River Almond Walkway

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Feb 212024
 

Cramond Brig, Cramond, Edinburgh EH4 6DX

Bridge over water with a white building on the right and trees throughout.
The Cramond Brig over the River Almond
©M.J. Richardson, Wikimedia Commons

The River Almond Walkway follows the shores of the River Almond from Cramond Village. It is a great place to observe ducks, grebes and, in particular, the Dipper, a small river bird known to enjoy bathing and jumping in the water. The river is also a fishing ground for the Kingfisher. Also pay attention to bigger birds on the river such as Mallards, Goosanders and Mergansers. The river itself is not the only bird habitat; be sure to look up to see many Passerines in the trees, as well as Woodpeckers.

The starting point of the walk is here the Cramond Brig, a historic bridge built between the late 14th and early 15th Century, up to the seashore. Please note that not all stops are close to Edinburgh city centre and so do take this into account when planning to do the tour. There are good public transport links, e.g. bus to Cramond, bus or train towards North Berwick. The Isle of May and Bass Rock can be visited via the Seabird Centre (please book in advance as often sold out) or via organised tours from Anstruther in Fife. 

Small brown and white bird with an insect in its mouth.
A Dipper
©Walter Baxter, Geograph

Sources:

Wikipedia; Individual Researcher Walk

National Museum of Scotland 

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Feb 212024
 

Chambers St, Edinburgh EH1 1JF 

Modern sandstone building on a busy street corner under a blue sky.
The National Museum of Scotland
Wikimedia Commons

The National Museum of Scotland hosts a collection of birds donated by two of Scotland’s pioneering ornithologists, Evelyn V. Baxter (1879-1959) and Leonora J. Rintoul (1878-1953). Many birds in the collection come from research and observations around Edinburgh and the Fife coast, with some sites located within this tour such as the Isle of May. Collecting bird specimens was essential in the mid-18th to mid-20th to advance knowledge on avian diversity and differentiate one species of bird from another. Today the collection of around 1,200 bird skins donated to the museum by Baxter and Rintoul is still used for comparative studies.

Black and white photo of a woman with short hair wearing a plaid blazer and jewelry.
Dr. Evelyn Baxter
©Scottish Orinthologists’ Club, National Museum of Scotland
Black and white photo of a woman with short hair wearing a striped blazer and a brooch.
Dr. Leonora Rintoul
©Scottish Orinthologists’ Club, National Museum of Scotland

The two ornithologists are considered pioneers in Scotland as they were honorary members of the British Ornithological Union (BOU), founding members of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club in 1948, novel researchers on the migration of birds, and publishers of a book still considered today as a reference: The Birds of Scotland, their History, Distribution and Migration (1953). 

Brown bird specimen sample laying on its back identified with tan, handwritten tags.
A bird from the Baxter and Rintoul collection at the National Museum of Scotland
©National Museum of Scotland

Sources:

National Museum of Scotland Website; The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club Website; Scottish Seabird Centre (‘Celebrating Women in Science’)

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Duddingston Loch 

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Feb 212024
 

15 Old Church Lane, Duddingston, Edinburgh EH15 3PX 

Hill covered in green and orange foliage next to green loch waters.
Duddingston Loch
©Anne Burgess, Geograph

Located on the southern side of Holyrood Park, in the heart of Edinburgh, the Duddingston Loch is a great place to have a close encounter with several species of ducks and geese, and perhaps even spot some wintering migrants like the Great Northern Diver. It has been a Scottish Wildlife Trust bird sanctuary since 1925 and is home to breeding species of ducks such as the Canada goose, Pink-footed Goose, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye, Great Crested Grebe, or passerines such as Reed Bunting or Willow Warbler.

Profile photo of a tall white, grey, and blue bird with a yellow beak and eye standing in grass.
A Grey Heron
©David Dixon, Geograph

Of particular note, the western end of the loch is the largest heronry in the Lothians. The Northern shore of the loch, accessible from the car park west of Duddingston Village, is the perfect place for a close encounter with the groups of ducks, geese, and swans breeding around the loch.

