taxi driver

 

10th June. Probably Mary's idea to take the car out for some exercise and a walk at Aberlady/Gullane. Just happened to coincide with the annual Edinburgh Taxi Outing. Last year we caught it by happy accident as it passed through Aberlady and here we were again, parking up at the reserve just 15minutes before the parade happened. A very nice coincidence. If we see it next year I'll know it is a deliberate message, though from who, and about what, might remain mysterious. Perhaps just a timely reminder to count one's blessings and know that others can be less fortunate.

Quite a bit less fortunate, as this beano is sponsored by the Taxi Drivers of Edinburgh, to provide a fun day out for children with additional needs, life-limiting conditions and terminal illnesses. It has been going strong since WW2. Which puts any grumbles about the weather, and general complaints into perspective. Aberlady was lined with bunting and spectators. At whom taxis riders fire water pistols, and wave. It is very jolly and most of the vehicles are decorated with balloons often with fancy dressed occupants. Having witnessed it last year this year we stood a little further back from the roadside in order to be just out of range of the water. Doesn't mix well with camera equipment!

escapee balloons
(I later picked up a large foil type escapee from the JMW)

That was definitely the best part of the day. The parade went off to Archerfields walled garden for a picnic while we walked the traditional circuit of Aberlady and Gullane. There wasn't much about and I'd probably not bother to blog it, if it wasn't for the coincidence of accidentally bumping into the parade for the second year running. Not happening at a weekend but on a Tuesday makes it more remarkable that we were in the right place at the right time. 

skylark

heron at the pond

reed bunting

starlings

most of these starlings are juveniles
Obvs had a good year! Plenty insects, and nice and dry.

eiders

That sign above is planted opposite Goose on the Green where we stopped for a Coop sandwich refuel. (G on the G being closed on a Tuesday.) It is where we first saw Holly Blues on California Lilac in 2019 and regularly photographed many butterflies on the buddleia next to the benches. Only they then tore out both those bushes to put in raised borders with fancy exotic plants and less local varieties - and some are very pleasant - although there is a lot less in the way of butterflies and pollinators now they have remodelled it and I feel the sign is just paying lipservice to a notion without any actual evidence of biodiversity promotion. That said, the buddleias seem to be growing back in so maybe not all is lost. The irony of them using a butterfly on that sign made me a bit annoyed. I felt I should draw attention to something that everyone seems to be concerned with, but actually behaving as if striving for the exact opposite. As long as it is suffiently greenwashed who cares about the reality? 

This juv jackdaw seemed to have descended his tree before being fully
fledged and was having trouble flying. Hopefully nobody's dog noticed.

a small tort near the golf course

It was a glorious afternoon although the butterflies hadn't got the email and most didn't bother to appear. Where were the blues and DGFs? I think there was only a couple of small torts and not much else. Odd. Tried not to let it flavour an otherwise very pleasant afternoon.

oh deer

forgot to put my suunto on distracted by the parade
over six miles, under three hours