Natural highs and lows

Jings, March has flown by in a flurry of... well, mainly snow. I have ventured outside occasionally, but half of the photos below were taken from indoors. It was so cold that even some Fieldfares were tempted from the surrounding fields into the garden to forage. They were very flighty, possibly due to the local Blackbirds not being so keen to share the apples we put out. The seed feeders were busy with House Sparrows, Greenfinches, Starlings, the occasional Robin, a Rook and these Goldfinches. Meanwhile, beneath the feeder, Dunnocks, Rock Doves, Blackbirds and an even more occasional mouse helped themselves to spillages. The Hoy Head departing Houton bound for Lyness as another snow shower rolls in. The Rock Doves are waiting for a few messy eaters to show up (yes, Starlings, I mean you). Venturing out along the bay between wintry showers, wrapped up warm against the bitter wind. I seem to have spent the month never far from a hot beverage. The Hoy Head again, this time approaching Ho...

So far this month (March, if you need reminding), and like any month of the year, there have been umpteen International Days, where some topic is celebrated internationally or even globally. Many of these days are to promote awareness of injustice, prejudice or suffering in an effort to improve the lot of both people and planet. Others are whimsical or just plain fruit-loop. I was therefore mortified to realise that I had missed Pi Day, on the 14th of March, aka 3.14 in some calendars and hence why it's called Pi Day. As an act of personal penance, I made myself sit down and eat a big pie create a pie chart: Before that, on the 8th, it was International Women's Day, and it can be no coincidence that this is about the time of year when Oystercatchers are pairing up (or perhaps re-affirming bonds). [You will, no doubt, be glad to see a bit of wildlife finally creeping into this post, on a blog that is supposed to be about Nature, but, I also hear you ask, what's the relevanc...

In a few previous posts, I have alluded to the fact that we're looking to move house, to a property that's a little more in keeping with our current and future needs. Megan has lived at Eastaquoy for over a decade, whilst I have been here for only two years, but even in that short time, there have been innumerable amazing wildlife moments. Which maybe allows me a bit of latitude (58 degrees and 55 minutes worth, actually) to look back at a few of them, in an alternative, greener version of an estate agent's glossy brochure? The photos which follow were all taken in or from the house or garden, and I have omitted any long distance shots of passing marine life (Orca, Basking Shark, Fin and Humpback Whale). The garden is unashamedly a place for Nature That's not to say that there isn't some traditional planting, just that it is quite a feral cottage garden Whilst the views change hourly with the light, there are seasonal changes too The sea and the sky tend to draw the...

Spent the weekend trying not to think about houses. As part of the decluttering and tidying, we caught the ferry to Rousay to deliver a sideboard which Megan has been storing for friends. Thankfully, it just fitted in the back of my van. Whilst on the island, we went for a walk around the Loch of Wasbister. If you're wondering whether it's a buoy or a gull... neither, it's a juvenile Shag Faraclett Head, Rousay Harbour Seals in Saviskaill Bay, Rousay Waders in Saviskaill Bay, Rousay (Redshank, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher) Stone circles... that is, circles on stone, not circles of stone The following day saw the latest round of HPAI (bird flu) surveys, which were much livened up by spotting some Pintails out in the bay. My first sighting of the species for 2023, and pleasingly near home. A pair of Pintail, Houton Bay

OK, this weather's just weird. After weeks of gales and storms, some of which had cute names (as long as they were affecting the folks south too) ((and the severest ones here didn't have names... apart from "weather"))... where was I? Oh yeah, it's been rather pleasant the last few days. No wind, no rain, occasional sunshine... is this still Orkney?! Meteorologists will tell you it's because there's a high pressure area out to the north west in the Atlantic Ocean, leading to settled conditions and lots of blanket cloud. The rest of us know that's a load of baloney, some god (insert deity of choice) just wants to p*ss off the aurora chasers, because whilst there's been amazing scenes down in mainland Scotland, Orkney has pretty much missed out on a really spectacular show. Oops. Not to worry, with a house move in the offing, we've been busy decluttering, cleaning, gardening and, mainly, carting stuff to the tip to be recycled. But yesterday, cha...