Most readers will be aware that good numbers of geese and swans can be seen in winter at the two main estuaries, Aberlady Bay and Tyninghame. These are mainly roost sites however, and when birds flight in at dusk and dawn poor viewing conditions can make identification difficult. To see these birds well you must track them down to their favoured feeding areas. This short article is intended to guide you to the most likely areas and to give some tips to successful watching.

Geese and swans are creatures of habit and return year after year to the same few fields which are usually low-lying, large and open so that potential predators can be detected easily. When they arrive in autumn geese feed mainly on split grain in stubble fields, especially barley, then move onto potatoes and finally growing winter cereals. Grass fields are also used throughout the winter and occasionally crops such as carrots will also be eaten.

The general area used by geese and swans lies behind Aberlady, Dirleton and North Berwick inland as far as Ballencrief and Drem - the map shows the more favoured sites.

The best way to locate feeding geese is to search from suitably high ground and if any groups are flying about to follow them down. Geese are fairly tolerant of cars and will often feed unconcernedly by a busy road. But a car which suddenly stops beside them will put them at the alert, or worse to flight, although gradual stopping is generally tolerated. A car door slamming is too much like the sound of a shot for them and they don't like loud music! If geese are in a field next to the road it's rarely safe to get out of the car although a careful exit from the far door is sometimes acceptable. If all the geese stop feeding and stick their necks up anxiously, proceed very carefully.

By far the commonest goose in the area is the Pink-footed Goose - usually 99% of birds. Greylag are quite frequent, especially during hard weather and a few Barnacles are usually present, especially in October. Bean, White-fronted and Snow Geese are now found annually and Canadas and escaped Bar-headed are also recorded occasionally. Brent Geese are almost unknown in inland feeding flocks and usually stay in the estuaries. The swan seen most commonly in the fields is the Whooper, although a few Bewick's are found each winter and small numbers of Mutes also join their northern relatives.

Pink-footed Geese arrive from mid September onwards with numbers rapidly building up by the end of the month and usually reaching a peak in October or early November. Some 15,000 may be present on passage but wintering numbers are less than half this figure and few remain into spring. Greylags arrive later, not peaking until later in October or November with a second peak in March-April especially at Tyninghame. Whooper Swans also arrive from mid October onwards with a flock wintering in the area.

Lastly, make sure when goose-watching that you aren't causing a traffic hazard by your parking and obtain permission before using private roads - a farmer who can't get his tractor past your car is quite likely to shoot geese in his fields that would otherwise be tolerated!

Duddingston is a natural lake of some 20 acres extent with an average depth of only 5 feet (maximum 10 feet). The reed beds are the most extensive in Lothian. It has been a Sanctuary since 1925 and is administered by the Scottish Development Department (Ancient Monuments). The adjacent Bawsinch SWT reserve is an area of former waste land with trees and scrub and several small pools. The other lochs in the Park - St Margaret's and Dunsapie - are somewhat smaller. Arthur's Seat, the highest point at 824 feet, and Salisbury Crags are the most prominent features of the high ground.

Where to go

At Duddingston public access is restricted to the northern shore between Hangman's Rock and the Church. The best view point is Hangman's Rock which is approached from the car park. From here most of the loch and the bays can be observed, but it can be made difficult by bad lighting especially in the morning. There is an SWT hide overlooking the loch, but you can see the loch adequately from Hangman's Rock. Access to the hide is restricted to key holders - details from SWT. The wooded area behind the loch is a 'sanctuary' to which access is also restricted. The two small hides you can see are not usable. The remainder of Holyrood Park has, of course, open access. A suggestion for a round walk starts from Duddingston car park, walk up the steps to Dunsapie, round to St Margaret's and then up Hunter's Bog and back to Duddingston. You could divert along the track below Salisbury Crags.

Feral Greylags are present throughout the year having been introduced in 1961, but numerous hybrids occur (mainly Greylag x Canadas) and the occasional feral Barnacle, Pink-footed Goose or other oddity can turn out.

