needs and wants

 

22nd Oct.

Mary's memory of this Tuesday wander over Corstorphine Hill is telling. We were just chatting about it and I was asking for input to help colour the blog and maybe come up with a pithy title. Mary said I was pretending to have fun to start with, but by the time we had got to the botanics I had descended into a filthy mood. Oops! 

It all started quite well: a sunny day out and an idea to catch the tram across town, get off at Balgreen and head over to Corstorphine Hill. There was a late October admiral there a year ago and the trees would be spectacular. And we hadn't been there in ages. 

I have started carrying the kit lens (12~60mm) for my good camera. I found I could (just) fit it in the protective case I carry the rest of my equipment in, and I really enjoy being able to take pictures of scenery and people, which isn't as easy with the longer lenses I use for birds and bugs. The photo below of a handsome tree in autumnal colours or the one below of Mary with the Pentlands in the distance, just wouldn't work with the other lenses. Of course the bridge camera Mary carries does both wide and zoom shots without having to change lenses but in order to get the best quality shots possible I use an interchangeable lens camera. The price you pay for that is having to stop and change lenses if you come across any wildlife.

Taking the path that goes up near the zoo we kept our eyes open for any red admirals. Sadly none about. We hung about in the area we saw one last year but there was nothing stirring in the brambles and leaf litter. Further up the path there is a bird feeder. The local birds gather there and I was excited to see nuthatches, coal tits and great tits. I changed lenses to the 400mm but the light was pretty poor. Because of this Mary didn't hang about and let me know where she was headed. I spent another few minutes but it wasn't great conditions and the birds were a little wary. I ran up the path to catch up with M. 

nuthatch

changing lens back to the 12~60
photo Mary

The light was much better near the top of the hill. The trees were looking brilliant and the ground was a carpet of yellow, orange and gold leaves. This is just near the Clermiston Tower.

Again there wasn't much in the way of wildlife other than a few large dogs out for walkies. From there we left by way of Ravelston Dykes (the usual approach in the 7 Hills race.) I don't much care for this long street full of large houses and not much else. We had decided to then turn onto the Craigleith cyclepath and go down Craigleith Hill Avenue (where I grew up) towards Inverleith Park and the botanics. On the way we called into Craigleith retail park (to use the facilities) and grab a sandwich which was eaten in the car park. The high life or what?

I had hoped we might see a fox along the way.
This was as good as it got.

When we got to Inverleith Pk Mary had a lie down.

We had hoped there might be more to see at the Botanics but again there was little to nothing in the way of wildlife. I suspect we were both getting a bit scratchy by now and when Mary wanted to visit one area and I wanted to visit another we parted company. I found a trio of bullfinches feeding on seeds but they stayed as far as possible from my (non-birding) lens. 

I found Ken at the scabious but no sign of the comma(s) despite the sun being out and nearly ideal conditions. I didn't have the patience to hang around and headed along to Warriston, which is on the way home. I texted Mary to let her know and she texted back saying she was already halfway home. 

I dropped off the last of the food I was carrying in the cemetery but there was very little happening there. Which seemed to be the theme of the day. It was all pleasant enough but a bit of a non-event. Normally over 5hrs I'd take at least 600 photos. Today, well under 300. I'd like to say it was just as good as when you see a kingfisher or a fox along the river, or capture a late season butterfly, but it wasn't. I realise that makes me kind of shallow and that I should be able to enjoy the journey as much as the wildlife. And that there are bound to be days when there is nothing to photo. But I get a far greater buzz on those days when there is more about.

9miles in 5hrs