
Wildlife Photos and Recordings
This page contains wildlife sightings and recordings from members and visitors. Contributions are welcome. Please email photos and descriptions from your visit to: friendsofcammo@yahoo.co.uk.
Contents
August 2021 The Edinburgh Birdwatcher Blog by Euan Buchan
July 2021 Butterflies and Moths by Dorothy Lyle
July 2021 The Edinburgh Birdwatcher by Euan Buchan
July 2021 Midsummer Miracle by Esther Davidson
June 2021 Damselflies by John Kerr
May 2021 Buzzard by Bruce Watson
May 2021 Birdlife by Elise Richards
May 2021 Insects by Dorothy Lyle
May 2021 The Edinburgh Birdwatcher Blog by Euan Buchan
April 2021 Birdlife by Linda Monteith
April 2021 Birdlife by John Kerr
April 2021 Birdlife by Elise Richards
March 2021 Jays by Linda Monteith
March 2021 Cammo birdlife by John Kerr
January 2021 Cammo Bats by Karen Edwards, David Kyles and Graham Checkley
December '20 The Edinburgh Birdwatcher December Blog by Euan Buchan
December '20 Fungi by Lynn & Keith Youngs
Various '20 Wildlife photos by Dorothy Lyle
December '20 Birds by Lynn & Keith Youngs
November '20 The Edinburgh Birdwatcher November Blog by Euan Buchan
August 2020 The Edinburgh Birdwatcher August Blog by Euan Buchan
July 2020 A Stoat, Swallows and San Martins by Linda Monteith
July 2020 Wildlife photos by Linda Monteith
July 2020 Wildlife photos from Dorothy Lyle
July 2020 The Edinburgh Birdwatcher July Blog by Euan Buchan
June 2020 Barn Owls at Cammo by Linda Monteith
May / June Wildlife photos by Lynn and Keith Youngs
May / June Species listing by Lynn and Keith Youngs
June 2020 Wildlife photos by Dorothy Lyle
June 2020 The Edinburgh Birdwatcher June Blog by Euan Buchan
May 2020 The Bughtlin Burn. An article by Wilma Harper
May 2020 Birds from Cammo and nearby by Linda Monteith
May 2020 Wild Flowers from Cammo and nearby by Linda Monteith
April 2020 List of species seen in Cammo by Nick Benge
Various dates A selection of fungi at Cammo taken by Barbra McEwan
May 2019 Insects, Moths and Butterflies taken by Dorothy Lyle

February 2022 - Birdlife by Bruce Sloan

Jay
Kingfisher
February 2022 - Birdlife by Linda Monteith




Nuthatch

Kingfisher




Blue Tit

Great Tit



Jay
July 2021 - Butterflies and Moths by Dorothy Lyle

Small Copper Butterfly

Small Skipper Butterfly. Small Skippers have been extending their range northwards in recent years and have at last reached Cammo. They were spotted earlier this month and can be seen in several places nectaring on Meadow Thistle. Dorothy took this photo in Home Field.

