Unexpected Hidden Wildlife Spot #1

Edinburgh is full of greenery, which is probably what makes it so enticing for urban wildlife. But sometimes the big parks and open spaces are a little too obvious when it comes to wildlife spotting, I want to open up those little gems. Places that you might have never heard of, or places that once you’ve heard of them realise just how obvious it is that wildlife would find a home there.

So here’s my first in an ongoing series. St Cuthbert’s church graveyard.

It’s perhaps not that much of a surprise, sitting beside Princes Street Gardens; but sitting directly alongside the busy and noisy Lothian Road you’re always aware that you’re in the city. Trains between Haymarket and Waverley emerge from below to gasp for air, and all the while Edinburgh Castle’s barracks keep watch over you.

In comparison to the open air of the Gardens the graveyard is more hemmed in, and is a little more densely packed with trees. The different sectioned off areas give places for wildlife to hide and a lunchtime spent sitting there is usually rewarded with interesting sightings.

The usual suspects are Grey Squirrels (sometimes particularly curious and brave), as well as Wood Pigeons and Carrion Crows. But look further and smaller and the list can get interesting. I’ve come across Treecreepers and Goldcrests here, the former snaking their way up the tree trunks, the latter flitting infuriatingly quickly between branches. Small flocks of Long-Tailed Tits can be heard trilling away before being spotted, along with Blue, Great and Coal Tits. And my last wander, on a dull, grey day, was brightened considerably by a Great-Spotted Woodpecker. With all of that life it’s not a surprise that a Sparrowhawk will make an occasional appearance, and in the winter Waxwings can make their way along the Gardens heading towards you.

Search even smaller and, especially as summer sun hits the ground, an array of insect life comes out to play. Wasps are expected, the array of flies (including spectacular Green Bottles) less so. watch out for Hoverflies basking on the warming stone, and the constant leaf litter provides home for all sorts of little beasties.

All of this life slap-bang in the city centre deserves to have some time spent with it, and save for a few wandering tourists looking for Thomas de Quincy’s last resting place, and the occasional suited lunch-breaker seeking out some solitude, there aren’t the crowds of people that are in the Gardens spooking anything that might come close. Well worth an explore.