Small wins in dark times

In a week when researchers at Cambridge University have found promising hints of life on an exo-planet 124 light years away, plenty of us are wondering when there might be the possibility of detecting signs of some humanity here on Earth.

"Humanity" 🙄

We're gonna need a bigger microscope to unearth any evidence of compassion and benevolence around these parts.

[Presses button for some Nature therapy]

Feels like it's on speed-dial these days.

Megan discovered this caterpillar in the garden. Our best guess is Angle Shades moth.

April seems early for Mayflies. Apparently this is a Baetis sp which must've found its way to the house wall from the burn in the valley.

 

Two Common Cranes which recently spent some time in the county, specifically this ploughed field in the parish of Birsay.

Whilst twitching the above cranes, we popped into the hide at the Marwick Loons on the off-chance that a Bittern might show. It didn't, but here's a very confiding Redshank (possibly rarer still!).

And a male Teal.

On the first trip to a new Beewalk transect, we again scored zero bumbles, but happened upon this caterpillar of a Ruby Tiger moth basking in the sunshine.

If it's April, it's time for the Spring edition of the Orkney Vole survey and my bi-annual photo of lunch break from the clifftops between the two transects.

This week, I did manage to see my first Swallow of the year, so hey, not everything is going to hell in a handcart.