tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78027169032540153102024-01-09T16:18:31.412+00:00Imperfect and TenseOr, more accurately, wildlife and cakeImperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.comBlogger1162125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-51665932099498630302020-09-22T23:50:00.003+01:002020-09-22T23:50:49.775+01:00Interregnum<span style="font-family: arial;">This might be worth a <a href="https://naturalhighsandlows.blogspot.com/">look</a>...</span>Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-76316187404092041252020-08-09T14:33:00.000+01:002020-08-09T14:33:03.001+01:00Cliff and the Archangels<p><span style="font-family: arial;">It was time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Time to revisit a coastal walk which I had previously only done in Winter, when the Grey Seals are pupping or when the low sunlight illuminates the scenery in a golden glow.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It is suitably different in Summer, though not necessarily drier or less windy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This is the bay of Bur Wick in South Ronaldsay. The plan was to venture northwards up the west coast of the island until we (Eagle-eyed M and I) came to the place we reached during our <a href="https://aeshnacaerulea.blogspot.com/2020/07/blue-for-you.html">southerly jaunt</a> from Sandwick earlier in the year. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tL3codj9vXZ3iR6OE2uvUmUUBZcQl8pjeiIybIcNeRXvmYXnGjPUXERtIFXtGVhubXpo6vFa0x8vTJct8VX9Je1hhCMnGMfRvemDtkMX5PtzKU1kgnr5j1zhL938KltFoAYr_Ni8bY8/s3817/P1070013+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2549" data-original-width="3817" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tL3codj9vXZ3iR6OE2uvUmUUBZcQl8pjeiIybIcNeRXvmYXnGjPUXERtIFXtGVhubXpo6vFa0x8vTJct8VX9Je1hhCMnGMfRvemDtkMX5PtzKU1kgnr5j1zhL938KltFoAYr_Ni8bY8/w512-h342/P1070013+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></p><span style="font-family: arial;">As we found during that previous walk, there were many Common Blue butterflies frequenting the hollows and sheltered spots of the clifftops. Mostly males looking for love, as the females made themselves scarce. We were fortunate to find this little lady who allowed me to edge closer for a photo opportunity.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPq-naiFtnivSVWyOEYfN6-E3ChwLtzfPPz8Bbwo8lmAEyKcj06H1kdqiB54AfYVoaMidPZ20HKc-gbmqBuaJDUvyFGGgAv7u0dFhx18E_-eqtXCdjL6Aw8NmwBtOUjFFWTrr0EpUObnc/s2932/P1070035+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1959" data-original-width="2932" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPq-naiFtnivSVWyOEYfN6-E3ChwLtzfPPz8Bbwo8lmAEyKcj06H1kdqiB54AfYVoaMidPZ20HKc-gbmqBuaJDUvyFGGgAv7u0dFhx18E_-eqtXCdjL6Aw8NmwBtOUjFFWTrr0EpUObnc/w512-h342/P1070035+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">The clifftops were covered in mini-forests of Angelica <i>Angelica archangelica </i>which in turn were covered in all manner of insects, including bumblebees, honey bees, social wasps, solitary wasps, hoverflies and craneflies. I failed to adequately capture the wider Angelica scene, but spent ages oo-ing and ah-ing over various waspish delights. Here is a Maritime Mason-wasp <i>Ancistrocerus scoticus.</i></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZwgpgcsvElyL82j6l4bguQ2FtavB6UnY9c4FNjO-9s_NXoS-n3Q_9tn6Lu9U2sp_vHD5h4ehwtEIpkqXjpM09j0id1Q2nwHk2DcbQHMonqxqcKnor-KmVCYm_3dq_Ys-KIb1bHS9Dbg/s1842/P1070043+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1231" data-original-width="1842" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZwgpgcsvElyL82j6l4bguQ2FtavB6UnY9c4FNjO-9s_NXoS-n3Q_9tn6Lu9U2sp_vHD5h4ehwtEIpkqXjpM09j0id1Q2nwHk2DcbQHMonqxqcKnor-KmVCYm_3dq_Ys-KIb1bHS9Dbg/w512-h342/P1070043+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">A kerfuffle inland drew our attention, as a Great Black-backed Gull and a Great Skua (Bonxie) had a bit of a stand off over some alleged slight, possibly involving one looking at the other in a funny way.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5p7DtjhKoa63OT7wzkMdfVKr8NftqA3cmAN1FU6KjkkDz3Rp-kBmHibKSdVAKOP36KB5iqJXLSLR5yj_A7loDN3OWu9iNzo4X3cPAhsVcFUQ7vsFZzUV-nLPW2c0TOMGovopYO848OY/s2482/P1070053+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1396" data-original-width="2482" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5p7DtjhKoa63OT7wzkMdfVKr8NftqA3cmAN1FU6KjkkDz3Rp-kBmHibKSdVAKOP36KB5iqJXLSLR5yj_A7loDN3OWu9iNzo4X3cPAhsVcFUQ7vsFZzUV-nLPW2c0TOMGovopYO848OY/w512-h288/P1070053+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">The cliffs along the route are spectacular, not terrifically high, but the rock strata are very interesting, with different coloured layers and all sorts of whorls and scrunches (technical geological term).