warriston wonders

 

31-03-25 End of March and Spring is well under way. A great day in Warriston with lots of birds and butterflies. Looking at my gps output it said I was doing this walk for 5hrs39mins. Sometimes when I get home I forget to put off my Suunto and it continues to record this as part of the activity. I assumed this was one of these times because 5hrs seems like a long time in a cemetery. However I checked and I switched off the recording 4mins after getting home. So while I was wandering around the cemetery you could have watched Gone with the Wind in its entirety (3hrs44) followed by Alien (1hr56) as long as you had a pee-break while the titles were running. At no point was I bored, which on reflection seems nothing short of weird. I mean it was good, but was it really that good? Apparently so.

chiffchaff

I had been meaning to celebrate the arrivals of chiffchaffs and their distinctive (some might even say irritatingly repetitive) call by posting a video showing one in plain view, singing. They are one of the annual demarcation lines of Spring and I failed to do this on several occasions, then gave up. They are a kind of mousy colour and fairly small which is possibly why they need such a distinctive call, otherwise other chiffchaffs might mistake them for willow warblers and then where would we be? I got as far as a still photo of one high in a tree before it flew off which will have to do for now.

dark-edged bee-fly

Another welcome Spring arrival is the bee-fly. I love these cute bee-mimics despite their parasitic tendencies; launching their eggs into the nest holes of other insects which they then slowly kill. The "dark-edged" part of their name does not refer to this, but rather the shade on the leading edge of their wings, however nicely puns their diabolical life-cycle. Another reason to enjoy seeing them is that they preceed orange-tip butterflies by about a week. That factoid © Iain C, and since orange-tips are one of the authentic joys of Spring, they are a much anticipated arrival.

small tort

Small tortoiseshells are in a decline, country-wise. Which is bad news as they are a spectacular butterfly. Seeing one these days is a timely reminder of how beautiful they are, and that we should appreciate them while they are still about, in case they don't recover from their mysterious nose-dive.

The Large Tortoiseshell does exist btw but only as a rare migrant and mostly down South. Recently there was a rash of sightings in one particular wood, (Orlestone Forest) and it is supposed that someone has introduced them here. This produced a whole range of responses; from folk delighted to see an unofficial, unsanctioned return of this previously native butterfly, to others, outraged that irresponsible punters are playing god and introducing species that don't belong here.

There are numerous examples of introduced species going wrong. ie Grey Squirrels. We are now at a point (we are told) where we need to keep grey squirrels out of red squirrel populations. The introduced grey will out perform the reds and pass on squirrel pox. Reds die from the pox, greys don't. So greys are moving North at the expense of reds. If we want our native reds to remain and succeed, we are told we have to trap and kill introduced greys. Which seems wrong. And yet if we do nothing the reds will vanish. It is a rock-and-hard-place argument and the result of a thoughtless Victorian introduction of a non-native species.

So there are very good reasons not to just get some exotic animal and set if free thinking it will cheer up the place with its colourful plumage etc. Escaped parakeets have found a niche in the UK and Europe but perhaps at the expense of native woodpeckers. 

That said, what about extinct native species? Large Blue butterflies were a UK species declared extinct in 1979. In the 80s they were re-introduced from abroad and seem to be making a sustained comeback. They went extinct because of land management changes but with some care the correct environment can be produced and as a result the Large Blue flies again in the UK. It is a fascinating butterfly with a very strange relationship with ants, and I intend to visit the colonies at some point and meet these remarkable creatures. Actually I am as likely to bump into them abroad as in the UK but it is definitely high on my most wanted list. 