The loch is a good area to spot the first arriving summer migrants, such as hirundines, Swift, Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler etc. Breeding water birds include Great Crested Grebe (1-2 pairs), Little Grebe (formerly as many as 5-6 pairs), Moorhen, Coot and Tufted Duck. A few pairs of Greylag Geese regularly breed as does a pair of Mute Swans. Herons occasionally nest in the reed beds - a habit not found elsewhere in Lothian. The woods hold Green Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk and warblers, such as Blackcap and Chiffchaff, but you will probably only hear the warblers. The rough area west of the loch often holds a Grasshopper Warbler, but Sedge Warblers in the reeds are more numerous. Pochard used to breed but nowadays a build-up in numbers of non-breeding males in June is of interest.

Ducks attract most interest in winter. Good numbers of Tufted Duck, Pochard and Teal occur with a few Goldeneye and occasional Goosander and Smew. Autumn is also the best opportunity to see a Shoveler. Rarities such as Ferruginous Duck, Ring-necked Duck and Ruddy Duck have been recorded. Cormorants are also regular and Red-throated and Great Northern Diver have been seen on occasion. Until 1978 huge numbers of Pochard frequented the loch during the day with a peak of 8600 in February 1974; recent peaks have been in the order of 50-100. Look out for the odd wintering Lesser Black-backed Gull which now appear regularly. A visit when the loch is almost frozen can be worthwhile since the ducks are concentrated on the small unfrozen areas. This is also a good time of year to spot large numbers of Stock Doves on the far side of the loch. Water Rails are occasionally recorded, but are more often heard than seen. In autumn there is a large Pied Wagtail roost in the eastern reed bed which is best viewed at dusk from the adjacent road.

The other lochs hold smaller numbers of ducks, but groups of Mute Swans and Shoveler etc do turn up. The hill used to hold breeding Wheatear and Stonechat - both have recently deserted the area, but are still worth looking out for. Ring Ouzel have been seen on passage. Fulmars were seen prospecting in the Park as early as 1949, but birds certainly breed now with young reported in several recent years. Today birds return in late winter, but Salisbury Crags in April is the best place and time to see them. In winter Snow Buntings and even a Short-eared Owl are possibilities, and a Lapland Bunting and a Black Redstart have been seen.

Fala Moor is an area of mainly degraded blanket bog with heather and cotton grass in profusion at about 1000 feet altitude. Access is from the A68 at Fala and then south along a right of way which crosses the moor to Brothershiels. Fala Flow Loch is a small loch in the middle of the moor which holds an important Pink-footed Goose roost. If you visit the area at dawn or dusk keep your distance and try not to disturb the geese. Black Grouse have been seen in the area and the habitat is ideal for Long-eared Owl. Curlew and probably Golden Plover nest on the moor and Dotterel have been seen on spring passage recently.

A group of five islands lie off the East Lothian coast near North Berwick; these are Eyebroughy, Fidra, the Lamb, Craigleith and the Bass Rock. Eyebroughy, Fidra and the Lamb are R.S.P.B. reserves. Eyebroughy, the furthest west can be observed from the mainland west of Yellowcraig. There is no landing on the Lamb, but Craigleith and the Bass can be reached by boat from North Berwick. Local fisherman Fred Marr runs trips around Bass Rock and Craigleith during the summer and landings can be made at his discretion - contact him on North Berwick 2838 for arrangements. However the Lothian Branch of the SOC organises annual counts on the islands at the end of May/early June and this is the best way to visit these islands.

Gladhouse Reservoir lies at 900 feet above sea level on the northern edge of the Moorfoot Hills. A Local Nature Reserve, it was built over 100 years ago and, although nowadays its 10 million or so gallons per day capacity outflow is completely inadequate for the Edinburgh area, it is being converted into a 'holding area' with a greater throughput of water piped from the larger Falla/Fruid complex in the Borders. During the drought years of the 1970s the water level fell annually to as much as 25 feet below full and there was a considerable wader passage contributing substantially to the 192 species on the list.

