paradise found

 

19th August

Mary has a Friday off most weeks and volunteered to drive us to Saltoun Big Wood to do our constitutional there. She knows it is one of my favourite haunts and the mixed/sunny forecast suggested it might be okay. Initially I had seemed a little ungrateful as I was still a bit galled about having missed the purple hairstreaks at Woodhall Dean and wanted to scratch that itch. However I quickly put that behind me and as we drove through East Lothian the weather just got better and better and it turned into one of the best days for butterflies and dragonflies ever!

just us at the tiny parking island

large white

We both had our walking cameras - Lumix bridge cameras. Right from the get go there were plenty good things on the wing. We hadn't even got as far as the old car park (now closed) before a large white fluttered past and settled for a photo. Then, as we approached the first pond on the left, a chinook of common hawkers flew past and landed in a tree just in front of me. I was cock-a-hoop and couldn't believe Mary wandered off to look round the pond while these ancient monsters copulated just above eye level. Actually they almost separated, the female (below) losing her grip and then both of them flying down to a lower level clump of sheep's sorrel or similar, where they regrouped. I took a million pics. It is quite rare to have them so close. Normally after a male grabs a female they fly off to the tree tops, well away from the water. 

female

male

Mary, pondside

black darter (m)

Black darters were high on today's wish list. They hadn't emerged when I was here last. They are the smallest British dragonfly, but quite glamorous in their all black outfits (males; females are only half black) especially if perched on a light coloured background. the Milk Tray man of the dragonfly world. According to a study done in 2021 the 3 most endangered dragonflies, or rather the 3 worst occupancy trends are Common Hawkers, Black Darters and worst Emerald Damselflies. All 3 are in abundance in August / September at Saltoun. There is lots of analysis on the report here. This paragraph says a bit about reasons for declining figures although I have a feeling these apply much more to England rather than North of the border where we have a lot more growth and new species arrival. 

"Species declines are harder to record and explain, but habitat losses and degradation through land drainage, afforestation, acidification and lack of appropriate management are strongly indicated as major factors. Changes in weather patterns, causing both flood and drought conditions, are also implicated, as are pesticides, fertilisers and other pollutants of a similar nature. It is also the case that increases in distribution may mask underlying declines in species abundance."

I saw this admiral on a pond side tree and thought I'd take loads of shots just in case it was the only one of the day. Happily that was not the case - but I've had days when that did happen.

Mary by the best pond

emerald damselflies

common darter

I always think of this as the second pond - up the trail and on the right hand side just after a junction. Though technically speaking there are 3 lower ponds on the left and a hidden one on the right and a small puddle of a pond by the rooty oak tree on the corner so this could be called the sixth pond. There was a small copper by the side and the only one I photographed all day.

more common hawkers going at it

Up on the back trail and it quickly became apparent there were loads of peacocks. Recently arrived, brand new and in small groups of 2s and 3s at regular intervals. Not as many red admirals but good numbers and also brand new. We had hoped the commas would be out. A couple of years ago there were dozens up this trail on the same scabious flowers. Not so many last year, and none today although we were earlier in the month than usual. Hopefully they will appear in due course.

It was tremendous. It is a while since I have visited a site so full of butterflies. I missed some cracking shots, a couple of peacocks lined up perfectly or a red admiral parting my hair as it flew through; but it was no loss as there was another one along as you turned around. At times large whites, RAs and peacocks all flew by and vied for attention - it was difficult to know where to point the camera. Really heartening after a less than brilliant Summer for butterflies to suddenly have an overdose of top quality specimens all flying about the trail. Mary was equally captivated. I went home with over a thousand photos and most of them from this quarter mile of trail lined with purple flowers. It was the stuff of dreams.

small white

well overexcited!
Photo: Mary

just a perfect day

wall (f)

large white

Then towards the top of the curving track we came across this perfect painted lady. It was fairly happy to pose for photos and didn't fly off when got close. We saw at least 2 and maybe 3. All in great condition.

I didn't realise this one caught the light just right
 to show a glimmer of iridescence until I got home.

wall photobombs this painted lady

obvs all the ones I am in were taken by Mary

the male walls were mostly flying about like crazy looking for partners

perfect peacock!

After a while we went round the corner and round 4 sides of a square to come back near the second pond. There was not so much in the way of butterflies or dragonflies compared to the back trail but we bumped into a few speckleds and another Painted Lady but failed to find a comma in the same place as last visit. Oh and a large white sitting on a fern. 

speckled wood

Mary embracing her surroundings.
Or the heat going to her head.

We returned to the first pond where I came across another hawker which landed in a low shrub. An opportunity for dozens more photographs and close-ups! A quick check and there were a few more specimens sitting about in the shrubs and long grasses. Then the clouds moved in making it possible to leave. Otherwise I might still be there. We had half planned to check out Postman's Walk on the way home but both of us felt our cups overflowed already and that directly home to process a million photos might be the best action. I can't remember a better day for butterflies and dragonflies. I am already planning a return trip next sunny day to see if the commas are out yet. Watch this space!

black darter

newly emerged common darter

all that fun in just 3 miles! (took us 3hrs though)