A small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) on verbena at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 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

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

A red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) on Actaea racemosa at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 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 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 stonechat in Holyrood Park today. I spent a lovely hour watching a pair (expect more photos). #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

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

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

A buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh on Sunday.

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

A comma (Polygonia c-album) on scabious (Scabiosa japonica) at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 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

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

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

A teal (Anas crecca) at FriendsOfLochendPark 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.

A dipper on the Water of Leith on Wednesday.

An oystercatcher at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 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.

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 unwell-looking grey squirrel at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh today. It has very little hair on its head and legs, but its behaviour was normal.