best part of the day: terns of endearment

Sunday, 7 September 2025

terns of endearment

29th August and Mary drove us to Gullane to walk around Aberlady reserve. When I'd been along here four days previously there was a bit of a breeze blowing, no butterflies, and not many birds. So I had very little anticipation of any great wildlife moments today. Often these are the most rewarding days: no expectations or high hopes, I just relax and enjoy the scenery. This was the case today. (And you can thank Mary for the gruesome title, which I liked enough to use.)

butterfly wall, Gullane

We parked at the toilets off the main road in Gullane. There was a sign outside Goose on the Green cafe saying for lease. So the goose has been cooked then. I was sorry this place has not survived. Despite the occasionally ropey service from disinterested students, their coffees and scones were fine. And handy for parking near the butterfly bushes. Oh well, another one bites the dust. Perhaps Falko's weren't so daft moving to Haddington. Maybe there just isn't enough Winter trade to keep it going. Or too much competition.

The sun had been coming and going. Enough to get a number of butterflies (mostly RAs) up and onto the two buddleia bushes next to the toilets. They were pruned right back and have been flowering well as a result. However when the sun disappeared the butterflies sought refuge on a cream coloured harled wall next door. Nine or ten red admirals perched on the wall along with a comma and a painted lady. Not the easiest group photo. (See second pic down from top and also video at bottom of page.)

painted lady

comma

admiralty wall

Mary said due to the direction of wind we should go via the golf course and back along the beach. One or 2 admirals were nectaring along the JMW along with a small white and small copper. And a common darter.

At the bridge to enchantment a Royal Enfield was parked. I was pretty sure this belonged to Bruce. However if I was more eagled-eyed I'd have noticed this one was a 500cc and his is a 350cc. Bruce does really engaging youTube videos of riding about East Lothian while narrating about the countryside.

meadow brown

painted lady

Before we got Marl Loch we saw a patch or 2 of scabious. They didn't look like much but on closer inspection there was a cracking painted lady and large white. And a second meadow brown. This was already more than I saw in total from the previous trip and probably due to paying attention, rather than rushing through to places I assumed there'd be good stuff.

large white

meadow brown

I even took the time to put the camera in pre-burst mode
and wait till the butterflies took flight.

7 spot ladybird

GVW

small tortoiseshell

While chasing stuff around the scabious what looked like a moth flew up. It turned out to be a late small heath and although a little ragged at the edges it was still an unexpected joy to see. Likely the last one of the season.

view across to Edinburgh

whose feather?

a juv stonechat sat and watched
as I cautiously approached

ringed plover

When we got to the beach there were some waders but most of them were not keen on letting us get close enough for a decent photo.

sanderlings

Fife was getting it

sanderling

the rather watery skies produced this half-hearted rainbow
low on the horizon

There were a number of birds on the waterline. I have less enthusiasm for gulls than waders or less common shoreline birds but when I saw some terns among the gulls I took a closer line to see what exactly they were. I have since done some homework and can reveal they were Common terns and Sandwich terns. The other 2 UK terns: Arctic and Little were absent. After some extra fact-checking we also get Black and Roseate terns.

Again they weren't thrilled about my approach and flew off before I got close enough for decent photos. They are probably prettier in the air than on the ground. They are distinctively pointy and look very sleek and aerodynamic. Once in the air, a shoal of fish was spotted and they dive-bombed the fish like gannets, occasionally coming out the water with a sprat or sand eel.

Sandwich tern and Common tern
ST has a black bill (with yellow tip) CT has a red bill with black tip

hunting/diving for fish

razorbill

bar-tailed godwit

rain coming (eider) down

There was a bit of waterproof wearing weather but it was brighter by the time we got back to Gullane. I was enjoying these waste bins near the kids playground, without really taking on board the design (which Mary noticed) is of fieldfares on sea buckthorn, an annual delight along the Gullane coastline. Steven Butcher is credited with design and they show that even a humble waste bin can look great if you take a little thought and care.