best part of the day: back to Warriston

I had an average walk to the Botanics and then Warriston on the 14th March but most of these photos are from the next day which was much more successful over the same ground the following day, and which marked the first day of the year I photographed butterflies. I was a little surprised there wasn't a deluge of results being posted on the East Scottish Butterflies fb group page as they were seen up and down the country, although not in huge numbers.

The first treat of the day were four goosanders below the raised walkway at Powderhall (opposite Warriston) next to the Water of Leith. I managed not to distrub them as they lay snoozing and grooming below, beside the water. They kept an eye on me but didn't scoot off. I wanted to throw them some food but thought it would only disturb them so took a few photos then left them to it. 1 male, 3 females. Unfortunately they were in shadow - although the sun shone most of the day.

never noticed this notice along Inverleith Row

The botanics were buzzing with hoverflies and bees in the sunshine. After a quick check of the rock garden for butterflies (the rhododendron that had butterflies on it twice this year (seen by Ken) was now mostly finished,) I ended up taking photos at the Rhododendron Copse (between the cafe and herbacious border) which was where I got the first butterfly last year (red admiral as well) in similar weather, almost a month earlier than this year, on the 18th Feb.

A little episode occurred while walking to the bingo bees area. I was zoned out and lost in thought but as I approached this bell that hangs nearby, I felt I could remember the exact pitch it rings. I whistled the note then tapped the bell and it matched exactly. (Not close, or nearly, but spot on.) This was on my visit of the 14th, and to check if I was pitch perfect (or just amazing 😁) I tried the same thing next day. I was a full 3 tones out. Now it could have been I wasn't fully relaxed into the right mental space on the second occasion but I have a suspicion that on the first visit my subconscious heard the bell ring in the distance while I was lost in thought and the residual echo gave me the correct tuning which I hadn't realised I'd heard. (Anyone can ring the bell at any time and it is a favourite with children.) But who knows, eh? The disappointment from missing it by a mile on the second attempt was compensated by a good showing of bees and hovers at the Pulmonaria (lungwort). There is a wafting heavy perfume from one of the shrubs near there that surrounds the area with a distinctive whiff. I failed yet again to identify the flowers or plant from which it emanated and must ask Ken as he told me last time we were gathered there, and that people continually wrongly identify it coming from every other flowering plant in the vicinity.

hairy-footed flower bee

they have a fast and darting flight
not disimilar to bee-flies

The females are all black apart from light brown on hind legs. The males are mostly pale ginger as above. They are solitary bees and do not make honey but are great pollinators.. The males would regularly chase any other same species males that appeared to be encroaching on their territory. Much easier to photo landed on leaves or flowers than mid-flight! I was disappointed that none of the bees had numbers as yet. The university students have been studying them for several years and regularly capture then release them with tiny numbers glued to their backs (hence bingo bees) to help track them. It makes them far more compelling to photograph although it is difficult to know why. I asked Ken if they were not doing the numbers this year and he thought they just hadn't started yet.

I spent a while at the rhododendron copse. This white-ish specimen (glorious in the sunshine) was attracting lots of insects and was the same one on which the first RA of 2024 landed, although weirdly I felt it was on a slightly pinker specimen last year - photos here to compare. Maybe the buds start more pink and it grows into white. Defo the same shrub - Praevernum; meaning early Spring, subsection Fortunea.) Initially I was shooting with the long lens but with so many insects to play with I changed to the macro after a few pics.

all these taken with the long lens

Eupeodes luniger

very pleased when the camera realised I wanted
to focus on the insect not the leaves or petals all around
marmalade hoverfly

starting here (hairy-arsed bottle) are images shot with the macro 90mm
Calliphora vicina

again v pleased about focussing which was on auto

I shot some video of this one cleaning itself (below)

