Panic, problems and paintings

Yesterday afternoon, for the first time this year, I spotted a Sparrowhawk flying through the garden. It was quite a fortuitous sighting, as I was sat on the sofa, looking across an upside down jigsaw whilst chatting with Megan. A silhouette flapped slowly by outside the window, a most un-Sparrowhawk-like manoeuvre, but it was flying into a westerly gale, which is what bought me the time to identify it. Then, this morning, a male hawk was briefly sat in a low Sycamore tree at the bottom of the garden, looking quite forlorn because we've temporarily run out of bird food and all the House Sparrows are elsewhere.

Photo not from yesterday, as an example only

This afternoon, I was in the office, elbow deep in admin, when two small flocks of Starlings hammered through the garden in quick succession. Ever the procrastinator, I let my eyes follow the two dark liquid spheres of mini murmurations, as both flocks compressed in size and then merged into one. It was a bit early for roosting behaviour, and I barely had time to think "I wonder if... ?", when a raptor appeared out of nowhere and plunged into the panicking amoeboid mass of feathers. Sparrowhawk again, but this time it was a female, and she was unsuccessful in this particular sortie.

Shortly afterwards, the postie delivered a big sack of bird seed, so tomorrow might see more gladiatorial raptor action (sadly, I will be out all day, leaving before dawn and not returning before evening).

Another interesting sighting from the office is the Isle of Mull, which isn't bad from an Orkney window, eh?

It is actually the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry 'Isle of Mull', which suffered a problem whilst returning to the west coast after a refit in Aberdeen. Currently she is moored in Lyness in Hoy, undergoing repairs about six miles from where I'm sat.

Anyways, this blog, before it was hijacked by raptors and ailing vessels, was supposed to be all about some lovely wildlife-themed cards we received during the festive period. They have really cheered up some dreich Winter days.

Owl in Winter by Julia McKenzie

In the background, as well as a star or a comet, there is a Wren singing (or possibly mobbing the owl) and the constellation of Orion, the Hunter. I wondered if this was a reference to the hunting of the wren, an old tradition on St Stephen's Day, 26th December?

Wintertime wading (Oystercatchers) by Lynsey McLaughlin

During Spring and Summer, the Orkney landscape resounds to the calls of the Oystercatcher, although it's much quieter from August to January. A few birds do remain here through the Winter, but the majority of the breeding population head south to estuaries around the UK, returning in February.

Running Wild by Jenny Tylden-Wright

Gotta love a Brown Hare, at any time of year!

Fieldfares by Lucy Grossmith

This Winter, and certainly during late December, we have been fortunate to see Fieldfares on most days in the surrounding fields, and even occasionally in our garden.

Bullfinch by Liane Payne

I don't think I have ever seen a Bullfinch in Orkney, but I do have pleasant memories from further south of Bullfinches, snow and the nip of chill air. This card beautifully encapsulates that feeling.