Pentlands Circular

Set off at 7am and arrived at Threipmuir Car Park 730.  Very quiet to begin with but a nice day with some blue skies and sunshine at last! 
The first thing we spotted was a few swallows flying about near the car park. Next up on Threipmuir reservoir were a few tufted ducks followed by a skylark and wheaters.  At the far end of the reservoir we heard the clear call of a cuckoo! Loud and clear and one of the great sounds of summer! Also saw a kestrel hovering in the sky.  At this point we decided to stop at the edge of the plantation wood and have a nice breakfast of porridge, hot chocolate and some nice bread. Yummy!  As we were having breakfast a chaffinch landed right in front of us and proceeded to grab and eat a cranefly!

Back on the walk we were on the road up to Loganlea reservoir and saw dippers, grey wagtail, reed bunting, thrushes, more swallows and another kestrel.  Loganlea busy today with lots of anglers out on the slightly choppy waters - very breezy.  Weather nice when the sun is out but chilly when it slips behind a cloud.  We did not spot too much after the reservoir and walked down the big hill and through the gate along to the Robin Aitken hide.  Sadly, the bit round the bird feeders was all flooded and no-one - unless wearing waders! - could get out to fill them up again so there weren't the usual numbers of wee birds flying about.  We heard a cuckoo over the water and then thought we saw one flying by the hide but weren't sure - will need to read up about them in the bird book.  Also saw a moorhen and a swift.  A pair of swans were nesting over the other side of water.  Also spotted a heron over the other side.

Went on the Red Moss walk - looked back along the boardwalk walk and saw a little roe deer running along behind us then it disappeared over a small ridge.

After tis nice sunny walk we took the car down to Malleny Gardens (National Trust), somewhere we had been meaning to go for ages.  It was a really nice wee place - saw 3 different types of butterfly - peacock, cabbage white and some type of fritillary butterfly? Not sure but will identify it later.  Also saw robins, swallows and a crow came walking by our bench.  We sat there for ages enjoying the sunshine and watching the birds whilst listening to the water gurgling past in the stream outside the garden wall.  Spotted a couple of hoodies from the car on the way home just past Riccarton. Another enjoyable day out and much better weather made it a pleasant experience!