The present water regime, which will apply when the Rosebery filters are in operation, is that the level will be maintained at full until the end of June (to allow grebe and Coot to breed), a drop to 5 feet below until December then a rise to 2 feet below until the end of February. The absence of open muddy shores does not favour autumn wader passage, but does allow the aquatic invertebrates and small fish, such as Minnows, to flourish, which in turn suits the breeding grebe and wintering Smew.

There is no access to the lochside but most of the water can be viewed from the road, though a telescope is, at times, a necessity. The unofficial car park at the south-west corner is probably the best viewing area and, as well as birds on the water, can provide the occasional passage of passerines, geese or waders heading south-west along the line of the hills or south through the Moorfoot Valley. Stop also along the north road and at the north-east car park. One can leave the car here and walk south to Mauldslie Farm overlooking the reservoir at a little distance to the west. This is the best area to watch the (now much reduced) roosting flight of the Pinkfeet. These can be seen from October to December and in March and one should be there soon after sunset.

Good numbers of the more common duck winter particularly when the water level is several feet down and, in recent years, the odd Smew has stayed for several months. Pinkfeet regularly fly over but the 13,000 which used to roost have dwindled to around 3000. Up to 600 Greylag also roost, often feeding locally on reseeded grass fields. In these feeding flocks look out for the odd White-fronted, Snow or Barnacle Goose. Whooper Swan are occasional on passage but there is only one record of Bewick's. Birds of prey include the occasional Short-eared Owl and Hen Harrier, particularly at dawn and dusk, and also Peregrine and Merlin. Fieldfare, and less commonly Redwing, feed on the grasslands and turnip fields and, in recent years, a flock of up to 200 Twite has been seen in the south-west area fields along with assorted Chaffinch, Brambling and Linnet flocks.

In spring life returns to these very bleak uplands when the local flocks of Oystercatcher, Lapwing and Curlew appear. The once regular spring flock of Northern Golden Plover is now seldom seen. Several pairs of Common Sandpiper and the occasional pair of Ringed Plover breed, but the few Dunlin which appear nest on the local hills. Some six pairs of Great Crested Grebe and five pairs of Little Grebe bred in 1988 and there are good numbers of Mallard, Tufted Duck and Coot with fewer Teal. Shoveler and the occasional Gadwall and Garganey are recorded with the odd exotic such as the 1988 Ruddy Duck. Resident passerines include good numbers of Sedge Warbler, Goldfinch and Spotted Flycatcher, while the regular Redpolls and more erratic Siskins are sometimes joined by the occasional party of Common Crossbill. Look out for the few Black Grouse on the south-west moor. With easterly winds there is greater potential - Red-throated Diver, Common, Arctic and Black Terns, White and Yellow Wagtails, Osprey and even a recent record of three Pomarine Skuas.

The one-time exposed mudflats attracted good numbers of wader with maxima of 30 Ruff, 15 Curlew Sandpiper, 7 Spotted Redshank and 3 Wood Sandpiper. The 30 wader species recorded included White-rumped and Baird's Sandpipers and Wilson's Phalarope. With higher water levels the waders are restricted to a few Oystercatcher (up to 50), Whimbrel and Greenshank, and again the south-west corner is a good site as they fly over. The goose interest is variable with Pink-footed and Greylag regular, up to 150 Barnacles and the occasional Brent in some years. The less common drift migrants are rarely seen - one Red-backed but several Great Grey Shrikes, only two records of Pied Flycatcher and very few Garden Warblers, while Lesser Whitethroat has still to be recorded. Easterlies still provide the highlights with the odd Arctic and Great Skua, Little Gull and once a White-winged Black Tern.

