the week in warriston

 

11-03-23

I have been greatly enjoying the company of birds along at Warriston. I don't mean Mary, although she has been pretty much as enthusiastic as I have been lately. Not being able to run she has been appreciating the walk along and back and speaking to our feathered friends. 

mr grey wagtail

One of the great joys is seeing them all sploshing about in the wee stream that runs under the tunnel and exits into the Water of Leith. The wagtail has fully regrown his tail and has been wagging it with renewed vigour of late. He has a girlfriend! I felt something like a proud parent when I saw him escorting his new mate round the area. They were quietly modest and stayed a formal yard apart at all times but what a change in fortunes for this wee guy. I am so happy for him. The female is nearly identical but perhaps a shade less vibrant yellow around chest and tail. They are always within sight of each other whenever we go along there, and on one side of the tunnel or the other. Will they produce a clutch of little lemon meringue pies? I can't wait!

great tit

dunnock

secret garden robin

redwing
the warriston redwings keep well hidden

Unlike the wrens who make a huge din shouting at the tops of their voices. And it's not just empty threats as you'll see later in this post. They do seem to be very active currently and I can only assume they were very successful last year and there are loads more this year all staking out territories and letting everyone know they mean business.

15-03-23

Several of the days started sunny but then clouded over. I find it very frustrating - the difference between bright days and overcast makes the difference between great pics and ones hardly worth posting. I'm not sure how best to fly South for the Winter but must look into it. It seems such a waste of life to just be waiting around for the sun to come out. 

Mike (of Plaque Attack fame) is working up his next running tour. Of churches no longer used for their original designation. (Title to be decided but might be Steeple Chase. I suggested Purchased Churches Repurposed or, if brevity is your thing, Altered!)

I only know of Alien Rock at Granton and the excellent church there, that is now a climbing wall. Although there is a church-like building just up from Granton Sq that sells timber or picture frames. I expect there are plenty more as the church industry does not have the same sway or hold over people, now that we have emerged from the dark ages.

Meanwhile Mike asked if I knew of the resting place and marker stone of Hippolyte Blanc. He was an architect and designed several of the more typical looking Edinburgh churches around the city. Despite wikipedia wrongly describing where his gravestone lies in Warriston, I recognised the area near the crypts and found the distinctive (church-like) headstone quickly. Despite all of his work promoting Christianity, Jesus was incomprehensibly cruel to him, killing his 2 children in infancy. 

a sharpened wooden stake in a graveyard?
a touch Bram Stoker?

squirrel with a walking stick

song thrush

17-03-23

long tailed tit

riverside robin

bullfinches are regular bathers
often around midday

On this occasion we traipsed along to the Botanics although there wasn't much there. There is usually a friendly robin or 2 at the Chinese Pond. And tits and dunnocks. No kingfisher. We checked round a few of the places there might be a foolish butterfly emerged a little too early and looking for a snack before retreating back to hibernation, but none were that silly. (Ken reported a tortoiseshell and peacock there round about the 23rd March.)

Has somebody been feeding the squirrel salted peanuts again?

early buds sprouting all around

dunnock

When M and I go to the 'tanics, one of us - usually me - says "And Hugh will we see in the Botanics today?" Because Hugh the birder is almost always there. The appropriate response is "dinnae Ken" because there is a good chance that Ken D will be there too. That said we didn't see either on the last 2 or 3 trips so I will have to work up some new material. 

Campbells magnolia in bud
should be flowering about now

and each one painstakingly hand-painted
by mother nature and outdoor jesus

that's not getting the gardening done

18-03-23

The day started and finished with a bit of kingfisher action. We have given up on the Belford Rd one. It hasn't been seen in many weeks. Shame, as it was inured to human traffic and would sit for photos. There is a female seen regularly along at Powderhall but she is so flighty it is hugely frustrating fighting against the odds to try and get a photo. Mostly she is a flash of electric blue and turquoise as she zooms up or down river. If she sees us watching she ducks behind the wall of overhanging tree ivy or flies off. 

with a fish

There is a squirrel who responds favourably to bread on her low stone and a whistle. There used to be 3 or 4 that would descend out the trees at the East end of Warriston - now just one. She will eat all the bread and seeds I put out, favouring the bread. The spoiled squirrels of the botanics turn their noses up at bread, or anything less than stockbridge deli mixed nuts and caviar.

