Beach & wildlife...of various sorts!!!

bathst2 · Post by **bathst2** » 16 Jul 2006, 22:19

Another lovely day but couldnt face the crowds on the beach and went for a stroll about 9pm Sunday.....I wont go on about litter, lack of bin emptying and ability of poeple to lugg a 12 pack (or 2) of lager down to the beach yet unable to take the empties away with them ........!!!Anyway the best thing about this evening was spotting a PUFFIN complete with sand eel in beak in the sea about 15-20 yards off the beach! Must have been a good shoal of fish in as terns also diving frantically! really makes it a priviledge to have such things on our doorstep....

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 16 Jul 2006, 22:55

Annoyed I missed that! Certainly never seen a puffin here before. Have seen them in North Berwick. Hopefully it'll be a regular visitor.

GRANTY · Post by **GRANTY** » 17 Jul 2006, 07:19

I was out in my kayak last week, around 10.30pm, enjoying the calm waters. I can report that the Bath Street seal has now relocated to the foot of Bellfield St. I've now seen it there a few times, but quite far out. As well as the seal for company, I was joined by what I think is a large group of young eider ducks. There's a surprising amount of wildlife out there on the doorstep.

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 17 Jul 2006, 09:31

GRANTY wrote:I was joined by what I think is a large group of young eider ducks.

Those eider ducks and their creche are from the mouth of the Esk and paddle along here (sometimes twice a day) to allow the weans to feed in shallow water. Cute!!

Cleopas · Post by **Cleopas** » 17 Jul 2006, 09:37

You should collect their feathers and save a fortune in making nice new bedclothes!

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 14 Oct 2006, 16:09

The swans usually keep to the surf but today number 120 went rogue and spent the afternoon trying to stalk sandwiches along the beach. I shared my lunch on the prom and persuaded him *not* to follow me home by pointing him at a child who still had food

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 14 Oct 2006, 17:18

Aha, it was you who was feeding him! Other half and I stopped to watch him at the foot of Bath St for a while before heading off on our bikes. We thought he looked like he was headibng up to the pub for a pint...! But he stopped at you and ate out of your hand...we thought you were very brave.

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 14 Oct 2006, 19:50

Bellybabe wrote:Aha, it was you who was feeding him! Other half and I stopped to watch him at the foot of Bath St for a while before heading off on our bikes. We thought he looked like he was headibng up to the pub for a pint...! But he stopped at you and ate out of your hand...we thought you were very brave.

Ooh, I was almost spladooshed!

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 19 Oct 2006, 11:40

Is everyone aware of the bats that flit around the Prom? I dont know where they roost. Was worried that it was the old Grannies Attic but they've survived the demolition of that

portocat · Post by **portocat** » 26 Oct 2006, 20:39

we saw a big bat flying round our back garden one night. it kept going back and forth above us so maybe it lives nearby.... it was rather large

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 27 Oct 2006, 17:21

Seen bats feeding around the back of Straiton Place and foot of Bath St .
Mr Soupy got a bat detector for his birthday so we hear their sqeeks as an electronic buzz. Thought they were pipistrelles , (teeny wee things) but we get sqeeks at at least 2 frequencies so there may be another species out there. If only they would pose for a photograph then we'd know!
Most bats will be settling down for the winter though if we get a mild day or two they may pop out again for a snack.

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 16 Nov 2006, 12:30

Thought I was imagining it but there's a lonesome swift swooping along the Prom and beach this morning. Has it been around a while? Seams awfully late in the year as all the others left ages ago.

Cleopas · Post by **Cleopas** » 16 Nov 2006, 12:45

There was quite a flurry of large(ish) bats swooping round Danderhall last night ... and a large hawk was spotted at the Musselburgh roundabout. They were all heading for Porty.

Part of me hopes it was Dada they were after!!!

teddygirl · Post by **teddygirl** » 16 Nov 2006, 15:35

I've just been out for a mosey in the back garden and I saw a bee, a baby frog wandering about and a lonely little tadpole who for some reason has not metamorphosed

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 21 Nov 2006, 14:09

Been keeping an eye open but haven't seen the swift again. We have a rose budding down in the back green, don' think the frost did it much good. There's also still a lot of midgie like flies around. Most folk think of global warming and climate change equaling hot summers not midgies in November

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 22 Nov 2006, 00:41

There was a huge bat above the garden here the other night. It must be the only creature PsychoBob hasn't tried to hunt.

