warbot

 

08-04-25 Warbot in this context is not the latest weapon in one of the many stupid conflicts around the world, kicking off because greedy, stupid people cannot contain their greed and stupidity; in fact it is just a trip to Warriston and the Botanics. A rather splendid and great fun trip where Mary and I saw and photographed many lovelies. Now that's a relief isn't it?

wren

Recently I have been favouring Warriston over the Botanics. The reduced traffic through the sole entrance off Warriston Gardens has discouraged many of the regular dog-walkers and visitors and as a result the wildlife has more room to thrive. Not ideal for the humans, but for those photographing the wildlife, a bonus. Although the extra mile walk is not something I enjoy. Having been in touch with those behind the scenes recently I have been getting insights into the reasons for those decisions and it sort-of makes sense, albeit not a sense I condone. More on that on another day.

speckled wood

stock doves

speckled wood

give me the bread or you'll be sorry!

small white

There was some butterfly action at the In Loving area. The comma was there or thereabouts and there was some passing traffic in the manner of small whites and speckled woods. I left Mary there - it was a while since she'd been in Warriston and was impressed by the growth spurt of all the brambles and jungle in the area. I went through the tunnel to check out the ivy on the other side of the cyclepath for orange-tips on bluebells and holly blues. I have seen a few holly blue males flying about South of the tunnel, without landing usually, searching out females to make the next generation of HBs.

I didn't find any but there was this richly coloured bullfinch
having a splash about in the tunnel stream.

it did not seem to mind my presence

I returned to the In Loving slope where this comma
(the spiky one) was sunbathing on the fallen branches

wren

robin

Unusual to see this comparatively new stone.
It seemed to be resting up against the wall rather than properly freestanding.

we saw this blackbird as we were leaving

There wasn't a huge amount going on at Warriston and no sign of Holly Blues or anything higher tariff. I didn't want to bore Mary with endless loops looking for stuff that wasn't coming out so we headed to the Botanics. The entrance situation now means doing three sides of a rectangle (up to the gate, along Warriston Gardens, down Inverleith Row) which we only needed to walk one side of before. (Along Eildon Street.) 

I'd had a couple of rubbish (wildlife free) visits to the Botanics a while back and it slightly put me off the place. However today there were dozens of plants in bloom attracting butterflies and looking very jolly. There were a number of commas (they are having a bumper year so far) although we didn't quite find them in the usual places (NW corner of rock garden etc.) A couple on the bark chippings they use around tree bases and at least one on shrubs away off the main paths where you normally only find gothy/emo types reading poetry. 

well disguised comma on bark chippings

A current star is this Kazhak Pear tree which I always
try to catch in blossom as it is an amazing sight against a blue sky.

BTW I took these four photos with my phone 

rather than swap my long lens for a wider angled one.

Back to the proper camera for these fritillary pics
taken (slightly backlit) looking towards the sun and lying on the ground.

handful of hover

We were taking photos near to where a hoverfly was hovering. (One of the syrphus.) I had noticed they quite like a break from time to time and if you slowly put out a hand near (and slightly underneath) where they are treading air they will take the opportunity to down tools and stop for a breather. Since I can't photograph my own hand (with resting hover) with the long lens I had to entice Mary to hold out hers, which was almost more difficult than befriending a hoverfly. She initially resisted, along the lines of why would I want a fly on my hand, but then, maybe comparing the experience to a butterfly landing on an outstretched hand, tried it and I like to think I may have inspired an appreciation of the hoverfly family. Because she began to warm to it - having a friendly, stripy, non-stinging pal stop for a moment where you can have a good close look at it in all its glory. And also, I got to take a photo of it. Hurray! 

mmmmacro!

That could easily have been the highpoint of the day except round the next corner I saw a red admiral floating round the flowers of a magnolia. I was fairly sure (due to the large black size of it) it was an admiral before it even landed and I rushed stealthily across to the large white-flowering, head-high shrub with great enthusiasm. There was a couple of visitors about to walk past the bush very near to where the butterfly was perched. Without considering their needs I stopped them like you would stop traffic in a busy road when a mama duck takes her ducklings to the pond. I was lining up the shot while I told them it's only the third admiral I've seen this year and then thanked them profusely as they continued past the RA indifferent to its magnificence.

To my surprise it stayed where it was and I was able to get in even closer for more photos. The magnolia blooms were extremely photogenic themselves and made the ideal background to show off what I think was a large female specimen in pretty decent nick. (I may have photoshopped a couple of tiny notches to improve a slightly ragged wing but most of the beauty of these photos comes from a superb mix of insect and flower. Quite tricky to balance the extreme contrasts but I love the elegance of the finger-like petals. I was very well pleased and ebullient for the rest of the afternoon.

Mary was keen to move on to the next thing. I was still taking photos knowing you do not get this sort of thing handed to you on a plate (as we had just had) take a couple of snaps and walk off. Did you get the perfect photo then? I might have asked. She may have replied that yes she had. I was prepared to sit it out and wait to see if the large butterfly wanted to try out any further positions and combinations of poses. It would fly off but then land again nearby. I could tell I'd got some decent photos but I wasn't convinced they were the best possible I could possibly get, and therefore should continue to shoot more until either the RA flew off for good or the sun turned into a red giant then a white dwarf and the earth came to an abrupt end. We compromised and after a couple more photos left while the butterfly was still inhabiting the magnolia. 

more bee-fly action (but no bingo bees this year so far) at the pulmonaria

While we didn't come across anything else similarly compelling, Mary did suggest we leave by the West gate beside Inverleith Park and then go down to the WoL and follow that path home. It was a canny idea and produced the only Orange-tip of the day. 

not an orange-tip

Nice to get a shout out from J Law as he ran home from work. He didn't stop but shouted out that it was my (Hoka) shoes he recognised. I managed a quick photo of him off the ground and going well before he quickly disappeared down the riverside path.

At the time we had been photographing this female blackbird that Mary spotted. This is the third or fourth time I've seen female blackbirds sitting in a patch of strong sunlight almost looking like they are suffering from heatstroke (beak open, gasping) rather than enjoying it. Last time was at Aberlady SOC. A curious habit! I've just googled it and others have noticed this too. Often the blackbird will lay itself on the ground and spread wings and tail as if exposing the maximum amount of feathers to the sunlight. I haven't seen any convincing reasons for this but there are suggestiions it is to do with parasite control or preening oil or just because they like it. If disturbed they will quickly regroup and fly off, however they seem to go into a bit of a trance and can look like they are injured or sick. Something to look out for in the warmer months!

Further down the WoL path we passed this orange-tip who was generous enough to sit still while we crept forward to get a photo or 2. Due to the white wings you need to get quite in close otherwise the white bits overexpose. Perfect finish to a pretty fine day.

more bee-fly fun

The orange-tip flew off much in the regular manner of early season orange-tips. It landed up in these castor oil plant leaves and I could just see the edge of it. I took a couple of distant pics that fulfil the orange-tip challenge of worst OT photos and doubly so because I only realised a long while afterwards there was a comma in them as well.

token riverside heron shot

7miles in 4hrs
FAB day out!