Staph outing

When there are still ducks over-Wintering in Kirkwall, I think it's fair to say that the temperature has not yet reached the dictionary definition of 'warm'. Well, that's my excuse for still being in fleecy trousers. We have edged imperceptibly into double figures, as long as you forget to take into account the windchill.

I do not forget.

Long-tailed Ducks

Yesterday we popped into Kirkwall to visit the supermarket to do our weekly food shopping. At least that was the official reason. In reality, we were headed to the Peedie Sea aka the town duck pond, just across the road from the supermarket, where a Red-rumped Swallow had been seen over the two previous days. This would be a lifer, so there was an edge to the occasion. I think the above photo of some ducks tells you all you need to know about a failed twitch. We didn't see it, and to ramp up the frustration further, later that day another rare species was seen in the same area - a Grey-headed Wagtail - again it would've been a lifer.

An ordinary-bottomed Swallow gathering mud for its nest.

The Orkney Nature Festival is only a few days away, so there was an urgent need to recce the walk which the Orkney Field Club is hosting in the programme.

This will be a gentle stroll up a moorland valley and back again, taking in the sights and sounds of Orkney in Springtime. There will be, we hope, plenty of birds, insects and wildflowers.

Marsh Marigold

Marsh Marigold

This gentle slope will now forever be known to me as Primrose Hill

A Rove beetle, possibly Staphylinus erythropterus

Hen Harriers

Cuckooflower

Meanwhile, back in the garden at home, the afore-mentioned double figures precipitated a flurry of activity from all manner of insects, most especially some small bees which were really appreciative of all the Dandelion flowers.

And I am hopeful that my next post might include news of the commencement of the dragonfly season in Orkney.

EDIT: Flippin' heck, it started whilst I was typing the above sentence!