</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgRJO6iJwxV0ogYLTliJBsGRxfPhDzgxtSJhqZtiPbrTRPdUf29L9EPdR6Ox2455GbJ5qQqDgFm7tSBW0ikvtm-FO2Vjyh0KCFAEfBgBZlmitYI2SYoQSGEF18D5NAum4bI0QjxF9k1E/s3612/P1070062+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2413" data-original-width="3612" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgRJO6iJwxV0ogYLTliJBsGRxfPhDzgxtSJhqZtiPbrTRPdUf29L9EPdR6Ox2455GbJ5qQqDgFm7tSBW0ikvtm-FO2Vjyh0KCFAEfBgBZlmitYI2SYoQSGEF18D5NAum4bI0QjxF9k1E/w512-h342/P1070062+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7kKhKB-kR1ceeTaDD35hUHEAtb6xrVbAnEOfMT793HJ0r-flqjVFGfQ7qXb8p78AS6XxKrKksN7YInVLVg_jGc1AXtIoDgI6zPUZEa0bHsT6yZxcJmEz7s76dupjiPgZL-jBUPEcCoI/s4000/P1070073+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7kKhKB-kR1ceeTaDD35hUHEAtb6xrVbAnEOfMT793HJ0r-flqjVFGfQ7qXb8p78AS6XxKrKksN7YInVLVg_jGc1AXtIoDgI6zPUZEa0bHsT6yZxcJmEz7s76dupjiPgZL-jBUPEcCoI/w512-h288/P1070073+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwjvuWCtpveDbfqzeJQH52-ucS8el1boZ5_4T6iaEcgs4Ss01CZ3CJtZztC5JhbfqFA4gXrJr42HKXHv3WrrRWFG0bIqt3rAPY8BsZHmPdj6E75YaO8JC8_eLuw-O0K765V7Bry8NMhk/s4000/P1070074+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2672" data-original-width="4000" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwjvuWCtpveDbfqzeJQH52-ucS8el1boZ5_4T6iaEcgs4Ss01CZ3CJtZztC5JhbfqFA4gXrJr42HKXHv3WrrRWFG0bIqt3rAPY8BsZHmPdj6E75YaO8JC8_eLuw-O0K765V7Bry8NMhk/w512-h342/P1070074+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsUJ5OcByXsHH9xB7GCDoYCnUJaKEQVC_gdzlN3Zp7N4o3evDYeoUbx1lR6Nvw_D7rdIKlpO73OnM-96QdSzOYqjnAhQnd8OQ-q7QgVMJUznZ0JjrK4NNvdcL-SykQ7WNLj9jPMR458M/s2672/P1070076+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2672" data-original-width="2672" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsUJ5OcByXsHH9xB7GCDoYCnUJaKEQVC_gdzlN3Zp7N4o3evDYeoUbx1lR6Nvw_D7rdIKlpO73OnM-96QdSzOYqjnAhQnd8OQ-q7QgVMJUznZ0JjrK4NNvdcL-SykQ7WNLj9jPMR458M/w512-h512/P1070076+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Amongst the heather and crowberry, we kept seeing examples of this moth, but had no idea what it was at the time. Recourse to an ID guide later, proved it to be an Antler Moth.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnyrUrM_d0VyZBhHLu8tqB0C6_dVPCK5rwEbd9O3BDnZ9jmXWup2Sys_mItXyr90q6mqJ5NoB2hAiunercaiD3unRilJDdA2OG42X6rFc5iVnrYFOMibWDXaPYhN20njKqSYvxTU0976k/s2032/P1070089+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="2032" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnyrUrM_d0VyZBhHLu8tqB0C6_dVPCK5rwEbd9O3BDnZ9jmXWup2Sys_mItXyr90q6mqJ5NoB2hAiunercaiD3unRilJDdA2OG42X6rFc5iVnrYFOMibWDXaPYhN20njKqSYvxTU0976k/w512-h342/P1070089+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">These beasties are Dagger Flies of some stripe, but didn't both us at all, unlike the clegs, midges and Red Ants (when we stopped for lunch, M managed to park herself on top of an ant colony). </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kWN8Cs-kXIwSsXzM6FU3ASAdB6cKSQ9dpJeap8jwjUIYCS2h8gYXA3i0ZpLPP2il7Y_6v55fWWEEtICuckZGbCixpYNGORyZIfCt92bLSo1MqtluoBJylTJwEVfTkuBJkjJuSpZiQzs/s2606/P1070096+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1741" data-original-width="2606" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kWN8Cs-kXIwSsXzM6FU3ASAdB6cKSQ9dpJeap8jwjUIYCS2h8gYXA3i0ZpLPP2il7Y_6v55fWWEEtICuckZGbCixpYNGORyZIfCt92bLSo1MqtluoBJylTJwEVfTkuBJkjJuSpZiQzs/w512-h342/P1070096+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hL1CsSgjHu2-alX6R8JoAP63_L7Gdet7YlrsgPU2Alv2w4EYPUjUarsW0HLvS_7itbf7y5SnEnESmbrMDuJqGKrdYheCwCEIBqCIcE8M5oi8JYGHhxUMdHxmKulKthE0CaLtLHO0J2c/s2802/P1070100+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1873" data-original-width="2802" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hL1CsSgjHu2-alX6R8JoAP63_L7Gdet7YlrsgPU2Alv2w4EYPUjUarsW0HLvS_7itbf7y5SnEnESmbrMDuJqGKrdYheCwCEIBqCIcE8M5oi8JYGHhxUMdHxmKulKthE0CaLtLHO0J2c/w512-h342/P1070100+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">All the while, the seas of the Pentland Firth pounded the coast. OK, 'pounded' might be over-egging the conditions on a Summer's day, but the scenery bears witness to wilder times on these shores.