Other reservoirs in the Moorfoot group are always worth a look if you are in the Gladhouse area. These are Edgelaw Reservoir (NT305578), Rosebery Reservoir (NT310569) and Portmore Loch (in Borders Region).

Gosford Bay is easily accessible and offers the birdwatcher a large range of water birds species such as grebes, divers and sea duck. The area is not difficult to watch, the best vantage point is at Car Park 3 just west of the bay, especially near the point at Ferny Ness. Birds can be comfortably watched from a car but on calm days it is better to be in the open (in case something flies over!).

Calm, or near calm days are the best at Gosford when large flocks of sea duck seem to fade right over the Forth with small birds not being hidden by waves. Winds of up to force 3 or 4 can be tolerated - any higher and wind surfers and shaky tripods make birding difficult. The state of the tide is not of great importance for birds on the sea, although birds appear slightly closer at high tide. On bright days the time of day is critical, the morning being better as the sun is behind you. However, on overcast days this is less so. Indeed higher counts and better views are often to be had in the afternoon, possibly because birds seem to rest at this time instead of actively feeding. If the sun is a problem Car Park 2 (to the west) is often much better.

A good telescope is necessary at Gosford as most birds tend to stay fairly well out. The most efficient method of working the sea is to slowly scan right round several times so as to pick up all feeding birds and increase counting accuracy where birds have previously been seen. The highest counts are invariably those taken on the third or fourth scan.

Further west, Port Seton harbour, the outflow of the burns (from Seton House and Longniddry Golf Course) and the Sea Buckthorn and scrub by Longniddry are also worth a look.

Red-throated Divers are present throughout the year except during mid-summer, with peak numbers occurring in autumn, winter or spring, perhaps indicating local movements within the Forth. The other two common divers are recorded occasionally, usually in singles with Black-throated being commoner than Great Northern. An adult White-billed Diver was seen here during the winter of 1955/56.

Some readers may already know that Gosford Bay is a good place for grebes, especially Red-necked. Indeed this is undoubtedly the best place in Britain for the species. During the first half of the year they are present in varying numbers with 30-40 birds occasionally recorded. Ten birds or so are more common on good winter days. In recent years a few birds have been seen returning to Gosford as early as June, presumably non-breeders followed by moulting adults and juveniles. Late July-early September is the best time with Gosford regularly holding 40 birds, with a peak of 58 on 25 July 1981. These mainly summer-plumaged birds are often seen in flocks quite close inshore.

Great Crested and Slavonian Grebes can also be seen in good numbers at Gosford Bay. Great Crested Grebe numbers are similar to Red-necked Grebe in annual distribution with high numbers in August and September, with a peak of 125 in August 1984. Slavonians however peak during the first half of the year with about 60 birds, although an exceptional 154 were counted on 14 January 1979. Black-necked Grebes, usually singles, are occasionally identified.

Winter and early spring are the best times for watching sea duck such as Eider, Long-tailed Duck, Common and Velvet Scoters. On still days noisy Eider and Long-tailed Duck can be heard displaying, although the gregarious scoter usually stay well offshore. Up to four Surf Scoter have been seen in every spring since 1984, but their visits tend to be erratic and the same birds are also frequently recorded on the Fife side. Red-breasted Mergansers can usually be seen in small numbers although in late summer, what is presumably a moulting flock, can number 200 birds or more. Scaup and Goldeneye are less common with occasional small groups present in winter.

Patiently watching and counting the grebes, divers etc observers are often rewarded with other interesting birds. A Glaucous Gull which first appeared as a fourth-year bird in the 1974/75 winter is frequently seen patrolling off the Gosford Bay-Port Seton coastal stretch in winter. Mediterranean and Little Gulls have also been sighted from Ferny Ness. Common, Arctic and Little Terns can be watched fishing just offshore during the summer with Gosford Bay being as good a place as any for wintering Sandwich Terns, with up to four seen together.

