always sunny tomorrow

 

22nd June

A short walk about Holyrood. I look at the forecast; better weather, coming soon. Isn't it always? I'll just do a short trek round Holyrood. At this time of the year there should be NBAs, common blues, graylings, burnets, maybe a glimpse of a DGF and half a dozen other local regulars. The better weather never seems to arrive, but always stays just a day or two in the future. Similarly, many of the butterflies never really arrive either. Or arrive in small numbers and seem difficult to find. I try not to think of the consequences - will there be even fewer next year because there aren't enough breeding successfully this year? Is it time to sell up and move abroad or should we hunker down and wait for global warming to improve the Scottish climate? There is certainly room for improvement. Meanwhile the spirits of most of the butterfly enthusiasts I know are going into a death-spiralling nose dive. Normally this would be approaching the optimum months, the zenith of the butterfly calendar. Instead we are wandering about, literally under a cloud of depression.

at least the yellow shells are out in force
never seen so many - nor cared so little!

Saw this and hoped that after a short squall of trans fever, things will return to nearer normal. That the rather foolish online whirl of social contagion that was mistaken for civil rights, is sent packing, as common sense (which was kicked into touch by a noisy minority who demanded capitulation, and not debate) again resumes. If in doubt, read Time to Think: The Inside Story of the Collapse of the Tavistock's Gender Service for Children by Hannah Barnes. A sobering read coming after a toxic era.

small heath no. 1

small heath no. 2

It was pleasant to bump into a few small heaths on the climb up to Crow Hill. Sadly there was nothing on the summit worth the climb except some signs. 

There were quite a few of these signs up Crow Hill. There was also a cordoned off area that looked like someone had excavated something and then HES had filled it back in and then put up signs to discourage more of the same. 

raven

lots of tourism
unfortunately many more people than butterflies

nymph of Meadow Plant Bug, Leptopterna

Robber fly, Dioctria

as above

Marmalade hoverfly

helophilus pendulus

marmalade hoverfly

bumblebee

Dioctria rufipes with victim. Very poor etiquette
tickling with hairy moustache while giving a kiss of death

marmalade hoverfly

common blue (female)

I'm trying to remember if this was the occasion I was having trouble with wind. I'll put it another way; there was a strong breeze which was interfering with taking pics of small flies which were swaying back and forth. Whipping to and fro. Not helping. I thought that Hunter's Bog would be sheltered from the wind, however it was almost as bad there. Not content with shitty cloud-cover this Summer is trying to break all records for piss poor, with a strong wind to reduce the chances of getting any photos. I went over to Haggis Knowe and the grassy slope that faces Hunter's Bog. Ken had spotted common blues there and sure enough I found a female. A high tariff butterfly indeed. It was not terribly happy to give an interview and refused to pose anywhere useful despite my trying to follow it about with maximum ninja skills. It disappeared into the long grasses and I had to make do with a one-legged hopper nymph, a ladybird and a fly, until I managed to discover one of the 2 common blues that have been lurking here for a week. 

seven-spot ladybird

Ligeria

common blue (male)

This blue was medium helpful although I took many dozens of photos to get this lot. I also knelt on a REALLY stingy nettle (wearing shorts) and it was still tingling next morning. 

burnet moth in pupa

Normally around now there are loads of Burnet Moths, both five and six spotters. They are beginning to turn up but are one of the many species which have only appeared with a massive reluctance in the Lothians. (Compared to usual years.) I was pleased to see this one, still in its hammock and having the good sense to stay there till the weather improves. 

I came across another female blue, although on closer inspection it is very likely the same one. Again it wasn't thrilled to pose or stay still. Mind you the ringlets are awful for that and they are actually having an okay year. Maybe their pupae are more weatherproof than most. They have been the most prolific butterfly around holyrood so far this year, which is not saying much. I haven't posted many photos of them because they tend to hide in the long grass. And can be a bit dull brown. Well there is the occasional cracker but most are a bit meh.

ringlet - abundant but kinda dull

There was one occasion, possibly this one, when I fought the lassitude and urge to go home and have a nice cup of tea, and instead traipsed over to the old quarry on the back of the Crags, as there is a sheltered spot there where lots of butterflies (blues, heaths, coppers and burnets) have been seen in previous years. Fuck all. Nada. Nothing. Not a flippin' sausage. I quite enjoyed the field of yellow flowers I had to cross (buttercups or their cousins) but have to admit to feeling it was yet another waste of time and what the fuck is happening to the insect world this year? Properly hacked off and headed home feeling cheated and depressed again, when, as I've already mentioned, everywhere should be buzzing with excitement. Instead things have got so bad I'm taking photos of ringlets and honey bees. 

google lens says European Dark Bee
I was expecting it to say honey bee - maybe both or neither!

and don't get me started on the Radical Road
and the mousey individuals at HES keeping it closed!