So pleased to see mrs. hopalong.
AWOL for a few visits and now back and looking well.

wren seen from back stage

testing a blue tit for approach-ability

We are now recognised by the small birds when we arrive at the couple of places we put out food. They sing out the food call to tell others and hop up and down on their perches. And start to arrive at the tables before the food does. The blue tits are usually first to arrive and so Mary tried them for handfeeding potential before we put out food. The blue tit had to fight its instincts and was halfway to Mary's hand before it turned around and realised it was about to break ALL the rules. I think if we had had a harder Winter they would have gone for it. They are certainly not scared of us and will sit within inches while food is being put out. The blackbirds are very friendly too (and obvs the robins).

Today was a brilliant little success with a third or 4th robin. Not actually within Warriston but on the cycle-path between the cemetery and Tescos there is a robin in the trees there who came over for a chat the other week. I held out bread and he sat close and flew halfway then turned at the last moment. I gave him some bread on the ground and thought, "next time". 

The following time going past I found a robin near where the last one was and held out a hand with bread. Not such a good response - it just sat and looked at me as if I had lost my senses. I asked casually if he remembered me and just at that point a woman I hadn't seen, cycled past. I wondered what she made of someone, standing on their own, saying don't you remember me? into the trees.

Anyway today Mary and I were looking out for this robin. One was there and came hopping through the branches with such speed I thought we are on for it today. Sure enough it put the brakes on first attempt, but rallied its courage and second attempt flew off with a piece of bread into the bushes. I'm pretty sure it won't have learned this behaviour in 2 or 3 visits and wonder if a local gardener is feeding it. Or at least getting it used to humans. I think we now have 3 or 4 handfeeding robins in the area. We discussed ways of marking them with tipex or something to tell them apart. 😂

blue tit deferring to blackbird

bullfinches in the tunnel stream again

riverside robin

Next up we saw a scuffle in the dried leaves between 2 wrens. It was deadly serious and both looked like they were battling to the death. Rolling about on their backs with tiny claws in each others feathers. They were so focussed on fighting we were able to get close without them paying attention. It went on for a couple of minutes with neither bird giving ground. After quite a battle they both appeared to fly off uninjured. 

the wagtails! 💘💘

him?

her?
(not sufficient difference to be absolutely sure)

one terrible photo of the kf on the way home

more animal ER!

As we walked home the sky darkened and what had been warm got pretty cold and blowy. On the  pavement at the end of our street we saw this large bee. I like bees but am no huge fan. But couldn't bear the thought of a local drunk or phone zombie carelessly stepping on it. I picked it up with a view to putting it down away from the pavement, maybe along at the park. However it was looking in bad shape (cold and slow) and I thought maybe we could give it something to drink before sending it on its way. It was reluctant to leave the warmth of my hand which touched my heart even though I knew it was just looking for a warm place to snuggle down for the night. 

5 minutes later there was a huge downpour and I was really pleased we had taken it indoors. We diluted sugar in hot water, cooled it and put it in a jam jar lid. It seemed to have a big drink and then crawled between the folds of a warming pad. Something Mary had got for a stiff shoulder that you warm up in the microwave. Beans and seeds and stuff that smells a bit like outdoors/plants. Anyway the bee enjoyed the warmth and we put it all with some flowerheads in a large tupperware box with holes in the top.

Next morning I looked in to it with trepidation expecting the same story as the mouse hospital. However it was alive and well and once it was put next to the window began to buzz its wings for the first time. I took it down to the back green and placed it on a bramble leaf near the flowering jasmin. It got its bearings and took off! It flew a couple of circles then headed up and away and I realised I should have filmed it, put some overly sentimental music on and posted it on social media. Haha!

I was pleased to see it fly off with such vigour, unlike the cold, slow specimen we had taken in the afternoon before. And now when we see a large buzzy bumble anywhere we shout hello in the certainty it is our overnight guest.