Although Ferny Ness is not very good for passage seabirds all the commoner species can be seen during the appropriate season with Pomarine Skua, Black Guillemot and Little Auk also being recorded. Sadly, a Brünnich's Guillemot was found dead on the tide line at Ferny Ness in 1980.

The waders which feed in Gosford Bay like Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit roost mainly at nearby Aberlady Bay at high tide. Ruffs, and more commonly Golden Plover, can sometimes be seen during the winter with Black-tailed Godwits, Whimbrels and a Grey Phalarope having all been recorded from Ferny Ness. The burn flowing from Longniddry Golf Course is a site for Jack Snipe and Water Rail, but these are less frequent following a clean-up by the local authority. The Seton House burn attracts a few Wigeon, occasional Ruff and Brent Goose and many gulls.

This stretch of coast has a combination of sandy bays, rocky outcrops and offshore islands that creates scenery some claim to be the finest on the east of Scotland. This is a matter of opinion but the ecological diversity that accompanies such varied scenery means that the birdwatcher can see a wide range of interesting species at any season and in attractive surroundings.

A glance at a chart shows that, apart from the mouth of the River Tyne, the shore east of Fidra island shelves fairly steeply below low water unlike the bays at Gullane and Gosford where extensive shallows attract so many grebes, divers and sea duck. Eiders are the only common wildfowl though other species occur especially during passage periods or after displacement by westerly gales. The coast between Gullane and North Berwick is a good stretch for divers including Black-throated and Great Northern, and in 1988 a White-billed Diver was spotted. Rough winter weather may bring interesting birds such as Little Auks, which occur in most winters though they are not so often seen until an exhausted bird is found on the beach. In autumn 1987 many hundreds were seen flying off Yellowcraig. Sometimes larger creatures appear on the beaches, but all cetaceans are now much rarer in the Forth, and a repeat of the stranding of the 78-foot Blue Whale near North Berwick in 1830 (now the largest exhibit in the Royal Scottish Museum) is unlikely.

Along the coast the alternation of sand and rock creates shelter which in turn encourages a range of seaweeds and marine animals. The latter are interesting in themselves, while some are important prey for waders. In winter the coast between Gullane and Tyninghame holds waders at among the highest densities so far recorded for rocky shores in Scotland. Most of the common waders occur in good numbers, for example 500+ Purple Sandpipers and 1000+ Turnstones, and there are interesting opportunities for photography along the tide line. The East Bay at North Berwick and the flat rocks to the west of Dunbar Harbour are both good for rocky shore waders and very accessible, the coasts near Yellowcraig and Seacliff are also good but you have to walk a bit.

Set on cliffs and looking out to the Bass Rock and North Sea, Tantallon Castle is an excellent spot for a visit, not only for its historical interest but also for the House Martins using natural nest sites on the cliffs which they share with the second largest colony of Fulmars in the Forth. 'Blue' phase Fulmars have been seen on ledges for several seasons. This is also a good area to watch Grey Seals hauling out on the rocks when the beach is quiet.

Birds which breed on the beach fare less well than those on the cliffs. Ringed Plovers still nest on the shingle but other waders, like Oystercatcher, are only sporadic and terns are virtually confined to roped-off areas in nearby nature reserves.

As spring changes to summer many crèches of Eider ducklings appear on the sea with attendant females. By this time the drakes are in heavy moult and a walker between Yellowcraig and Gullane can easily count over 5000 of these birds. Terns range along the coast, often followed by their noisy offspring. Migrant waders begin to appear and this is a good time for wildflowers and butterflies on the coastal grasslands. As well as Eiders and Skylarks, Shelducks still nest here and these isolated pairs breed more successfully than those on Aberlady Bay.