Sallow Kitten

Shaded Broad-bar
July 2021 - Midsummer Miracle by Esther Davidson
On Midsummer morning I stepped out into the back garden to dispose of some kitchen waste in the compost bin. On lifting the lid, much to my surprise, I was accosted by 10 – 15 bees which drifted out from inside. Swarms of fruit flies are commonplace, but not honey bees. Having delivered the waste to the bin, rather bemusedly, I replaced the compost bin lid and took the dog out for a walk. We were out all morning, it being a beautiful day, sunny and hot. On approaching the back garden to collect in the washing I immediately became aware of a vibrant hum. On opening the door the hum was insistent, deep and intense and the garden was full of hundreds of buzzing honey bees. It was exhilarating standing in the middle of all these tiny creatures all intent on descent to my compost bin which was swarming with them as they landed and found their way in through the air vents below the lid. I decided it might not be advisable to take in the washing at that present moment, so went back indoors firmly closing it behind me.
Safely indoors I phoned my beekeeper friend Rachel who promised to come round later to collect the swarm. It did not take the swarm long to fill the bin, so I pulled up a chair in the garden with a cool drink and soaked in the experience. Bees dancing instructions to each other and tumbling in and flying out of the vents. I was beginning to feel rather proprietorial, the bees having chosen my garden after all. I spent the best part of the afternoon watching them and wondering if I could possibly keep them in my compost bin. I was uncertain as to how my neighbours would take to the idea! It felt to me that the bees had chosen my garden and my compost bin to make their new home. I felt very privileged.
When Rachel arrived that evening, she brought with her a ‘nuc’, a kind of travelling box/hive for bees. It was vital to catch the Queen bee in the nuc so that the swarm would follow. However we were unable to identify the Queen, so were uncertain if she was in the nuc or still in the compost bin! We decided to leave the nuc in the compost bin overnight in the hope that the bees would fill it if the Queen was already there.
Early the following morning, the first thing I did was run out into the garden to check on the bees. There was absolutely no activity around the compost bin, and, alarmingly, on raising the lid, there were no bees in the compost bin, but the nuc was full and there was absolutely no sign of movement at all. Not what one expects of a hive of bees! I was completely horrified, thinking we had managed to kill them all. I immediately contacted Rachel, devastated at the realisation of what had transpired.
I took the dog out for a walk. On arriving home at lunchtime, imagine my relief on finding bees flitting in and out of the compost bin quite contentedly. They were not dead but had only been asleep. I never for a moment imagined that a whole colony of bees could be completely still as they had been in the early morning when I had approached, fast asleep. I was greatly relieved and thrilled to find them happily going about their business.
When Rachel arrived again that evening, when foraging was over for the day, they were all silent and still in the nuc. Gently Rachel laid a ‘super’ over the nuc, filled with sugar and water for the bees to feed on whilst in transportation, and applied the lid securely. They would have to stay in the nuc for at least three days, or they would fly back to where they came from – the compost bin! My bees have now been ensconced in their new hive in Cammo.
You too can visit them there, where there are several hives in the north east corner of the walled garden. I am sure they will be content in their new home where I can keep an eye on them and look forward to honey in the autumn. I felt very blessed by my visitation with the bees on midsummer’s day, a Midsummer Miracle.
​
Esther Davidson

