Well its the end of the year and I need to catch up on my blog, hope everyone had a good Christmas. I always get behind with blogging this time of year as we get so busy pre Christmas.
At the beginning of October we had a few days away around Edinburgh.
On our way we stopped for a picnic lunch somewhere near Penpont.
Closer to Edinburgh we decided to investigate Harperrig Reservoir. There is a good little car park not far off the main road. This is the view from the carpark. We could just see lapwings and other waders on the shore.
Walking down the lane we bumped into the warden. He said that they had just created some walks and a wildlife hide so we decided to investigate. This area above is a wildlife area. Plenty of darters about, mostly black I think. We also watched a Bullfinch in the scrub area.
Beyond the bridge is a small area of woodland with a short walk and a lookout area overlooking the wetland. A heron was fishing here.
Lovely old stone bridge.
Another walk leads round the reservoir past this ruined tower.
Big skies!
A bit wet underfoot but this has the makings of a lovely walk.
Lots of Silver Y moths about.
Distant hills
We trird the hide, a good idea but it has a dodgy door and looked out over the fisherman so not a lot else to see.
We retraced our steps back to the bridge as it got too boggy to walk further.
Sun starting to go down
Ruined tower from the lane.
Back to our Travelodge on the Edinburgh bypass and there were squirrels outside our window, sadly they were greys, we are used to seeing reds!
Next day was damp and misty, we had a boat to catch from South Queensferry at 12.15 so decided to explore nearby in the morning. We drove to Cramond and as the tide had just gone out it was safe to walk out on the causeway to Cramond Island.
This is a busy air route and a low flying plane goes over every few minutes, time for a bit of plane spotting, British Airways this time.
Although we were the first to venture to the island this morning, there were others that were heading back to the “mainland” that had obviously spent the night there. This guy looks as if he is prepared and does it regularly with his custom trolley an guitars!
Easyjet!
The causeway and breakwater are a bit worse for wear and in need of repair.
Flybe!
A Heron
Huge arrow showing which way boats should go when the tide is in.
More Herons fishing.
A Crow on the shore
Information board on the island
From the highest point, looking back towards the causeway.
The authorities really should do something about the wild camping here and clean this beautiful place up, the anti English slogans are very off putting!
No time to explore further so we headed back to the causeway.
Crumbling giant bollards!
Wartime lookouts
A bit slippy underfoot
Turnstone
Blackheaded Gull
Toppled bollard
Reflected log.
Other people now heading out to the island
Lots of geese about…
…and Lapwings
Cramond
Plenty of yachts
Reflected yacht
Mute swans, a Canada Goose and assorted gulls being fed.
Male Mallard
Air France!
Lots of chimneys in Cramond.
2 comments:
Nice pictures!!!
I've never been to Haperrig so thanks for the tour! I love birdwatching down at Cramond, there are so many great birds, specially this time of year.
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