Gullane again

 

21st June

We had enjoyed the Gullane trip 5 days before so much we decided to repeat it pretty much exactly. Sandwiches made and backpacks full of swimming gear and towels (and cameras) we set off for Gullane. However the 10am kick-off was delayed when we found some lowlife had broken off the Berlingo wing mirror. The perils of living in lovely Leith, full of drunk retarded hooligans. I bought a roll of gaffer tape and fixed it temporarily while Mary ordered a new one online for about £60. We set off an hour later. I ate my sandwich during the drive and Mary ate hers in car park.

some arsehole Van Goghed our vehicle

Mary had lunch while I photo-ed RAs in the car park

admiral on sea buckthorn

small skipper on viper's bugloss

mrs and mr stonechat

male

female

yellow shell

We were interested to return to where we had encounters with DGFs last trip. However the wind had changed round 180' and the spot was now no longer shaded below the rise on the East side. It was now the prevailing West wind blowing and quite a stiff breeze. There was little or no sign of the fritillaries present last time. We did see a humming-bird hawk-moth though, and not the same one we saw last time, but one in much better condition. The VB was blowing about in the wind and the hummer was struggling to adapt to the swaying movement even though they are expert fliers and can hover and fly backwards as required. I was struggling to photograph it all, and was lucky to get 5 pics worth putting up here. 

Now this may well have been the common blue we saw last time here. I remember being excited when it landed on the dandelion seed head but it only hung around there for a second or 2 and I felt I didn't have as much time as I would want to get images before it flew off.

reed bunting

female reed bunting

Isle of May beyond Fidra

Mary at the propeller cone.

We went as far as Eyebroughy beach and the propeller cone memorial. The Chinese privet in bloom there is a favourite with the DGFs. However it only had an occasional visitor and none were hanging about as they do later in the season perhaps when the flowers are fully open or exuding more perfume. 

fly by DGF

male stonechat on top of the memorial

There was a common blue on the vipers's bugloss near the driftwood decking. I chased it about while Mary had a bit of a lie down.

small skipper

I had worn my DGF t-shirt (courtesy of Butterfly Conservation)
and hoped it wouldn't be the only fritillary of the day

pipit or skylark

This was the same stonechat we had passed earlier and he let me get really close. Possibly realising I wasn't a threat. However there was quite a lot of harsh words. They make the sound of 2 stones clacking together, (hence stonechat) probably as a reprimand for being in their territory.

First one of these I've come across. Possibly a garden chafer beetle.

large skipper again, same large area of thistles as seen on previously

small skipper

5-spot burnet moth

small heath

I realised how much I'd hoped to encounter DGFs again when towards the end of the walk I reckoned I may not see any. There was still a last chance to find some on the thistles when approaching Gullane Bay from the East, nearer the treeline than the beach. As I checked them out, this great specimen flew over and landed nearby. We stealthily approached and mostly it was too busy hanging on with its teeth in the breeze to bother with us, allowing us to get in close for decent shots. Although the swaying thistles did not make it easy.

I was stoked to have this chance to photograph what is in my opinion one of the best butterflies we get in Scotland. In just 10 minutes it turned the day around from average to excellent. They are not always easy to get close to but when they are recently emerged, are spectacular in appearance and one of the strongest fliers.

another all time favourite, the common blue

more red admirals on buckthorn

another DGF, this time nearer the car park
on the small yellow flowers in the long grasses

By the time we got back to the car, the cool breeze and choppy sea discouraged any thoughts of swimming. We had been out for a few hours (had had a late start due to wing mirror fiasco) and it was less warm than it had been earlier.

Hazel's ice cream van and a hint of stories to come 
(we didn't have a cone and try to abstain generally)