east lothian lovelies

 

9th May and some proper Springlike weather! We set off in the car towards East Lothian with cameras and wet suits. Last time we did this I wimped out of the dook and I didn't feel any more inclined this time. However first up we are off to Postman's Walk, Aberlady, a favourite haunt for the no-longer-a-rarity holly blue. They seem to be having a great year and have appeared in many more places than last year while remaining a fixture around their strongholds in Gullane and Aberlady. About 6 yards into Postman's Walk one makes itself known and a couple more fly around the trees of the first garden next to the trail. It is a good omen. 

holly blue at start of Postman's Walk

orange tip on periwinkle

Despite the great start, the Walk is less bountiful than usual. We passed a few male HBs along the way towards the corner but didn't stop to investigate or photograph as there were dog walkers ahead and behind. And we were pushing on to the corner where most of the action usually occurs. However the sun hadn't swung round to shine on the East wall and there were fewer specimens on the ivy there. 

We spent a bit of time waiting for blues to appear. Mary saw a Red Admiral but it was quite flighty and wouldn't sit still for a photo. As I approached it flew up and away strongly over the wall. Being the first RA of the year I was keen to get a photo and ran round past the ruined abbey searching for it. No sign. Curses! However I found the next field along had a sunny corner attracting OTs, a peacock, a comma and various fly-by whites; one or two looking suspiciously like Large Whites, another yet-to-be-photographed species this season. I felt I should update Mary who was back in the other field and as I returned, something suspiciously red admirally took off and flew high into the nearest tall trees. Extensive curses!

orange tip at garlic mustard

comma

sunny corner of next field

So we mooched about the place taking photos but it wasn't vintage Postman's. Strange, given the weather was near perfect. One thing blighting the holly blues: there were thousands of St Mark's flies (aka hawthorn flies) and whenever we saw a holly blue take off it had 6 or 7 of these black hairy devils flying alongside and buzzing it. I had hoped to see female HBs but there was no sign. The males tend to emerge first, then the females. It should have been right about that time but perhaps we were just a bit early. (I visited again 2 days later and the females were abundant.)

returning along the field, we saw several male HBs (near sycamores)
some of them were beginning to look a bit faded

Onwards and upwards. Back in the car we headed towards Gullane stopping by the golf course where there is often a decent amount of early season butterflies. There were the first small coppers and walls of the year which would normally be very cheering, but it was obvious from the look of them, that the small coppers had been aging quickly in the many recent downpours we had been having. A shame as when freshly emerged they look really metallic and sparkle in the sunshine. Most of the ones we saw looked like they had been out several weeks but it was probably just premature aging in the harsh weather.

small copper

wall
about 4 males fluttered about hunting females but kept their distance

While we were there Abbie M appeared. Really nice to catch up 

as we'd seen very little of Abbie during the pandemic.

small copper and wall

one of the few small coppers in better nick
(note longer, fuller, less straggly fringe)

amorous advances?

Again, not an outstanding visit despite 2 season's firsts. We probably spent more time chatting with Abbie than taking photos. However lunch was long overdue. We planned to pick up sandwiches at Gullane coop and then park down the beach car park and swim. I waved to the ice-cream van lady who was doing a good day's business then we ate some sandwiches and climbed into wet suits. 

I haven't been swimming outdoors in a year or 2 and had forgotten how hard it is to get into my wetsuit. It is a decent suit from Alpkit but the legs and arms are so tight it is a nearly impossible job to heave it on without tearing little holes. I don't think my limbs have fattened up, but I am certainly less limber and have athritic shoulders that don't want to move quite as much as they used to. It was a huge fight that left me frustrated and out of breath before I'd even got near the water. On the upside, it is so close fitting that very little water gets in and so is not hard to submerge myself in water sufficiently cold to numb my face in 10 minutes. What little water does sneak in warms up quickly. 

green veined white on way to beach

the walk to the scaffold beach

not so bad?

I have an ancient snorkel I take along swimming. If I am looking for starfish and crabs on the seabed I will forget to focus on the cold water numbing my face and hands. I may even accidentally start enjoying the process. Same with the underwater selfies although inevitably they are never flattering. The thin neoprene swim hat is a good idea (although again far from flattering!) as it stops the cold water freezing my head - I would still get an ice-cream headache (forehead) the first few times I did more than 20 strokes with my head immersed. I might look out my thicker balaclava-like headgear for next time as it covers more of my forehead and face. I don't really swim with my head above the surface although I can understand why the Wardie Bay Wild Ones and other Winter open water swim groups do.

Mary (unable to run these days) has been going to pool a fair bit and her swimming was pretty well rehearsed as a result. She did find after about 20 mins she couldn't work her mouth or face properly so we left the water. I found it quite good fun apart from getting into my wetsuit. And my right shoulder didn't enjoy the full rotational freedom it used to. There is a family history of creaky stiff shoulders so I expect it's just a part of getting older. I may look into getting a "shorty" wetsuit for ease of getting on. Although that may make getting into the cold Scottish water less delightful. I was a bit disappointed I didn't get the factory reset feeling after swimming that we always used to experience, which I probably put down to the very snug wetsuit stopping me from getting colder all over. Maybe your core temp needs to slightly drop before your brain sends out the alarm signals or whatever it is that makes you feel transformed shortly after. 

