Ken D

My usual posts of birds, bees and butterflies will continue on BlueSky. I'll keep this account, but will not post further content until there is a change of leadership and direction at X. I close with this roadkill, I think a brown rat (Abbeyhill, 5th Jan). #ElonKilledIt

An unwell-looking grey squirrel at @TheBotanics today. It has very little hair on its head and legs, but its behaviour was normal.

Because "rats" is trending, here's a brown rat at Figgate Park last week, one of five snatching bird food dropped from the feeders.

An oystercatcher at @TheBotanics today. I often see them fly over, they frequent nearby playing fields, but this was the first time I have seen one aerating the lawns there.

A dipper on the Water of Leith on Wednesday.

A teal (Anas crecca) at @LochendPark yesterday. One of two males seen, this one with indistinct plumage around the head, so maybe first winter? I watched them dabbling around the edge, I often only see them around the sunken trees. I'll be back soon when the light is better.

There were two commas (Polygonia c-album) at the scabious (Scabiosa japonica) in @TheBotanics yesterday. The white mark that gives the common and specific names is visible here.

🎶Comma, comma, comma, comma, comma chameleon🎶 Another shot of the comma from yesterday.

A comma (Polygonia c-album) on scabious (Scabiosa japonica) at @TheBotanics today. Polygonia from the Greek for "many angles" and c-album because of the white C shape on the underwing that also gives the common name. #EntomologicalEtymology

Bullfinches love the Cimicifuga simplex at this time of year. Two weeks ago, red admirals were feasting on the flowers.

A buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) at @TheBotanics on Sunday.

A red admiral on Scabiosa japonica at @TheBotanics yesterday. It used to be called "red admirable butterfly" (source Oxford Living Dictionaries via Wikipedia). I vote to bring that back. #EntomologicalEtymology

And the female stonechat. They were never far away from each other. #HolyroodPark #Edinburgh

Another shot of the male stonechat I watched yesterday. These charming birds can be found in the park all year round, and without having to go up a hill. #HolyroodPark #Edinburgh

A stonechat in Holyrood Park today. I spent a lovely hour watching a pair (expect more photos). #HolyroodPark #Edinburgh

A small copper (Lycaena phlaeas) in Holyrood Park this afternoon. 3+ seen, winning the day. I reckon Lycaena from the Ancient Greek for "she-wolf" and phlaeas from the Greek phlego for "burning up". #EntomologicalEtymology

A red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) on Actaea racemosa at @TheBotanics yesterday. Both names from Greek mythology: Phanessa was Pandora's daughter with a fascination for butterflies and Atalanta was a princess of Arcadia and member of the Argonauts. #EntomologicalEtymology

A wheatear in Holyrood Park this afternoon, one of two seen. #HolyroodPark #Edinburgh

A wall brown (Lasiommata megera) in #HolyroodPark yesterday. Lasiommata from the Greek for "hairy eyes". Yup, they do, that's going to need a macro shot. Megera from the name of one of the Furies, another butterfly name from Greek mythology. #EntomologicalEtymology

A small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) on verbena at @TheBotanics today. Aglais from one or more of a daughter of Zeus, a Greek musician, or just the Greek for spendid or shining (see also recent DGF). Urticae from nettles, the larval foodplant. #EntomologicalEtymology