stormy weather

 

28-03-25 An exhilarating day of high energy weather. We wanted a decent run but felt the Prestonpans ~ North Berwick was maybe more than required so reverted to Longniddry as a starting point. It was a good call. Initially it was blowy but reasonable, but then an ominous dark cloud caught up with us at Aberlady.

anagram of A La Sand
(I love the smell of deep fat frying in the morning) (I don't.)

wind driven choppy seas

The sun was still shining at this point and we popped into the SOC to see if any butterflies were braving the conditions. They were not although many of the Spring flowers were up. I can't remember what Mary was singing in the photo below but spirits were high.

...but I said no, no, no

pied wagtail in centre of Aberlady bowling green

our favourite dancing dashboard delights
in campervan on Aberlady main street

in for samosas to be eaten later

At the nature reserve we hid on the lee side of the toilet block waiting for a near horizontal squall of rain to blow over. Wondering whether it was jackets on time or not. I think we hoped the weather would ease off but when it didn't we got jackets out. Also surprise encounter of the day was just as we started to cross the Bridge to Enchantment we bumped into Abbie M. I was suprised to see her out in such unappealing conditions and asked what was she up to. "Going home!" was the reply. Good call - it did not get much nicer for quite a while and there would be little chance of any wildlife out and about today. 

Mary's jacket inflating like a Michelin man

big dark cloud blowing in from the West

The weather looked awful if you faced West back towards Edinburgh but sunny if you turned East. There was a howling gale and I remembered we used to go running no matter what the forecast was. When we both worked there were only certain days off and if the weather was shit then you just went out in it. Have we got soft that we don't do that so much? Maybe. Or just sensible? Strangely I found the high energy weather really invigorating and quite enjoyed shouting over the wind and taking photos between squally showers. I had anticipated some rain; bringing a freezer bag for the compact camera. As well as both of us carrying waterproofs. We took our jackets off at about Gullane Point having outrun the worst of it.

There was an exceptional high tide as well as strong winds and the waves were sweeping up about as high as they get. Normally we'd stay on the sand until the far end of Aberlady Beach but were forced up onto the dunes early to keep feet dry.

all the seabirds were sheltering at Gullane Point

eiders

oyster catchers and cormorants

I think Mary was saying she could eat 2 samosas.

Mary wanted her samosa at Gullane. We hoped to find a nice spot to stop and eat, but were between picnic benches and had to make do standing on the street corner. Inevitably I got the camera out and Mary reminded me not to take pics of her eating as they rarely came out well. I pretty much said hold my beer and proceeded to take the worst selfie ever.

yep, bad idea, bad photo - face full of samosa
(Excellent running snack btw.)

Somewhere near Dirleton I took a pee-break. I wandered off the trail behind a tree and in no time had brambled my shins. Very easily done and normally associated with chasing butterflies into the rough. My lower legs are criss-crossed with small lines of bramble-scab currently.

Mary held off until the toilet block before Yellowcraigs. I popped in to get a fairground mirror picture and was pleased with my long hand and false summit.

bike station

Also this ^ which is a terrific addition for cyclists. Not only a pump (and QR link to how to fix stuff on a bike) but a host of all the major bike tools you'd need on extendable wires to reach all parts of your bike while also being thief-proof. Well done E Lothian council or whoever put it here. What a bike friendly asset. 

selection of bike tools on extendable cables

I like the handwritten update on what to look out for.

never knew they were called Bubbly Buss and the Black Murphies
(sounds like a band)

Can't recall if the weather or lack of anything notable accounts for the dearth of photos. Maybe I was tiring? Anyway we got here (last couple of miles) feeling okay and for once did not have a sprint to the station to catch the next train. Even had time to change into dry clothes before the train pulled in for the ride back into Edinburgh. Another medium~long day out and the exciting weather kept it fresh. Good day!

14miles dead in 3hrs02mins
(plus a couple of town miles to station and back)

dudd

 

26-03-25 A walk around Holyrood and Duddingston, mainly Duddingston but not 100% successful hence the title dudd. I was thinking about the butterflies and birds I might come across in the Wells o' Wearie and along the Innocent Railway to Bawsinch. Strong place for early butterflies but either the weather wasn't quite right or the wildlife wasn't playing ball. I'll keep it brief.

