Here we are on a Friday afternoon, enjoying the fifth consecutive day of sunshine in a row. Yes, I'm still in Orkney. Let's pretend there's not a bitter easterly breeze, eh? It has been so sunny and dry and [sighs] breezy, that we have run out of things to launder: bedding; towels; and so much clothing we can actually see the bottom of the laundry basket. Unprecedented times, I tell you.
Monday saw work begin on the new pond location (a subject for a future blogpost).
Tuesday, a second day of sunshine, and the insects were beginning to believe in Spring! Several White-legged Snake Millipedes put in an appearance and the first hoverfly of the year was spotted, possibly Eristalis pertinax.
At lunchtime, we headed out to Yesnaby on the west coast to set up a transect to monitor Plantain Leaf Beetles for the Species on the Edge Project. It was so peachy, we did two!
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| A Yellow Dung Fly joined me for lunch, which doesn't say much about my sandwiches |
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| We saw about 40 beetles and I managed one photo which was in focus |
On Wednesday I didn't find the time for any wildlife-watching, but yesterday we visited a nearby site to set up a transect, again for Species on the Edge, but this time an additional bumblebee one. Route confirmed, I then spent half an hour muttering grumpily whilst I registered it on the BeeWalk website. Oh, and we did see a bumblebee!
Also on Thursday, we had a brief visit from a Redwing, presumably on its way back to Scandinavia for Summer.
Then, this morning, whilst I was working in the office, I happened to glance out of the window. Between the frantic flapping of the clothes on the washing line, there was a movement on a spoil heap in the building site next door. A brief stakeout with a camera produced this photographic masterpiece 🙄
But, hey, my first Wheatear of the year. Also northwards bound, I would guess.
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