just great!

 

Most of the time life chugs along doing what you expect. However, every now and then, something extraordinary happens. If you are very lucky. 😃

saw this lorry and was amused by a self-proclaiming Pikey

unless his jacket is covering the S of Spikey?

17-03-26. I have been trying to get into the habit of taking a regular constitutional. I felt it was helping with my back problems; the 'sciatica' that started around the 11th of Feb and is still ongoing 39days later! Though much improved. (Almost painkiller free these days!) Also, pretty much the worst thing for my back is sitting in front of the computer. Walking (up to a max of about 8miles) eases off the ache that has been plaguing my lower back and right leg, and also burns a few calories while I haven't been running.

stock dove at St Mark's

Mid-March and I was heading along nearly daily to the Botanics and/or Warriston; or to do a spot of water-railing with Dan. Having seen my first butterfly of the year at the beginning of the month I was now chomping at the bit for more and the Botanics was as likely a venue as anywhere. In previous years, red admirals have appeared at a couple of flowering rhododendrons and I was hoping to catch a repetition of this for this year's first RA. So far, no joy. In fact nobody, as far as I am aware, has posted an admiral this year on East Scottish Butterflies. It is the last of the over-wintering four species to show itself. 

house sparrows in the hedge at Warriston Rd
are a constant cheeping and peeping

just into the East gate at Botanics and this heron
 was fishing the stream that runs down to the Willow Pond

as per usual I check all the butterfly hotspots in the rock garden
Drone fly - Eristalis tenax

LTT

no butts

honey bee

high tree surgery

hairy-footed flower bees on the pulminaria (lungwort)

showing hairy legs and feet

bullfinch (f)

cute little feet out back

deep pan fungus
Birch polypore

While messing about taking pics of the hairy-footed bees I noticed a robin perching close to where I was and paying close attention. I held out some seeds and it came over and sat on my hand like we had been practising this for days. I had the long lens on and couldn't get a photo, just enjoying the experience without bothering to record it. (Most unlike me!) It was as pleasing as ever when a normally timid creature puts its trust in you.

Then I went back to taking photos of the bees, hoping a butterfly would turn up. I was walking between several rhodies while this was going on, checking out each (and the flowers between each) for butterflies. I also remembered to check out the Campbell's magnolia which is around the corner from the cafe. It was just beginning to open those large pink buds and explode into bloom. If you want to see it get round now as it will be past its best and dropping flowers from now on in. Lots of beautiful magnolia trees all flowering across the Botanics.

Campbell's magnolia

at this point just the topmost buds wide open

lower buds just beginning to open

against a grey sky

While I was between the magnolia tree and pulmonaria I noticed a couple of great tits sat in a rhodie leaning out into my path as if trying to get my attention. I'm not sure what made me hold out a hand with sunflower hearts on, perhaps they were practising telepathy. Anyway after a tentative flight towards my hand the female and then the male made several flights to my hand and sat happily for several seconds choosing a seed before flying off into the undergrowth with it. And my heart! 

I was blown away. I had heard great tits were potential candidates for this, second in line to robins who are the boldest of the garden birds and least scared of humans. But this was the first time I'd ever had one fly to my hand and sit there comfortably choosing the best looking snack. After a couple of seeds I hastily got out my iPhone and shot some video, as I didn't want to take the time to change lenses on the good camera. The great tits continued their game and although they disappeared for a few moments they reappeared in the small enclosed area beside Campbell's magnolia and we resumed the game. 

I can only imagine someone has been coaxing them towards this behaviour as they lacked the usual reserve all birds have with people. I couldn't believe my luck. What I also couldn't believe was that folk all around were mooching past not noticing this very unlikely event was going on right next to them. I mean I wasn't expecting applause, but people are so caught up in their own business and their phones, that they missed what was happening right next to them. Nobody said HOLY FUCK! You have a wild bird sitting on your hand!

Except me. My brain was shouting that very loudly, and I was nearly passing out every time one landed on me: little cold claws gently grasping fingertips in a trans-species greeting, I was high for days. (I was very pleased when, without telling her what I'd video-ed I showed Mary the clips, and she made involuntary squeaking noises! A proper appreciation of the magnitude of the event.)

great!

Somewhat after the fact I learned you can differentiate between great tit sexes by looking at the black bib that runs down their chests. Broad and solid = male. Dotted or narrower = female. I think the female led the charge.