It all started well when I followed these 2 delightful long-tailed tits near the Wells o' Wearie. Directly below Samson's Ribs. They were nest-building and one had a feather it was taking home. Their nests are really delicate; full of spiders webs and lichen and softer than any material. I have one on my bookcase at home and it is an endless source of joy. As usual they were very tricky to catch without branches obscuring them or without movement blur as they hop about continuously. Many photos taken to get these three.

thrush

I was hoping for orange tips in Wells o' Wearie. Or at least commas or small torts. Maybe an admiral? Nope, none. It wasn't unpleasant quietly walking about the small ponds between the Innocent railway and the golf course. Nobody else there. Unfortunately no butterflies nor many birds either.

dunnock

I gave up and headed to Bawsinch. I have a key to get in after joining Scottish Wildlife Trust or whoever and it is nice to be away from dogs and children. Right in the first 20 yards a peacock flew up although I failed to see where it went. A good omen. Although I had maybe left it a tad late, the sunshine being replaced with low cloud and cooler temps. Bugger!

never going to get a decent shot lying in the grass

I went round the path near the road to get to the bit that runs parallel to the Innocent Railway. There are ponds and I hoped to see frogs or toads and butterflies. There was one Small Tort, a hoverfly or 2 and a reluctant peacock, maybe 2. Everyone was complaining about the weather which always promises so much and rarely delivers. I agreed. I also got a photo which I was extremely pleased with - this hoverfly mid-air. Not easy to do when the camera is busy wanting to focus on the background grass and trees. I pulled the focus back towards me with a function button I have nominated to do this and the focus found the hoverfly and I knocked off a couple of shots before it flew out of the frame. Google lens says some sort of Eristalis. I don't really care although I do like hoverflies, mainly because they hover, which gives me a slim chance to get a shot of them in flight. Possibly shot of the day although it might have been better if it was looking in my direction. Can't have everything.

the peacock was nice but not really playing
as it had got a bit chilly

Likewise there were several commas about the same stretch but they had all gone to ground. I know this because I bumped into Stewart (?) the hugely knowledgeable cycling postie and we chatted about all the stuff we'd like to see, some of the stuff we'd seen and how things were going. It passed the time very pleasantly as the weather deteriorated. While chatting a BoP flew overhead and we wondered kestrel or sparrowhawk. I'd raised my camera and got a shot so we were able to see it was the latter.

another drone fly or maybe the same one?

sparrowhawk - really numerous lately

I said goodbye, saying I was heading up Crow Hill to look for wheatears. And if there weren't any there at least the exertion would burn a few calories. I still have quite a lot of Winter fat I hope to get rid of before it turns into Summer fat. Or just all year round fat. I am not running as much but weirdly just as hungry as if I was doing ultras every weekend. And find the constant struggle to not eat all the flippin time a constant struggle.

On the way up the Duddingston Steps I came across this rather dapper comma. Richard had mentioned there was one halfway up and it liked to sunbathe on one of the actual steps. I took photos and then climbed on, a lot of up still to get, to get to the top of Crow Hill. 

There were no wheatears that I could see on Crow Hill summit or elsewhere. Nothing but a cold harsh wind. I had a good look twice or three times - no need to check for butterflies; it was way too cold and windy. I took the wrong way off the hill. Shows how long it has been. I thought well I know this way goes round to the front but I didn't really remember the price you pay, going round to meet the 7 Hills race route which involves a couple of sections of steep rock and slippy dirt ball-bearings and camera-smashing downsteps. Or you can turn to face the rock and go down like a baby. I did a bit of that too. The only bright spot was I caught a bee-fly warming up. At first I thought it was a corpse, then I noticed it was beating its wings to warm up enough to get airborne. There were many more bee-flies to follow but this was one of the first of the year and I was happy to photograph it. It buzzed for a while then took off.

warming up

similarly this greenfinch - they always look so grumpy!

willow catkins - a favourite food source for early butterflies

these pink versions of Glory-of-the-Snow
on the way home attracting bees

8miles, 4hrs