best part of the day: hummertime special

10th ~ 17th July Holyrood Park
Ken had mentioned a humming-bird hawk-moth had been seen at the valerian below Samson's Ribs on the low road - the road that goes along from the Commie Pool to Duddingston Loch. Since they tend not to be creatures of habit I paid little attention until Andrew and Unda posted pictures on social media and Andrew reported Ken as saying it had been appearing between 3 and 4pm at said spot. This encouraged Mary and I to hone our daily routine. We spent 6 out of 8 days mid July hiking round Holyrood; partly because it was decent Summery weather, partly because Mary is too crocked to run and was preferring the outdoor sights, smells and activity more than trying to keep fit swimming in Leith pool or on a cycle trainer.

On Sunday 10th July Mary and I cycled up to Holyrood. Mary intended to do three laps of the Queen's Drive at speed as a workout. My intention was to stop after one lap. Possibly to become immersed in the wildlife and catch up with Mary after her speed session. However we bumped into Jim who was also not running due to injury and biking round the Seat for the same purpose. We chatted through much of the first lap then cranked it on the hill up to Dunsapie on the second. I found this so intoxicating that I stayed with it for the third lap. (Jim left after lap 2.) Mary and I padlocked our bikes at the bike stands near the Commie Pool roundabout and slowly made our way along to Samson's Ribs.

On the way there we went through the thistles by the roundabout. Mostly it was meadow browns and ringlets (with occasional small tort and skippers) but among them I spotted what might be the best butterfly of the year. A female common blue was hopping from bloom to bloom on the thistles but not opening her wings, except to fly. I would catch a glimpse and her upper wings looked absolutely mesmerising. But as I say she was not fully opening them and I had to follow her through chest deep thistles otherwise I would lose sight of this spectacular specimen.

Male common blues are brilliant when newly emerged but mostly identical. Upper wings all blue. The females have lunules on the upper wings and a variable amount of colouring from dark brown through brown/purple to nearly entirely blue. Which makes each one a unique treasure. Also they tend to hide in the long grass, so aren't as easy to spot as the males. This one seemed to have very blue upper wings, from what I could see, but I was continually frustrated by not getting a decent open-wing shot. Eventually a couple of tourists went by and the butterfly flew off, I saw not where. I was nearly pulling my hair out and looked and looked, but could not find her again. I went along to Samson's Ribs in a very mixed state; not sure if I had found or lost the most beautiful butterfly of the year!

spectacular upper wings but this is all you're getting!

the venue!

Nothing doing at the venue. Not sure how long we stayed but it was glorious weather so we went off in search of more reliable customers. I think we hadn't heard about the 3 o'clock timing at this stage. Humming-bird hawk-moths - hummers for short - are about as unreliable as any lepidoptera gets. I see maybe one or 2 per year - and a year can easily pass without a single sighting. I've only seen them on very warm sunny days. No idea what they do or where they go for the other 99% of their lives.

favourite view of the Seat

plume moth - a similarly rare and unlikely moth

I had just finished taking a photo of a fading NBA when this guy (above) (Peter Cuss) came over and asked had I seen any Scottish Brown Argus. I told him I'd just taken a photo of one which I could point out to him. He was very pleased by this, as it was his last UK species to tick off. He was from Englandshire somewhere and had come to Scotland for the last few species on the list of 59 UK butterflies. This was the end of his journey, the final butterfly, and I was pleased to be able to point him towards a rather unspectacular northern brown argus. Try as we might, we could not get it to sit with open wings. To show the white spots that make it different from the (English) Brown Argus. I left him to it and went off to look for graylings on the ridge that Mairi noticed last year just above Hutton's Section where handfuls of graylings sunbathe in good weather.

McIntosh Ridge

The rock colour around there and on the crags is often a perfect colour match for these highly camouflaged butterflies. They always sit with their wings closed - the only chance to see their upper wings is when they fly or are courting when they do an odd kind of dance. You only notice them when they are disturbed and fly up. If you sit still they often come close and sit for photos, but if you chase them they can be very flighty.

nice to meet Richard at NBA corner

tiny common blue female I mistook for an NBA!

