Natural highs and lows

Time for a bit of a round-up of the last month's nature watching since we returned from holiday. Our weather has continued to be rather mercurial, the occasional warm, sunny day in between dreich periods with chilly winds. For the season, some things are early, some things are late, the wildlife is not sure what to make of Spring 2026. Neither does it help an amateur naturalist with his sartorial decisions, so if in doubt it's four layers and a set of waterproofs. A trip to Sanday saw me visiting a bit of the island which I not previously seen. After a walk along the beach at Backaskaill Bay, I detoured to investigate a large metal construction. It commemorated a sad event which happened more than 30 years ago. Back at home, we're slowly adding more aquatic plants to the pond as friends donate things from their gardens. We now have our very first Bogbean flower! The dragonfly season in Orkney started in mid-May, but it was only last week, as more sightings came in, that we ...

Since returning from holiday, there have been a few entomological trips to keep us entertained. Here are a swarm of photos to bring us up to date, from various sites in West Mainland and the island of Hoy, but beginning and ending at home: A 10-spotted Ladybird found on the bathroom window At the pool by Brinkies Brae Guest House: The shed skin of a newly-emerged Large Red Damselfly (not seen) A Green-veined White butterfly nectaring on a Cuckooflower A Crane Fly, Tipula sp. A bumblebee-mimic hoverfly, Eristalis intracaria Bog Reed Beetle Another Bog Reed Beetle Yet more Bog Reed Beetles Heather Beetle   In Hoy, searching for dragons: A newly-emerged Large Red Damselfly, Scapa Museum pool A Blue-tailed Damselfly, Scapa Museum pool A pair of Large Red Damselflies engaged in a spot of egg-laying at Rackwick Another pair of Large Red Damselflies at Rackwick Large Red Damselfly at Rackwick Whilst on a bumblebee survey at Skaill Bay: The bumblebees were too swift to photograph, so here'...

Last Friday was a warm and pleasant day in the county, but I wasn't well enough to make the most of it. In different circumstances, it would've been the perfect day for the first dragon hunt of the year. By Saturday, I was feeling better, and Megan dragged me out for some fresh air regardless. The day was cooler and cloudier, but nevertheless, we headed to Inganess and walked alongside Wideford Burn, taking in plenty of wildlife as we went. In fact, as soon as we left the car park, the good vibes began. A male Hen Harrier was quartering across a nearby hillside, a Brown Hare warily skirted the edge of a bed of flags, Sedge Warblers and Reed Buntings were singing from the the rough pasture beside the burn, whilst a conservatively-estimated bazillion insects were thronging in every sheltered spot. [Spoiler alert: there were no dragons or damsels.] A little inland, the burn runs through a small woodland, and this is where we concentrated our entomological efforts. Pink Purslane Br...