Tuesday 4 September 2018

Life on the edge

Saturday lunchtime, we were about to head out to meet friends, when there was much twittering outside the kitchen window. Sneaking a peek from the back door, I could see half a dozen Swallows perched on the guttering above the window. It turns out that I wasn't so sneaky after all, and they all took to the air in high dudgeon. However, this did allow me the opportunity to make it to the shed amidst all the confusion. From the shed doorway, I was able to watch two parent birds feeding some recently-fledged youngsters



The following day was much brighter, so we drove over to Stromness to check the banks of the reservoir for any damselflies. I only found one, a male Blue-tailed, so we continued on a walk into the town along tracks and narrow roads. The view across to Hoy never disappoints.


On Brinkies Brae, the hill behind the town, we found this Emperor Moth caterpillar and half a dozen Black Darter dragonflies.




Since then, wildlife moments have been few and far between, but this afternoon things took an unexpected turn. As I went to prepare our evening meal, I discovered this fungus (?) growing on a Sweet Potato. This begs the question... non-native vegetable... native fungus?



6 comments:

Mark said...

You must be a 'fun guy' to be with (oh dear). Shine on, Mark.

Imperfect and Tense said...

It was my penance for purchasing sweet potatoes from the USA (too many food miles), wrapped in cellophane (not recyclable), and then nearly leaving it too late to eat them.

Coastal Ripples said...

Love the swallows, gorgeous photos. Not so sure about the fungus! B

Imperfect and Tense said...

It has a kind of beauty...

Anonymous said...

Now that is an interesting poser. It's rather pretty isn't it? Love the swallows . They are lining up here. Can't believe I saw 8 fieldfare this week. Already! What are they thinking?

Imperfect and Tense said...

Fieldfare?! Wow! No Autumn thrushes seen here as yet. The Bonxies (Great Skuas) are drifting south, and the Golden Plover flocks are building up. Wheatears have been going through too, but I couldn't tell you that last time I saw a warbler of any ilk.