CALEY WILDFLOWER WALK

We started at Ferny Ness on Longniddry Bents – officially Car Park No3, though this is not shown on the sign. It is the area the wind surfers use. Bloody Cranesbill is abundant here and all along Gosford Bay. The other star attraction is Clustered Bellflower but that was not showing on our visit. Many other plants were found from the tall Weld, sometimes known as Dyer’s Rocket, as it was used to produce yellow dye, to the highly poisonous and rather sinister looking Hemlock. Several thistles grow along the coast including the localised Musk Thistle with its distinctive, nodding flowers. Many low growing plants typical of this coast are now in flower such as Birds-foot Trefoil, Lady’s Bedstraw, Restharrow, Centaury and Silverweed. This year the display of campions has been particularly prominent. Red, White and Bladder Campions were all noted; some pink flowered plants may be hybrids.
Moving west to Car Park No3 there is a fine display of Burnet Rose, a shrub characteristic of these sandy areas.  Along with it are plants of Sweet Briar and again hybrids are in evidence with pink and white flowers. The hips of the Burnet Rose were developing; later they will turn black unlike the red of most roses. There are several other species of rose in this area as well as confusing hybrids. Other plants seen in what was a very short walk included Bittersweet - a nightshade with blue, potato like flowers – Yellow Flag Iris, Great Willowherb, two of the commonest vetches,  blue Tufted Vetch and the yellow Meadow Vetchling- and one of several feral yellow loosestrifes, in this case Whorled Loosestrife.
Moving to Aberlady Bay several plants adapted to regular submersion in salt water were seen from the footbridge: Greater Sea-spurrey, Sea Plantain, Sea Arrow Grass and Sea Milkwort. On the mud there were large stands of Glasswort often sold in fishmongers as Samphire. Thrift was largely past and the first blue flowers of Sea Aster just opening; this plant makes a colourful display at Aberlady in midsummer. Just beyond the bridge the group was able to compare Northern Marsh and Common Spotted Orchids as well as hybrids between them, also Twayblades. Wild Marjoram was noticeable and the seed heads of Cowslips marked an earlier display of colour. Some parts of Aberlady are acidic as shown by the white tufts of Cotton-grass – which is really a sedge.  The yellow flowers of the insectivorous Bladderwort were found close to the main path by  the Yellow Mires along with Marsh Lousewort, more orchids, including Early Marsh, Marsh Marigold and Ragged Robin. Dry areas   featured  the blue spikes of Viper’s Bugloss, an attractive but short lived plant often grown in gardens. In summer you can often see day flying Six Spot Burnet Moths on this plant.
We ran out of time but further out there are more orchids to look for: the locally scarce Pyramidal and the diminutive Frog Orchid as well as an interesting array of plants which grow in short turf or on bare soil such as lichens and dwarf plants such as Mouse-ear Hawkweed.
The main path at Aberlady isn’t the best bird watching area but Reed Buntings and Sedge Warblers were still singing and a family of Stonechats perched by the path.
Common Blue butterflies were on the wing.

For a taste of some of the sights   click here

Stan da Prato