hunting in holyrood

 

29th June and the Summer is well underway. Despite reports to the contrary I have come across only an occasional NBA in Holyrood. This was likely the last decent NBAs of the year as they fade quickly and just become shabby wee brown jobs not worth a photo. What was nice was to see was Andrew and Unda who have also been quite scarce - or if they have been out, their adventures have not crossed paths with mine. Everyone (apart from Joanie and Mairi) seemed to have the same idea this sunny day and several of the butterfly world were out hunting in Holyrood.

Andrew and Unda

northern brown argus

Mary off in an ocean of long grass

the last of the large skippers
nice to see them in Holyrood - been a while coming

common blue looking passed its best

Neil - never passed his best!

Next up was Neil, in town for less than happy reasons, but enjoying avoiding the clammy heatwave in London, and bumping into friends around Holyrood. Even though he is known to climb hills in Switzerland in search of Europe's rarest butterflies, he was really happy to find NBAs in Holyrood. Largely thanks to A&U whom I directed him towards. (I wasn't sure if they knew each other or not. He had just bumped into Ken who was another 5mins up the park.)

Ken

soldier beetles, doing what they do best

grayling

composite shot of grayling taking off

to show upper wing which is rarely seen otherwise

It was a little bit blowy for graylings and they weren't that happy to pose so Ken and I went down towards Samson's Ribs and the Innocent Railway where Andrew and Unda were. Mary had gone home by now.

comma at the innocent railway

I left the others and decided to march up to Crow Hill summit which can be useful for RAs and painted ladies, with graylings and small torts if not too windy. It was quite breezy and I was mainly doing it for the steps and calorie burn. I am a bit heavier due to lack of running these days and its not a look I enjoy, and yet it is hard to keep the weight off if I don't run regularly. I had little faith there would be much up the hill but thought it would do me good anyway. 

imagine having the reg number G - GDSP (godspeed?)
Leonardo AW109S Trekker

there are always crows and jackdaws on Crow Hill

painted lady

Sericomyia silentis

I think this large wasp-impersonating hoverfly is the Yellow-barred peat hoverfly. Inhabits mountain regions, moorland and peat-bogs. (Apparently you can have it all.) (Lays its larvae in watery places.) Also it is on the front cover of WILDGuides Hoverflies (Ball and Morris) so is quite the star. If you are thinking maybe one of the Volucellae then look at those wingtip veins and think again! Completely different! (A tiny bit different at the outer-cross vein!) I was surprised to see more than one lurking at the top of Crow Hill. Being large and with hazard colourways they were easy to spot.

with token photobombing butterfly

I was enjoying taking pics of the corvids riding the wind. I might have encouraged a few to come closer by throwing peanuts. They mostly waited a small distance away and then when I left, moved in for the rewards.

not on your nelly

jackdaw

crow

upstart crow

bad focus #1

There were lots of butterflies, maybe a dozen or more. Mostly RAs and painted ladies who seemed to be enjoying a game of chasey. I think these three were 2 RA outriders and a small tort (or maybe PL) in the middle. They moved too fast to get a better photo. Along with the RAs and PLs were also 2 small torts and several passing burnet moths. The majority were over the lee side of the hill out the worst of the wind. They did seem to be chasing each other for pleasure or entertainment rather than any massive territorial despute. They would return to a similar spot each time after a massive swirling circling dogfight. Also given they often migrate together suggests a mutual adventure rather than an accidental travelling in company. Whether they are honing flight skills and tactics rather than just having fun seems immaterial.

bad focus #2

background butterfly photobomb

burnet moth

a few crows kept me company 
likely hoping for handouts

some of the PLs were lacking large sections of wing

one of the small torts

one of the more pristine RAs

PL

dogfight over Duddingston

another Sericomyia silentis
and quite a distance from the last, suggesting several there

small tort

PL

Eventually I descended the hill and made my way home round the front of the crags. Bumping into this pheasant on the way. For the small sum of a few peanuts it came over to pose for photos.

fruit flies
possibly Xyphosia miliaria

quality small skipper

7.5miles in about 5hrs20