Regarding the Large Tortoiseshell I can't see any harm coming of a guerilla re-introduction. They used live here until they went extinct in the 1960s possibly as a result of climate change, parasitism and the effect of Dutch Elm disease on a primary foodplant. Although much rarer than the small tort, and therefore highly regarded in the world of butterfly enthusiasts, they are slightly plainer than their smaller cousins. And if we only have one of the two locally, my aesthetics are glad it is the Small.

peacock

I suspect this stationary bee had found a quiet place
to nurse a hangover or wait for the day to warm up.

bee-fly

frame from a video clip
but just look at the length of that schnozz!

the video from which that still above was taken
with selected portion slowed 

wren

blue tit

bullfinch

speckled wood

speckled and comma video

hairy-footed flower bee (m)

this blue tit is setting up home in this gap in the crypts masonry

peacock sunning itself on crypts wall

hoverfly on primrose

wren

clipped wing comma

This comma is identifiable due to damage on the trailing edge of the forewing. Which let me know if I was seeing the same comma day after day at the In Loving section. When I first observed things, there was (at least) one other comma, a slightly more worn version. This one seemed more dominant and had premier position on the comma totem pole. Then another nearly mint condition comma appeared which took its place. Again the preferred spot was on this fallen branch which nicely caught the afternoon sun. I also noticed the last chap was either bumped to (or chose to frequent) the spot about 30 yards away over the walls, which I visited by going through the tunnel and round to where he was now perched on ground covered ivy and piles of rubbished undergrowth. Had he not got distinctive wings I'd be none the wiser. If only they'd all wear name tags so I could follow their progress. This one was a favourite because I knew him by his wings but they weren't so badly damaged as to ruin photos.

Some while later the very fresh model was replaced by one with spiky serrations which made it easier to ID. So far that makes 4 changes of guard. And I may have missed several more than that. Whenever I am on site, there will be inevitable interactions between sparring pairs, both flying into the air in circles and always into the sunshine. At least it seems that way as I point my camera and squint into the sun. (Not that I am complaining about the sun being visible. No sir!) I wonder if this is the method of choosing who gets to rule the roost. Until they are superceded by the next younger fitter specimen. Butterflies don't have teeth or claws to settle disputes nor language that we know of, to argue the toss.

the "fresh" one
(with notch out right forewing rear)

the "spiky" one
(with pointy serrations and drooping top corners)

It is terrific that we have so many commas in Warriston. When I first started to visit regularly (in lockdown) a comma was a rare beast and often seemed to be just passing through rather than resident. Now, most sunny days I'll see at least three sitting on known perches or nearby. And I wonder is it because I now know where to look or because there are more of them successfully breeding in the place and making it home. If the latter, why haven't they always been there?

I am more certain of the date of Holly Blues arrival in the cemetery. There is tons of ivy and holly and from day one I was looking for Holly Blues. After a couple of seasons hunting I reluctantly accepted they were not in the cemetery. Then one appeared. It was a male and looked to be on a recce, just passing through. In the next year there were sporadic sightings which continued to slowly grow until 2023. Spring brood time and still just the occasional solos, passing through. Then in July/August: boom! Holly Blues (second brood) in every corner of the cemetery. It became apparent there must be several colonies around the cemetery with at least three seperate areas which had small clans of HBs flying and perching locally with less sign of travelling between areas. News came in of people reporting them in their Edinburgh gardens for the first time. It was as if they suddenly exploded throughout the Lothians. With more distant reports from Tayport and then Aberdeen.

It is hard to remember back to 2019 when they were only turning up in very specific places in Aberlady and Gullane but almost nowhere else in Scotland. In five years they went from obscure rarity to a reliable regular on the butterfly calendar. A real success story (possibly a positive result of global warming) in these times of declining numbers and gloom and doom.

