best part of the day: charging the batteries

16-03-24

A Saturday that felt a bit more like a Sunday. The forecast was struggling to realise its potential, but just in case it did we drove to Gullane for a wander. Not just to stretch our legs but because we hadn't turned the Berlingo's engine over in 6 weeks or more and it doesn't like a cold damp Winter without exercise. It took a moment clearing its throat, then chugged into life. Hurray! We still have wheels. Best do a few miles and properly charge up the battery. Being of a certain age it is always a risk filling the tank, knowing it may not be a good investment. We checked the levels (added water, but oil was fine) and that the electrics still worked; they can be vulnerable to the ingress of water during a monsoon. Depending on the direction of wind and the aspect of the van facing it, there can be small lakes in the footwells.

It was bright but not exactly suntan weather at Gullane. As we stepped from the car we saw AGF out walking her dogs. Not the first time we have bumped into Amanda here although none of us actually lives in Gullane. Far too long since we had a catch up and a delight to exchange news and meet Hamish and Hercule.

I have commandeered Mary's DJI Pocket as it fills the gaps my 400mm lens fails to cover: selfies, panoramas and pics of pals (without them having to stand at the other end of the car park.) We joked that Amanda would have to stand in Fife for me to take her photo with the long lens. I unpocketed the Pocket and took loads of pics of dogs and AGF and Mary posing. The great thing about the Pocket is it is really small. The worst thing about it is the screen is about the size of a 6:19 fingernail and you can't really see what you are doing. Like pushing the on/off button instead of pushing the record button. So after 15mins of chatting and taking photos I hadn't actually taken any photos of the three of them and was raging when I got home and realised this. Only a week since I was on holiday using it fine and I have already forgotten how. Curses. This getting old and forgetful business is a real drag! Once AGF and doggoes had said goodbye and wandered off up the hill I took a couple of pics with the long lens, otherwise I'd have no record of just how lovely it was to meet Amanda.

We did something like the usual circuit although it was only really to the far end of Aberlady beach and then back on the path that rises up between the fairways of the golf course and back towards Gullane Point. There was a tiny chance of an outlier early butterfly but we had more fun trying to get close to skylarks and stonechats as there was several of both species about the place. We did not hang about to look for the short eared owls that are regularly spotted there. We saw a birder with a tripod and telescope whose slumped shoulders suggested 4hrs of humping around equipment without much joy. Also no sign of the waders and sanderlings who must have been hanging out along shores of the Peffer Estuary. We didn't bother going looking. And we also didn't check Marl Loch for toad- and frogspawn. 19th March tends to be the average date for that. Or first really mild evening around then. Which is anytime now. Same will be going on in Holyrood Park up around Dunsapie. All the toads come out for an orgy. The herons also come out, for a toad and frog feast.

skylark

hairy oobit
(one of several fox moth caterpillars seen)

clam

madam gets down on the sand for the right angle

distant kestrel

close by bunny

paths quite waterlogged

A couple of times I got quite close to skylarks. They are very well camouflaged and nearly impossible to see among the long grasses if stood still. I think they know this and don't always use flying off as a defense, if you are not approaching them directly. So, how to look like you are not approaching them directly but still move towards them incrementally without chasing them off. It is something of a zen-like art. Happily there are quite a few about, to help you practise. When not looking for likely nesting spots they will fly high into the sky and hover in one spot while doing something between a twittering babble and a car alarm. Then they parachute down and disappear into the long grass. I was pleased to get this one with crest raised looking in my direction.

heron

contemplative Mary

stonechat (f)

stonechat (m)

There are several pairs of stonechats around Aberlady too. They have the great habit of sitting on a high perch and telling you off for trespassing on their private ground. Which makes taking their photo much easier. I suspect, like robins, they are curious or just like to keep and eye on things and so if you approach slowly you can get really quite close. Mary took a couple of photos and moved on whereas I was on all fours crawling across the damp tussocks. This sometimes (but not always) makes for better results. I got really close to this male who was particularly bold (his missus had flown off ages ago) and I was snapping away thinking how clever I was when he took off and flew to within inches of where Mary was standing. I felt events were conspiring to humiliate me. And had Mary even seen it had landed on the top spot of the bush beside her? I could only stage whisper and make elaborate "it's behind you" signals.