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.

Himalayan Balsam control, Water of Leith, Edinburgh

I spent a pleasant couple of hours this morning uprooting stems of this invasive alien plant, just downstream from Gorgie road. A small team of volunteers form the river conservation trust tackled the plant and pulled up several hundred stems, none of which had started flowering.

The riverbank is thick with vegetation at present - Butterbur, Garlic Mustard, Leopards Bane and great colourful swathes of Dame's Violet.

I found the tiny two spot ladybird (photo) clinging to a stem of garlic mustard in the undergrowth.

Woodmouse

Was out in the garden late this evening with dusk well on and saw what I thought was a robin flying onto a bird feeder hanging from an apple tree. Closer inspection showed it to be a Wood Mouse trying to extract a few of the remaining peanuts.

I was amazed at its agility as a climber - it did literally seem bird-like as it scampered from branch to branch and scaled the trunk like a tree creeper.

Quite a few large lemon yellow moths coming into the garden at dusk now - suspect these are Brimstones though not certain.

A few notes

Been quite busy lately so not been out much. Weather over past few days very summery - temps in high teens. Strange this year how early spring flowers are out alongside those of mid summer.

Green Woodpecker reported in Corstorphine hill - must be the only city location for this bird now.

Of the 3 pairs of swans on the union canal (Tollcross, Craiglockhart, Westerhailes areas), none now appear to have cygnets - no explanation of where they might have gone, though the Craiglockhart pair, as far as I know, didn't produce any.

Oddly enough the swans at Craiglockhart pond seem to be leaving the coot chicks undisturbed - was over there this morning and took a short video of the chicks being fed by a parent on the water.

Hedgehog evenings

The weather has got dramatically warmer over the past few days - temps in the high teens and quite mild evenings. In these conditions I sometimes see a hedgehog in my garden and I've even begun to wonder if it is living beneath my old greenhouse - something has been digging in underneath it anyway.

It's great to have a hedgehog visit - I believe they need a territory covering roughly 10 urban gardens so I'm lucky to see it when I do. It's especially good to know that hedgehogs have survived such a punishing winter.

I've been trying to naturalise the garden since moving here 2 years ago (an excuse for lazy gardening some would say), by for example leaving leaf litter and allowing a corner to grow wild. That should help create a habitat that encourages wildlife in general. I collected some wild flower seeds last autumn (Red Campion and Tufted Vetch) and left them in pots outdoors over the winter (the recommended way - they dessicate and die indoors). So far the Campion had sprung into leaf but is way behind its fellows in the countryside, which are in full flower now. No sign of the vetch at all yet, but plenty of time I hope.

Killer Swans at Craiglockhart Pond

The pair of swans at Craiglockhart pond have just hatched nine cygnets and are defending their territory ruthlessly. The male swan takes great exception to other birds (particularly mallards it seems), rearing young on his patch, and repeatedly chases and drowns every duckling he can catch. There were two left on Friday of last week, today none remain.

Natural History Society Outing, Roslin Glen

Roslin Glen
Cold again today - 7 degrees C max. The usual spring plants were around in Roslin Glen today but few have flowered yet. Unusual plant for me was Common Cow Wheat which I'd never seen before. Blackcaps were singing plus possibly a Garden Warbler.

Greater Stitchwort
Toothwort and Purple Toothwort were found along the riverbank.

Lammermuirs

Adder skin
A pleasantly warm if blustery day spent in the Lammermuir hills, E Lothian, with the local RSPB bird group. Among bird highlights were a flock of 40+ Golden Plover, mostly in summer plumage, 3 pairs of Ring Ouzel, several Wheatear, Dippers, Common Sandpiper and a single pair of Grey Wagtail. Willow Warblers and Sand Martins present in quite large numbers. Occasional Swallow and House Martin too. No sign of the White Tailed Eagle that has been reported here lately, though we spoke to a local keeper who had seen it more than once. One of our party found the pictured adder skin by a trackside, still showing the beautiful markings very clearly.

Botanical Gardens

Cuckoo flower seen in wild garden at the Botanics today - first I've seen this year. Female Blackbird and pair of Long Tailed Tits nest-building.

Earlier this morning a quick stroll in Craiglockhart dell revealed a few new flowers - nice patch of Goldilocks Buttercups, an occasional Ransoms finally blooming and Garlic Mustard beginning to show. Blackcap and Chiffchaff still singing.

River Tweed

A welcome change today in the cold weather pattern we've been locked in for the past week - warm sunshine, temp up to 17C. Walked the banks of the Tweed for a couple of miles from Innerleithen to Walkerburn. Pair of Common Sandpipers, not long back from west Africa, making nesting preparations along the bank side. Flock of 60+ Sand martins wheeling through the air and disappearing into riverbank nesting holes. Pair each of grey wagtails and goosanders seen.

Still very few flowering plants and no trout rising. Was due to go on a wild flowers walk in Craiglockhart dell today and a butterfly survey tomorrow but both put back a fortnight due to protracted cool weather.

Almondell

Ransoms/Sweet Cicely

A bright but cool day with a biting north east wind. Walked alongside river Almond in Almondell country park near East Calder south west of Edinburgh. First white butterfly spotted - a nervous Green Veined White that moved off before I could photograph. From the viaduct over the river a few swallows were moving - insects must still be in short supply though. Blackthorn blossom is very striking just now and has appeared quite suddenly, but much other vegetation seems in suspended development for mid-April.

First tadpoles

Wood Sorrel

Walked for an hour through the almost always deserted oak wood which skirts Dalmahoy hill, to the south west of Edinburgh. Fresh west wind, temp just into double figures. Skies unusually silent due to flight ban caused by Iceland volcano, but air perfectly clear. Saw first tadpoles of the year, in shallow pool fed by a trickle of spring water. Looked at least a week old and very lively. Also first Wood Sorrel - always a surprise to see how delicate they are. Pair of Mistle Thrushes in a tree top with male singing melodiously in short bursts.

Weather to turn cold again soon.

Corstorphine Hill

Cycled along Water of Leith walk way from Slateford Road to Murrayfield, then by the cycle path around Carricknowe golf course and up to Corsporphine Hill. Warm, bright day for mid April

Butterflies everywhere - at least ten Small Tortoiseshells along the riverside, then two Commas and a Peacock on the hill. Two further 7-Spot Ladybirds today - seems to be a good year for them so far.

Blackcap singing by the golf course and very noisy Jay on the hilltop.