Wildlife (2008)

See also:
Swans information page

Photographs

Photographs are in date order (earliest first)

5 June 2008

Swans and cygnets, Leamington Wharf

	This pair of swans with cygnets was at Leamington Wharf (at the new housing beside Leamington Bridge, near Lochrin Basin)
	the same swans

Ducklings, Leamington Wharf

	These ducklings were at 'Leamington Wharf' (beside Leamington Bridge, near Lochrin Basin)
	These ducklings were near the church at Harrison Park

12 June 2008

More ducklings, Lochrin Basin

	These ducklings - perhaps the same as above - were at the very end of the canal.
	Up close

23 June 2008

Ants, Lochrin Basin

Not so fluffy, but quite interesting up close. Shame they don't stay still… On towpath just east of Leamington Lift Bridge

And swans, Slateford

	Swans near Slateford
	…and a closer look at the little one.

31 July 2008

Swans, Leamington Wharf

	Swan family at Leamington Wharf, only 5 cygnets. Presumably one gone/died/eaten. JXC? and JUJ?

8 September 2008

Swans

	The viewforth swans still have 5 cygnets trailing after them
	No sign of the cygnet for the Slateford pair…

28 October 2008

Cormorant

or is it a Shag?

	This was a surprise - about 3pm - sitting just near the restaurants at Edinburgh Quay / Lochrin Basin. It showed no fear of people - I stood within a few metres to take the photo - and it was preening continually (which is why the photos are blurry). I wondered if it was ill, however other people have seen it further along the canal over some weeks - for instance see this photo by 'Wolfette' marked Nov 9th on Flickr and this photo by 'fogden' marked Nov 1st on Flickr. (RobWmn)
	Apparently this bird (presumably the same one) was seen last year (2007) also around the Harrision Park area.

Other notes

There is much more information about the two resident swan pairs (JXC/JUJ, and IUJ/FVP) on the swans information page.

• June 2008 Big pike being caught at Lochrin Basin (around 40/50 cm)
• 28 July 2008 Large numbers of perch being seen in water in Edinburgh.
• 31 July 2008 Some kind of water treatment being carried out.
• November 2008 There is a cormorant (shag?) in residence (see photos above)
• 11 December 2008 We saw a Kingfisher perch briefly on the edge of the canal towpath under the bridge at Viewforth, before flying off towards Lochrin Basin. It was dusk, about 3:50pm, the towpath was comparatively quiet, and the weather was cold clear and calm. (RobWmn)
• * End of December 2008 The Viewforth swans still have one cygnet/swan with them - there are no others to be seen.