Bawsinch Wildlife Reserve, Duddingston, Edinburgh

This SWT reserve fringes Duddingston Loch in the south east side of the city. It's a good area for water birds and there is a well known heronry on the south side(access to this area by permission only).

This week winter has returned, with temperatures in the low single figures and blizzards forecast for tomorrow. However, I managed to hear my first Chiffchaff, see my first batch of frogspawn and see White Butterbur in flower (last two pictured above). I also caught two herons in the act of a tree-top mating (a brief,noisy, and ill-tempered affair), and had view of a Kingfisher for a fleeting few seconds. Also present were several Teal, a few Goldeneye, and a Dabchick. So, worth the visit then, despite the cold.

Birds/more spraints - Riccarton campus walk

Walked round the grounds of the Riccarton campus of Heriot Watt University today - a lovely woodland walk where you rarely meet a soul. Big (50+) flock of Fieldfare seen foraging in pasture, and spotted the hooded crow (may be a hybrid) pictured with 2 carrion crows picking for food among a brassica crop. Found a couple of definite otter spraints in the Murray burn flowing through the grounds at Riccarton.

Otter Survey training day, The Hermitage, Edinburgh

I was lucky enough to be part of a group of around 15 attending this excellent training day organised by the Edinburgh Council Ranger Service on Sunday. The day involved a morning spent indoors getting some background info on otters and on the signs that show their presence, then a survey of roughly a 1km stretch of the local Braid burn in the afternoon. Otters are revealed mainly by their spraints (photo above). These droppings, used to mark territories, are usually black, tarry, full of fish bones and have a strong but not unpleasant smell. Other signs to look for are footprints - large, five toed and with claws, holts (large holes near water where otters lie up and rear young), and slides (in grass or mud, on steep banks and used to enter water).

Our afternoon survey produced no less than 30 spraints, most quite old (probably a week or more) but still very recognisable. I hope to do some regular surveying on Edinburgh watercourses now that I know what to look for, and would like to thank Ranger Stacey Schumacher and the volunteers for a really fascinating day.

Edinburgh Natural History Society Outing, Gartmorn Dam Sat 20th Mar

A beautifully warm, sunny day today, perfect for the Natural History Soc outing to Gartmorn Dam near Alloa. This large still water area had an interesting variety of birds, including Great Crested Grebe, Goldeneye, Tufted Duck and Dabchick. Courtship display was seen with many of these, most spectacularly in the Great Crested Grebes which seemed to be in the process of pairing off (probably at least a dozen were present). Though I didn't see them myself, a few Sandmartins were spotted.

The area surrounding the water is attractively wooded and has been additionally planted with mixed native tree species, including Hazel (catkins pictured), alder, ash and willow. Not much vegetation was showing though dogs mercury, a few coltsfoot, and the leaves of dock and celandine were beginning to make an appearance.

Very late spring

There are still no daffodils fully out in the garden, and celandines have only just begun to show this week. A blue tit was seen briefly inspecting the nest box under the eaves but has disappeared since. Last year its was early to mid April before they started taking up moss from the lawn to build there.

I have yet to see colts-foot, wood anemone or other early spring flowers, and while the daytime temperature (approx 7-10 degrees) is warmer now, there is a persistent cold wind that still makes it feel very chilly.

More snow

March has brought another heavy snowfall- up to 1 foot deep in the Pentland hills area, bringing small birds back to feeders in good numbers.

The Bavelaw Marsh reserve has an excellent hide with regularly stocked feeders, which is good for winter visiting Bramblings plus a variety of resident birds - Reed Bunting and Long-Tailed Tit seen briefly on video here with Bramblings at the start, feeding alongside chaffinch.

So many fresh water areas are still frozen, including most of Threipmuir reservoir, the Union Canal and many smaller ponds around the Edinburgh area.

Sheep,deer and rabbits have stripped bark from the base of many trees in and around local fields - must have been a hungry period for these animals.