otters!

 

07-02-25 Another very average looking day but wanting to do a bit of a walk with cameras I suggested to M that we catch a tram to Balgreen or Murrayfield and walk back down the WoL. Kingfishers and dippers, that sort of thing. We were still discussing which stop to get off while on the tram, as Saughton has failed to come up with the goods recently and it seemed pointless. However, I think we must have voted against pessimism as we found ourselves walking upstream of Saughton in case those pesky kingfishers showed themselves. They did not. But we enjoyed being out and chatting grumpily about how much of a shit-show the Scottish Winter is and how at least we were getting some steps in etc etc.

moorhen in a reflective mood

banana tree in Saughton Park greenhouse 

As we were on our way downstream past Murrayfield a passer-by noticing our cameras said there were three otters near the cafe. By which we took her to mean the cabin cafe opposite the rugby stadium. I increased my pace but held little hope they would still be there. I took a swift photo of some goosanders in passing that otherwise might have kept me busy longer had I not been in a hurry.

We could see a couple of folk with long lenses and a cyclist looking into the river and right enough there were three otters, fairly oblivious to the small group of onlookers, which now included Mary and I. 

otter

I shot video when they were within range. Photos tend to look a bit nothingy (unless they are out the water) as they are a very similar colour to the water and mostly stay at least part-submerged. As Mary succinctly put it "like a jobby floating down the river." I think if there were hundreds of them people would begin to regard them like they regard rats. Lucky for otters they are rare enough to get people excited by their presence. I don't think they are as interesting as kingfishers to photo or as watchable as dippers, but I realise people fixate on them which is why I made the top picture here an otter and called this episode otters even though they were only a 3 minute incident during a 4hr 25m outing.

you wait for ages to see one
then three come along at the same time

I was complaining suggesting to Mary just before we saw the otters that maybe dippers weren't as abundant as previous years. She said there would be one in 7minutes. Possibly in order to shut me up. In order to prove her wrong I set my timer going. It was 24minutes and 58 seconds before we saw the first dipper of the day and although there was another one or 2 later, I rest my case. I wonder if they, along with nearly everything else, are on the decline. Actually it is wrong to suggest everything is in decline, but it is such a well used refrain that it sometimes feels as if there are fewer numbers of the majority of species and humanity is slowly but surely snuffing them out one by one.

double dip
who is the big dipper?

I saw this run in, presumably between 2 adult male dippers. No violence but they were definitely squaring up and making themselves large. I didn't see any climb down or defining victory but the one on the right retreated back over to the other side of the river and seemed muted. The other one hopped around as if to play up to the audience, boasting who's the daddy? to all watching. I was the only one watching (and fulfilling the role of paparazzi). I enjoyed the low key non-physical interaction unlike a couple of wrens I once saw going at it hammer-and-tongs on the ground, beaks and claws; like they were fighting to the death. And robins can be similarly pugnacious.

the daddy!

dipper clips

Mary had had more than enough action for one day and went home to get some lunch. Meanwhile I headed to Inverleith Park to woo any birds on the pond. There were some tufted ducks who are used to handouts and came over with only a little encouragement. That hybrid domestic/mallard was still around and looking confident as ever. I had hoped to get the attentions of the pigeon gang that hang there but they were busy with someone else who was throwing seed on the water. I went home via the botanics and there wasn't much going on there either.

(m)

(f)

coot

one purple among a field of yellow

a field of oyster catchers looking like a police line

looking for bodies or bullets

a blackbird (f)

botanics robin

On the way home I noticed Warriston was still closed. However on the overpass above the tunnel (where people put out seed) was the little wren that I have photoed several times down at the stream below. There is something about the big orange feet and light coloured eyebrow that identifies this one as the same one. I hadn't realised I knew him/her from all the rest. Hopefully we'll be allowed back in soon.

8.59miles in 4hrs25m