East Lothian Council Countryside Ranger Service

Octob

er 2017Heading SouthBrown butterf lies

Be a wise whale-watcherPages 8-9

Out & about

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Welcome to the 34th Edition of ‘Mud In Your Eye’

We’d love to hear from you! Email: ranger@eastlothian.gov.uk or follow us...

@ELCrangers East Lothian Countryside Ranger Service

Published by

East Lothian Council’s Countryside Ranger Service

Cover photograph - Bottlenose Dolphin ©Lorne Gill/SNH.

Enjoying the Countryside

Unnoticed East Lothian wildlife

Ormiston to Pencaitland walk

Some brown butterf lies

Be a wise whale-watcher

House Martins head south

Heavens Above! Cassiopeia

Volunteering

Top tree

Access to the countryside is something that we take for granted, that we can go to thebeach, canoe in the river, walk in the hills or just enjoy a short stroll along local pathsnear our home with the family or the dog. Short circular walks near to our homes are most popular. We need to extend thesewalking boundaries by creating suitable links to join many of these local walks together.We need access for the fit, the elderly, baby buggies or wheelchairs and the paths inEast Lothian will provide for each of these needs on different routes and to differingdegrees.We need provision for cyclists to be able to pedal quickly on good tracks and slowerover rough and muddy paths.There is a great demand for horse riding throughout our County and they are equallywelcome on our comprehensive network of suitable pathways and beaches.It is easy to see how fast cycles, elderly walkers, young children, horses andwheelchairs do not all fit comfortably into every type of pathway.Because of this we can see the need for us all to use our rights of access withresponsibility and show consideration to each other, and develop the understandingthat the countryside is also the farmer, forester or game keeper’s workshop.The East Lothian Access Forum is an independent advisory body with an equalrepresentation of access taker and land manager organisations. The Forum’s roleincludes promoting responsible access and access management in East Lothian toencourage a greater awareness of the wonderful and attractive landscape we live in andto lead a healthier life style with greater emphasis on regular exercise, whether it is travelto work, school or for leisure.To this end we are in the process of creating an electronic booklet of walks in EastLothian and these can be found at www.pathwardens.wordpress.com/paths/path-descriptions/ Already 18 walk leaflets areavailable to download.

Enjoy your walksand take with youwonderful memoriesbut leave behindyou only footprints.

Enjoying the Countryside James Wyllie, Chairman East Lothian Access Forum

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Notes from the (left) field...

It is mid-August, and on the sun-bakedwalls of a coffee shop courtyard, a smalland stunning animal busied away aroundgaps in the fractured mortar.With striking colouration, the ruby-tailedwasp looks like it has spent some well-advised time in the proximity of a childwith access to a sparkling array ofmetallic paints.

This technicoloured delight has howevergot a kleptoparasitic dark side, laying itseggs, cuckoo like, in the nests of otherwasps and bees, in this instance perhapsa species (Chrysis ignita) that favouredthe solitary mason bee that had made ahome for itself in the courtyard.Unlike some familiar antagonists thatmake up a minority of the 9000 speciesof wasp in the UK, this is one to cherishthe sight of when enjoying coffee andcake on sunny Sunday mornings, andindeed is a great excuse to go out formore. Dave Wild, Countryside Ranger

Red mason bee,predated by ruby-tailedwasp.© A Marland.

A column to celebrate the quirky gems of East Lothian wildlife that often gounnoticed…

Ormiston to Pencaitland

View through Winton woods.

Start: Ormiston, Main Street.Finish: PencaitlandDistance: 3½ km / 2 milesTime: 1½ hoursTerrain: Tracks and rough paths.

Description: Mainly on well surfaced,gently sloping paths with one short, steepsection. Can get muddy in placesfollowing heavy rain.Directions: Head east on OrmistonMain Street until you almost reach thecorner, turn right down Cross Loan andthen left when you reach Hillview Road.Continue until you cross the railway walkand follow the path which runs betweenfields. At the end of the fields there is awood, follow the sign taking you rightpast a pond on the left. Cross the RiverTyne by the Kingfisher Bridge, up a steepslope then turn left. Follow the signs alongthis path till you reach the informationboard at the junction with the A6093. Atthis point take the pavement left acrossSinclair Bridge. Cross the road at thecrossing and follow the signs along thepath beside the Tyne until you reach acrossroads in the path.

Taking the path left takes you onto thereturn route to Ormiston via New Winton,right takes you onto the return route viaFountainhall and straight on leads toEaster Pencaitland bus terminus orNisbet.

Points of interest: 1. Ormiston – The first planned village inScotland. Historic village with the mercatcross and famous yew tree.2. Winton House – The original housewas built here in 1150 and is now aprivate residence. Now mainly used forbusiness events and private parties, it isoccasionally open to the public.K = Kingfisher Bridge S = Sinclair Bridge

The ruby-tailed wasp. © A Marland.

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Following the feature in the last issue, it’s time now to look at some other butterfliesyou may have seen this summer. Whilst not the most colourful, each is special in itsown way. For most females tend to be a little bigger than males.

