Tuesday 27 August 2019

Feeding frenzy

It was a bit of a peachy day in Orkney yesterday. Whisper it quietly but, after the morning's haar had burnt off, the sun shone brightly and temperatures reached the dizzy heights of... eighteen degrees. Predictably, the day's work was indoors, but by late afternoon I was home and able to change into a pair of shorts. I know!

When Our Lass arrived home, we sat out in the garden, enjoying a cuppa, shelling peas and watching the wildlifey goings on. A family of Pied Wagtails were scurrying about the lawn and dry stone wall, searching for small flies and the like, whilst Swallows twittered overhead, as they gathered insects on the wing.

Suddenly, I was shaken from this reverie by the sight of a 'different' Swallow. Hmmm, that looked larger... and darker... yes, there's another one... and another! We watched entranced as three Swifts joined in the melee of birds wheeling and swooping through the air, seemingly effortlessly catching their prey as they zoomed about the sky. The Swifts were likely on their southward Autumn migration, but they were the first ones we had seen in Orkney this year, as the species does not breed in the county.

Whilst we gazed up into the blue, a flock of Golden Plover went by, headed for rougher pastures on the moorland to the north west, and the occasional call of a distant Curlew came to us through the still air.

Eventually, this food for the soul gave way to a slightly more corporeal need and we headed indoors to see what the fridge might have to offer in the way of an accompaniment to fresh peas.

6 comments:

Coastal Ripples said...

A perfect afternoon. And a heatwave too! B

Imperfect and Tense said...

And shorts again today... apparently there's photographic evidence 😲

Mark said...

Just listening to 'late swallows' by Delius as I read this - it was like I was transported to Tense Towers!

Imperfect and Tense said...

I've just nipped outside to check, but no, there's not a bicycle propped up against the wall. Swallows, House Martins and Swifts, whether it's because they're a sound of Summer, or the fact that they tend to nest on/in human constructions, I fend their utterances very mindful and relaxing. Even the Swifts' screaming parties.

Alyson said...

It was a pretty peachy day down here in Inverness on Monday too - A beach visit was decided upon so we headed through to Nairn. Perfect blend of azure blue skies, aquamarine sea and pale yellow sand. Lots of birdlife too but not as skilled as you at identifying them - Must do better!

Imperfect and Tense said...

Ah, beach walks. The colours of sky and sand always remind me of 'Yellow and blue' by Saltfishforty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxRLOi1INjA

I think the lyrics are about those first tentative steps of walking out together. Possibly.