Profile photo of the head of a dark brown goose with a pink beak amidst lily pads.
A Pink-footed Goose
©Iwolfartist, Wikimedia Commons

Sources:

Individual Researcher Walk; RSPB (Edinburgh Area Local Group); Scottish Wildlife Trust

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Bird Nest Box in Abbeyhill 

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Feb 212024
 

57 Abbeyhill, Edinburgh EH8 8DZ 

Profile photo of a tan, black, and white bird, with red on the face and yellow on the wing, perched on a branch.
A European Goldfinch
©Francis C. Franklin, Wikimedia Commons

Just in front of the Holyrood Palace gardens, this nest box is among many in Edinburgh and may be easily missed as you walk to the nearby Holyrood Palace or Scottish Parliament. But take a break on your walk and take note! This is a great place to witness some garden birds such as the European goldfinch, the Bullfinch, the Robin, the Chaffinch or the Blue Tit. As you walk in Edinburgh, try to spot some of these garden birds. 

Profile photo of a navy and light blue bird with a salmon colored chest perched on a branch.
A male Bullfinch
©Francis C. Franklin, Wikimedia Commons

Sources:

Individual Researcher Walk

Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill 

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Feb 212024
 

Hermitage of Braid, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ 

Green hill with a path to a tall cement structure under a cloudy blue sky, with city views in the background.
The top of Blackford Hill
©Richard Webb, Geograph

The Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill Nature Reserve offers some characteristic birdwatching of the woodlands. You can try spotting birds flying from tree to tree, but the easier option is to carefully listen for the birds singing. Often, their songs are a way to signal and mark their territory or to call their partner. You can train your bird song ID skills with online resources such as the RSPB website but you can also you the Merlin Bird ID App, developed by the Cornell Lab for Ornithology.

A profile photo of a small chartreuse bird with black eyes perched on a branch against a blue sky.
A Greenfinch
©Charles J. Sharp, Wikimedia Commons

The woodlands of the reserve are home not only to passerines such as Tits, the Bullfinch, the Greenfinch, the Goldfinch, the Nuthatch, and the Goldcrest, but also birds of prey like the Sparrowhawk, Owls, Kestrels, and Buzzards. By the Blackford Pond, you may spot some swans, ducks, and gulls.

Sources:

Individual Researcher Walk; RSPB (Edinburgh Area Local Group); Friends of the Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill Local Nature Reserve

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Pentland Hills Regional Park (Flotterstone to Threipmuir) 

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Feb 212024
 

Flotterstone, Edinburgh, Penicuik EH26 0PR 

Hilly landscape with blue river, green trees, and cloudy sky.
View over Glencorse from Flotterstone
©Walkhighlands, Wikimedia Commons

Located south of Edinburgh, the Pentland Hills Regional Park is a good area to get a glimpse of the Scottish mountains wildlife without going to the Highlands. Along the hiking paths, especially from Flotterstone, you can hear – and perhaps see – some Pheasants, as well as the Red Grouse, an endemic species to the Scottish mountains. Along the few lochs and reservoirs in the park, such as Threpmuir, you can spot some hunting birds like the Cuckoo, Skylarks or Peregrine Falcons. You might also see waders breeding such as the Curlew and the Common Sandpiper. 

Profile photo of a brown bird with black eyes and red eyebrows standing in dry grass.
A Scottish Red Grouse
©MPF, Wikimedia Commons

Sources:

Individual Researcher Walk; RSPB (Edinburgh Area Local Group)

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River Esk Mouth 

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Feb 212024
 

Shorthope Street, Musselburgh EH21 

Stone bridge spanning a river and green grass walkway with buildings and trees in the background.
River Esk Mouth in Musselburgh
©Musselburgh District Angling Association

Running through Midlothian and East Lothian, the River Esk ends in the neighbouring city of Musselburgh. The mouth of the River Esk is a good place to spot groups of swans, Canada geese, gulls, Goldeneyes, Mergansers, and Goosanders. Spanning from the city centre of Musselburgh (‘Store’ Footbridge) to the seashore, the walk ends with a view over Edinburgh and the bay.

White swan with an orange beak floating in dark blue waters.
A Mute Swan
©Yerpo, Wikimedia Commons

Especially at low tide, many waders breeding at the nearby Lagoons can be seen feeding. Between mid-summer and early autumn, up to 200 Mute Swans gather here on their migrating journey.