One huge improvement is the beautifully refurbed toilet block just below Gullane car park. It has a shower so you can wash the sand off your feet and the salt off the outside of your suit. Mary bought us £10 swim shoes from Decathlon online which are great for protection against sharp shells, rocks, broken glass etc underwater. I wore thin neoprene socks which stopped my feet going numb like Mary's. It always takes a couple of swims to get back into the way of it and tweaking the equipment. (For instance refining the application of sports tape I put on my ears to stop water ingress.)

shower on end of refurbed toilet block

just cold water though, which when battering down on thinning hair...

We changed out of wetsuits up at the car park. We tend to park along at the West end of the field, near to the beach path and as far away from the other cars as possible. To enable clambering into and out of rubber suits as modestly as possible. By this point it was a lovely sunny afternoon and there was only one car nearby, maybe 40 yards away. The owner, at least my age or a bit older, was returning to his car. Mary pointed this out to me as I stripped down. (Far easier to get out my suit than into it, although still requires Houdini-like skills.) I said to Mary that he had probably seen cock-au-balls in his time and if he wanted to look he was welcome. Since there was no-one else about I was fairly liberal in my skinsuit. Just as we were towelling hair and hopping about one-sock-on, he drove by and slowed his car. The passenger window went down and he shouted across to me, grinning cheekily "You have a nice bottom! Nothing to be ashamed of!" Mary and I were still laughing about it much later, as we went for a walk.

After a wander about the dunes trying to locate a grasshopper warbler and failing, I dragged Mary up the hill to see if there were any walls on the long red sandstone wall they like to sunbathe on next to the big house. There were not. It was a bit blowy so we didn't even bother visiting the holly blue bushes along the way. Instead we went back down the road and saw several HB fly-bys in and out of gardens but no decent photos. It was a delightful afternoon and although not the best day's butterfly photos, still a really enjoyable day out.

robin near St Adrian's

warriston weekender

 

The forecast was fairly poor and the weather no better on the weekend of the 6th and 7th May so we didn't bother travelling far afield. Instead we walked along to stand in the drizzle at our fave cemetery. The rock n roll lifestyle! Also embracing this heady level of excitement were Andrew and Unda another Libra (male), Scorpio (female) team like ourselves, with cameras and a love of the small creatures.

We hadn't arranged to meet but all enjoy the place and the overgrown wild feel of this largely unused cemetery. Utilised more by birds and butterflies than mourners; in fact I can't remember the last time I saw mourners here. They are certainly outnumbered by the dog-walkers, instagrammers and wildlifers. 

Since it was too dark and gloomy for butterflies, Andrew and Unda showed us where the robins had a nest and fledgling youngsters. We did wonder if this was the secret garden robin (Hitler, to his pals) as he had a little tuft out the back of his head and sat watching us closely although not coming to a hand for snacks. He might have been confused by having 4 humans standing nearby watching. The nest bush was over towards the East Gate - too dense to see the actual nest. But one or 2 adults were present and maybe 2 fledglings. They are approx robin shape but with yellow brown feathers and no orange bib as yet. They look sort of grumpy and frog mouthed, quite humorous. 

Hitler!? The proud father?

There was also much drumming from woodpeckers. There has been for quite some time although it has been late this year kicking off. We managed to spot this female up the top of one of the riverside trees but it was not really the weather for distant photos and this was as good as it got which is pretty rubbish. But better than any woodpecker images I have taken recently.

So much for Saturday. Sunday was much better but still an iffy forecast so we returned to Warriston, and funnily enough, so did A&U. Again, not arranged, just a happy coincidence. On the way there we checked out the river for any ducklings and happily got some photos of the mother mallard and her offspring. Less happily she probably started with 10 chicks but seemed to be reduced to just the three left. 😭

just three left

I have been reading Meetings with Moths by Katty Baird, an East Lothian based moth enthusiast. The book tells of trips into wild places, like the Lammermuirs, to set up moth traps and describes the process and fun of doing this. You'll remember I bought a second hand moth trap last year but have only used it once over in the west, the problem being it is quite cumbersome (a battery about the size of a small car battery powers the thing) and I don't have anywhere nearer than Warriston to set it up overnight. This book is defo making me consider where I will take it as soon as the rain stops. It is also well written and has illustrations and photos. You should get a copy. I don't always get every moth and butterfly book that appears, but this one has a delightful cover and lots of good stuff inside and if she can't sell one to everybody who has a passing interest in moths then who the heck is going buy those books? I have also ordered an Atlas of Britain and Ireland's Larger Moths so I can identify all the moths in my trap once it is full steam ahead. I know, you can't wait!

green longhorn moth (nearly literally)

Anyway on pp39 of Meetings, there is a mention of watching Green Longhorn moths in East Lothian. They gather and swarm on oak tree canopies in the May sunlight (not always a paradox). I was reading about this on Saturday night in bed and wondering where I might catch up with these tiny beauties (with ridiculously long antennae) and one of the first things I see on the tops of some bramble leaves in Warriston, less than 12hrs later is this tiny moth. Unfortunately not a swarm, just one or two, but I was stoked to see it and spent a while getting a photo. Not easy as they are so small. The one I saw was on a clump of brambles just South of the tunnel. Unda also photographed one next to the crypts. They might look like small flies if it weren't for those spectacular antennae. Although they have a rather sparkly metallic green sheen of you catch them in sunlight.