That said, last year they had a hard Springtime emergence as did several species, so it will be interesting to see if they bounce back in good numbers this year. I have only seen one so far in Warriston (and one on the wing doing a fly-by in the Botanics) and there seem to be more sightings in Fife than the Lothians. Watch this space for updates.

dunnock

dunnock singing

The Friends of Warriston, a volunteer group, have planted dozens if not hundreds of daffodils around the cemetery and in particular lots of narcissus/small daffs at the war graves. It has made Springtime in the place overwhelmingly cheerful and brightly coloured. I really approve. Also they make great platforms for insects to perch on and be photographed on. I also love the snakeshead fritillary flowers famously painted by C.R.Mackintosh.

snakeshead fritillary

seven spot ladybird

clipped wing comma

another 7 spot

sparrowhawk in flight

The sparrowhawk has been getting a bit of attention lately. (A couple of birders standing under its tree.) If you are of a mind to see it you can go stand near the tree it is nesting in and often it will be up there looking down at you with a scowl and bright yellow eyes. Mostly I don't bother as the photos tend to be distant, branchy affairs, no better than the last time. (Photos below!) However with fewer dogwalkers about (all but one entranceway closed means not everyone can be bothered going all the way round to Warriston Gardens entrance) the birds will be feeling the benefit. And perhaps coming down to feed on the ground more often. I saw Rosanna got excellent photos the other day of the female on the ground with what looked like a wood pigeon. I hope it was a wood pigeon as there are plenty of them, and fewer stock doves to spare.

Anyway I was standing near the War Memorial waiting for Holly Blues to drop out the sky and I saw one sparrowhawk chasing another at 90mph. They were swinging in and out the trees like fighter planes in a Tom Cruise film and I raised the camera and shot off a number of frames in approx the right direction. Happily the settings were just about perfect to freeze frame the motion although I had to work backwards from sihouettes against the sky in post. So they look a bit greyed out. But very pleased to get a couple of shots with both birds in one and 1.5 birds in the other. 

They were really going like stink and I thought it must be one bird chasing another off the territory. However when chatting to Rosanna later she said there was a mating pair, so it may well have been courting behaviour - love, not hate. They both disappeared off swooping through the trees so I didn't get a chance to ask them.

On a more sedate level the crows will walk with me about the place and sit very nicey on grave stones for portraits. I realise this is entirely because they know I carry crow-snacks in freezer bags in my back pack. They are slowly working their way into my affections by flying (nearly close enough to touch me) past and sitting on stones as I am approaching them or landing and walking 3 steps ahead like we were all going walkies together. They know I am a pushover and will get the bread and peanuts out fairly quickly. They have been doing this for so long I don't even try to resist and just get the food out when they first appear. They nearly barge me out the way as soon as it is laid on a gravestone, but to give them their due they will pose really well for photos, especially head shots: they know to turn one way and then the other and not blink too much. "Look more serious, be more noble, look off into the distance," I say and they seem to respond. I like to see the browns of their eyes.

They certainly seem to have more brain power than the squirrels. This one is looking at me like he is unsure if I am good or bad news. I have thrown some nuts and I can see him flicking through a folder of memories until he gets to one marked guy who throws nuts: no need to run up tree. He takes a nut or 2 and then runs up a tree because he's not the brightest.

Lots of thrushes about. In a change to the usual song thrush, this one is a mistle thrush. There were a pair of them presumably doing Springtime romance when I showed up. This one on the grave was maybe a bit blinkered by the love goggles as it took a while to leave the scene while its mate (a male I think but I'm likely just part of the patriarchy, so what do I know) was shouting RUN FOR IT! Bloke's gonna shoot you with a camera - it steals your soul! They are not much sharper than the squirrels.

the irrational one?

the sensible one?
You can tell they are Mistle rather than Song from the shape of the spots on their breasts.

another comma

mostly you won't get better photos of the sparrowhawk
than these, although there is nothing to stop you trying!

crimewatch video of serial killer
excuse the wobbling, I was wobbling

another comma

bee-fly

small tort

wren

speckled wood

speckled wood - very fresh specimen

crypts comma

crypts comma and bee-fly sharing sunny spot

the one that got away

I think this photo above was taken chasing the crypts comma dogfighting with yet another passing comma. I was zoomed in and shot some random pics in their direction which caught the highlights on the ivy but no butterflies. I quite liked the movement and abstract colours.

crypts comma having seen off the intruder

7miles in 5hrs35m
(a longer than usual session!)