I'll try and vary my exercise routine to include some birds and wildlife, keeping within the spirit of the lock down. Something had a good rake around in my garden and Olive's last night so I'll put the trail camera out. The birds species and numbers have both increased dramatically, partly due the time of year and also I believe to the lack of human movement and disturbance. I've had Yellowhammers, Tree Sparrows, Greenfinches, Goldfinches and a brief glimpse of a Chiffchaff, all in my front garden!
The strange white Herring Gull resurfaced at West Links, or was it always somewhere nearby. I hope we'll meet again some sunny day, and I'll get a better photo.
The Grey Herons at Keptie Pond news, a quick look as I passed by, one bird seen near the nest but I couldn't see one sitting, it's possible it was there and hunkered down. I might have seen it from the hill opposite and may do that when it gets cold and less people are "exercising". It seems to be, but I'm biased (not surprised are you) that dog walking has a higher acceptance just now than human walking, I'm getting looks as if to say "where's your dog", I look back thinking, it's on holiday in the Philippines!
Some years ago I dug a small pond in my garden and left it to nature, except when I found a puddle locally which was almost dried up and had a small amount of tadpoles in it. I rescued the tadpoles and released them into my pond. The last I saw of them was a few tiny froglets on my lawn, and thinking they'd probably be eaten by just about anything bigger than them, I thought I'd at least given them a chance.
Over a year later I found an adult frog under an old door I'd placed as cover, for what I wasn't sure. Then some spawn appeared in the pond, although I didn't see any frogs mating or anywhere in the garden. This year, and perhaps because I'm at home a lot, lot more, I've witnessed a mass orgy of mating, counted at least 22 frogs and patches of spawn are now in all corners of the pond, and as I said it's not even that big. I'm now thinking I may have to move spawn or tadpoles to stop cannibalisation later.
I would recommend installing a pond to anyone, they come in different shapes and sizes, can be rigid or liners which mine is, and now if you're stuck at home thinking what can I do today, tomorrow, then order a liner, dig a hole, fill it up and probably like mine insects and life will find it. I had pond skaters the day after I filled mine. The birds love the pond, many bathe and drink from it and if I get my act together it makes for good reflection photos of birds drinking along the edge.
Finally, don't do what I foolishly did, I scooped a small amount of weed out of another pond to get it going and it took over, I have to rake it out now and then.
At least 22 frogs mating in my pond. click here for video
White Herring Gull reappears, click here for video
Ringed at Elliot, click here for video
Thought to the the aberrant/white Herring Gull I first found two years ago
Little Grebe on Keptie Pond, been there all winter, and still very shy
Very distant Puffin at 125 zoom
Stock Dove on Rossie Spit seen from behind the garage