(PsychoBob is the tiny but ferocious marmalade cat, who also has a stretch of territory on the beach and chases dogs off it when he gets the chance..)

Cleopas · Post by **Cleopas** » 22 Nov 2006, 00:53

For a few seconds there I thought you meant OUR Bob.

There's a colony of Bats near where I live and in the evening, they come out and swarm. I think they're Pipistrelle ... but I'm not sure. I'll have to look it up.

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 22 Nov 2006, 14:52

Cleopas wrote:For a few seconds there I thought you meant OUR Bob.

.

I found him chasing one of the resident pair of magpies up the tree this afternoon. Lovely sound, the magpie warning call - reminiscent of a chainsaw through concrete..

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 11 Apr 2007, 21:23

Saw the bats 5 mins ago when bringing in the washing

yes I know it's late, forgot I'd put it out

Clanger 1 delighted that she can still hear them!

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 24 Apr 2007, 11:42

The swifts are back, just as well thees lots of wee insects flying about out there today

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 24 Apr 2007, 20:25

SoupDragon wrote:lots of wee insects flying about out there today

especially around about the old pier pub, I swallowed one yuk

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 24 Apr 2007, 20:30

Sandra wrote:
SoupDragon wrote:lots of wee insects flying about out there today
especially around about the old pier pub, I swallowed one yuk

Save you cooking your tea/supper/dinner, though!!

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 24 Apr 2007, 22:24

Sandra wrote:especially around about the old pier pub, I swallowed one yuk

I forgot which thread I was on here, and get a very queasy feeling! Thought Sandra had maybe been one of the people spotted paddling in the sea earlier today...

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 02 Sep 2007, 11:48

Saw a squirrel running along the wall beside the Prom last week.
I'd found some bulbs dug up and was wondering if it was back

Clanger 1 met a fox in Regent St the other evening

teddygirl · Post by **teddygirl** » 03 Sep 2007, 17:07

We had a squirrel in next doors garden last week.
Sicker has had one visiting his garden regularly for a few days now so they seem to be creeping in to the area.

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 03 Sep 2007, 18:36

Months ago, I saw one in the garden of Samieston Lodge (at the pedestrian crossing near Hope lane). But never on this side of the High Street (i.e. the Prom side). Don't they hang about in the Daisy Park???

Stray NO.666 · Post by **Stray NO.666** » 03 Sep 2007, 18:52

Saw 2 foxes last night at the bottom of kings road going towards the prom which i thot was strange

arachnid · Post by **arachnid** » 03 Sep 2007, 18:56

Going for a swim maybe??

Post by **wangi** » 11 Sep 2007, 19:51

posts deleted

Puerto bella · Post by **Puerto bella** » 11 Sep 2007, 21:29

No MtP tonight?

I enjoyed the sport as well, fun spoiled, ah well will just have to get on with the ironing. Was looking forward to another spat after an afternoon of listening to politicians deciding not to make any decisions. That's democracy I suppose.

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 12 Sep 2007, 16:43

Was blethering to my dad this afternoon and he swears he saw a young squirrel run up Pipe St into the High St and eat out of an abandoned chip poke.
Knew we had a squirrel visiting last year, I was moaning about bulbs being dug out of the planters and scoffed at Mr Soupy's suggestion of a squirrel, then one scuttled past in the trees..

The foxes may be searching out abandoned food on the Prom. Remember when we used to have the black bin bags and they'd get ripped open it was often the foxes to blame

Puerto bella · Post by **Puerto bella** » 12 Sep 2007, 21:50

Just be thankful you don't live in Mayfield, Dalkeith as a resident there let their pet snake out (no, I'm nopt being rude) and it went missing. Two weeks on and it has eaten a nest full of chicks in a neighbour's garden and the mother bird coming back to feed the chicks. One of my pals has the job of setting a trap and bait to try and catch it. The joys of Midlothian.

sicker · Post by **sicker** » 13 Sep 2007, 15:38

And could this be that Squirrel? Sorry about the quality what with zoom through glass etc,

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 13 Sep 2007, 17:30

Ha!
It even looks like its hiding a poke of chips thogh judging by its eyes it had too much salt on it!

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 13 Sep 2007, 18:02

I could use a couple of hedgehogs if anyone has some they don't need any more

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Beach & wildlife...of various sorts!!!

Beach & wildlife...of various sorts!!!

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