June on the Water of Leith
June brought an abundance of new life to the Water of Leith, with the river full of ducklings and chicks wherever I looked.
Down towards the mouth of the river at Leith, there were huge numbers of eider ducklings. Eider mothers often gather together in large nursery groups, known as crèches, where several females care for their young collectively. This always makes it seem as though there are more eiders than any other bird on that section of the river. There were also plenty of mallard ducklings, with new broods still appearing right through to the end of the month – just a reminder that breeding season isn’t over yet!
Further upstream, young dippers were beginning to venture out in search of territories of their own, while much of the other birdlife along the river was still busy feeding hungry chicks. June is one of the busiest months for wildlife, with parents working tirelessly from dawn until dusk to raise their young.
Those early mornings certainly paid off. I made many pre-dawn starts during the month and was rewarded with wonderful sightings of hares, rabbits and roe deer, often accompanied by their young.
Without doubt, the highlight of June was watching two newly emerged otter cubs on the river. Otter cubs remain hidden in their natal holt for their first 8–9 weeks before their mother gradually encourages them to explore the outside world. The photographs below capture a special moment as the mother carefully carried each cub, one by one, across the river to a new location—a privilege to witness and a memorable reminder of the remarkable wildlife that calls the Water of Leith home.
