Welcome to Burnbank

Since our house move, there's not been too much time for dedicated nature watching, as we instead navigate the peaks and valleys of cardboard boxes which seemingly fill every available space in home and garage. Blogging has taken a bit of a back seat, so best I publish a 'catch-up' post to cover the days and weeks either side of the move.

Immediately prior to completing the purchase (or settlement, as it's called up here), I was working in Shetland for a day. With a bit of time to kill before the ferry back to Orkney, I opted for a short wander in the hills near my last customer, rather than head into Lerwick and do battle with the hordes of cruise ship passengers from two huge vessels in the harbour.

A once typical and increasingly rare Shetland scene

because of the Viking Wind Farm project

Bog Asphodel, a Sundew, Selfheal and Tormentil

Sheep's-bit

A species of Ragwort

Possibly the warmest hour I have ever spent in Shetland, it was idyllic

What I was unaware of, however, was that being out of mobile phone range, various financiers and conveyancers were desperately trying to contact me to pay a fee to allow the purchase to go ahead. Once back in Lerwick and with 4G coverage, I conducted the transaction from the ferry queue.

During the weekend following the move, there was a bioblitz at the former Stromness Waterworks, which was well-attended by local folk and, surprisingly, a lady from BBC Radio Scotland. I wait nervously to hear whether the airwaves of Caledonia will suffer my dulcet tones.

A species of Eyebright

Bog Asphodel

Final instar of a caterpillar of the Emperor Moth

A species of Sawfly on Ragwort

A hoverfly, Scaeva pyrastri, on Angelica

A hoverfly, Syrphus torvus, on Angelica

Experts were on hand to help with identification and over 200 species were logged within a few hours in the various habitats around the old reservoir.

OK, you have been very patient, I should probably post something closer to home.

A pair of Linnets which spent an afternoon around this earth mound on the building plot 'next door'

Dunno what this is (have asked for help with ID) seen during a walk just west of home

A caterpillar about to pupate, I think. Still struggling with the ID

A Common Blue butterfly

The eponymous burn and bank of an old mill near our home

The back garden seems to have been part of an unimproved meadow. We're enjoying the view before a house is built on it.

The front garden. Hello dochans, my old friends.

Cookie and Mocha tentatively exploring their new surroundings

Bookcase/Cookiecase

Another evening stroll as the Hamnavoe sailed into Stromness

That's me just about up to date, I can feel the call of the garden and a bout of man versus dochans.