Lichen

Fascinating walk today as part of the City of Edinburgh Adult Education's "Walks on the Edge" series.
Following in the steps of R.L. Stevenson, we walked through Braidburn Park, and on towards Swanston, passing the Comiston water supply cistern, as well as Comiston House (an extra for today) towards Swanston, where Stevenson spent several summers on the 1870s. He walked this route on his way to visit his Aunts (who lived in Morningside) and to his law studies at the University.
Most interesting for me was the complexity of the lichen on a tree trunk near to the Comiston cistern - the detail barely visible to the naked eye, but in close-up the complexity becomes visible!
Best bird of the day was the male kestrel enjoying the winter sunshine, worth a second extra for today!