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3Wrpukb4H6-zQF-leQSjAKwFMqeLyTWQYAKyjcrwNBfCglVyDaYOpxTz51WUgLndZ_AP7bHRiZj1d1uIR1cE92XVrDfddXL0Yn9xP3uEv3oOgjBRjU4ZqoBmCLUg25-hLtaVJJYgyiw/s4000/P1070119+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3Wrpukb4H6-zQF-leQSjAKwFMqeLyTWQYAKyjcrwNBfCglVyDaYOpxTz51WUgLndZ_AP7bHRiZj1d1uIR1cE92XVrDfddXL0Yn9xP3uEv3oOgjBRjU4ZqoBmCLUg25-hLtaVJJYgyiw/w512-h288/P1070119+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwr9FyqHSZ7SPQUZ30aQTeqkOVl0VG2dGuxnkfF02bF1glyVgOit5WZ8wwlkanXCSzYTV5DrR5_dRJpE8BqWpMYZfRxePpd2uHLSzXxiPHbJd6UVopxH6QHoQ8t49tla-Cz17Q0f_mts4/s4000/P1070124+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2672" data-original-width="4000" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwr9FyqHSZ7SPQUZ30aQTeqkOVl0VG2dGuxnkfF02bF1glyVgOit5WZ8wwlkanXCSzYTV5DrR5_dRJpE8BqWpMYZfRxePpd2uHLSzXxiPHbJd6UVopxH6QHoQ8t49tla-Cz17Q0f_mts4/w512-h342/P1070124+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">During our return to where we had parked, the insects feeding on the Angelica florets were as abundant as ever. This is a hoverfly <i>Scaeva pyrastri</i>...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdXQdE2OObZF7oruOu_bQCS7pmeo7KH5qdYD566PmSInI7HstdEZ6J9g5n3BmoX_CD1gPT4-rCvE6Yd9WAKB_dxUwaLvTvqL0H7YlzYo8KfMu3w8p8ioibfvX-44wOolBtpFs0kl4yNw/s2372/P1070137+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1584" data-original-width="2372" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdXQdE2OObZF7oruOu_bQCS7pmeo7KH5qdYD566PmSInI7HstdEZ6J9g5n3BmoX_CD1gPT4-rCvE6Yd9WAKB_dxUwaLvTvqL0H7YlzYo8KfMu3w8p8ioibfvX-44wOolBtpFs0kl4yNw/w512-h342/P1070137+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">and we found another Antler Moth.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3H1byDcKtvD-pn444-zldGqALjsf_BFGS85r4UGU3-4YseoBAYsPFcwXUVB17eDpkOPTtCdKiXMvWJZaIl8QsgLXN7JP76-uJatsRUeZwn31YpFzlwtwBdn67sRyJSVJfhB3ly16yYA/s2576/P1070160+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1721" data-original-width="2576" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3H1byDcKtvD-pn444-zldGqALjsf_BFGS85r4UGU3-4YseoBAYsPFcwXUVB17eDpkOPTtCdKiXMvWJZaIl8QsgLXN7JP76-uJatsRUeZwn31YpFzlwtwBdn67sRyJSVJfhB3ly16yYA/w512-h342/P1070160+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Nearing Bur Wick once more, an oil tanker was sailing into the Firth, en route to a ship-to-ship otransfer in Scapa Flow. It can be seen in the distance, navigating between the Lother Rock and the Pentland Skerries.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWamd1GX1LRVW_OsaJxYlJJUzQz8c8NvJ3e1jzJos1KmaXkcTDMguXc2i6LAVXQWAbLx-RCFV1NlUInCf5cauvqfFiuqHKucMukaW71azBNSM1J9IaEh4MG06WF7ZQyUb_b4bFI2jvps/s4000/P1070163+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2672" data-original-width="4000" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWamd1GX1LRVW_OsaJxYlJJUzQz8c8NvJ3e1jzJos1KmaXkcTDMguXc2i6LAVXQWAbLx-RCFV1NlUInCf5cauvqfFiuqHKucMukaW71azBNSM1J9IaEh4MG06WF7ZQyUb_b4bFI2jvps/w512-h342/P1070163+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">An unexpected insect to be found in the 'canopy' of the Angelica forest was this Earwig. Now that I look at the photo again, I suppose there is a passing resemblance of the floret to an Elizabethan wig. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEXBAemI6yPzOvU5pFDw1JOwyPW2SqokrW6nLESetXIB4S7My4uL8GqH0oB1G6XAY4DJnwl-cz4nrpz1FpXzy1X5Ptw3RLspD59Wlk8Cq3gAmTXEXFEt6ejIXk6R2B4ZTm35RtOliNRM/s2491/P1070179+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1664" data-original-width="2491" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEXBAemI6yPzOvU5pFDw1JOwyPW2SqokrW6nLESetXIB4S7My4uL8GqH0oB1G6XAY4DJnwl-cz4nrpz1FpXzy1X5Ptw3RLspD59Wlk8Cq3gAmTXEXFEt6ejIXk6R2B4ZTm35RtOliNRM/w512-h342/P1070179+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">And we also managed to find the other species of mason-wasp which is present in Orkney, the Stocky Mason-wasp <i>Ancistrocerus oviventris.</i></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Iw5Y34ttCsV_kRFrS2VpcdWpdkuWlDHhKtehUkeRj1al5_PScT3IqMX9ZUxrShVZY2g6TMMjNnq83JXFMN3yrygfVVXHRMDzTKA8TbVAl0jG5PjVolDOwA3_DeiGn0fGeq615Qq5NXw/s2164/P1070188+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1446" data-original-width="2164" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Iw5Y34ttCsV_kRFrS2VpcdWpdkuWlDHhKtehUkeRj1al5_PScT3IqMX9ZUxrShVZY2g6TMMjNnq83JXFMN3yrygfVVXHRMDzTKA8TbVAl0jG5PjVolDOwA3_DeiGn0fGeq615Qq5NXw/w512-h342/P1070188+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">The only social wasp we saw was this Tree Wasp.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmzFL0NloClH49TQ_UQqkvSPwlYraren7mGrm3MEYn2A_iO5Gs_XmoP13SH7dOSMqteV_qjVeFNZxTdTq04xLvD1PhXe1mIlVvWVKH9usUnNMHCvcHgn6DACtpEY82N_WPQC5t0e2HQg/s2405/P1070194+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1607" data-original-width="2405" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmzFL0NloClH49TQ_UQqkvSPwlYraren7mGrm3MEYn2A_iO5Gs_XmoP13SH7dOSMqteV_qjVeFNZxTdTq04xLvD1PhXe1mIlVvWVKH9usUnNMHCvcHgn6DACtpEY82N_WPQC5t0e2HQg/w512-h342/P1070194+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Eight months ago, M had a fall on this walk, necessitating a trip to A&E, so I think it was good for her to lay that particular ghost to rest. In fact, at the place in question, she was able to take some photos of a Small Tortoiseshell, which was basking on the warmth of a piece of wood.