The next occasion we were back to the venue taking photos was Tuesday. Not sure what happened to Monday's visit and photos. We still failed to see anything of the hummers so went instead along to Duddingston, to throw some seed at the geese. They are far too used to being fed and hurry over to scrounge at the first sign of a handout. Mary kept her distance as the swans and geese can be a bit overwhelming in their enthusiasm. The ducks are very cute, if in danger of being trampled underfoot by the bigger birds.

Joan on the Innocent Railway photo-ing cinnabar caterpillars

too far away to shout hellooo to without seeming like a psycho!

trying to avoid being goosed

not everyone had a good summer

This comma appeared near the spring*. It was a tremendous specimen and strong flier. If we got too close it would take off and fly circles around us before returning to a nearby spot. It was so swift you just got a hint of orange beauty flying around your head rather than knowing exactly what was happening.

*There is a pipe outflow into a stone basin along the path that runs west on the north side of the Loch. It might be a spring or a sewage outlet. Water looks fine but don't drink it just because I described it as a spring! This may have been where a first brood Holly Blue was seen earlier in the year. I saw something blue flit by but it didn't stop so I have no idea if it was common or holly. Keep yer eyes peeled if there! Lots of damselflies.

Friday the 15th was a good day. Mazza and I spent an hour or 2 cleaning the Berlingo. It is ancient and only just manages to crawl through an MOT every July. Sometimes in order to help it over that finishing line we give it a bit of TLC before the MOT. You'd be surprised to see how much grit and soil builds up in the footwells - all that trail running and cross country we used to do. Also the local gulls seem to hate red cars most, and use ours for target practice. The poop is extremely toxic and burns through the paintwork, lifting the top layer off. After half a morning with buckets of soapy water in the street (not sure what the problem is with a jetwash/carwash situation, but best not argue with the boss,) and dustpan and brush, the vehicle was just above half-respectable level, to pass it on to our friendly mechanics round the corner. It must have worked, as it cost less this year than within living memory. Hurray!

favourite deja vu

Today was also the first appearance of the H-B H-M. By this time (day four!) we really weren't expecting the little devil to show. But shortly after arriving I saw a small gray cigar shape, a winged owl pellet flying very quickly among the valerian flowers. It would stop briefly at each one, poke its long proboscis into a flower head then move quickly to the next. You can just about focus the camera on it by the time it is no longer in the frame. It is a very difficult game to play and causes maximum frustration, excitement and most frequently, disappointment. It flew very close to where we were standing but no excellent photos were taken. Then it was off, over the road and up the Ribs. Where to, nobody knows! A little after the experience I was very surprised to hear Mary was quite inclined towards the business. Her photos were very similar to mine, but she seemed more pleased that this near mythical creature had turned up at all and didn't find it quite as annoying as I did. In fact she was up for the challenge and looked at it as an enjoyable addition to a pleasant near daily constitutional. I think she was more captivated than I was.

I would ideally prefer a faster shutter speed than this (in order to maybe de-blur the wings of this exceptionally fast moving beastie) although I am not actually certain my camera does that when asked. I have set it to 1/2000 of a second on occasion and also 1/4000 (fastest possible) when enough light. And noticed little difference. And how would you know if it was telling porkies? Also this is the sort of thing that only occurs as you walk home, or when you see the images on a monitor. I was pleased that I remembered my best advice about recording these insects: sometimes video works better than stills. I shot some video but only 2 seconds of it turned out in focus, the rest was for the bin. Onwards and upwards!

Oh how relaxing to return to shooting the (by comparison) nearly stationary graylings, once the hectic hummer had departed. There weren't huge numbers on the valerian but usually one or 2 to pass the time waiting for the flying dog turd to return. It didn't. Time of arrival 15.43, time of departure 15.43.

meadow brown

ducks at duddingston

you can see the male mallard green coming
through on this adolescents head

comma again

mrs mallard and her brood

stampede of canada geese
did someone say birdseed?

cutie!

