Easter Craiglockart Hill and Pond

Yesterday we visited Easter Craiglockart Hill and then walked home via Craiglockart Pond and the Union Canal. 

The hill is currently yellow with the blooming gorse

 

The pond is home to a number of waterbirds

including a pair of  Mute Swans, this is the male in the photo below, in his threat posture (he was chasing a couple of last year's cygnets around the pond)

there are also several Tufted Ducks, this is the male in the photo below, if you look carefully, you can see that the feathers on his face aren't just black, but are iridescent, showing blue and purple in certain angles of light

The photo below shows the female Tufted Duck

There are also a number of Mallards on the pond, we enjoyed watching this pair dabbling for food

We enjoyed walking along the canal, but oddly didn't take any photos on  that part of the walk!