the holly and the ivy

 

25th April

The weather was looking good but not that good, so Mary and I planned to run about East Lothian, using our new freedom to travel. We drove to Longniddry Bents No. 3 car park. It was very busy and I doubted we would even find a parking space. Mary was more certain which was just as well as she was driving and parking. I put the 2 pounds in the meter and we were very happy to leave the packed car park and head towards Gullane on trails.

The day was so lovely it put the team in a very jolly mood. So jolly that I suggested we try Postman's Walk round the back of Aberlady and Luffness House, rather than just the usual run along the coast. Mary was up for it and it kind of ruined our run. But made the day. Mary was in a kind of slacker mood having had a long hard week at work. And wasn't heartbroken to stop and do some butterflying when - holy crap - Holly Blues started turning up in various places. Okay in 2 places. The first was just inside the field at Aberlady where I'd seen one last time, and seemed to be maybe just one HB about the place which wasn't as obliging as last time. Rather than hope and wait, we moved on, but at the other end of the field as we approached the suntrap corner 2 HBs flew up from the waist-high ivy covered wall. That was too much to run past and so I got the big camera out. We saw a few more, mainly on the 40 yards nearest the field corner on the ivy there, but at really decent heights to photograph. Never much higher than eye-level.

HBs on ivy covered wall to right of Mary

they seemed to be licking the sticky dew off the ivy leaves

speckled wood

We left after a bit, to run up the field edge and back on Bickerton's Walk. But then found ourselves drawn to the Holly Blues on the ivy again. There was one male in particular who was happy to sit still at a reasonable height and didn't mind us poking cameras in his face. Occasionally he would move to another spot but never far away and often within easy reach.

lots of orange tips and whites on the wing

field edge approaching HB corner

this one seemed untroubled by our proximity

feeding on aphid residue or the like?

there were a few speckled and other butterflies about

I apologised to Mary for trashing our planned run and getting carried away by the Holly Blues. However she was happy enough and not really that intent on a longer run. Normally I'd find a way to do some of both. It is easy to forget that Holly Blues in Scotland can be nearly impossible to find and that we are SO lucky to have so many, relatively easy to find. We did feel it was special to come across yet another place associated with them. The Spring broods (until this year) being more elusive than the late Summer second generation. We both really enjoyed another special day discovering such treasures.

on the run back to Longniddry from Aberlady 
we saw a Holly Blue flying next to the main road

lovely evening light

back to the car - only 7 miles run
but a new colony of Holly Blue discovered

map of Postman's Walk field - blue spots show HB sightings

twice previously none were noticed here so it seems like it has to be
properly warm with plenty sunshine before they appear