I was happy to see this pink footed goose again. It is the only one here and has had some sort of head injury. But is holding its own among the crowds of greylags and canada geese and seems not much dafter than any of the others.

Not sure what sort this white one is. Usually odd ones like this are a hybrid of a domestic and wild bird, but that is just a guess. It was larger than most and happy to shout, hiss and stand its ground. Although also easily won over with a handful of seeds.

plenty of damselflies about

greenfinch

fave rave

Since it was still sunny we wandered back via the stone trap although there wasn't much still flying. Last year the bit under the Cat's Nick was very busy with NBAs and Blues attracted by the flowers there, which aren't in the same abundance this year. Mary - standing on the stone trap ridge asked what the hole was about - there was a constant stream of wasps coming and going. Other than that not much happening.

love the wildflower planting around the Parliament Buildings

2nd hummer of the day!

On the way back through the Paliament Building grounds (very well done them planting wildflowers and letting them grow straggly, rather than neat lawns and herbacious borders all in a row) we saw another hummer. F'goodnessake! 2 in one day is rare. (One a day is rare!) This one was moving more erratically than the previous one and we both struggled to get anything better than a fleeting blurry shot as it moved through the undergrowth - seeking out Lady's Bedstraw in the grass rather than the more obvious blooms nearby. It was only when I looked at the photos later I saw this was probably egglaying behaviour. I checked online for caterpillar plantfood and preferred plants for eggs and first up was Lady's Bedstraw. I felt like I'd cracked it!

Unsurprisingly next day started where we left off but no further sightings round the Parliament Buildings were made. In fact the butterflies seem yet to discover this year's wildflowers there. I have seen nothing more than a fly-by white or 2 - last year these same banks of scabious were hoaching with butterflies. When I say hoaching I mean there were a few torts, peacocks and an admiral or 2 most days. NOTHING this year so far! Have they been sprayed with pesticide or what?

good to see Jamie well up in the HBT handicap

chick

hen

Most days we went up the stone trap and beyond towards the other end of the crags we would pass this mother pheasant who has maybe 7 chicks. They kind of scurry about in the grass and dive into the gorse as you approach. Often leaving it till the last moment. They'd be better sitting still as they are almost impossible to see until the mother pops out and calls to her scrabbling kids who will burst out the undergrowth giving one a heart attack. She has done well to have any left, what with the off leash dogs and kestrels/peregrines overhead. I say hello and take her photo as my heart rate returns to normal.

Mary up at the old NBA corner

Mary got ahead of me this day - Saturday. I was apprehended by another butterfly enthusiast, Neil, as I loitered looking for goodies and common blues along the way. Seeing my camera Neil came over and asked if I'd seen anything good. At first I was a bit miffed as Mary was further up the hill and might be getting all the good stuff first (she WAS!) and I was being slowed down by this tourist!

Actually Mary and I went out most days dressed exactly like tourists in t-shirts, shorts, backpacks and with cameras round our necks. There was no getting away from it. Anyway, quickly Neil and I established we were both butterfly enthusiasts and my FOMO calmed down. Neil had already spoken to Ken who had pointed out areas of interest. Although he was from Edinburgh, Neil had moved to London some while ago to study and work and was now just back for a few days to sort some stuff and check out butterflies in Holyrood as he hadn't done since the 80s. I had the uncanny feeling we had had quite a bit of online interaction but never met. When I later checked out Neil's facebook page I recognised a superb cover photo that would have stuck in my mind from whenever we had any butterfly-based chat in the past. I told Neil we were hurrying to the 3 o'clock show at the valerian. Neil had already seen loads of species and was having a top butterfly day.

again!

moved this slightly confused grayling off the path

There were a couple of grayling flying about the teasles and valerian quite near the road making for easier photos. After a short time Neil appeared and we continued exchanging tips and best places for seeing which species. I stopped mid sentence to announce the hummer had arrived.

