Natural highs and lows

We had planned a Sunday trip to Hoy, not work-related, not wildlife survey-related, just Megan and I losing ourselves in Nature. Because it was mid-June, the obvious hope was for dragonflies, but the temperature was barely into double figures Celsius, with low cloud, rain showers and a chilly northerly breeze. As we drove off the ferry, most of the other passengers were either headed for the Scapa Flow Museum and its naval memorabilia or to Rackwick Bay and the scenic path to the Old Man of Hoy. This was our cue to take the quieter road in the opposite direction for a circumnavigation of South Walls, birding from the car whilst the weather did its worst. An hour and a picnic stop later, we finally headed back north with the bird list on 40 species and a pleasant Coronation Chicken aroma in the car. Despite the meteorological evidence to the contrary, we thought we would have a look at the pools near to Rackwick, just in case any damselflies were braving the conditions. They weren't...

We set aside a day for venturing to Loch Ruthven, south east of Loch Ness, in the hope of seeing Slavonian Grebes in breeding plumage. These birds are Winter visitors to Orkney, but do not breed here, and don't wear their Summer colours during the stay. Come the day, the weather was dreich, with a steady and unrelenting rain falling from a grey sky and dripping from the Scots Pines around the cottage. However, checking the forecast for Inverness, it appeared that it was a different day there. More in hope than expectation, we set off anyway, and as we crossed the Slochd summit, heading north, the sun was indeed shining. No sooner were we ensconced in the hide at the RSPB reserve of Loch Ruthven, when an Osprey drifted through. It being April, it was still chilly despite the drier weather, but we were eventually rewarded with a view of a pair of Slav Grebes. To warm up again, we decamped to a tea room and farm shop near Foyers for a well-earned bowl of soup and some cake. With no fi...

Here are a couple of videos of wildlife taken during the Lochinver week. First up is a Drinker Moth caterpillar seen on the road through Glen Canisp. I have never knowingly seen the adult moth, but occasionally come across the caterpillars at this time of year, even if it's only in the beak of a Cuckoo (as they're a bit partial to a big caterpillar). As I finished filming the video, a car approached along the single track road, so I stood back to let it pass. I had to hold my breath as it went over the caterpillar, but it was all ok, phew.  This next video was filmed on a window sill of the cottage we were renting. Blue, Great and Coal Tits had been seen coming to the sill, as well as Chaffinches and Redpolls. So I put the camera out and retreated back indoors, controlling start and stop on my phone via WiFi. This is an edited version to miss out all the pauses and shots of a tit's arse as it lands on the camera and then hops down in front of it.   The next couple of videos...