Epistrophe

I'm not sure how long I stayed at the Praevernum, but I felt there must be some butterflies somewhere in the gardens so set off for a wander. First stop was this huge clump of rhododendron maybe the size of a couple of single decker buses. Not quite halfway between the cafe/gallery pond and the herbaceous border. I had visited it the previous day (bumped into Michael L, lovely man,) but no butterflies. It was well covered in bees and hovers again although as I moved around it I saw a red admiral chasing bumbles. It would land on the top (well out of reach of the camera) and now and then fly after a passing bee, chasing them for a while then returning to the flowers. Sometimes it would land on the sunlit side, lower down, and I would stealthily approach with maximum ninja. I got right up to it but the better photos show it from a greater distance surrounded by the spectacle of pink flowers. It made up for a couple of days I missed the first botanics butterflies photo-ed by Ken, when I was chasing stuff elsewhere. I messaged Ken to let him know - I was surprised I hadn't already bumped into him, we often haunt the same spots. However he was out of town that weekend and didn't respond until he returned.

humans for scale

It took considerably longer than appears here for it to fly and land where I could get photos. Eventually I got lucky and got quite a few close ups. I had been swithering about changing back to the longer lens that would help take photos of it on the top-most flowers at a distance. But the macro was fine and I kept it on to walk round to Warriston once I had got these pics.

between butterfly shots I was feeding a friendly robin

cafe/gallery pond

The one thing I did get on the 14th were these photos of Campbell's Magnolia which is also just round the corner from the gallery entrance. It flowers before growing leaves and is so early in the year it is easy to miss. The highest buds are currently open, lowest still closed, but you shouldn't hang about as it will drop these pretty petals before long.

lower buds not yet open

viburnum furcatum

After being rude about the rock garden ceramics last visit, I saw these 3 this visit which are better quality than the other 2. Better colours and shapes. Not a huge fan, but feel I should moderate my abrasive comments about them.

Then (worried I'd be leaving the only butterflies in town to go to a cemetery devoid of life) I headed to Warriston. Due to some particularly bad management decisions they have fenced and boarded off 2 of the unofficial entrances during the regretable 6 weeks closure to mop up after Storm Eowyn and generally annoy everyone who visits. Unless you live near Warriston Gardens, which is the only entrance available currently. I am not the only person who is now faced with an extra half mile to gain entry (and again to exit.) I am trying to look upon this extra commute as a health benefit but it is a clearly daft proposition that many folk are finding irritating. Unfortunately the decision makers within the Edinburgh Council seem to be unaccountable.

pine ladybirds

I had a quick look around the stones under the coniferous trees to find the usual suspects: pine ladybirds mating and eyed ladybirds going about on their own. It is interesting the invasive harlequin population have had a devastating year while the local orange ladybirds have been thriving.

eyed ladybirds

Helleborus orientalis or Lenten rose

long-tailed tit carrying nesting material

the place is awash with daffodils
making it very cheerful at this time of year

a feather snagged on thorns

I spoke to Paul the council employee who loves Warriston and is regularly posted there to encourage dogwalkers to keep their dogs on a lead. He loves all the wildlife and he told me he'd seen a butterfly already that day around the spot where Mary and I had been checking just the day before. Near the In Loving mosaic where we've photographed commas and dragonflies. I grilled him on the details but he wasn't sure of the species. It sounded like maybe peacock, comma or red admiral. After checking out a couple of areas at the riverside I returned and spent a bit longer than I had earlier. Eventually I found a comma which was sitting on a branch but flew off as I approached. I watched where it landed and did my best to approach but again it flew off and over the wall. I felt it might return although it was getting late in the day (4pm!) for butterflies.

While it didn't return a peacock did show up but was doing a good job of turning on a sixpence and disappearing into the famous butterfly portal. I was sure I'd seen it but then it did a couple of spins and turned into a robin. Wow, clever! Maybe my desire for seeing butterflies was getting out of hand and I was now re-imagining robins as peacocks? The next time I saw it I was 100% certain it was a peacock whereupon it did another couple of swoops and flew up into the top of a nearby high tree. Okay you beat me this round but I will be back!