If you want to get a grayling to raise its forewing as a warning then hold
a purple iphone close enough for a photo. Works a treat!

hummer time!

My experience with these frustrating moths suggests average contact time is about 12~18 seconds. On this occasion it flew back and forth along the valerian for what seemed like minutes. Mary and I were following it like crazies, totally unaware of anything else around, shooting off dozens of photos. One or two HAVE to be in focus. (Actually not that many out of dozens!) It was more obliging than I have ever known one to be and even Neil with his iPhone managed to get photos and a short bit of video. Checking the date stamps from first to last photo it kept us on our toes for a full 6 minutes. Almost certainly longer than all my previous encounters put together. I didn't feel I'd done it complete justice but I got closer. I think it is one of those things like dragonflies in flight - you get an occasional result, more by luck than good judgement, but wonder if a considerably more expensive camera might be the only realistic answer.

It was almost a relief when it buzzed off. Again over to the high walls of the columnar basalt behind us. Mary and I had already fantasised about it racing home to feed a bunch of hawkmoth chicks in a nest high up on a cliff wall, before returning for more nectar. Time of arrival 15.34. Time of departure 15.40.

Then back to the relaxing world of nearly stationary graylings. How quiet and meditative it seemed after the frantic frenzy of the hummer. Ahh, and breath.

Partly for the hiking miles, partly to see the duckies and comma, we went along to Duddingston again. Neither disappointed although the geese, particularly the canadas arrived in force. Mary was sat back from the water's edge on the bench there so I led them up and put some seed directly below her seat. They were heading straight for her when she realised what I was up to and bolted.

the comma again performed magnificently
although the brambles refused to ripen

geese storm the bench - Mary's off!

Mary has a quiet hello with the head injury pink footed goose
while I explain to everyone else the food cupboard is bare

remember to use sun screen when out on sunny days

Sunday's jaunt started well when we bumped into Steve, yet another runner who is walking (and running small/medium distances) while recovering from running injuries. Happily things seem to be well on the road to recovery for Steve and we shared strategies and stories. One of the things I miss about not running as much, is the company of friends I used to see once during the week at training and at least once at events at the weekend.

Andrew and Unda in the ditch

Talking of favourite people, next we bump into Andrew and Unda. They live nearby and are often found in the stone trap, hunting for butterflies and wildlife wonders. The stonetrap is a (presumably man-made) moat to retain boulders that crash down from the crags; to stop them rolling across the Queen's Drive and wiping out a coach and four as it passes. You can see such large asteroids sitting there since the ice-age, till you look up and realise where they most likely came from. Anyway the dip also provides a good shelter from strong winds for butterflies, and there is little in the way of human traffic. A&U excepted. And myself. And Ken is a fan too. Wearing shorts is not the best outfit to avoid the brambles, nettles and thistles that also lurk there.

Just as we arrived, so did a DGF. It was a bit tatty and I was keener to move on up the park to NBA corner, the Commie thistles and round to the h-b h-m valerian. The stone trap was far from wind free, making photos tricky - lots of grass swaying in and out of frame. We said our hellos and goodbyes to A&U just as the DGF we had been looking at flew by with another in tow. They landed up the path but I didn't see where. We must have walked past them; Andrew called out when he found them locked together, sitting in the long grass. I went back for a closer look and remarked that it was just as well the female (dark band round edge of wing over lighter nearly white edging) wasn't as fussy as I was.

meadow brown swaying in the long grass

I was very pleased to see the DGFs getting together. I had recently been lamenting their absence from Holyrood this season, particularly after last year when we enjoyed what seemed to be a micro colony in the rough, opposite Dynamic Earth. I think these might be the first two I've seen in the park this year. I didn't want to discourage or disturb their activity, so took a few hasty pics and beat a retreat. Hopefully they will seed another generation of tangerine terrors for next year. Thanks owed to Andrew for calling me back to have a look. Really good news.

