18-06-23 Another Mary adventure which I wasn't overexcited about, but ended up a revelation. The weather was a bit ordinary - warm but overcast. So I was happy to join Mary for a cycle along to the lagoons at Musselburgh and back. When I say happy I mean a bit underwhelmed not to be chasing butterflies and wildlife under a sunny sky. However, better to get some fresh air than sat indoors on social media. Camera in pannier bag just in case.
And this was the revelation. The new development utilising the ash discarded from Cockenzie power station. Turn harder right than before when cycling near the Esk estuary. Between the Esk and the old scrapes is this new place, fenced off until recently. Landscaped in a similar manner to the existing lagoons the new area is now open. There are four or five hides - very basic brick bunkers from which you can observe the birds on the purpose built ponds. The previous "scrapes" next door are pretty good and something of a haven for birds and bird watchers. I don't go there that much but it is really impressive to see this development. How often do we hear that the answers to the stresses of modern life are best dealt with by going for a walk, getting fresh air and engaging with or observing wildlife. And yet it is extremely rare for new projects like this one to appear. So much of modern life I feel unengaged with, or positively repelled by.
The St James Quarter being a prime example. One of the biggest recent developments in the centre of Edinburgh and it is a disgusting monument to Mammon. All that is fucking appalling about the modern world: perfume shops, overpriced unhealthy food and drink, high end fashion shops, high end denim jeans shops, unhealthy doughnut shops and American coffee shops. Shit you don't need, topped off with what looks exactly like the poop emoji. I couldn't believe that super-ugly swirl on the top of the building, and hated it from the first day it went up. It's like finding out that Trump is the president of the USA. You realise somehow the stupids have got control and are making a fucking mess of the world. And yet Trump only did one term and surely can't possibly go any further. That turd building is going to be sitting there for another 20 years or more. I see there has been a LOT of scaffolding around it already, implying the build quality was no better than the aesthetic. Fingers crossed it falls down and they take note of all the criticism and don't rebuild it. Fingers crossed.
Anyway, in a world that has gone to fucking dogs it is hugely restorative to come across a development that I like. Of which I approve. A simple tarmac path that you could cycle, or walk the dog, or run, or just go for a sit and meditate. It has been planted out with a million ox-eye daisies and grasses and wildflowers which will take a few seasons to bed in but are already looking amazing. There are no well-meaning-but-ugly artworks or heavy duty sculptures, there are no traffic lights. There is no entry fee. I am struggling to believe that a large land development has been created that is for the good of the many not to just to enrich the few by building student flats and selling them on, or building a shopping mall. Congratulations whoever dreamed up this fantastic idea, it has been realised and opened with minimal fuss and is as far as I can see, a very good thing.
(ringed) skylark up close
meadow brown
We cycled on to near the pond near the end of the racecourse and put the bikes down for a moment to photograph some butterflies on thistle head flowers. A large skipper! I was delighted to see one here as it shows they are not just at Levenhall a short hop away but probably all along this coast. A second one was spotted recently in Holyrood also by Ken. Superb news. Go the skippers!
ringlet
ringlet
large skipper
meadow brown
five spot burnet
We then cycled on to Levenhall. I had it in my mind it might be nice to go past the site at Levenhall and catch up with large skippers, common blues and admirals there, but waited till the sun came out before tentatively suggesting it to Mary. I could see she was reasonably keen but wondered if I intended to hijack her cycle, and if this had been my plan from word go. Not really and maybe a little but also not really. She was far from convinced when she saw the unruly nature of the place but slowly warmed, until about 15 minutes later she was having fun chasing blues and skippers and burnet moths. And enjoying the company of small peeping birds who kept hidden in the shrubs and trees but sounded like they were sitting on your shoulder. Also nobody whatsoever nearby.
Levenhall: getting into her groove
small skipper
common blue - there were 2 this time
flying burnet
small skipper
ringlet
burnet
Now this photo above I'm quite proud of: a panorama taken while cycling! I can hold and operate the camera in my right hand and control the bike with my left. I wasn't sure it would work and since I didn't look through the viewfinder while doing it, never knew how it turned out until later. Several other attempts didn't work out. Just showing off really. I could have stopped but Mary would then be a dot on the horizon.
I'm still thrilled about this place - just look at how fantastic it is!
r'admiral
small white
So what I thought might be a little dull turned out to be really uplifting with some quality butterflying thrown in. Mary suggested we return via the Brunstane Burn and then Holyrood Park from Duddingston. We stopped at the valerian and even had a brief interview with the humming-bird hawk-moth. Many photos were taken and almost as many deleted. There may even be a 3 second video as they are more impressive fliers than in still photos. Then we went home full of good cheer and the false impression the world wasn't as bad as all that! I'm pretty sure it's actually worse, but there are good days and this was one.
hummer
cheap and cheerful few seconds of hummer
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