</span></p></div></div>Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-54115460242128767912020-08-06T22:17:00.001+01:002020-08-06T22:17:53.000+01:00Check his underwear!<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnq_4bw_N9i461-rFIZRYGGsvNBeihZUqE5rmkO-KnrGO1LLakUCNaI1nXVi7bvbjyG0Ap_u6-173ognqM2UHG2bdEVkXwuPV88ikUgATv7ZFlflQpXGZVQ-Ximd3PlWtgJTgCLVDKgJc/s2424/P1060840+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="2424" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnq_4bw_N9i461-rFIZRYGGsvNBeihZUqE5rmkO-KnrGO1LLakUCNaI1nXVi7bvbjyG0Ap_u6-173ognqM2UHG2bdEVkXwuPV88ikUgATv7ZFlflQpXGZVQ-Ximd3PlWtgJTgCLVDKgJc/w512-h288/P1060840+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Remember this rather worn and drab moth from the previous post which I found on the wall of Tense Towers? Well, the county Lepidoptera recorder for Orkney persevered with it, asked for more and better photos (I could only provide more and worse ones), then he called in help from another expert, and they have come up with an ID.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">It's a male Satin Beauty <i>Deileptenia ribeata</i>. This is the first record of the species in Orkney. As they say around here, I am some chuffed. </span></div></div></div>Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-6047935602592483642020-08-05T20:57:00.001+01:002020-08-05T20:57:29.996+01:00Lovely leps and rocky ramblings<font face="arial">Last weekend was spent gardening and wildlife watching, in equal measure. Sometimes both together. The previous weekends had been taken up with trips to the island of Hoy to see some dragons, so our 'estate' was in a bit of a state and required some TLC.</font><div><font face="arial"><br /></font></div><div><font face="arial">In fact, even without the trips to Hoy, I had run out of metaphorical spoons with the garden. After all the effort put in during lockdown, and the huge strides made in various projects (some even to... [<i>gasps</i>]... fruition), the mess created in repairing the soakaway had rather taken the shine off all we had achieved. I was ignoring the garden to Olympic standard.</font></div><div><font face="arial"><br /></font></div><div><font face="arial">But, as time and tide wait for no man (and I'm sure that Dame Ellen MacArthur would have an opinion on that), the trusty sward at Tense Towers is similarly impatient of temporal and gravitational boundaries. So, something had to be done.</font></div><div><font face="arial"><br /></font></div><div><font face="arial">After topping up the fuel tank of the lawn mower, I was trundling the machine around to the rear of the property, when I spied a moth tucked away at the bottom of the harling on the front of the house.<br /></font><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-oe60QsVJ128x9KPTPlRlF2Esll2T5NfYUpRnruIQd6H9ofFxcEeb-wTe49p4BmQo73TFJrVEUqk-jlxzX-eGiiwh8Der2uLJIlSyVv2ZACdHP3Wz8lMyI9HUnIeTbo6R7pyRzx8_fo/s4000/P1060842+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2672" data-original-width="4000" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-oe60QsVJ128x9KPTPlRlF2Esll2T5NfYUpRnruIQd6H9ofFxcEeb-wTe49p4BmQo73TFJrVEUqk-jlxzX-eGiiwh8Der2uLJIlSyVv2ZACdHP3Wz8lMyI9HUnIeTbo6R7pyRzx8_fo/w512-h342/P1060842+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="2424" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4P5kJZJ3ax6qY9WDMyH6DOA8iG0gSJJCu73BjchjtN-fC6Qjsfj-CG-NaoZE8Iu1M-ry4SZiVikp5gv31FS06y3pLBVZ_QuKRJTnnRiCiwC_MuT5nsMUhLAsvlD1VRczWz3xNKOZZtY/w512-h288/P1060840+%25282%2529.JPG" style="text-align: left;" width="512" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><font face="arial">In its way, it was quite well camouflaged. Unfortunately, it was very worn, so a definite ID will likely prove impossible, but the contenders are Willow Beauty or Mottled Beauty.</font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><font face="arial"><br /></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><font face="arial">When I finally began mowing, I disturbed several freshly-emerged Large Yellow Underwing moths, though was unable to capture the striking splash of colour from the underwing in a photograph.</font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHrLHGsXHy4GWTEOrnu0YM3grbvbaoOo0dszHvxRqVqPp7p0yVzMwDgemIpNU5NTc0budonh4Y2PqoFGDk2zMzAZj0_OGpj5uatQ1jg89sAVbivNyjmdjLWtJXeCnEIKUwiODkYSiHXg/s2138/P1060851+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1428" data-original-width="2138" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHrLHGsXHy4GWTEOrnu0YM3grbvbaoOo0dszHvxRqVqPp7p0yVzMwDgemIpNU5NTc0budonh4Y2PqoFGDk2zMzAZj0_OGpj5uatQ1jg89sAVbivNyjmdjLWtJXeCnEIKUwiODkYSiHXg/w512-h342/P1060851+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><font face="arial">After mowing, and during a spot of weeding, a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly paid us a visit. Well, to be fair, it was actually visiting all the pale yellow brassica flowers it could find. And we have a few...