wander at Gullane

 

22-07-22

A pleasant enough, if unspectacular way to spend a Friday afternoon. I think we took wet suits with a view to going swimming but it just never came to that. I think the promising weather, warm but not sunny, clouded over to a point where stripping off and jumping into the cold North Sea quickly lost any appeal.

We were, however, hugely impressed by the new toilet block just below the car park. It WAS spectacular. Not least for having a shower (and dog watering tap) on the end of the building - suitable for hosing down surf boards and equipment as well as swimmers and wet suits. Exactly the sort of facility I'd see outside Scotland in civilised parts of the world and ask why we can't come up with similar. And now here we have. Super well done East Lothian Council, well worth the £2 car park fees if that was what paid for this swish new building. I don't know if you remember what was here previously but the gents stank like WW1 trenches or worse. This is a really excellent replacement and the non-specific cubicles sidestep any kind of meaningless gender arguments.

while there were one or 2 deaders on the beach
happily avian flu doesn't seem to be devastating the locals

black headed gull

pleased to see this new sign keeping dogs out
there are plenty nearby dog friendly beaches

oystercatcher

eider

this tern was sat too long on the beach as we approached
and appeared to have an injury 

despite the panama hat this fence post failed to cut a dash

We went round a few spots we have previously found lots of butterflies and birds but it just seemed one of these days when nothing much is about. Either the cool breeze was keeping everything indoors or there wasn't quite enough sun to lure them out. It hasn't been a particularly great summer for butterflies although a few of the duller browner species (and small skippers) have been out in force. Others; blues and NBAs for instance, have been thinner on the ground. And it can feel like there is a dearth of the usual suspects. Then you come across a corner that is alive with several species and things don't quite seem so fatalistic. And yet we didn't happen upon such a place this walk, leaving us with the feeling of dwindling numbers and a poor year.

stonechat maybe (juv?)

usually the blocks high on the golf course would be lively with butterflies
but we didn't see many and it wasn't worth hanging about

a bullfinch watched us wander around the long grasses

I managed to discover this solitary c blue after a wade through long grasses. There were plenty Meadow Browns and other chaff flitting through the grasses but not much worth turning the camera on for. I can see from the available light it was pretty overcast. We are spoilt really - always expecting Gullane and East Lothian to provide endless sunshine and wildlife. 

skylark

On our way back to the car park Mary spotted a couple of baby deer. I tried to get closer as they were well hidden in the long grasses. I followed them over the next hill and by the time I had got to the top I could see they had changed into an adult, presumably the mother. I followed her slowly and she calmly watched me, then walked off slowly. 

linnets

cinnabar caterpillars

back to the car

4.7 miles round the horsehead, but no swim!