June 2021 - Damselflies by John Kerr

Newly emerged adult - species unknown

Azure Damselfly

Azure Damselfly

Large Red Damselfly
May 2021 - Buzzard by Bruce Watson

May 2021 - Birdlife by Elise Richards

Female
Goosander


Moorhen and chicks
May 2021 - Insects by Dorothy Lyle

Glyphypterix simpliciella

Eristalis pertinax

Gorse Shieldbug

Clay-coloured Weevil

14-spot Ladybird

Lacewing sp

Cydia ulicetana

Adela reamurella

Ruby Tiger Moth

Mayfly sp

St Mark's Fly
April 2021 - Birdlife by John Kerr

Coal Tit

Nuthatch

Great Tit

Moorhen

Goldfinch

Curlew in fields along the River Almond

Buzzard

Jays

Long-tailed Tit

Hedge Sparrow

Grey Wagtail

Magpie

Hedge Sparrow
April 2021 - Birdlife by Linda Monteith

Chiffchaff

Blackcap

Jay
April 2021 - Birdlife by Elise Richards


Male Chaffinch

Goldfinch

Moorhen
Female Chaffinch
March 2021 - Jays by Linda Monteith



Bullfinch

Jay

Treecreeper

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Nuthatch

Blue Tit



Treecreeper
March 2021 - Cammo birdlife by John Kerr
Great Tit
January 2021 - Cammo Bats by Karen Edwards, David Kyles and Graham Checkley
Cammo is home to a diverse range of wildlife as evidenced by the many sightings reported and photographs submitted to this web page. In September 2020 a survey was carried out by David Kyles, City of Edinburgh Council Natural Heritage Officer and Graham Checkley, Mammal Recorder for South East Scotland, to assess the health of the bat population in Cammo Park.
​
Over the course of the week beginning 15th September the echolocation sounds of bats were recorded and analysed with the following results. In terms of species, there was evidence of Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle, and a Myotis species, probably Daubenton's, using Cammo. There was also a single recording of a Nathusius Pipistrelle, great to get but it was probably on migration.
​
In comparison to similar sites bat activity is in the upper 50%, so very respectable. There are places that are busier, but they have open water of an extent and associated insect productivity that make it worthwhile for bats to commute a long way to get there; Duddingston Loch is a good local example. However, where Cammo really scores is the timing of the bat activity. There are bats active by the canal very close to sunset and sunrise, suggesting an immediately adjacent bat roost. This is very exciting news and underlines the importance of protecting and maintaining the old trees, waterways and buildings which provide the habitats on which so many species depend.
​
It is hoped that further surveys will be undertaken to monitor the Cammo bat population and that it will continue to thrive in this wonderful green space.
​
With thanks to Graham Checkley for the species commentary.
December 2020 - Fungi by Lynn & Keith Youngs



Earth Star
Coprinellus micaceus - Mica Cup
Chondrostereum purpureum - Silverleaf Fungus
Sarcoscypha austriaca
Scarlet Elfcup




Auricularia auricula-judae - Jelly Ear
Fomes fomentarius - Hoof Fungus
Mycena haematopus - Burgundydrop Bonnet
Dacrymyces stillatus - Common Jellyspot




Bjerkandera adusta - Smoky Bracket
Flammulina velutipes - Velvet Shank
Bisporella citrina - Lemon Disco



Heterobasidion annosum - Root Rot
Lycoperdon pyriforme - Stump Puffball
Trametes versicolor - Turkey Tail
Various 2020 - Wildlife photos by Dorothy Lyle

Idea lutealis

Peacock Butterfly

Evacanthus interruptus
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Cicadella viridis

Common Carpet

Sphaerophoria sp

Small Tortoiseshell

Eupteryx urticae

Comma Butterfly

Hemicrepidus hirtus

Tachina fera

Fleck-winged Snipefly

Aphrophora alni

Scaria hemeroboides

Helophilus pendulus

Syrphus ribesii

Cixius nervosus

Harlequin ladybird larva

Mompha propinquella

Parsnip Moth caterpillar
December 2020 - Birds by Lynn & Keith Youngs

Robin

Great Tits

Kestrel on the Tower

Nuthatch

Blue Tit

Mistle Thrush
July 2020 - A Stoat, Swallows and Sand Martins by Linda Monteith









7-spotted Ladybirds on Thistle

Yellowhammer (female)

Speckled Wood Butterfly

7-spotted Ladybirds

Reed Bunting (male)

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

Bullfinch (male)

Pleated Inkjet

Small Copper Butterfly

Ringlet Butterfly

Reed Bunting (female)

Long-tailed Tit

Blackcap (male)

Skylark
Whitethroat




Reed Bunting
Tree Sparrow

July 2020 - Wildlife photos by Linda Monteith
July 2020 - Wildlife photos by Dorothy Lyle

