Scozmo's Photery

June 20th 2025

We appear to be having Summer this week! 😉 A few days of warm, actually very hot weather which is great, it always feels like age since we had that; it’s not! 🙂

So, I headed out for a walk. I deliberately planned to set out early after seeing a small flock of juvenile birds down the lane yesterday so this was an attempt to see them again, rarely happens of course.

Also, due to the time of year and the increased activity, I also now record and photograph butterflies!!! My head is now on a 360 swivel 🙂 ( I use the iRecord Butterflies App)

Painted Lady butterflies have just appeared, I haven’t seen any before these, this year.

The Ringlet is probably one of our most common butterflies and they often drop right down into grass so can be difficult to get a shot of; aren’t they all?

Editing the photo I noticed the Ladybird / bug in the background. 🙂

The Small Tortoiseshell has also started making an appearance.

I now see the variance between darn saff (down South) and here in mid Scotland, some people are posting shots of things like this earlier than I am up here.

As I worked my way up the lane to the first junction, I started hearing and seeing quite a lot of young birds, this Coal Tit, for example, didn’t appear to notice it already had food, it was still flapping its wings to be fed, the adult was close by 🙂

There seems to be small flocks of Coal, Blue and Great Tits gathering together.

On down the lane and the Speckled Wood were out in abundance, when I first recorded one of these I got a message saying it was out of its normal range? Hmmmm. Green-veined White are also all over the place just now.

Not a great shot of the white but, they don’t land often or stay still for very long!

I spotted a hover fly ahead down the lane a bit and managed to grab a butt shot of it high kicking 🙂

There is an abundance of foraging to be done on the patch, I pass Apple trees, Gooseberry bushes, Elder galore and this, one of a few, Cherry tree.

The tree is huge, I don’t think anyone could harvest all of the Cherries from it but, we intend to try for a crop, see what we can make.

I was down into the open now and starting to feel the heat, I did wear shorts 🙂

I believe that is a Meadow Brown but, as I said before, more than happy to be corrected, iRecord will correct me anyway 🙂

Down to the Mill pond and round into the wildflower meadow and the wildlife was everywhere, I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many Six-spot Burnet moths before!

I think they’re great looking beasties, a bit freaky, I wouldn’t want one fluttering into my face!

Great colouring though eh?

There was a package in the mailbox so I had to head back that way, collect it and head back up the lane. It’s a mile to the mailbox. 🙂 Glad I did, there was a flurry of birds in a tall tree near the foot of the lane so, I stood a while and grabbed a few shots.

I caught a female Blackcap watching me from yet another Cherry tree! I hadn’t ever noticed this one before.

As I hit the hill, it’s a bit of a cracker, bearing in mind it was now roasting, I also hit some tree shade and hiding in there was a young Dunnock having a preen.

I absolutely loved the light in there.

Of course it got fed up of me taking its photo and slipped off into the shadows.

I actually made good time up the hill bearing in mind there’s quite a bit of shade, the butterflies were all over the place and I try to provide at least one shot as evidence when I record them.

I caught a Red Admiral on the fence post at the end of the garden, last of the walk.

A final Small Tortoiseshell

And …. a Dark Green Fritillary, these two seem to love the thistles.

And that was me home, through the gate,, into my wee den, set the camera back on the tripod, drop the binocs, stop my walking app and bird / butterfly apps and ……… a long, cold drink!

A good walk, I was very happy with the Dunnock and fritillary shots, might head out tomorrow again? 😉

patch photos