Some brown butterf lies

Meadow brown. Usually our mostcommon butterfly, found across allmanner of grasslands from mid to latesummer.

Ringlet. The adults live for only a coupleof weeks and are seen from mid-July.Can look all dark in flight, but at rest theeyes on the underwing, from which theyget their name, can be seen. A butterflyof damp grasslands.

Small heath. Its small size, and orangehued forewings will help you ID this one.Prefers light soils and finer grasslands.Brilliant at hiding, it lands, tilts its bodytowards the sun and thereby creates noshadow. Prefers habitats near to thecoast usually.

Small Heath.

Meadow brown.

Ringlet.

Speckled wood.

Speckled wood. Recent colonist No1to East Lothian, and now found acrossthe county. Males have it appears either 4 spots on the hind wing or 3, depending

upon how they express their courtshipbehaviour. As the name suggests, preferswoodland rides.

Wall. Recent colonist No 2, the orangeand patterned wings make this more ofan orange-brown butterfly.

Who next? Bets are on for the nextspecies to turn up here and one withshort odds is another brownish colouredtype – look out for the gatekeeper.Other butterflies (and day-flyingmoths) can confuse...many of the skipperspecies look brown, and females of the‘blue’ family (hope you are keeping up!)can often be brown-coloured, despitetheir name. I feel a further feature, nextedition...

The grayling loves basking in thesun. Males have a dark bandacross the forewing which helpsseparate them from females.Grasslands.

The Wall Butterfly.

The grayling.

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Be a wise whale-watcher

During the summer months too, dolphinshave been recorded frequently, in andaround the North Berwick area, alongwith the smaller common porpoise. Addin the populations of grey and commonseals that we have and you can start toappreciate how many marine mammalsare making use of the water off ourcoastline.In summer, especially, more of us like tomake use of the coast too, for recreationand wildlife observation, eitherindependently or by joining an organisedtour. However, across Scotland, a

number of incidences have been reportedto police of people and boats disturbingthese graceful mammals.

October usually produces a peak in the sightings of whales and dolphins (jointlycalled cetaceans) off East Lothian’s coast. Perhaps this is because these mammalsare following food that is particularly plentiful in and around the Forth at this time. Orperhaps it is evidence of wider, migratory movements. Either way now is as good atime as any to see them.

Craft going too close to the animals cancause stress, or even direct injury as wellas putting operators at risk themselves. Do you know the appropriate ways towatch cetaceans? A national code –Scottish Marine Wildlife Watching Code –sets out clear and simple guidance forpeople to follow. So, if you have your ownvessel, perhaps check these and ensureyou are operating correctly. If you are ona guided trip, check to see whether thecraft you are in has WiSe (Water Safe)accreditation. This ensures the operatorhas passed criteria to safeguard the

animals you are hoping to see.Last, it is difficult telling these creaturesapart if you do see one. The best advice,is start with the most common speciesand then if not those, look carefully forany distinctive flashes of colour on thedorsal (top) fin, or along the flanks of theanimal, And if it is absolutely huge, well,you’ve got a whale on your hands! Theseare links to 2 useful ID guides;www.seawatchfoundation.org.ukwww.whalespotting.co.uk

It’s a whale – but what kind? Try www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk ©Laurie Campbell/SNH.

It’s a Minke Whale! Bottlenose Dolphin. ©Lorne Gill/SNH.

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Every spring we are visited by swallows, sand martins, swifts and house martins.The first two love the countryside, whereas swifts and house martins prefer thebright lights.

House Martins head for theBeautiful South

House Martins head for the BeautifulSouth (continued)

A bird in the hand ... A young swallow lending a hand with bird monitoring. (Duncan Priddle)

Swallows nesting in a bus shelter (Stuart Macpherson)

Waxwings, exotic autumn visitors. (Abbie Marland)

Swallows traditionally nest in barns,occasionally in garages and rarely in busshelters. Clever people even cut a letter-box-sized whole in the garage door toallow swallows to fly in and out. Sand martins are more rustic in theirhouse-choice and will excavate a weeburrow in a river bank or sand bank. Thistakes quite a lot of effort so the same birdwill return the next year to use the samenest burrow.

There is a nice wee colony on the Tyne,not far from Haddington, and it alwaysmakes me smile to watch the sandmartins fly in and out of their self-buildhomes.Their urban cousins are the swifts andhouse martins. House martins wouldhave been ‘cliff’ martins once upon atime, but the eaves of houses are almostperfect for them, so they have adapted toliving with us.

Swifts are a bit like bats, and typicallynest behind gutters or roof tiles, if there isspace.All these birds are charming but theirfuture is uncertain, as traditional buildingsare modernised and birds becomehomeless. There are ways of looking afterthese birds, to provide nest space afterrenovation. Making life easier for usshould not mean making life more difficultfor these iconic birds. Now it is autumn and the chicks havefledged. Instead of fattening up to survive

the winter these birds fly to central andsouthern Africa in search of heat andinsects. I believe the Congo is beautiful atthis time of year. House martins are awee bit elusive, and we do not knowexactly where they go in winter. Currentresearch with electronic transmitters mayhelp unlock the mystery.Just as some birds leave us for a time,others come to visit. As you catch yourfinal view of swifts, swallows and martinsfor the year, keep your eyes open for yourfirst sighting of waxwings.

