Natural highs and lows

This blog tends to concentrate on parochial environmental topics, rarely touching on global political affairs. For example, the changing roll call of birds seen through the year as the seasonal mass movement of feathered creatures wing their way around the planet, outrageously ignoring any lines drawn on a map. Or, even closer to my heart, the androgyny of dragonflies and damselflies as they seek a bit of peace, away from testosterone-fuelled madness. And yet, morning after morning, the news is full of another act of war by an aggressor state. I kid you not, as I typed those words, there were actual rumbles of thunder. I had to double check, but a real time lightning app confirmed it. But I digress, back to wildlife in and around an Orkney garden. This week, there was wondrous news in the Comments section when AF identified the smaller beetles which have turned up at the pond. He wasn't sure of the exact species, but the genus is Helophorus . To arrive at the specific name, I will ...

Friday saw the first of three days spent across in Hoy and South Walls, a short 30 minute ferry journey from home. Low cloud and rain made for challenging wildlife watching, but the mission was to explore some pools which were new to me. Usually when visiting Wee Fea, the hill to the west of Lyness, it is to the southern slopes and some very accessible pools alongside a track. However, I knew from a few islanders that there were other pools at the top of the hill, so we set off into the low cloud, limited in visibility but buoyant of mood. Trudging off piste through the heather and peat cuttings was more aerobic exercise than I have been used to of late, but it wasn't as if I was going to overheat. The first few bog pools we found were bereft of dragons, though populated by plenty of pond skaters. Is that a thing? Could there be a negative correlation between skaters and dragons? A project for next year perhaps. Once we reached the the ridge at the top of the hill, the pools began ...