best part of the day: going swimmingly

Monday, 19 May 2025

going swimmingly

29-04-25 A really pleasant day out. Trying to incorporate some exercise into the photo schedule we cycled to Gullane for a swim. Well Mary did. I cycled to Gullane to look for small coppers and walls. Also red admirals but there weren't any available on that occasion.

first stop Margiottas for samosas for lunch later

and a cold drink

Then a quick fly-by past Luffness quarry to see if the first small coppers of the year were out. There were 2 which was nice as they keep each other company by playing chase back and forth. In between times they would perch on the lichenous rocks often choosing white patches which is helpful for the photos.

2 perched within shouting distance

I also had a good look about for small heaths but no sign of them yet.

I am not sure at what point we opted to part company but it made perfect sense. I would go up the hill looking for early walls and Mary would go for a swim. She likes butterflies and has developed a real enthusiasm for them which is great as we can both enjoy them while out walkies, but she also like to do other things. Like swimming. I suspected the water was just a little cold for my tastes, and carrying a bulky wetsuit was a bridge too far. Mary has a shorty which she may have worn on this occasion but still reported the water to be unreasonably cold and only managed 6 minutes.

Which gave me quite a bit of time up the top of the hill where there are often good things. The wall round the large house (in photo above) faces the sun and warms up nicely. Attracting wall butterflies to perch there. But not on this occasion. No sign of the 2 admirals I photo-ed last time near there. I did speak to the old timer who had the window open and was enjoying the sunshine. I think there was a zimmer nearby and a nurse/carer in attendance although she was trying to hide in the interior. Himself shouted to me in a friendly way enquiring what I was looking at and where I had cycled from. (I was pushing my bike.) I told him about the butterflies I hoped to see, and would have shared the images if shouting an email address had seemed remotely feasible but it was not. I'm guessing he doesn't get much company so probably enjoyed my slightly over-keen interaction.

Having checked the wall for walls (none) I moved round the golf course and descended to a small rocky outcrop near to the Millennium Cairn - a circle of nicely laid stones with memorial plaques. I saw a wall zooming around the area, regularly returning to the same rocks. I lurked at said area and sure enough it would return and perch there briefly. Although it noted my presence and did not approve. Especially when I moved in for a close-up. The only way I could get close was by lying on the ground and slithering snake-like on my belly. Happily there was nobody passing, to witness this ritual humiliation.

wall flying past the rocks

very well camouflaged

I had only the briefest chance of an open winged shot: when it landed it had its wings open but would close them within 2 seconds, which left precious little time to zoom and focus, catching the pretty upper wings. On the upside, the underwings are also pretty splendid; in the past I have referred to them being like a Victorian dressing gown. There was far more snaky-slithering than you'd guess, in order to get these photos, as the subject was very frisky and sensitive to my approach.

bike laid up against the Millennium Cairn

After a while I reckoned Mary would be either drowned or towelling herself off. I'd better jump on the bike and coast down to the beach. On the way past the picnic area I thought I'd check it out for a view of the beach to see if I could see Mary from above. In fact she was sitting eating her samosa at one of the picnic tables. That worked out well and without the trouble of texting or pre-arranging a time. I ate my samosa and then we called it a day and cycled home.