</font></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxhrpDczhD9dSaBBUiki5fDazha3uGxYyjOiW-hE9Ng4qFNDf9T-eFliZOlE5cc2N9WDWnyb2ji2NFfWXrpBBnzM2WNoc77EIhLIzYuh03y-5FywktygJ_xodzTM0G_uRm7RMm4xVUDA/s2505/P1060864+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1673" data-original-width="2505" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxhrpDczhD9dSaBBUiki5fDazha3uGxYyjOiW-hE9Ng4qFNDf9T-eFliZOlE5cc2N9WDWnyb2ji2NFfWXrpBBnzM2WNoc77EIhLIzYuh03y-5FywktygJ_xodzTM0G_uRm7RMm4xVUDA/w512-h342/P1060864+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPG_Ksfo-z11cHtuvza22-nNsoa96GcEVP8nQXbU5Gzt8QiYYpSRrKPbcLnuBZgwDqDI71VgtplzFcxKOZHakQdVMkvE4EF3P_Az0fChAdB9gGUfb3YhM-bP0TI9mSgynpayipZLTydA/s3039/P1060865+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1709" data-original-width="3039" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPG_Ksfo-z11cHtuvza22-nNsoa96GcEVP8nQXbU5Gzt8QiYYpSRrKPbcLnuBZgwDqDI71VgtplzFcxKOZHakQdVMkvE4EF3P_Az0fChAdB9gGUfb3YhM-bP0TI9mSgynpayipZLTydA/w512-h288/P1060865+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCTC-9-ArBCi2pvYM1QJha9cLba7WZr_gAzBmFDKOvUEgziaBxjgRqgyANdUOgx230uk_JySHP9V1ADg0F45gaX36Q933igZ0SY4Jf5UQynQujXwC3FAE1xfM0vtRINO2m8qRMIOsbUk/s1451/P1060867+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1451" data-original-width="1451" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCTC-9-ArBCi2pvYM1QJha9cLba7WZr_gAzBmFDKOvUEgziaBxjgRqgyANdUOgx230uk_JySHP9V1ADg0F45gaX36Q933igZ0SY4Jf5UQynQujXwC3FAE1xfM0vtRINO2m8qRMIOsbUk/w512-h512/P1060867+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYQD0t2sWaFxSQuKTuHTB8F9kFAioULuDucxSrszkyKKNYuGFL31nCUTkot3txHyn_f8fNPVpgFOBR2TD4fXCxZWEph-l6EWZDZ8-XTZVgKtlCCtV37vOM8DcnAc4N1FXoYXrP9b4tXM/s2292/P1060872+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2292" data-original-width="2292" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYQD0t2sWaFxSQuKTuHTB8F9kFAioULuDucxSrszkyKKNYuGFL31nCUTkot3txHyn_f8fNPVpgFOBR2TD4fXCxZWEph-l6EWZDZ8-XTZVgKtlCCtV37vOM8DcnAc4N1FXoYXrP9b4tXM/w512-h512/P1060872+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><font face="arial">In the afternoon, I took Our Lass to Rerwick Head, to explore more of the area visited earlier that week. </font></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zaIKUEahNVCq5grGLcSCkVAe-79GJn9JZmbZy3A2fTYr_1btSgNavhGEEXOMFkXFeDe-T_JoTDBDjfcKJL3AH7h2L8a7GVWwFQD0-XoN7BEXgVdiTJSd6lM1dIrf7kNVvOv7gRr8CAI/s3745/P1060892+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2107" data-original-width="3745" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zaIKUEahNVCq5grGLcSCkVAe-79GJn9JZmbZy3A2fTYr_1btSgNavhGEEXOMFkXFeDe-T_JoTDBDjfcKJL3AH7h2L8a7GVWwFQD0-XoN7BEXgVdiTJSd6lM1dIrf7kNVvOv7gRr8CAI/w513-h288/P1060892+%25282%2529.JPG" width="513" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Spleenwort</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6a_fNADmtlv-kdf7D4h4YaZGm0cZhB8K-ilg6y1jNfHJVOktNtS2PIgoQtqTTjjpFkGGUky2l-zK1uzlka8yig0qqoPtL0z8lMp7RKA-z_WvqbYgx5RCnzKX-wnWapoNWfS8LVWOL0Tg/s3426/P1060895+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2289" data-original-width="3426" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6a_fNADmtlv-kdf7D4h4YaZGm0cZhB8K-ilg6y1jNfHJVOktNtS2PIgoQtqTTjjpFkGGUky2l-zK1uzlka8yig0qqoPtL0z8lMp7RKA-z_WvqbYgx5RCnzKX-wnWapoNWfS8LVWOL0Tg/w512-h342/P1060895+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tiny rock pool</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdttccKCQDqGSdUBw6XGay_YU8_Hv5HHofBmM_GW7WDL7xC892MDBIuydDg_08wFfXjVH7yXlVOSh-79UMEHzOk0tCbE7EK95nAK_-I1OOYmlr0FmpNp5Gi6fp4kfsVgN3dry3QIlAoA/s1706/P1060913+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1706" data-original-width="1706" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdttccKCQDqGSdUBw6XGay_YU8_Hv5HHofBmM_GW7WDL7xC892MDBIuydDg_08wFfXjVH7yXlVOSh-79UMEHzOk0tCbE7EK95nAK_-I1OOYmlr0FmpNp5Gi6fp4kfsVgN3dry3QIlAoA/w512-h512/P1060913+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wasp mimic, the hoverfly <i>Sericomyia silentis</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6K6nKd4ZXUVFdF8V6OancwA_fgG9saTKGMwhXOMeg1XQLtBjPeKjc7p_-MqG1s6gqpgoYXHD8raL5zoqJHgdbzOZPyIF1xLLIee2bg07ZrRX4BZUDuxyLKkUyi4WcwjUughdp1TYDfQc/s3044/P1060925+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3044" data-original-width="2034" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6K6nKd4ZXUVFdF8V6OancwA_fgG9saTKGMwhXOMeg1XQLtBjPeKjc7p_-MqG1s6gqpgoYXHD8raL5zoqJHgdbzOZPyIF1xLLIee2bg07ZrRX4BZUDuxyLKkUyi4WcwjUughdp1TYDfQc/w535-h800/P1060925+%25282%2529.JPG" width="535" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pair