I think this may be the same NBA Neil photo-ed the day before.
there aren't many left - not been a bumper year for them here

Mary going in for the close up with this burnet moth

the pheasant chicks dashing into the undergrowth, again!

first hummer of the day!!!

So we had a quick look about NBA corner, just below Hutton's Section. Not much in the way of Lycaenidae but to our surprise a hummer appeared and zipped around our legs. It wasn't particularly quick to fly off but the close-to background jumble of grass, shrubs and wildflowers did nothing to outline the creature and it nearly escaped without a decent photo being taken. It looked smaller and fresher (more contrast-ful) than the other specimen, quarter of a mile around the corner. (ie Not the same one.) Reports were of one seen near Hutton's Section. I have no idea if you get several in proximity to each other - I have only ever seen them appear as solitary individuals. And not often enough to know whether they ever meet in couples or have evenings out in groups. I'm guessing they must meet in couples at some point to procreate, and it is stuff like this that makes you realise they live the majority of their lives secretly, unobserved by humans. Someone, somewhere must have done a study? (Almost certainly in a warmer country where they are more commonplace.)

small tortoiseshell sits on the plastic weight box
that holds the security fence in place

Did I ever mention how much I really dislike the security fences put up by Historic Environment Scotland to imprison Hutton's Section for bad behaviour? The molten rock intruded across or between sedimentary layers, sometimes reaching the surface as lava flows and it has been fenced off until such a time as it either apologises or cools off. Otherwise it's another million years on the naughty step.

It is an ill-advised measure by the park constabulary and bound to fail. Also while it is impervious to all but the most determined from frontal attack you only have to wander 50 yards to one side or another to find a small wooden fence to step over; or above Hutton's Section an easy grade of stepped rock down the back of the crags to access said section. In other words it is entirely unfit for purpose other than as an eyesore.

Here is an excerpt from a long argument online by people more knowledgeable about land management laws than myself (Nick Kemp for Parkswatch Scotland)...

That common sense expressed by the Courts is what makes access rights possible. In failing to understand this – or it seems seek any legal opinion – HES have not just unlawfully blocked a right of way, they are giving totally the wrong message to other landowners about how to manage access rights. That makes it particularly important their hamfisted closure of the Radical Rd is challenged – this is a national access issue.

The whole article appears here. And I'm glad it is not just me that thinks the fences are a crock. Generally I respect them, particularly at the weekends when roving power rangers might be looking for trespassers to tell off, but on a couple of occasions I have gone round their flaccid perimeters to check out butterfly life near the crags, where once we frolicked and gambled with the meadow browns and graylings. Truth be told there wasn't a huge amount going on there but it was my duty, I felt, to find this out for myself. If anyone wants to prosecute me then they are welcome to give it a shot.

small skipper

grayling

We weren't stood long at Samson's valerian before our flying furball appeared again. This occasion further West than last 2, but around the same time. It did not tarry but stayed long enough to check out the bushiest looking blooms then zoomed off without so much as an adios amigos! Time of arrival 15.42. Time of departure 15.44.

I took a photo of my watch recently to get an idea of what time my camera records. My camera is set 3 mins ahead of watch time. I don't know how the hummer monitors his day but he (or she) arrived within minutes, on a daily basis between 3.30pm and 3.41pm three days in a row.

And that was pretty much that. A combination of poorer weather approaching, the return to work, and a feeling we had completed the task as competently as possible given the resources available, meant we have discontinued the project for the time being. Although walking, and in cases running, is still being examined as a consideration. The heatwave is passing and the hummer of love maybe just be a distant memory, but it was a good one while it lasted. And we enjoyed seeing quite a few friends along the way. Mrs Pheasant for one and her growing chicks, (I keep wanting to call them the partridge family) who cluck and squawk every time we go past; all the graylings, who appear to be having a fantastic summer, Neil C who was there for the longest ever appearance of a hawkmoth known to man; (a man, (me!)); and Ken who started it all by telling us that 3pm was the witching hour, and yet I haven't seen him since I was down with covid a few weeks ago. OMG!