humming along

 

27th June. Not long back from holiday and this was the first trip out with the camera. It was nearly sunny and I thought I'd take a constitutional up to the valerian at Samson's Ribs above the Innocent Railway. To my surprise a quite obliging humming-bird hawk-moth appeared (after not-too-long-a-wait) and I got some photos and video clips.

First some thoughts on the Orange March down the High Street that day. Why is this sectarian shit still allowed? Why are bowler-hatted cunts and counterfeit nazis allowed to parade their bigotry around town? Clearly they are not celebrating anything, don't tell me it was a battle 336 years ago, that just doesn't wash. I presume they are mainly doing it to wind up catholics with their banners and tin pot bands. There is no sign of joy in their music or happiness in their appearance. They look like a bunch of disgruntled arseholes out to spread division and aggravation.

They also looked like a bunch who'd never read a book between them. I suspect the only reason they have kept this faux army marching is that they are a bunch of lackies from elsewhere desperate to maintain their grip on Northern Ireland, a place they should have left a long time ago. 

I might submit that it is a waste of public funds to police these marches, but really it shouldn't be allowed because it provokes hatred and sectarianism. Hopefully a tradition that will fade from our culture and die as it does nothing useful and is built on religion and monarchy the twin towers of oppression and ignorance. Free-thinkers and the intelligent need not apply. 

Anyway I was glad they turned in the other direction from Holyrood as I was going into the park. There were plenty of small skippers and ringlets which I couldn't be much bothered with. I wandered up to the valerian at Samson's Rib and as stated this appeared...

I didn't really think that much about the fact it came gradually closer to the railing at the top (where I was standing) until I had to zoom back to make it small enough to frame. They are not always so friendly. Even in the short while I was there the sun appeared and the shots / footage improved dramatically, until it swooped off and away. I must have returned home via the stone trap as I have shot an NBA and a ringlet although I have very little memory of anything much of the trip outwith the Orange march and the hummer.

I did enjoy seeing the hummer as it was one species we saw on holiday but didn't get any decent shots of. Nice to know Edinburgh is not upstaged by Greece on all counts. I must go back to that valerian and see if I can't get better shots yet. These are okay but I feel on a sunnier day I could do better with less noisy results. ISO was 3200 to get the shutterspeed up to 1/6400 and 1/8000 which on a low light day begins to produce slightly grainy pics.

btw if you click on my name on youTube
you can see all my videos (68 and counting) posted there 

northern brown argus

ringlet - dozens of these all over

and yet they still behave very timidly

I was pleased to see this even though its occupant was long gone. It is the papery sleeping bag (a pupa case) of a burnet moth which will have climbed out and be flying locally. Lots seen and photo-ed since then, but not on this occasion. Check out my next few blogs when they arrive.