Yellowcraig Plantation, north of Dirleton, is owned by the local authority and in addition to being a good access point to the shore walk, the wood itself holds Green Woodpecker, Woodcock and other woodland species and Crossbills are fairly frequent visitors. Snow and Lapland Buntings have also been seen on passage along this shore. East Lothian has the biggest thickets of Sea Buckthorn in Scotland. This specialised shrub is seen at its best between Gullane and Yellowcraig and holds breeding Long-eared Owls and a remarkable number of passerines. In winter when the leaves fall the mature bushes literally glow orange due to the millions of berries. Thousands of Fieldfares rise at the birdwatcher's approach but there are many other small birds, including wintering Blackcaps, which are less obvious. A good place to look is around the stream which runs through the buckthorn from Muirfield Golf Course at the east end of Gullane Bay.

There are two reservoirs some 12 miles SW of Edinburgh on the A70 Lanark road, the larger, Harperrig, is just over a mile long whilst Crosswood is less than half a mile long. Both reservoirs act as compensation supplies for the Water of Leith and the Almond respectively. Although some would say birdwatching here is not as exciting as on the coast, regular watching over the years has produced a varied list, including some Lothian rarities.

For Harperrig Reservoir (NT089607) start at the west end, where you can park at the turnoff to East Colzium, and walk along the north shore clockwise to the east end and back along the south side. Avoid trespassing around houses in the area. There are not many trees or plantations except at the west where there are pines and forestry further to the west. Some deciduous trees are around Cairns Castle and the old schoolhouse. At the east end there is a rhododendron clump at the waterkeeper's cottage and a thin line of pines along the south shore. Like other reservoirs the birds seen depend a good deal on the water level which can affect nesting of grebe, duck etc in summer and attract migrant waders when the shores and mud are exposed. The west and north shores have proved best for waders in the past. The rest of the area is mostly rough grass moorland and rushes, but there is heather moor at the east and south-east.

At Crosswood (NT056575) there is a right of way from the road (parking) into the hills but the actual reservoir, farm and house are private. It would be advisable to ask the waterkeeper's permission to walk round the reservoir and farm areas. This reservoir has been kept at a low level for some years because of some defect at the dam and so there is quite an extensive area of rough marshy grass and rushes and some muddy or sandy shores. There is a pine wood on the west side and deciduous trees and rhododendrons on the north side, where the waterkeeper's house, farm and dam are. All the rest of the area is rough moorland, mostly grass, and some pasture to the west and north.

There is an extensive Forestry Commission pine plantation on either side of the A70 Lang Wang road between the two reservoirs with again rough grass moorland to the east and west of these. There is a car park where the Crosswood Burn crosses the road (NT058586).

Great Crested Grebe occasionally nest at Harperrig, but in general few other water birds breed. Ducks are not abundant, however large numbers of Teal visit Crosswood in autumn and there are sometimes good numbers of Goosander present. Shelduck and Common Scoter are amongst the rarer ducks seen on the reservoirs. A flock of 1000 Greylag Geese winter at Harperrig, making it one of Lothian's largest flocks. Whooper Swans also turn up at both reservoirs in winter, but Mute Swan is rather rare. Raptors using the area include Peregrine, Merlin and occasionally Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl. The pines in the area are prime Long-eared Owl habitat and also hold a few Black Grouse, mostly between Harperrig and Crosswood. The breeding waders at Crosswood regularly include a pair or two of Ringed Plover and odd pairs of Dunlin nest in the area and occur on passage. Large flocks of Golden Plover also occur on the moor area along the Lang Wang, west of Harperrig in March and April. Other waders pass through on migration - the most regular being Greenshank, although a long list of other passage waders have also been recorded. The marshy areas at Crosswood have also held Water Rail on several occasions.

A gull colony in the SE corner of Harperrig holds mainly Black-headed Gulls but with an odd Common Gull or Common Tern in some years. Upland species like Common Sandpiper, Whinchat, Dipper and Grey Wagtail also nest here but warblers are decidedly uncommon in this upland area. Only a small number of migrants pass through, e.g. Sand Martin, Redstart, Stonechat and Ring Ouzel but the Harperrig list also features Osprey, Tree Pipit, Yellow Wagtail and Black Redstart to name a few. Crossbills occur in the pines, especially those along the Land Wang and at Crosswood; 1985/86 saw a particularly large number in the area (up to 150). Finch flocks occur and Brambling are occasionally present in large numbers, but Snow Bunting are only seen infrequently.

