Went along to the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens today - it's within range for taking local exercise. I had a look for the kingfisher that is there just now - my mate got a really good shot of it on Monday.
Started at the Chinese pond – largely frozen, with a few clear patches. No sign of KF. Went to the big pond – west end. No sign there. Went on round and stood on the lower down bridge of the stream flowing into the pond… and the KF flew straight up past me!!

I tried to work my way up the stream. Got to the first good access point and stood there for a bit, looking up and down. No sign of him. Then there was a splosh! – and it was him, right in front of me! He must have been on a branch on the tree across from me, which is quite densely covered in lichens, so I wasn’t seeing him until he dived. But when he came up from his dive, he didn’t go back to where he had been (probably because I was so close to him) – he flew further up towards the rock garden at the top of the stream. There isn’t much for him to perch on up there, but I went on up. The one-way system they have in place for covid makes you go out and wide and round to get up, so you are away from the stream as you go. When I got up to the top, there was a woman with a baby in a pushchair there. She asked me if I was looking for the kingfisher. ‘Yes’, says I. ‘He was here a few minutes ago’, she says – ‘flew back down though’. Aargh!
Well, I searched and searched up and down between the pond and the rock garden after that. Never got another look at it!

(Good exercise, though!)
I kept hearing long-tailed tits, but not seeing the wee b*ggers. So, my grand total for the day was a fleeting chance at a male bullfinch. Needed a heavy crop and it was high ISO (4000) or nothing, given the light levels in the shaded area he was in. Still, it was a cracking day to be out - cold and crisp and sunny and still.
Hopefully get a chance at the kingfisher next time....
Col