Profile photo of a white and black duck with a green head and yellow eye floating in dark waters.
A male Common Goldeneye in winter plumage
©Stefan Berndtsson, Wikimedia Commons

Sources:

Individual Researcher Walk; East Lothian Council

Musselburgh Lagoons 

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Feb 212024
 

Musselburgh Lagoons, Musselburgh EH21 7QE 

Walkway alongside blue lagoon waters with hills in the distance.
Musselburgh Lagoons
©M.J. Richardson, Geograph

Following the path along the shore beyond the River Esk, the Musselburgh Lagoons is one of the most famous birdwatching sites in the Lothians. It is home to wintering species of waders, terns, gulls, seaducks and grebes. Several hides are located around the different lagoons as a way to quietly and closely observe the birds without disturbing them. From the shore, often visible species include Velvet and Common Scoter, Cormorants and Divers, as well as Terns, Gannets, and other seabirds breeding on the Islands of the Firth of Forth. From the Lagoons, Long-tailed ducks, Teals, Shovelers, Oystercatchers, Lapwings, Curlews, Bar-tailed, and Black-tailed Godwits can be observed from the different lagoons.  

Profile photo of a black duck with white on its wing and a yellow beak floating in light blue water.
A Velvet Scoter
©Vince, Wikimedia Commons

The Musselburgh Lagoons were originally created in 1964 to store ash waste from the former Cockenzie Power Station. The ash lagoons have been capped and landscaped over the years by Scottish Power. Later, with support from the RSPB, two of the lagoons were reconstituted to be wetland areas for breeding birds. As the area is an important breeding ground, it is now part of the Firth of Forth Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Protection Area.  

Profile photo of an iridescent green bird with a black and white face, and voluminous black feathers on its head, standing in sand.
A Northern Lapwing
©Eddy Van 3000, Wikimedia Commons

Sources:

Individual Researcher Walk; RSPB (Scottish Nature Note by Molly Martin); Birdingplaces.eu; RSPB (Edinburgh Area Local Group)

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Aberlady Bay Local Nature Reserve 

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Feb 212024
 

Longniddry EH32 0QB 

Wooden bridge crossing grass and marshy waters with a blue sky and trees in the distance. The sign in front reads "Aberlady Bay - Local Nature Reserve - No Dogs Thank You."
The Aberlady Bay Local Nature Reserve
©Mat Fascione, Geograph

In 1952, Aberlady Bay was the first site to be designated a Nature Reserve in the UK. Its great variety of habitats, from low water to salt marsh and sand dunes, makes it an important breeding site for the local bird life, as well as migrants. As in most of the sites covered in this tour, the birds that you may be able to spot differ according to the season. In autumn, Aberlady Bay is the wintering ground of over 30,000 pink-footed geese migrating from Iceland up to the coasts of South Europe and North Africa. Passerines such as Wheatears, Whitethroats, and Blackcaps also nest on site, along with species of waders like the Redshank or the Lapwing. 

Profile photo of a brown bird with a red beak legs standing on a wooden posted against a green background.
A Redshank
©Andreas Trepte, Wikimedia Commons
A Pink-footed Goose
©Iwolfartist, Wikimedia Commons

Sources:

The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club; RSPB (Edinburgh Area Local Group)

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Waterston House and Scottish Ornithologists’ Club Headquarters 

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Feb 212024
 

Waterston House, Aberlady EH32 0PY 

Wooden building with a reddish roof beyond a short driveway and trees. The sign in the front reads "Scottish Birdwatchers Centre - Waterson House - All Welcome."
The Waterston House, headquarters of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club
©Jim Barton, Geograph

The Waterston House is the headquarters of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (SOC). The SOC was created in March 1936 after a meeting between Scottish ornithologists in the Royal Scottish Geographical Society with the goal to coordinate bird conservation actions and policies in Scotland. The Club promotes systematic recording and study of birds across gardens and nature reserves, and forms a network of local ornithologists all around the country. The Waterston House contains the Donal Watson Gallery, specializing in wildlife art, and the George Waterston Library and Archives collection, containing ornithological books, journals and bird reports since 1948. It also houses ornithological artefacts such as notebooks, correspondence and photographs from members of the SOC and of eminent Scottish ornithologists like Evelyn V. Baxter, Leonora J. Rintoul, and George Waterston. 

Black and white photo of a smiling man with hair wearing rain gear and binoculars.
George Waterston (1911-1980) one of Edinburgh’s most influential ornithologists
©SOC Archive, Scottish Orinthologists’ Club

Sources:

The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club; Pioneers in Scottish Ornithology, chapter in Bob McGowann and David Clugston, The Birds of Scotland (2007), edited by the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club

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