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Heavens Above!In autumn the constellation ofCassiopeia lies directly overheadin the late night sky. It forms a W-shape and is supposed torepresent Cassiopeia, the queen

of Ethiopia sitting on herthrone (no, me neither!). To the west of Cassiopeiais Cepheus, her husbandthe king, and directly

south is Andromeda, theirdaughter. The constellationPerseus forms a t-shape to theeast of Cassiopeia and Pegasus isclosely linked with Andromeda inthe south, recognised by the fourstars forming a large square.

All these closely linked constellationsform part of an Ancient Greek myth.

Cassiopeia boasted that her daughterwas more beautiful than the sea nymphs.This enraged their father, the sea-godPoseidon, who sent a huge sea monsterto ravage the coastal towns and villages.

The only way to stop it was to sacrificeAndromeda to the monster, so she waschained to a rock by the sea to await herdoom. As luck would have it, Perseuswas passing by on the winged horsePegasus. He killed the monster, using thehead of Medusa to turn it stone, andrescued Andromeda.

In November watch out for the Leonidmeteor shower, which peaks late on the

17th /early on the 18th. The meteors aredebris from the tail of the comet Temple-Tuttle which orbits the sun every 33.3years leaving a stream of tiny particles inits wake; when the earth passes throughthis ‘cloud’ the particles burn up in theatmosphere.

The meteors appear to originate from theconstellation Leo, hence the name, butmay appear anywhere in the night sky.

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volunteer diary dates

Where Day Date Time Who to contact

Aberlady Wed 4th Oct 09:30-15.00 jharrison@eastlothian.gov.uk

Yellowcraig Thurs 5th Oct 09.30-15.00 dwild@eastlothian.gov.uk

Aberlady Sun 15th Oct 09:30-15.00 jharrison@eastlothian.gov.uk

Path wardens Thurs 19th Oct 09.30-14.30 dpriddle@eastlothian.gov.uk team task

Dunbar area Wed 25th Oct 10.00-13.00 dcv@eastlothian.gov.uk

North Berwick Tues 31st Oct 10.00-12.30 sranscombe@eastlothian.gov.uk

Levenhall Tues 31st Oct 10.00-13.00 naitken1@eastlothian.gov.uk

Aberlady Wed 1st Nov 09:30-15.00 jharrison@eastlothian.gov.uk

Yellowcraig Thurs 2nd Nov 09.30-15.00 dwild@eastlothian.gov.uk

Aberlady Sun 12th Nov 09:30-15.00 jharrison@eastlothian.gov.uk

Path wardens Thurs 16th Nov 09.30-14.30 dpriddle@eastlothian.gov.uk

North Berwick Tues 28th Nov 10.00-12.30 sranscombe@eastlothian.gov.uk

Levenhall Tues 28th Nov 10.00-13.00 naitken1@eastlothian.gov.uk

Dunbar area Wed 29th Nov 10.00-13.00 dcv@eastlothian.gov.uk

Aberlady Wed 6th Dec 09.30-1500 jharrison@eastlothian.gov.uk

Yellowcraig Thurs 7th Dec 09.30-15.00 dwild@eastlothian.gov.uk

Aberlady Sun 17th Dec 09.30-1500 jharrison@eastlothian.gov.uk

ConservationvolunteersOur volunteer contingent continues to grow from strength to strength. This year seesthe volunteers seeking to become a charitable body, as part of a move towardsgreater independence and a mechanism for capturing grant awards.Volunteers come from all walks of life and volunteer for many reasons – to learnabout the countryside, to meet like-minded people and to get some fresh-air exercise.If you would like to join our merry band, or just to find out more please contact me atdpriddle@eastlothian.gov.uk or telephone 01620 827459.Duncan Priddle, Countryside Officer

Volunteers repairing thewall at Yellowcraig

Volunteerslooking for

Moonwort atYellowcraig.

Removing seed heads fromthe invasive Pirri Pirri burplant at Barns Ness.

It may not be the biggest of oaks, butits wonderfully twisted form andheavily burred trunk, give this tree realcharacter. You will find it roughly ½way up the path to the HopetonMonument. As you climb up, andswitchback left at a steep corner, justahead of you on the left, is where thetree is situated.The form of the tree probably reflectsthat it is situated on thin soil andwould have been in an exposedlocation in its youth, swaying back andforth. Consequently, the trunk is asyou see – no good for planks but greatfor wildlife.

There are not too many pedunculatedoaks in East Lothian, (this sub-speciesbeing more common further South)instead the most common oak is thesessile oak. To tell one from the otherlook at the leaves – the sessile oak leafhas an obvious stalk, whereas thepedunculated oak leaves do not. Butbe quick now, they’ll be losing theirleaves soon!

Do you want to nominate your owntop tree? Suggestions todpriddle@eastlothian.gov.uk

Top Tree No12

Pedunculate or English Oak Quercus robur

Pedunculate OakHopetoun Monument (aka Byer’s Hill).