Hot air for a cool breeze?

Here we are, galloping through the year as though we're living in a microwave oven... that analogy might be too close to the truth for comfort. Anyway, let's have a late August round-up.

I often help out KH with her bumblebee surveys at Skaill Bay. August's trip wasn't in ideal conditions as there was a cold north westerly breeze coming off the Atlantic Ocean, coupled with the fact that many species of wildflowers had now set seed. The first transect was saved by swathes of Red Clover in the beach car park and the rare sighting of a Great Yellow Bumblebee (the project's target bee species). The second transect began even worse, nary a buzzy thing in sight: cattle had grazed a field; contractors had mowed Skara Brae; and the final section was just Ragwort as far as the eye could see. However, when we reached said Ragwort, it was heaving with bumblebees, mostly face-planted into a flower, mainlining nectar to fuel their way through such a cold day. Totals for the day were an unheard of 70+ bumbles, of six species, we were incredulous.

Heath Bumblebee

Moss Carder

Garden Bumblebee

Great Yellow Bumblebee

Back at home, the Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillars were still piling on the weight. Here's one traversing a Dock leaf on its way to another Broad-leaved Willowherb feast.

Then it was time for my own Beewalk at Stromness Waterworks. The day was a little sunnier and warmer, but the wind seemed even stronger. However, my fears of there being few bees were allayed when we reached the moorland and saw that all the Ling heather was in the peak of its flowering season.

The count for the transect was a scarcely believable 148 bees, of four species, from a site which considers 20 of the little fluff bundles a really good day. Better still, I paused long enough to photograph a flighty moth which briefly flew across our path - it was a Manchester Treble Bar, a first for me.

A couple of days' later, I headed over to the Birsay Moors to survey the newly-restored Black Moss for dragonflies and damselflies. Though a pleasant day of sunshine, the wind on the tops was not ideal for insects and I drew a blank. Thankfully, the walk along the rough track to get to the site was sheltered by a bank, and here were all the insects: bumblebees, butterflies, hoverflies and a few dragonflies.

Rewetting of the peat, a vital tool to help combat climate change

Black Darter female

Common Blue Butterfly wearing his old jeans

Back home again and Megan had found a Grey Dagger caterpillar on the house wall. The adult moth is grey and black, nowhere near as brightly coloured as its earlier self.

The following day was an exciting one at Burnbank. Fellow blogger and enthusiastic commenter Mark and his wife Debbie were holidaying near to Thurso in Caithness. They came across to Orkney for the day and our first meeting outside of the virtual realm was captured for posterity by Debbie. Mark later mused that the photo was not a million miles away from the cover of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here and, perhaps, one of us should've been on fire!

After lunch, we all had a wander over Brinkies Brae, taking in the sights from the top (a quite lowly hill by M&D's standards) and with the obligatory umpteen pauses to look at wildlife.

Rosy Rustic, a first for me

Yellow-barred Peat Hoverfly Sericomyis silentis

This hoverfly is quite abundant on moorland during the Summer. It is a wasp mimic with a very loud buzz. Even when at rest, it makes a sound, a high pitched whine, so quite why the specific name is silentis, I have no idea.

It was wonderful to meet up with Debbie and Mark in our quiet backwater of the blogosphere, a real highlight of our Summer. In fact, that day was the fifth (and last) warm one in a row, the longest stretch of sunny days so far this year. Brilliant timing!

Pink Floyd's cover for Wish You Were Here