of Common Blue butterflies mating</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCf834_XKNIc2dGKJzek2imlSyeNloaRt-q6xg8TetzN631eISXXXJQTdaz6sLdYy6BjD8yJfVQa6yhR7sqs6rDwII53bFt_ByI9yb02ZXFSNjYpg-vvxkzF_dwAtD4mPY3rJhbs3iIas/s4000/P1060932+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2672" data-original-width="4000" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCf834_XKNIc2dGKJzek2imlSyeNloaRt-q6xg8TetzN631eISXXXJQTdaz6sLdYy6BjD8yJfVQa6yhR7sqs6rDwII53bFt_ByI9yb02ZXFSNjYpg-vvxkzF_dwAtD4mPY3rJhbs3iIas/w512-h342/P1060932+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gathering of Shags</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXD_OTV3EH4vMDbucHnzIkw-mzLYYrAClQoANYYw8u6xTdq8n3Uq633vSlUPRLez9L-gizazcsukJFk7JGldUF-Jl8Jl1K6xTdx-36Q8wBtiHgSEIqnwAhkzjfaRLWLeRnQ3HnkmikbQ/s3746/P1060944+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2107" data-original-width="3746" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXD_OTV3EH4vMDbucHnzIkw-mzLYYrAClQoANYYw8u6xTdq8n3Uq633vSlUPRLez9L-gizazcsukJFk7JGldUF-Jl8Jl1K6xTdx-36Q8wBtiHgSEIqnwAhkzjfaRLWLeRnQ3HnkmikbQ/w512-h288/P1060944+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heber Geo, a sea cave open at both ends</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71O2Wj64vh1D0eqhN_6oeqexLZK64LvPiUL0pdXYnM3llIhO5F8nt5Aznr0zsyQaMiAmrP1FcLeBY-haUAa_v85OoLAvG1C1abvOk8qHqippG8jUgezQtQN4qRZ1_bba-GR7Vq_KxwgE/s2448/P1060948+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1635" data-original-width="2448" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71O2Wj64vh1D0eqhN_6oeqexLZK64LvPiUL0pdXYnM3llIhO5F8nt5Aznr0zsyQaMiAmrP1FcLeBY-haUAa_v85OoLAvG1C1abvOk8qHqippG8jUgezQtQN4qRZ1_bba-GR7Vq_KxwgE/w512-h342/P1060948+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was a hot day to be a bundle of fluff like this young Fulmar chick</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUmCXPdZnLtVG-iy0a_GEtPw3wMTGHyz8_6NAaZqjrqaVM99fTUo0qYMWf3jn-c6nm0OhFFl4QGeh6FaLBDqYh-ge7q8hu7PfZNBHxL_-Bwnc6VxquvAX8iiskdAR40eMMlTBsmrvAWA/s2625/P1060950+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="2625" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUmCXPdZnLtVG-iy0a_GEtPw3wMTGHyz8_6NAaZqjrqaVM99fTUo0qYMWf3jn-c6nm0OhFFl4QGeh6FaLBDqYh-ge7q8hu7PfZNBHxL_-Bwnc6VxquvAX8iiskdAR40eMMlTBsmrvAWA/w512-h288/P1060950+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A colony of Kittiwakes with many youngsters</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoeyM1z095Nzuet8nxYOotUtPWTGrRhhanmFE7jQo-1OL8bB7Yjd69Hv-JpLYDOZ_QP5OQER_Piq4HL_J7WpRnNPJJK4VThNZKy6CsU5X5QlfdSB9Fkaofs09-ieEVjTcLtd5_1F83fco/s2179/P1060961+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2178" data-original-width="2179" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoeyM1z095Nzuet8nxYOotUtPWTGrRhhanmFE7jQo-1OL8bB7Yjd69Hv-JpLYDOZ_QP5OQER_Piq4HL_J7WpRnNPJJK4VThNZKy6CsU5X5QlfdSB9Fkaofs09-ieEVjTcLtd5_1F83fco/w512-h512/P1060961+%25282%2529.JPG" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Middle-barred Minor moth (Thanks to AF for the ID)</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div></div>Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-26983592249286002020-07-29T21:38:00.001+01:002020-07-29T21:38:39.760+01:00Like a Hole in the Head<font face="arial">The other day, I received a report of a damselfly in an odd location. The damselfly was in an odd location, not I. Looking up the supplied grid reference, I could see that the pool was very near the coast, but the species in question, Blue-tailed Damselfly, can stand a bit of brackish water by all accounts. The recorder also recommended that I wear wellingtons if I was going to plodge about there, as the pool was a bit smelly.</font><div><font face="arial"><br /></font></div><div><font face="arial">Monday morning, after a look at the week's weather forecast and a discussion with Eagle-eyed M, a decision was made to go and look NOW. The area was Rerwick Head in Tankerness, a place I had not previously frequented. Within a few minutes, we had found the pool, it had plenty of emergent vegetation, was popular (even on a cool blustery day) with craneflies and hoverflies, but very not with damselflies. The water was a thick brown colour, the mud smelly and not even a Blue-tailed Damselfly was going to call this home. We reckoned the sighting had been a fly-through, and we pottered off along the clifftops wondering what else was about.</font></div><div><font face="arial"><br /></font></div><div><font face="arial">Lots, as it turned out.