Tuesday 7 October 2014

Autumnal colour in Colinton Dell

It was a beautiful mild, sunny morning for this week's walk round Colinton Dell, by the Water of Leith.

Autumn has definitely arrived


the beeches are in full beautiful colour 


and the river is starting to fill with leaves that glow under the rapidly flowing water



There were lots of insects about, this ivy bush in Spylaw Park was a mass of common wasps and Eristalis pertinax (a species of hoverfly) this individual of which was quite happy to be caught on film. 


I spent several minutes sitting on a bench by the riverbank watching a dipper, that was too far away to photograph. It was hunting for insects in the water and jumping from rock to rock. I also saw a family of goldcrests (the smallest UK bird) junping around in the trees. 

I also took time to catch up with the larch tree I'm studying for Tree Following. It hasn't really changed very much recently, though the wild flower meadow behind it is totally bare now, after having been cut back by volunteers working with the Water of Leith Conservation Trust. Hopefully it will bloom beautifully next year! 


For Nature Notes

and I Heart Macro

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12 comments:

Laura said...

so beautiful… I love this season. I do hope you will link up with I Heart Macro too this week.

Hootin Anni said...

pretty misted greens with a slight hue of amber. love it.

4ncü Ev said...

What a beautiful nature site to make a walk! Peaceful and relaxing!

Caroline Gill said...

How lovely, Juliet, to see a Dipper, a bird we saw frequently by the waterfalls in Wales but haven't seen for ages.

EG CameraGirl said...

Good to know there are still plenty of insects out and about. The larch trees haven't turned yellow here yet either.

Karen said...

Beautiful greens!

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Here too, hoverflies gather around ivy. It's good to see a context for the tree you are following.

eileeninmd said...

Looks like a pretty spot. The Dippers are fun to watch! Enjoy your week!

Martin said...

Lovely shots of autumn making an entrance, Juliet.

Donna said...

A lovely spot to watch your tree and the surrounds.

betty-NZ said...

Great autumn colors everywhere, it seems! Wonderful photos.

Rambling Woods said...

The dippers are such interesting birds..I saw something on a nature show about them... Fall comes to Scotland too...Thank you for linking in this week ... Michelle