The contrast between the Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill could hardly be more striking; the former is predominately deciduous woodland and the latter a mixture of grassland and low scrub. Historically the two belonged to separate country estates but today they are both owned by Edinburgh District Council and managed as a single public park. They nevertheless retain a pukka countryside atmosphere and together represent one of the premier non-coastal birdwatching sites in central Scotland. Few places can boast such a large variety of birds within an area of a mere 130 acres, only 2½ miles south of the centre of Edinburgh and adjacent to some of the city's most popular residential areas. The richness of the ornithological life can partly be explained by the diversity of wildlife habitats present, which apart from the woodland and grassland, also include a stream, a large pond, marshland and coniferous plantations, each providing opportunities for different communities of birds.

The Hermitage of Braid consists of 40 acres of ancient, semi-natural woodland lining the steep banks of the Braid Burn, plus some remnants of gardens of the old Braid Estate. The large number of mature deciduous trees allows for a healthy population of woodland birds, including hole-nesting species such as Tawny Owl, Stock Dove and Treecreeper. Chiffchaff and Wood Warbler - neither particularly common in the Lothians - are regular breeders too. Spotted Flycatchers can be seen feeding around Hermitage House each summer, whilst both Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers can be located by their sounds in spring.

Though the grassland and gorse which covers the summit of Blackford Hill may seem rather bird-less to the casual observer, closer inspection will reveal such species as Whitethroat, Yellowhammer, Linnet and Meadow Pipit during the breeding season. The hill is an important hunting ground for the local pair of Kestrels, and for hirundines and Swifts during the summer months. Cuckoo, Ring Ouzel, Wheatear and Whinchat have all been recorded during migration periods, indicating that the park is also an important refuelling stop for birds on passage.

Shrubs, such as hawthorn, gorse and wild rose, on the southern slopes of Blackford Hill, within Blackford Glen and the area around Blackford Quarry, provide thick cover for birds at any time of the year. Six species of finch and at least seven species of warbler nest here, including the elusive and locally rare Lesser Whitethroat. Grasshopper Warblers are recorded annually during spring migration, whilst in the winter Waxwings appear with remarkable regularity for such a scarce bird.

The clear, unpolluted waters of the Braid Burn, which flows the length of the park, is rich in insect life and consequently supports both Dippers and Grey Wagtails. Grey Herons are a regular sight stalking in the burn for fish and even Water Rail and Kingfishers have been seen on occasions.

To the north of the hill, Blackford Pond is home to a semi-tame population of water birds. Common species such as Mallard, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Coot and Moorhen are used to being fed by hand and can therefore be viewed at close quarters. Common Sandpipers occur here on migration whilst other recorded species include Little Grebe, Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler and Mandarin.

Overall more than 100 species of bird have been recorded at the Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill in recent years. Though there is plenty to see at all times of the year, the spring months are perhaps the best time to visit, when a total of 40 different species can be seen by exploring the extensive network of footpaths and trails which criss-cross the site. There are seven entrances to the park altogether (the main ones being from Braid Road, Cluny Gardens and Observatory Road) and, although the only formal car park is situated by the Royal Observatory buildings on the shoulder of Blackford Hill, there are ample opportunities for street parking at all other entrance points. As it is situated between residential areas of Morningside and Liberton, the park is also well served by public transport from the city centre. There are public toilets at Blackford Pond and Hermitage House and many spots suitable for picnics. A ranger service operates within the park from its base at Hermitage House, where there is a visitor centre. For further information or details of the guided walks programme please write to Edinburgh District Council Ranger Service, Hermitage House, Hermitage of Braid, Braid Road, Edinburgh EH10 6JF or telephone 0131-447 7145 during office hours.