</font></div><div><font face="arial"><br /></font></div><div><font face="arial">Every sheltered hollow had a few Common Blue butterflies and Meadow Browns. Several of the Browns were rather amorous.<br /></font><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sZ1TycH2n5TP27YSpDG3qa3-8PV9BH8UPL1N3rvQvlUKJUkCNsFgbqk9kVNLhuflm6Q7Jm4jMsoFPkgS9dffAj2i49U_DVilCjgQcvfcAjby6y6uQHFnXxlP6uXc5_OW9w8l0lbuuG4/s2427/P1060775+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1621" data-original-width="2427" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sZ1TycH2n5TP27YSpDG3qa3-8PV9BH8UPL1N3rvQvlUKJUkCNsFgbqk9kVNLhuflm6Q7Jm4jMsoFPkgS9dffAj2i49U_DVilCjgQcvfcAjby6y6uQHFnXxlP6uXc5_OW9w8l0lbuuG4/w400-h268/P1060775+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkHxz2pe8XuUSuYQtompIfd9NPrsyPoRZIO0X6pJ3JMZjSQBwjOaWmCKm1OBAQ_gMKru8MO8kI4sPKZM08XVU4_QzUNDluCovsQaFGaS0-8kBnz44WvcVj8wUWsV_3llY2mTq1ZKEPd8/s2698/P1060789+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1803" data-original-width="2698" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkHxz2pe8XuUSuYQtompIfd9NPrsyPoRZIO0X6pJ3JMZjSQBwjOaWmCKm1OBAQ_gMKru8MO8kI4sPKZM08XVU4_QzUNDluCovsQaFGaS0-8kBnz44WvcVj8wUWsV_3llY2mTq1ZKEPd8/w400-h268/P1060789+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvDPM3HrDyreIv_WMChi2JFP9-VUMjP5WAwyZvFJ64-Ouk3Ryd76D1nhMg66_uN00ssSjHDTLFuBEV5GGDZs4YejWBAtRocE28vmoq-fPrWJfx5ds1-6X9vS6C-PyNFiJldRaeanCDxw/s2307/P1060793+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2307" data-original-width="2307" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvDPM3HrDyreIv_WMChi2JFP9-VUMjP5WAwyZvFJ64-Ouk3Ryd76D1nhMg66_uN00ssSjHDTLFuBEV5GGDZs4YejWBAtRocE28vmoq-fPrWJfx5ds1-6X9vS6C-PyNFiJldRaeanCDxw/w400-h400/P1060793+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><font face="arial">On the cliffs, Black Guillemots were sat about, looking very dapper, making their shrill calls of sanguineous song. </font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyaQU2Wdj2yjh4D8e6e6iIveT1aUQ-sn2qD6xF7RiYuVAMfNDgUnGvSLbmnLe0-LKufZkbdi0T26BisZg_ayPrqaTp2CxmN6YlpTgIfR2KQ8r6vwHZTVHl4uaEq4gPr5RBIwDthxkOxUY/s1625/P1060778+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1625" data-original-width="1624" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyaQU2Wdj2yjh4D8e6e6iIveT1aUQ-sn2qD6xF7RiYuVAMfNDgUnGvSLbmnLe0-LKufZkbdi0T26BisZg_ayPrqaTp2CxmN6YlpTgIfR2KQ8r6vwHZTVHl4uaEq4gPr5RBIwDthxkOxUY/w400-h400/P1060778+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxICy2cZC6-7w7bemV6Ul1wMA_imfsrhqStuwQqeZPOz3VBghUqB9tjvTpxcBxAFE3zYMt6HBgtjcUZOLjzgQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We followed the wildlife's lead and took shelter, sitting in one particular hollow to eat our lunch. The occasional Red Ant wandered over the rocks, and another tiny creature appeared on one of my wellington boots.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qEJwuSSmyLuq8pcX1AE7dWRE-Z1zmgEqZ5C-yLUn8eB2wU2frmYC1wZv1tA_12YcqLOhyiFSM9Lz62dduJzChYJOJ6MWnhkCUevZ69B9f0woqFfkAICNvC0nE6Z1RbHUTSoiwTUITZ0/s1299/P1060797+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="868" data-original-width="1299" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qEJwuSSmyLuq8pcX1AE7dWRE-Z1zmgEqZ5C-yLUn8eB2wU2frmYC1wZv1tA_12YcqLOhyiFSM9Lz62dduJzChYJOJ6MWnhkCUevZ69B9f0woqFfkAICNvC0nE6Z1RbHUTSoiwTUITZ0/w400-h268/P1060797+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaLA9P89U7ycVIygbPhy1_K7gmUbyNPU93jyVJI-cOF7_pmyWaxorjH5VnfwyvjHuyfw_YugPGkWb8K3yykgnSzYAzmhHSCH1dS7K_TZUOw2n1Y57Xk-VDX2mQAfCyYCcnr7vsZeRTcU/s2965/P1060807+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1981" data-original-width="2965" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaLA9P89U7ycVIygbPhy1_K7gmUbyNPU93jyVJI-cOF7_pmyWaxorjH5VnfwyvjHuyfw_YugPGkWb8K3yykgnSzYAzmhHSCH1dS7K_TZUOw2n1Y57Xk-VDX2mQAfCyYCcnr7vsZeRTcU/w400-h268/P1060807+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pen is mightier than the sw-asp</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><font face="arial">It really was quite small! Unfortunately, from these photographs, it is impossible to ID the insect to species, or even Genus. However, according to the good people of the Bee, Wasp and Ant Recording Scheme, it is a chalcid wasp of the Family Pteromalidae. My curiosity always falls short of needing to take a specimen for ID purposes. In my book, the thirst for knowledge should not be blood-thirsty.