Having got out the phone to video the great tits I felt I might as well record the robin who had possibly been watching me flirting with the GTs. Would I be forgiven? Well yes. He/she came across and sat for longer on my hand than either great tit as if to prove a point. There seemed to be a couple of robins around, one with a slightly odd beak tip. Nice to have an identifying feature so I can keep track of who's who. It didn't seem to be affecting eating.

handy robin

Although there was still no sign of the admirals, I felt the day had been far more extraordinary than I could have hoped. Great tits landing on my hand kinda trumped a butterfly that sooner or later will appear as they did last year and will do next year. The great tit thing was nearly unique and I am still thrilled when I see the videos. It occured to me sometime later that the phone video while workman-like (and even in slo-mo!) could be greatly improved upon with the good camera wearing the wide-angle street lens. That perhaps I should return and see if I can duplicate the miracle in a better quality format. It didn't take long to find out. (Watch this space!) Meanwhile I floated home on cloud nine.

dunnock

perennial Powderhall sparrows

goosander (f)

birdland

 

4th, 6th & 7th March. Three days wandering locally - Botanics and Warriston. Poor health and average weather discouraging anything more ambitious. Taking pleasure in the small things, a wren in the cemetery, a dunnock in the Botanics. A decent time of year for the birds who are gathering nesting materials.

a pair of tits

Unfortunately one of the better places in Warriston is by the stream under the tunnel. The light is bad and even if the sun is shining it won't be lighting up the stream and surrounding shrubs. As a result the photos look a bit drab.

great tit

stock dove

blackbird

stock dove - sitting high enough to catch the sun

stock dove photobombs the squirrel

robin

periwinkle

hazel

water rail

cherry plum

So on the 6th I went to the Botanics. Dan had mentioned dippers nesting up the WoL towards Stockbridge but I couldn't see any sign of them and wasn't absolutely positive I was standing at the right spot. So I headed to the Botanics where just inside the West Gate I came across this woodpecker high in the tall trees there. I shot some disappointingly shoogly video. 

female great spotted woodpecker

LTTs collecting lichen for nests

I have been photographing this Viburnum latana
as it opens up - something about the aesthetic appeals

I was disappointed there were no butterflies. As compensation when checking the rock garden out as the sun was just about to go down I came across this dunnock, sitting high up and singing a pretty song. I started out on the wrong side of it and had to quietly sneak underneath it to get the sun behind me. I was surprised it stayed sat there and singing, and I got some great video (at bottom of page) and shots. Highlight of the day.

glory-of-the-snow

robin

Wall screw-moss

On the way home the sun was catching the moss on the wall at Powderhall. I was so busy taking photos of it a woman approched and asked had I seen something she hadn't that I was taking photos of. I think the locals know there are kingfishers and otters regularly seen on that stretch of river, but on this occasion I had to confess it was just the moss catching the light and looking like a miniature forest.

The 7th. And that cat, I found out some time later, is Mittens and lives near the Botanics. I think it knows it shouldn't really be in there and slinks guiltily through the gardens probably looking for birds.

blue tit

insta-posing

We went to the cafe and had a pot of tea for two. (I was with Mary.) The cafe is good if pricey and we mainly avoid it, although recently I've been on three occasions, so maybe I don't avoid it as much. On the left was a rhubard scone that came with a jar of jam and a jar of clotted cream. We hope the profits go towards the upkeep of the gardens rather than to an outside business.

Coming back out the cafe the insta girls were still busy pantomiming a lifestyle. I asked Mary to pose so I could take a photo past her shoulder of the other poseurs but to be honest they weren't all that bad. Fake, yes, but it's not a crime to do dress-up-and-pretend. Mary is mastering the trout pout in the foreground. 

camellia

Being a Saturday the Queen Mother's garden and alpines area were open. No flowers at all in the first bit but loads in the alpine greenhouses near the palm houses, all freshly refurbed and looking spectacular. Lots of lovely delicate tiny blossoms. I couldn't believe there were no butterflies. And did my best to enjoy the experience anyway. 

view over to the Pentlands with a dusting of snow

female bullfinch

primula

I can't rightly remember but I suspect Mary went directly home while I went to Warriston. Driven by the lack of butterflies on what I felt should be a day with butterflies. 

wren

ladybird

Again the tunnel stream was good for birds but bad for light. The bullfinches were bathing and the pigeons and stock doves were moving in on the piles of seeds and nuts I put out.

stock doves

six stock doves and 2 wood pigeons

When I first started coming to Warriston in lockdown, stock doves were a rare visitor. Great to see 6 here - a sign they have become regular residents, although much of the time they like to sit high up in trees.

wren

LTT

When I saw the Glory-of-the-Snow flowering I checked out the post hole in this gravestone just above the crypts. A single purple flower sprouts there every year. I nearly missed it or maybe it had been trampled this year and looked a bit dog-eared. Glad to continue the annual tradition though.

winter gnats (I think)
Obsidentify failed to recognise these insects

a few video clips
soundtrack: Yellowed Leaves Drift Down
by Hior Chronik, Natalia Tsupryk, Asia Dojnikowska