Ringlet Butterfly

Cinnibar Caterpillar

Dingy Shell

Mottled Beauty

Tachycixius pilosus

Pea Moth

Bird-cherry Ermine

Pammene aurana

Red Admiral

Celypha lacunana

Pseudagyrotoza conwagana

Larch Ladybird
May / June 2020 Wildlife photos by Lynn and Keith Youngs

Wood Pigeon

Grey Heron

Robin

Reed Bunting

Pied Wagtail

Nuthatch

Small Tortoiseshell

Green Dock Beetle

Tree Bumblebee

Grey Squirrel

Comma

Dead-nettle Leaf Beetle

Cuckoo Pint

Tapered Drone Fly

Red Campion

Welsh Poppy

Cowslip

Dryad's Saddle

Lesser Celandine
May / June 2020 Species Listing by Lynn and Keith Youngs



June 2020 - Wildlife photos from Dorothy Lyle

Striped Millipede - Ommatoiulus sabulosus

Cocksfoot moth - Glyphicterix simpliciella

Stripe-legged Robberfly - Drioctriai baumhaueri

Kidney-spot Ladybird

Xyphosia miliaria

Alder Spittlebug

Green Oak Tortrix

Small Tortoiseshell caterpillar

Plant Bug - Rhabdomiris striatellus

Comma Butterfly

Hoverfly - Leucozona lucorum

Common Red Soldier Beetle

Straw Dot Moth

Gryptocorus stysi

Micromoth - Agaapeta hamana

Copper Underwing Caterpillar

Cranefly Tipula vernalis

Feathered Thorn Caterpillar

Antler Moth

Beautiful China-mark Moth

Eudonia mercuriella
May 2020 - Wild Flowers from Cammo and nearby by Linda Monteith

Common Rhododendron

Mouse eared chickweed

Spanish Bluebells

Purple Foxglove

Cow Parsley

Hawthorn

Dog Rose

White Campion

Red Campion

Forget-me-nots

Wood Avens

Common Sorrel

Germander Speedwell

Thyme-leaved Speedwell
April 2020 - List of species seen in Cammo by Nick Benge
Birds
-
Raven
-
Kestrel
-
Sparrowhawk
-
Kingfisher
-
Heron
-
Whitethroat
-
Swallow
-
House Martin
-
Sand Martin
-
Mistle thrush
-
Dipper
-
Tawny Owl
-
Barn Owl
-
Starling
-
Oystercatcher
-
Curlew (although not for a few years)
​
Mammals
-
Brown Rat
-
Field (short tailed?) vole
-
Roe deer
-
Stoat
-
Weasel
-
Rabbit
-
Badger
-
Pipistrelle bat
​
Pond Life
-
Common frog
-
Toad
-
Stickleback
-
Pond skater
-
Gammarid shrimp
​
Butterflies
-
Comma
-
Painted lady
-
Meadow brown
-
Cabbage White
-
Orange Tip
-
Copper (type?)
​
Trees / Plants
-
Lodgepole Pine
-
Hornbeam
-
Alder
-
Brown birch
-
Spruce
-
Sessile Oak
-
Osier
-
Ash
-
Cedar of Lebanon
-
White and grey willow
-
Sweet chestnut
-
Walnut
-
Gean
-
Bird cherry
-
Sycamore
-
Field maple
-
Russian comfrey and native comfrey
-
Wych Elm
-
English Elm
-
Laurel
-
Black Poplar
-
Aspen
-
Rowan
-
Hazel
-
Spindle
-
Broom
-
Plum
-
Apple
-
Crab apple
-
Pear
-
Guelder rose
-
Dog rose
-
Honeysuckle
-
Yorkshire Fog
-
Cocksfoot
-
Plantain
-
Sorrel
-
Cleavers
-
Hornwort
-
Water Soldier
-
Flag Iris
-
Elodea crispa
-
Juncus effusus
-
Glyceria maxima variegata
-
rhododendron spp.
​
Various Dates - A selection of fungi taken in Cammo by Barbra McEwan



















2019 May - Insects, Moths and Butterflies taken by Dorothy Lyle

Silver ground Carpet

Clouded Silver Moth

Scorpionfly - Panorpa communis

Caterpillars of the Bird Cherry Ermine Moth

Bird Cherry infected by the fungal gall Taphrina paid

Psyllopsis fraxini psyllid gall on Ash

Grass Rivulet

Caterpillar of the Mottled Umber Moth

Micromoth Anania fuscalis

Long-horned micromoth - Nematopogon swammerdamella

Lacewing Chrysopa perla

Blue-tailed Damselfly

Orange Tip Butterfly

Seven Spot Ladybird
