what the doctor ordered

 

25/04/25 Off to Doctor Neil's Garden for a lovely (butterfly) pot of tea. We went there via the New Calton Cemetery where Mary had seen a wall but now two visits later and no wall. Was she just wildly hallucinating or high on crack? I think she got photos of the wall, so no. We were eventually to see it but there wasn't anything more adventurous than an empty tequila bottle today, which is actually quite an adventure. A reminder it is regularly visited by people mourning their day jobs and back when they had a life.

this crow had found a dead toad snack treat

GVW

GVW

more wonderful public service from our friends at Holyrood Park
closing the road and pavement after the rock has fallen

not amused

We nearly had a real spectacle at the aptly named Murder Acre. Some dizzy students watched the farmer walk through the field with the bull in it. They did not pay any attention to the large stick he was carrying and the way he carefully negotiated his way round the far side of the field. Seeing him exit unscathed we all watched slack jawed as the 3 dafty students jumped off the wall to take a short cut across the field or maybe to take a selfie with the bull. Had I been the farmer I may have just let them get gored and stomped to death as a lesson, but he shouted at them to get back out the field. I suppose there would have been paperwork and he'd probably have to have the bull killed but it would have made a very good instructional film (I had my camera at the ready) for how ignorant students can be and how fierce bulls can be. I'm not sure who was more disappointed, myself or the bull.

I think this was the first or second female orange-tip of the year. And it behaved in a very accommodating manner. When it left my hand it landed on Mary's shoe for a few photos before returning to the tree. I had seen lots for several weeks on local butterfly online posts but it took till then to come across one in the field so to speak.

photo Mary

Mary's thumb

tea for two at Doctor Neil's

very nice sitting out in the sun
although I see we're still wearing jumpers

I shook a bag of bird food at the geese and they came over for a chat. They came so close I had to use my mobile phone to take a photo as I had the long lens on my good camera.

photo Mary

photo Mary

photo of Mary

bird box with metal front to keep the larger birds from 
making a bigger hole and forcing out the smaller occupants

gvw

speckled

peacock

chaffinch

a friendly wave from M as she chose the other wrong side to go around

St Margaret's Loch

yep I'll see you in two minutes 
photo Mary

I knew to stay on the main road side because the flowering gorse behind, makes an excellent backdrop for the duckies photos. Unlike the last time we tried this and both ended up going home alone (seems almost impossible to not meet at the far end) we arranged to meet at the far end and it sort of worked although M got bored of the birds long before I did. I fed the ducks and then she arrived and we both fed the pigeons and got them to land on outstretched arms. Even a scabby pigeon is a thing of great delight when seen up close and I like how up for an interaction they are. Although I always wash my hands thoroughly as soon as I get in the front door.

greylag goose

Here's a weird thing. I noticed the greylag and took a photo or 2 as it sat snoozing at the edge of the water. I also noticed Mr Pheasant and his lovely wife who mooched out the undergrowth at the mention of birdseed. Both the pheasants were appreciating the handout when the greylag wakes up sees what is happeneing and stomps over neck out in disapproval. Initially I thought he was perhaps jealous of seeing someone else being fed. I threw some seeds in his direction but he ignored them and came over hissing. 

unhappy!

In the end I think he was telling me off for feeding a couple of layabout scoundrels. He put himself between them and me and gave me a very disdainful look that said DO NOT FEED THOSE FOREIGNERS. There wasn't really any doubt about his message but I did wonder what authority he felt he was operating on. Did he have part time work with the park rangers? Or was he just a bit racist? I can't remember one species ever acting so strongly in relation to another species being dealt with. Might explain why he had no mates nearby, he might just be a bit mental.

the pheasant hangs his head in shame!
he didn't at all, I think he was looking for sunflower seeds!

not on my watch!

Otherwise, lots of fun had.

8 miles in 5hrs