Peggy cleaning up the bird food. Bad dog! 😂

Peggy and Dora are 2 of the most regular dogs to be walked in Warriston. Dora is older and more sedate (a black lab mix?) while Peggy is far more lively and will help other dogs chase their balls, and generally enjoys stirring it. I have just realised I don't know their owner's name although she always takes an interest in what we are photographing, and always stops for a chat while Peggy clears the bread off the places we put it. A while back I saw P&D out with a much younger woman and asked if their normal mum was okay. It was a daughter taking the dogs out just to help out, and yes, her/their mum was fine.

this sunny slope of daffodils is one of the best areas for butterflies

speckleds dancing in the sunlight

I'm still not tired of orange tips. They have had a tough season; as they emerged just about the wettest 2 weeks of Springtime possible. They sit tight (wings folded going into a kind of stasis or trance) on food plants or flowers waiting for the sun re-appearing, before opening wings and flying round like crazy, looking for female orange tips. While they are in a coma they can be so out of it, you can very VERY gently coax them onto a stick or finger and then place them on a better position for a photograph. This is cheating of course, and you have to be extra careful not to hurt the butterfly and not touch their wings. They are also remarkably difficult to spot with wings closed as from any distance those underwing markings are excellent camouflage.

front legs on back legs off

this wasn't placed here, but landed here
didn't stay for long but long enough to get a couple of pics

Unda in the undagrowth

We were wandering past the sparrowhawk nest when the female (larger than male) returned with some prey. I thought it was a mouse at first but she seemed to be plucking it or maybe just pulling bits off. Nature can be harsh! The male, who was waiting nearby heard her calls and came over to see what she had, and maybe change shifts on the nest. This is the first photo I have taken (below) of them both in the same frame. 

female and male sparrowhawk

dunnock

first crane fly of the year

I was remembering I was getting into crane flies last year. They have an elegance and design about them that isn't initially apparent. (Maybe never?! 😂) But if you get a decent photo, it often shows sleek lines and a style not available when they are stuck in a spiders web in the shed or trapped in the corner of a window. Not quite as exciting as dragonflies but they've defo got something that lights my candle. More photos coming - which again I know you're thrilled about!

small white

hoverfly

pair of O-tips

Unda, a dog's width away from the male orange tip

We had been following an orange tip female and male for a bit. As the sun went behind clouds they both settled on bluebells and closed wings, a couple of yards from each other.

There was a bloke walking his lurcher. It was obvs bored and curious about what 4 people might be up to in the long grass. It walked deliberately between Unda and the orange tip bluebell. Remarkably the orange tip did not fly off. The dog about-turned and walked back along the same small gap which did not look large enough for a dog to pass through without stirring the butterfly. It stayed where it was! We were all laughing by now and the owner was slightly embarrassed by his doggy's intervention.

The female seemed to go into a deeper trance (the antennae closing more fully.) I wondered if they were aware of each other and felt I could match-make. I very slowly and gently put my hand down beside the female and then slowly coaxed her onto my finger. I then took her over to the male's bluebell and positioned her where he couldn't miss her - right above - when he woke up. 

photo: Mary, as I had my hands full

 cloud cover - wings closed

sunshine - wings open

Well it certainly worked to produce a decent photo: showing the sexual dimorphism of orange tips. ie the different colours of either gender. However earlier photos show the female was already egg-laying and so temporarily unresponsive to the male's advances. Oh well.

OT on garlic mustard; a foodplant  
where they lay their eggs

comma

small white

the mooching crow

Who follows us round the cemetery. Is it the same one every time? Really difficult to say. Might be several. She (it is smaller than some of the other crows) knows if she can make us laugh I will cave in and put some food down. She is not absolutely sure how to make us laugh but stays very straight-faced while doing amusing stuff. Has taken to lying down rather than standing. Maybe has some nesting issues going on currently. She lay down on this high stone (above) just where the four of us were chatting and trying to photograph butterflies. Not sure she was doing it for the food more trying to work out what we were up to, listening in to the conversation and having a nice lie down on a gravestone at the same time. Then chose a stone with 2 beheaded doves on, to lie on. Not sure if this was a subtle message. The silent conversation continues. Occasionally I hold bread in my hand as if she might fly over and take some. So far I just get a look. 

shieldbug

peacock

time to fork off home