Grey Mare's Tail, Scottish Borders

Outside the local area, I went on a National Trust for Scotland Wild flower Walk at the Grey Mare's tail reserve near Moffat in the Scottish Borders.

Gosford Estate, Aberlady, East Lothain

Took advantage of the exceptionally warm, sunny weather today to visit Gosford Estate near the village of Aberlady in East Lothian. I walked though an area of mixed farmland and woodland, and though most birds seem to have gone silent by now, several Yellowhammers were still at it with their characteristic 'bread and no cheese' song.

Butterflies on the wing included several Small Tortoiseshells, many ringlets and Green Veined Whites, and the occasional Meadow Brown.

Linn Dean, Midlothian

I visited Linn Dean today, a reserve to the South of Edinburgh managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust. This visit was organised jointly through the Edinburgh Natural History Soc and the Butterfly Conservation Trust. The reserve lies just off the A68 road, in the shadow of, but not blighted by the large wind farm on Soutra Hill. It really is a hidden gem - a deep stream valley that becomes a gorge in sections before disappearing into a conifer forest.


It's a great area for butterflies - we saw quite a a few Northern Brown Argus, a good many Dark Green Fritillaries (photo), and numerous Small Heaths, Ringlets and others. Yellow Shell and Six Spot Burnet moths (photo) were recorded too.

Rock Rose, Common Spotted and Northern Marsh Orchid, Marsh Cinquefoil and Moonwort were among the plants seen on the day.

Gladhouse, Moorfoot HIlls, Midlothian

Took a short walk round part of Gladhouse reservoir in the Moorfoot Hills today. Almost literally stumbled on this nest of 4 very young pheasant chicks whose mother made off into the undergrowth, re-uniting with her brood after I'd passed.

A pleasant, warm afternoon, with dozens of Ringlets and a few Meadow Browns flyng.

RSPB Bird Cruise, Firth of Forth

Joined one of the annual summer bird cruises on the Firth of Forth this morning. Weather calm and peaceful as we set out from Queensferry but an hour later we were battling a gale force wind, and the boat had to turn back before we got to Inchkeith island.

Plenty of birds seen including good close-ups of Gannet, Puffin, Fulmar, Terns, Razorbill and Guillemot, plus a flock of common Scoter flying over.

Many grey and a few common seals hauled out on the rocks and buoys.

Mortonhall Estate, Edinburgh

This pleasant area of farmland, with its network of paths and country lanes, lies on the southern fringes of the city next to Fairmilehead. It's within the city bypass and the sound of traffic is always there, but today I came across three brown hares and lost count of the number of small tortoiseshell butterflies on the wing. Birds encountered included Yellowhammer, Blackcap and Whitethroat - all still singing quite clearly.

Kindrogan, Perthshire

Outside the Lothian area, I've recently been doing a couple of courses at the Kindrogan Field Studies Centre near Pitlochry. Last weekend I did a mammals identification course run by the Mammal Society, which included a lot of practical outdoor work on trapping and recording small mammals in and around Kindrogan House in the river Ardle valley. We caught a total of 28 mammals (mainly woodmice and bank voles, with one common shrew) in Longworth traps over the course of 3 days, releasing them all quickly once we'd had a chance to observe and handle them. We also went out hunting for tracks and 'scats' of Pine Marten and other animals, recording some good examples.

It was an extremely interesting experience and shed a lot of light on what goes on in the nocturnal world most of these creatures inhabit.

Here are some clips of the 'wee beasties' we had the pleasure of getting to know more about.

Penicuik Estate, Midlothian

Walked the North Esk river from Penicuik up to Penicuik House today - lovely walk in perfect summer weather. Several Bird Cherry trees completely covered in webs of the Cherry Ermine Moth caterpillar and many stripped to the bone.

Blackcap and Chiffchaff still singing. Small flock of Greylag on pond below the derelict house, which is currently being restored.

Pyrenean Valerian present in several places by the riverside - seems to be getting more common by riverbanks in the Lothian area. Apparently southern Scotland is the UK stronghold of this introduced species.