search and rescue

Monday 10th June. Perhaps just a little early to go looking for Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary but they spoil quickly and I wanted to get some photos while they were fresh, since I had failed to do this last year. I knew from the ranger survey last year where to find them and this was my third trip this year to Red Moss and beyond. They would defo be there now because there were reports they were elsewhere in Scotland. And it was surely better than working on a Monday?!

I padlocked my bike in the woods away from the car park.

Plenty of damselflies and cinnabar moths.

large red

no way to treat a lady damsel

As I stomped through the tussocky lumpy soggy swamp the excitement faded and a kind of resolve to at least try to enjoy myself seeped into my soul. It quickly became evident there was no sign of the orange beauties. Oh well. Might as well take pics of the whites and orange tip females that flitted from flower to flower. Then I had a better idea: the sun was out and here was I wasting a perfectly good day. I should head back to Holyrood Pk and see if I can see those Northern Brown Argus that Mairi and Ken have been posting photos of.

OT female

crisper or softer?
Couldn't choose. 

getting bored of this and the 11mile cycle here

I was squelching through the wet bits when I noticed this arrangement and realised if I could get a better angle on these flowers I could get more sparkles behind the subject. I shifted behind some branches and got ready to wait for the next white to come along. Then I realised I was standing in water wasting my life here. Time to cycle back; I mean it's nice, but it is only a green veined white. Sounds harsh but it was a really good call as lots of treats awaited not 2 miles from my home.

First up I pushed my bike up to the Commie Pool end of the Rad Rd. I thought the NBAs were seen around here but hadn't been paying attention in class (again) so was just having a browse about the place before I padlocked my bike. There were these very razzly small coppers around the heathers and rocks and I meant to get some better pics of them looking just electric when I spotted something blue jink past. A Common Blue! I virtually threw my bike to the ground and gave chase but it was off and zipping away. Okay, I picked up my bike and chained it to one of the railings that are currently discouraging folk from going round the Radical Rd. This was even better than NBAs. I got the camera out and got a few photos of the blue which had returned to the same spot. I followed it as it dotted about. It was brand spanking new (possibly the first sighting in Edinburgh) and buzzing about in the bright sun. The name comes from a time when they were perhaps more widespread, and these days I feel should be changed to Uncommon Blue. As they are just that. Relatively rare and absolutely glorious. The males with their iridescent blue uppers; when they open their wings in the sunlight, it's like they open and close a gateway to another dimension. An intangible glossy aspect that defies the eye and quickens the heart. Hell of a lot better than chasing invisible fritillaries through tick infested swamp.

uncommon blue

nothing compares to a fresh blue

I was in something of a contained frenzy when Ken appeared. It was great to see him and to be able to let him know there was a blue in the area. Knowing his stuff, he instantly perked up and joined the hunt. We didn't have long to wait before it re-appeared and we both set about crawling in the grass to get photos. There was little urgency as it stayed in the area hopping from Trefoil to grass stem. After a bit, we went down the hill to where he had been taking pics of NBAs and very obligingly they did a merry dance about the flowers there. They were smaller than I'd anticipated. I had seen one down at Burnmouth but it's energy and colours made it seem larger than these. I think there might be a bit of variation in size. These were not much bigger than Small Blues even though on my wall chart they are nearer Small Copper size. (Though they also seem to change in size too.) They are so small (the Northern Brown Argus) that I can't really see them properly and only really know the results of my photos when I get them home. It was nice to see one or 2 still had the oily sheen of fresh emergence about them. This changes as the light reflects off them.

After a while of taking photos of them and the small moths that flitted about, we returned to see if the Blue was still there. It was. It seemed there was only one and it kept to a fairly small territory. Which is kind of convenient if you want to return and take more pics. This we did, nodding hello to passing tourists, some of whom were keen to see what we were clearly excited about in the long grass. Others more interested in Hutton's flippin' section (very close by) or just out for a dog walk. We chatted about cameras and elusive butterflies and I went home with a real joy in my heart, keen to see how the photos had turned out. (Usual mix of success and disappointment, Aha! and dammit, bad crop.) The light was pretty good and captured at least some of the dazzle and sheen on those amazing blue wings, if not the interdimensional enigma you feel when you see them up close in bright sunlight. It was great to chat to Ken - Mary sometimes gets a bit bored with me blathering on about butterflies! Hard to believe but nobody's perfect! Not even her. 

Because of the interest in both NBAs and the Blue here is a wee map and some photos to show where we found them. Just at the border between the rough ground and scree slopes and better grassy ground, a little way down from the Commie Pool roundabout for the NBAs. And between the first 2 barriers on the Rad Rd for the Blue, going up the grassy slope to the bottom of the crags. I believe there might be Graylings there below the crags anytime soon. Another reason to visit (and sneak behind the barriers, not that you should do that, of course.) Beware rockfall - maybe wear a helmet?

just below this large tree

Ken getting close ups
my bike tossed to the ground behind!