Sunshine on the Figgy

 So Storm Eunice has been and gone and Edinburgh didn't suffer too much, at least not in our part of town. Today has been beautiful and sunny, though very cold and everywhere is muddy and wet because of all the rain. We had a lovely walk round Figgate Park (often referred to as the Figgy). The treew were all glowing in the low winter sunlight

The birch tree in the photo above is full of "witches' brooms" - galls that are caused by a variety of organisms, including some species of wasps. 

The Pond was full of birds, some of which seem to be pairing up for the Spring, including this pair of tufted ducks 

and this pair of goosanders 

the Canada geese too 

and the mallards were chasing each other, enthusiastically, though we didn't catch that on film!

The mute swans were there too, including this full grown adult

and this juvenile

Mute swans usually nest in two sites in the park, so hopefully they'll do so again this year. There were also a  good number of small birds flitting about in the trees and shrubs, including this goldcrest