Rock and larva

Here we are... July. How did that happen? So we had better have a June round-up of wildlifey happenings since our last blog outing.

It is another insect-laden post, but with a few other things thrown in for good measure.

Nearing the end of the month, we welcomed Alan, an old friend of mine from the Milton Keynes days (aka The Admiral, for those of you with good memories), who arrived for a three week holiday. Just before he drove up to the house, Megan discovered a female Blue-tailed Damselfly egg-laying in our pond. Our second Odonata species, and already ensuring that there may be more next year.

In the evening, we took Alan on a wander around Stromness Loons to stretch his legs after his long drive from Englandshire. We managed to hear a Corncrake and enjoyed the light from the setting sun giving a golden glow to the wet meadows.

A couple of days later, I took Alan along on my monthly Sea Plantain Leaf Beetle survey. June isn't a time of year which produces many records for the insect in Orkney, so I was amazed to find a live adult beetle and several larvae.

Scottish Primrose at Yesnaby as we were en route to the survey site

An adult and fledgling Wheatear

Beetle larva!

Another beetle larva...

on a rock right in the middle of the coastal footpath 😯

A couple of days later, we journeyed up to Birsay to see the Arctic Tern colony and to watch the antics of adults and chicks. Megan's mum and dad joined the group and we sat for a while, soaking up the sights and sounds of a busy and productive colony.

 

The north coast of the Orkney mainland

Muckle Geo

The following day, we conducted a survey of the Brinkies pool,  just over the hill from home. As well as all the damselflies, we found a few new moths for us: True Lover's Knot and Wood Tiger. We have occasionally seen the caterpillars of the latter, but the adults are rarely seen.

Wood Tiger

Wood Tiger

Common Blue Butterfly

Common Blue Butterfly

Large Red Damselfly

True Lover's Knot

In between all that, there was an evening botanical walk at the Ring of Brodgar where I spent more time writing down plant info than I did taking photographs, and also a work trip to Stronsay where there was time for several walks before the return ferry. Even curmudgeonly old me is quite excited to see what July brings.