On a showery Sunday afternoon sandwiched between a dreich Saturday and a wet Monday, that briefest of phenomena, an Orcadian Autumn, put in a surprise appearance midst some watery sunshine. It wasn't New England in the fall, it wasn't a vast swathe of colour across a broad landscape, it wasn't even knee deep in leaf litter, but it was magical in its way. The Rosa rugosa was swinging its hips in a dashing red and cerise number... Elder bushes were flaunting greens and purples... There were still a few Buddleia blooms on display... And Rowans were laden with ripe red berries which, on another part of the walk, were being much appreciated by migrating thrushes: Redwings, Fieldfares and Blackbirds. I have no idea what this is, other than gorgeously pink. One particular Rosa rugosa was in a fiendish mood, showing an impressive set of snarling, sharp teeth. There were a few insects about, not many, but the fading light did add a splash of colour to this fly's wings. Lichen w...