, but since I was out and about I did the best I could. 

I had been meaning to try out the early bird approach to Warriston ever since a dogwalker said I'd be better off turning up at 7am for birds. On reflection (since it was dark at 7am back when he conveyed this info) I think he was just jealous of everyone who got a lie in and wanted others to suffer as he did. My conclusion was that at 9.15 there was not significantly more bird activity. In fact maybe less. 

LTT

Nice to see the first daffodils emerging

(with dunnock rummaging in background)

The first daffs to actually flower were mid Feb. They had been pushing through since late Jan and early Feb but it was only during a warmer spell around the 16th and 17th that they burst forth in yellow explosions.

dunnock

boing!

near collision

I was very pleased when this female blackbird lit on the secret garden bricks. I have been admiring the blackbirds in their flirting plumage recently. It has the look of carbon fibre, the way small areas catch the light. I shot some video and it is posted at the top of the page. Partly as an experiment to see if, when posted on social media the video plays on the facebook link. I don't think it will. But mainly because it was the best thing I shot all day. I put it on fb already with the caption 'commonplace but exquisite' which I think sums it up. I imagine most experienced bird enthusiasts might dismiss these garden visitors on account of not being rarer, but I am really enjoying their company. They are big fans of my homemade bread although will eat the sunflower hearts as well.

glimpse of goldccrest

prime bathing time tends to be around midday

there have been a few goldfinches near the stream too

I hoped the scaffolding on the St J Quarter meant they had come
to their senses and were pulling down the turd emoji. Sadly not.

Feeling slightly disheartened that the forecast blue skies were covered with a layer of haze and cloud, I decided to follow the plan anyway. I had food and drink to last the day and maybe the sun would reappear later. Spoiler alert: not really. There were brighter moments but it makes me curse this cold northern country when I think there are already butterflies out in the South of the UK and France and Spain and all of Europe, while we wade through months of mud, sleet and cold winds. 

all the botanics had to offer was this fat wood pigeon
so I continued onwards up the WoL

I noticed several pigeons in these holes in the WoL wall near Stockbridge. Pigeonholes! Of course. It hadn't really occurred to me that pigeonholes might literally be just that. There seemed to be one or 2 birds in every space and I thought if the light was good it might make a nice project to do a series of maybe a dozen pigeonhole photos complete with pigeons. 

the bridge above Belford Bridge was not repaired

Although usable I wasn't feeling that much like putting away the camera and accepting the challenge a crossing posed. Also if I fell in the water it would really make for a shitty day and kill my camera, and possibly me. I did not feel my luck was sufficiently in and without further consideration took the longer way up to the gallery and down the trail at the back.

nice to see the crocus out behind the gallery

No sign of the kingfisher at Belford. I wandered on to Roseburn where there is a corner of the river, before Murrayfield where goosanders gather. And ducks and heron. There were 3 heron on the way up. All stood a little distance from each other on top of the car showroom buildings. Clearly aware of each other but keeping a frosty distance.

now who does this remind me of.....?

pied wagtail

I continued to wander. I had a notion to get to Saughton Pk where you can sometimes see otters and kingfisher although the day was turning into a very average grey afternoon. I promised myself if I got as far as that I would allow myself a ride home on the bus. I had my free bus pass with me. I was feeling a bit weary and yet the lure of exotics to justify an otherwise pretty samey day out was goading me on. I was rewarded with a pair of dippers just this side of Saughton. I crept down to near the water and did what I could in the flat light. 

stranding high to see upstream

No sign of otters or kingfishers. I went up one side and returned on the other. The light was done for the day. A blackbird was hovering in a bush nearby and giving me a look that suggested she was used to being fed. I fished in my pack for the bread and seed bags and put some out on the wall nearby. In no time there were robins, a dunnock, a woodpigeon and herself all enjoying the handout. I left the last of my bread there as there is no point in taking crumbs home to moulder until next trip out. There seemed to be sheltered housing next door which explained the birds being so used to getting fed by humans. 

watch out behind you!

Saughton

and then there were 6

On the way back the herons near the car showroom had doubled to 6! A local noticing my interest told me they did have 7 but one had gone missing recently. I wonder what they find particularly captivating at this spot? Maybe they are congregating before pairing off? 

I had intended to catch a bus but as I walked towards the stop I saw a bus just leaving. I had my new iPhone with me but have not yet got the bus app on it that tells me when the next one was to arrive. Also I didn't know what bus to get as I am rarely in that part of town. It all seemed to be so much more hassle than just walking. I thought I'll just walk for a bit and see how that goes. I ended up walking home although it never at any point got to be fun. There were more pigeonholes going back through Stockbridge but the light had gone. 

13miles, 6hrs30