MAY 2026
Another busy photography month comes to a close. May started with a trip to France by train. The aim of the trip was to photograph the flamingos in the Carmargue area, in the south of France.
I was staying in Arles and it was only a 40 minute bus journey to the flamingos at the Parc Ornithologique de Pont de Gau. This 60 hectare nature reserve has walking trails and hides set among the marshes. As the flamingos are used to visitors, within the reserve, it’s possible to get close views of them. I was taken aback by how many flamingos there were – I was hoping to see a good handful but there were thousands of them! There were also dozens of wetland birds, in the same area, as well as plenty black kites & coypus. I would highly recommend it.
Back in Edinburgh after 10 days in France, I set out to assess the success of this year’s breeding season on the Water of Leith. It was great to see the river fill up with chicks, ducklings, cygnets & goslings – lots of pictures below. Thankfully we haven’t had any extreme weather conditions which can affect the water levels & ultimately the wildlife.
It was clear that the vegetation along the riverbank had grown quickly, during my time away. The trees had burst into full leaf, creating a much greener scene. Whilst this is lovely to see, I also knew that the next four months would bring the most challenging wildlife-watching conditions of the year. The lush riverside vegetation and dense tree cover conceal much of the activity along the banks….but that’s a good thing for the wildlife & their young!
This coming month (June) look out for kingfisher fledglings & fox cubs all along the river and eider ducklings down at Leith.
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