Natural highs and lows

When there are still ducks over-Wintering in Kirkwall, I think it's fair to say that the temperature has not yet reached the dictionary definition of 'warm'. Well, that's my excuse for still being in fleecy trousers. We have edged imperceptibly into double figures, as long as you forget to take into account the windchill. I do not forget. Long-tailed Ducks Yesterday we popped into Kirkwall to visit the supermarket to do our weekly food shopping. At least that was the official reason. In reality, we were headed to the Peedie Sea aka the town duck pond, just across the road from the supermarket, where a Red-rumped Swallow had been seen over the two previous days. This would be a lifer, so there was an edge to the occasion. I think the above photo of some ducks tells you all you need to know about a failed twitch. We didn't see it, and to ramp up the frustration further, later that day another rare species was seen in the same area - a Grey-headed Wagtail - again it wo

Whilst tourist season in Orkney never quite leaves us, as we reach May things are beginning to ramp up after the Winter nadir. Cruise ships are visiting again, the island's coaches are busy ferrying holiday-makers to the Neolithic sweet spots or 21st Century craft shops (gin, jewellery, textiles and whisky) and there are walks to be recce'd for my partner's wildlife guiding business. Of these latter things, one such was a trip to Flotta, an island at the southern end of Scapa Flow which, upon arrival, is dominated by the view of an oil terminal. I suspect that this puts off folk from visiting, locals and tourists alike, unless they have a flare for miles of overhead piping and large oil tanks. Behind all the fossil fuel infrastructure lies a peaceful, gentle landscape with less than 100 residents and lots of wildlife. It's a bit of a secret gem. The waters of Scapa Flow were flat calm for the short ferry crossing from Houton on the Orkney Mainland. We sailed by dozens o

Here's a quick round-up of the last few days, beginning with a 5 mile walk around Mull Head in Deerness, across in East Mainland. Half a dozen pairs of Eider Ducks were loafing at the top of a beach. Amongst the Creeping Willow, my first Great Yellow Bumblebee of the year, a rather unregal-looking queen. The local flora continues to change the yellow hue from yellow to pink and blue, with the latest additions being Heath Lousewort and Spring Squill. A somewhat bare-crested Shag peered at us from a cliff edge. A couple of days later, and Spring turned up for 24 hours. Whilst sat in the garden, several spiders were basking on the south side of the house, including this female with a lovely blue egg sac. It isn't too much of a stretch of the imagination to think of the sac as Planet Earth, although that does mean it's a huge spider! A male of the same species was feeling quite amorous, cautiously approaching the female, whilst signalling frantically with his palps. Here's