'tumnal vibes

 

07-10-26 Keeping it local. Another trip along to the Botanics then Warriston and back to the Botanics. Although maybe I should have stopped after the first 15mins when I'd bumped into today's highlight, a bullfinch pair feeding on rowan berries on Powderhall Road.

I saw them fly across the road but it took a while wandering quietly round the tree to actually see where they were eating. And even then I didn't catch the female, just the male. The combination of his warm colours, the bright berries and the sunlight was great, but he wasn't keen on being a film star so I had to settle for just a handful of pics and less than a minute of video.

soundtrack: Resolve by Pete Kuzma

heron flying over mallards at Powderhall WoL

On entering the Botanics I checked out the rock garden. The thorny white bush had finished flowering and was no longer a butterfly magnet. Nothing on the valerian either. Or do I mean viburnum? Anyway no butterflies and I thought I may be forced to concentrate on hoverflies. Although not many of them either.

Sphaerophoria spec

Eristalis tenax

Along form the rock garden I checked out an area known for commas. Well it used to be before they removed the scabious. And with it they inadvertently removed the commas. But old habits die hard and I again photographed the unshaved leg tree (how I described it last year) and the purple berries that grow near there. 

plenty lovely autumnal colourings

moorhens at the Chinese hillside pond

Very lucky to see this admiral as it stopped by some Japanese anemones
although it did not stop for long.

lots of turning leaf colours

cafe crow

Just one butterfly at the cafe buddleia today, a painted lady.

the sundial, nearly an hour fast
real time - 12.18pm

collared earth star fungi, Geastrum triplex

Eristalis tenax again

grey squirrel

yup, same again, common drone fly

I think this is the cat Ken told me about, Mittens, which kinda knows it shouldn't be in the Botanics but slinks about guiltily, looking for things rustling through the undergrowth. Fastidiously refusing to acknowledge me taking its pic as it might have felt an accusation being levelled.

Nepalese prayer flags

I hunted about for robins to feed and other birds to photo but found nada. So decided on a change of scene, and left by Inverleith Row walking over to Warriston cemetery. It wasn't much better, but had fewer people which was an improvement.

Spanish/Sweet chestnuts, Castanea sativa

above the crypts

I had hoped to find commas here. Looking at last year's blogs the latest I can find commas in Warriston was Sept 8th although it really depends on the weather. After the first frosty nights things disappear into Winter hidey-holes. Nice to see a few speckleds about, and some even looked quite fresh. This suggests quite a commitment because they don't overwinter as imagos.

At the far end of the riverside area, the sun was striking an area of flowering ivy. It was about waist height and being attended by a dozen or more hoverflies, enjoying the sunshine. Mostly the same species and I couldn't see anything exotic. I waded over after changing lens to the macro. 

Syrphus spec.

out of focus!

On a cool day, as this was, if you hold your hand near where they are hovering and if there isn't lots of other perching options they will enjoy taking a breather on a warm hand. Even if the camera focusses of the hand rather than the insects.

I found getting near them tricky. They would swarm around whatever side of the ivy was opposite to myself. Almost as if they didn't want to be in the blog. Although they were happy to land on an outstretched hand. But just as I'd get close enough for a decent close up they'd fly off. Very frustrating. Also they tended to face away from the looming camera - no doubt to effect take off in the opposite direction rather than fly towards a potential predator.

Syrphus spec.

However the challenge of getting close and getting a decent photo or video that was actually in focus around their eyes, kept me involved and I forgot where I was, until Mary texted to say she had just arrived at the Botanics. I said I'd be 30mins as I was having hoverfly fun. 

not always facing the right direction

hover, click twice

Helena depuncta / impuncta

fingertip friendly

harlequin ladybird

eristalis tenax

I saw these two on a grave stone on the way out. The one on the left I hadn't seen before and thought it was some kind of froghopper. Obsidentify says Allygus mixtus which seems to agree with other online info. Six to 7mm so a little too small to see all of those colours with the/my naked eye. I was trying to wrangle it into a better position and its response was to fly off into a tree. Looked bigger flying than on a gravestone.

It seems to come under the family Cicadellidae (leafhoppers) so not a million miles off with a froghopper. I didn't realise it was so pretty until I saw the photos on screen at home. Love those blue touches on its back.

more handy hoverflies

I jogged along Warriston Gardens and down to the Botanics to meet Mary (and Ken) who were at the Herbacious border. Still very few admirals (none that I saw) at the purple torch. Mary said she had encountered baby squirrels and I let myself get overexcited about that prospect until we met them and they were full sized adult squirrels. I nearly didn't get over the disappointment.

How many times can you see adult squirrels (virtually every trip here ever) and then mistake them for babies? They weren't even slightly smaller. I was surprised as Mary is normally very reliable with random nature ID-ing and if she doesn't know she won't just fabricate rubbish. Like this! 

I might be a baby!
[NOPE!]

Clearly it was time to go home for a late lunch!

8.6miles in 5hrs