Stickleback photograph for all the right reasons

Last week I had some work in Stronsay, so took our guest Alan along for the day, giving us the opportunity to explore an island he had not previously visited. The early morning ferry journey was spent out on deck, watching for seabirds and cetaceans. There wasn't much of anything about, which we thought was a little worrying.

As it was still quite early by the time we arrived on the island, we walked along Rothiesholm beach in gentle rain, seeing a dozen or so Bar-tailed Godwit at the westerly end. As we returned to the car, passing Bu Loch, there were an astonishing 81 Shelducks, a mixture of broods of different sizes. I dropped Alan off in Whitehall Village to explore the shore whilst I went to sort out a satellite tv problem. Meeting up again, we popped into the Stronsay Hotel for a spot of lunch before heading back out to look for more wildlife. We visited a disused quarry to check in on some Blue-tailed Damselflies, and also found several Three-spined Sticklebacks.

Then it was off to the coast to visit the Vat of Kirbister and wander along the maritime heath, enjoying all the wildflowers. It was here that Alan spotted a huge number of birds out to sea, all feeding in the same place, loads of gulls, Kittiwakes, auks and skuas, so our worries about a lack of seabirds were assuaged.

Back in Stromness, several days later, we had another wander around the hill of Brinkies Brae, finding numerous Wood Tiger Moths, Common Blue butterflies, Blue-tailed Damselflies and Large Red Damselflies. We also found a colony of Tormentil Mining Bees which we had been unaware of, although these were difficult to photograph as they were never still for a moment.

On another dreich day, we ventured to Russadale in search of damselflies. The weather was against us, but at least it was heartening to find plenty of water in the quarry pools. Whilst looking in vain for damsels, I noticed an aquatic flower with which I was not familiar.

Lesser Marshwort (confirmed by the county plant recorder, JC)

I suspect that on a warmer and drier day, I would have been so focused on Odonata that I would've missed this diminutive plant.

Yesterday morning, I noticed something unusual on the floor in a dark corner of the corridor at home. This space isn't the best lit place, so I had to peer closely to see what was catching my eye. It was a small and very dead moth, which looked quite worn so I wasn't hopeful of reaching an ID. However, ObsIdentify was quite sure it was a Mottled Rustic, a moth I had never heard of before. Recourse to further research in The Larger Moths of Scotland (2024) hinted that the moth wasn't present much further north than Inverness, so I reasoned that AI had got this one wrong. I took some more photos and uploaded one to the local Facebook group, which resulted in the wise advice to have the moth sent south for further investigation. As it was already dead, I did not have the ethical dilemma of whether to euthanise it or not. This morning I duly sent off a tiny parcel and was able to reassure the ladies at the Post Office that it did not contain any batteries or offensive weapons, whilst sheepishly admitting that it was in fact a dead moth.

Now we wait to see what the outcome will be. The moth needs to reach its destination intact, be of reasonable quality and be the correct sex (as it's the male's naughty bits which will be the most helpful in identifying the species).

To be continued...