A very windy morning but dry. We went on a guided bird walk with FOCH around 10.00am on Corstorphine Hill bird spotting with a group of about 14 people.
Started frrom Clermiston Road car park and proceeded up the hill. The walk was mainly about spotting and listening for birds for survey data for the local ranger service.
First bird was a chiffchaff followed by a blackcap then assorted tits , robins and thrushes. At one of the highest points we spotted a kestrel followed by a pair of buzzards. Near the first badger sett saw a buzzard flying low through the woods jusgt above head height! Also spotted a few other buzzards and some more robins and thrushes. Next up was a willow warbler and then we listened to a blackcap singing in the trees, sometimes hard to make out what the bird was when many were calling at same time.
Near badger sett 2 Keith the walk leader said that he had spotted a nuthatch so we hung about there for a while and Carole spotted one!! I also spotted a treeecreeper and then a woodpecker near the end of the walk so it finished well. keith pointed out that the difference between a great tit and a coal tit is that, apart from size, the coal tit has a white bit on its head!! Did not know that! Also learned a bit about stock doves which are very similar to wood pigeons but do not have the white stripey bit at the neck.
An enjoyable walk on a grey and windy day so all in all a worthwhile exercise.
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