Autumn Colours at Linlithgow Loch

 We had a lovely day trip yesterday to Linlithgow, just a short train journey away from Edinburgh. Whenever we visit the town, we walk round the beautiful loch. Here are some of the photos we took yesterday. 

Linlithgow Palace (the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots sits near the loch and can be seen from anywhere on the perimeter path 

 

The autumn colours were beautiful, especially in yesterday's bright sunshine 

 the water was sparkling 

 

and most of the male Mallards were back in breeding plumage, after their early autumnal moult (during which their so-called eclipse plumage means they can be mistaken for females). Their heads were really shining in the low sun

There were also several pairs of Tufted Ducks on the lock

and a family of Mute Swans 

 As it's fungi season, we kept an eye out for toadstools and were happy to see this arrangement of fungi, lichens and moss on a fence post