gullswimbutt

15-07-26. So gullswimbutt was the name of the folder I kept these photos in. And the name stuck. It refers to a great day along the coast when M and I went for a swim in Gullane Bay then a butterfly safari along towards Aberlady afterwards. It was Mary's idea and was much better than I thought it would be. Both the watery bit and the butterfly hunt.

Mary wore a shorty - a cross between a swimsuit and wet suit. I think I was actually less cold wearing a long sleeve rash vest and swim shorts. A rash vest is a tight but stretchy, slightly fleecy jumper that discourages water flushing through. On the scale of coldest to warmest that Scottish water gets, we are probably around 8 or 9 out of a possible 10. If you want to try open water swimming and don't like cold water, now is the time to take the plunge.

I initially forgot my hat and went back ashore to put it on as it helps reduce the hypothermia. But after the initial shudder of getting in, it really wasn't bad and I could have easily done 20mins without chattering teeth. I think I did about 18mins but Mary was feeling like that was plenty and we still had to shower (in cold water) and change back which takes another chunk of energy.

the first wave that crashes over you
always produces that face

Mary wearing swim shoes after her experience of (most likely) treading
on a weaver fish and having a sore toe for a week - with no visible spike or spine

I always do this - it never looks that good so I'll prob stop

trying to hold the w/p camera out the water makes your face submerge
and I ended up looking special

I seem to have swum the route of mangled fallopian tubes - which is not unlike what it felt like.

so this is the usual read out but I noticed I could also go for photo-realism...

which is quite funny - 18m40s and 494 yards
(I don't remember swimming that far)

and then a lovely cold shower at the new toilet block

It was great having the sun blazing as we changed. Much nicer than the usual clammy feet and pulling socks badly over blue sandy extremities. It is so much easier in decent weather!

Then we got our cameras out and headed West towards Gullane Point and the golf course concrete blocks. First thing worth a photo was this wagtail who I realised was the first bird I've ever seen killing a butterfly. Lots of butterflies shows signs of bird attacks but this is the first time in 20, maybe 30 years, of a bird predating a butterfly (a small skipper.) Plenty of small skippers to spare - there were an abundance of them everywhere, so the wagtail was probably just using what came to hand. 

lots of small birds about - is this a linnet?

The overgrown bracken was quite something - this is the less bad path of a couple I have used lately. I felt I had to carry my camera above my head to avoid scratching the lens. Also quite fun as it only went on for a hundred yards.

red admiral where there is often one

near the concrete blocks looking over the golf course

small heath

female common blue

a superb specimen though fading and slightly worn round the edges

hundreds of small skippers

When I was putting in numbers of species to the local recorder I asked Mary how many small skippers she felt there were, and she said greater than 50. We did not count each one because there was just too many and they were on just about every decent stand of flowers.

not as many DGFs and most either flew through or were hunting a mate

going back the way we came

six-spot burnet moth

Just as you come up the steep bit off the beach and cross the gold course tee-off bit, there were a bunch of flowering thistles that had lots of passing trade. A female DGF caught our eye. I believe the white trim and sootier colouring makes it a female although I can't swear on that. As we stood taking photos a male DGF appeared and made enquires although was discouraged and was quickly on his way. The females tend to be larger than the males and don't put up with much nonsense.

a brand new small tortoiseshell also turned up looking fab

Mary getting in close with her bridge camera. She opted not to take her good camera. She was comparing the 2 saying the bridge camera is more fun and easier to get the photo, however it takes a lot less good quality images. I think once she has been using the good camera more, it will be just as quick to get the image although it will never be as quick to go from scenery or macro (as above) to zoom, which the bridge camera does easily. I rarely use my bridge camera nowadays. I nearly did today because I wasn't keen leaving the good one in the car while swimming. But the bridge camera quality is just so meh compared to the G9. And having a body harness carries much of the extra weight. Anything else (including the waterproof camera) seems a bit cheap. It did take a while to get to this point though.

a few of the very many skippers we saw

Mary was getting a bit sore and tired - her legs give her jip if she does too much and was heading back to the car park when I shouted to her I'd seen a comma. She considered coming back but then didn't bother and I nearly got in trouble for making her legs hurt more than necessary. But it was a spectacular comma and the butterfly highlight of the day. I took loads of photos from several angles trying not to disturb it.

And that was that. I didn't want to spoil what had been a terrific day
so hurried back to the car. Really successful mix of activities.

3miles in 98mins