TALK 27 Jan 2025 – Spotting Wildlife on the Water of Leith

January 29, 2025

Many thanks to all who came along to my talk at the Water of Leith Visitor Centre on Monday evening, 27 Jan 2025.  My thanks also goes out to Helen at the Water of Leith Conservation Trust for inviting me to speak for a second time in 12 months & also to Ruth & Kat for hosting the evening.  It was lovely to see, once again, the high level of interest in the local wildlife, as all tickets were snapped up very quickly for a second time.

I have decided not to put out all 60 slides but just a handful, to help jog your memories about what was discussed.  The following bullets points will also go some way to highlight some of the main points that I made on the night:

  • Make use of the Merlin Bird ID app – ideal for getting familiar with the sound of the kingfisher, dipper, goldcrest, etc
  • Visit a good variety of places on the Water of Leith & also elsewhere in Edinburgh, to improve your wildlife spotting skills
  • Buddleia – the Butterfly bush.  Look out for buddleia in June, July & Aug to help spot butterflies, such as, small white, large white, peacock, red admiral & tortoiseshell
  • Also remember the Buddleia theory – look out for something big & easy to spot, in order to track down the smaller, more elusive creatures.
  • Start building your wildlife calendar – look out for what others have been spotting, in your area, over the last year.
  • The River – keep your eyes peeled for ripples on the calmer sections of the water – be patient & let the wildlife reveal itself
  • The River – check SEPA water levels near you & gauge what levels are good for the wildlife, in your section of the river
  • The River – remember the 45° rule & always keep looking ahead for wildlife on the banks and perches
  • The River – best sections of the water to spot wildlife are where the walkway is close to the water & you are level with the water
  • Goldcrests love conifers (buddleia theory) – its a lot easier to spot a conifer than a goldcrest but the conifer will lead you to it!
  • Jays seek out acorns in October (buddleia theory) – look out for those oak trees & get them in your calendar for October
  • Look out for badger setts & fox earths in the winter (buddleia theory) – a lot easier to see when there is no foliage
  • Check for dippers under bridges & look out for white bird poo on a collection of boulders (buddleia theory)
  • Look out for dead trees, with woodpecker drill holes – they keep coming back to the same trees (buddleia theory)
  • Carefully look out for kingfishers along still or slow moving water, where they will be perched 3-9 ft above the water
  • Spotting otters is all about observation – yes, they maybe out at dawn & dusk but if a mum has cubs, they’ll be out whenever the cubs are hungry.  Once again ripples in the calmer waters will give away an otter’s movement along the river bank.
  • Be patient and put the time in & if all else fails….look out for a group of photographers, pointing their lenses at the water – there is bound to something interesting there!!

GOOD LUCK