</font></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBC-cBh3iCaUkIRkHhhC4X80GbKvB9bvCmwLcqyEyz6J2tjB1vVzAxAlddOPnqB8mT1DfNeL6z8-XCEjam_xeiLQryDdmicNiBQnWzBQ15TkwhrxpbpdAoQkiL72W2X3hGBtnAyFOxnoQ/s3875/P1060816+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2589" data-original-width="3875" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBC-cBh3iCaUkIRkHhhC4X80GbKvB9bvCmwLcqyEyz6J2tjB1vVzAxAlddOPnqB8mT1DfNeL6z8-XCEjam_xeiLQryDdmicNiBQnWzBQ15TkwhrxpbpdAoQkiL72W2X3hGBtnAyFOxnoQ/w400-h268/P1060816+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><font face="arial"><br /></font></div><div><font face="arial">The hollow was by the Hole of Roe, a spectacular... er... hole in the cliff. It is about 15' high and 12' across and is 25' above beach level. The rocks here were quite different from elsewhere in Orkney. The cliffs were weathered in a way that made them look like <i>mille-feuille</i></font><font face="arial"> pastry, whilst the rock surface undulated as if a series of waves had turned to stone. For the last 60 hours, I have had the strangest hankering for a large vanilla slice.</font></div>Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-10965874949772028172020-07-29T07:51:00.000+01:002020-07-29T07:51:03.802+01:00A gorge-ous day on Hoy<font face="arial">The forecast was a bit iffy, but for the last day of the 2020 National Dragonfly Week, Our Lass and I headed for the island of Hoy. I had not organised any official events this year due to pandemic restrictions, but the dragons and damsels don't know that! </font><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFpL_YQLlE6x5DgBQC5oVCLvIcqLjf24kwrZAbFFeQIcq9OMt01U9roLvQHXvNPiVlxuzz-5Hjq0NAtHWeZRtak68DONGFnZ3dphmqnfMHOdqZveZxWWEBvuM4D13FqyPQQJ_hqTMO00/s1600/P1060634+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFpL_YQLlE6x5DgBQC5oVCLvIcqLjf24kwrZAbFFeQIcq9OMt01U9roLvQHXvNPiVlxuzz-5Hjq0NAtHWeZRtak68DONGFnZ3dphmqnfMHOdqZveZxWWEBvuM4D13FqyPQQJ_hqTMO00/w400-h225/P1060634+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large Red Damselfly</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Q2m2D-WKCfwFrsbBfJwZoVNzfZ8V0SfTT-6Ljop_yWNuwZieXndwf05MPjt0F8PdJmKr7L7Dk9ot_1HnkaFfv6Td9_X1a4J2P4nlYsmFwEu-YJQrkhBFk6MJg6NYxzQ_vl1RiHqc6eU/s1600/P1060638+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Q2m2D-WKCfwFrsbBfJwZoVNzfZ8V0SfTT-6Ljop_yWNuwZieXndwf05MPjt0F8PdJmKr7L7Dk9ot_1HnkaFfv6Td9_X1a4J2P4nlYsmFwEu-YJQrkhBFk6MJg6NYxzQ_vl1RiHqc6eU/s400/P1060638+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A recently-emerged Black Darter</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9PxhWoNv1SfHeE0JKGLU29DlHUznjv450kX_8ecOxmHneOFaoUrQpB18E-KVXDFVjjPSIvU6_HYq0JlpdJ7fmZC3lpoyf0nfyDULzb4dprPj3Cu63dN_z2yCpL-l7LFRB5q7b2aChWnU/s1600/P1060647+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9PxhWoNv1SfHeE0JKGLU29DlHUznjv450kX_8ecOxmHneOFaoUrQpB18E-KVXDFVjjPSIvU6_HYq0JlpdJ7fmZC3lpoyf0nfyDULzb4dprPj3Cu63dN_z2yCpL-l7LFRB5q7b2aChWnU/s400/P1060647+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Blue Damselflies in tandem</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmKSYy0-z5ojMBkpAL6Ji9kgncuLJmGuLHFQOQ8Ukz0cquUhyvHHwG2AAVinFEmwEHMCRKFC6jcqZy5EJ6ef5HvhOETlYx8L7ZhGwH03vO0tx4pYPIULHTBDeeOkJUVdrxITA10K8Xvc/s1600/P1060659+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmKSYy0-z5ojMBkpAL6Ji9kgncuLJmGuLHFQOQ8Ukz0cquUhyvHHwG2AAVinFEmwEHMCRKFC6jcqZy5EJ6ef5HvhOETlYx8L7ZhGwH03vO0tx4pYPIULHTBDeeOkJUVdrxITA10K8Xvc/s400/P1060659+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Darter<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5FaZ2GsBLF46NT-uZJItnkxm4oNwEIXq3aU2XaRjSsRO6NfKaru5c7Ya0GrBDFtLU8sCeonKjxuwqCOe-W_WRxj3WTs5JGfPQqpeuLszUhLeOUretVjuDsk2RvxKJqIILifz1DaqEaw/s1600/P1060668+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5FaZ2GsBLF46NT-uZJItnkxm4oNwEIXq3aU2XaRjSsRO6NfKaru5c7Ya0GrBDFtLU8sCeonKjxuwqCOe-W_WRxj3WTs5JGfPQqpeuLszUhLeOUretVjuDsk2RvxKJqIILifz1DaqEaw/s400/P1060668+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Darter</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYpCwBlZbKhIXamF4quJ0Z-dsTRFNwJNZvp8S_eWSznCiVzasUsRespbDHwgWPMT4CheBPMYmBNaFGi4mVyNDotUv9wdi1oLsRB9MxRhfC6GmB1kx5q4nwlGPp7cUhCv5l6rhHvUIfkA/s1600/P1060671+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYpCwBlZbKhIXamF4quJ0Z-dsTRFNwJNZvp8S_eWSznCiVzasUsRespbDHwgWPMT4CheBPMYmBNaFGi4mVyNDotUv9wdi1oLsRB9MxRhfC6GmB1kx5q4nwlGPp7cUhCv5l6rhHvUIfkA/s640/P1060671+%25282%2529.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emerald Damselfly (top) and Black Darter (bottom)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfVb5gH_GMFGYRVkngyUMLLCj0hHWBzeTZFM-YBtK-AT56hvbiI_P4gduRi0oCQFKBpKktJI_6wruYmN6Wkw0RbuSoCGb7vUORCeXOkvY4V9WNfpBJztPGo7ALtoYF10PBs2MXvLcS88/s1600/P1060673+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfVb5gH_GMFGYRVkngyUMLLCj0hHWBzeTZFM-YBtK-AT56hvbiI_P4gduRi0oCQFKBpKktJI_6wruYmN6Wkw0RbuSoCGb7vUORCeXOkvY4V9WNfpBJztPGo7ALtoYF10PBs2MXvLcS88/s400/P1060673+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emerald Damselfly</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURSFao3wd7DIg_dkSXlvRdM6ynsXlhmsmjG4B6beorXa9ZsIVM-tCn9Y5OppkoPdvLMczCi-5NrLkVjyN9WTkpngf4ghJK6TLc1ZEY55Q5npmZQMnwLhodY-tNdKnf68a-ZUAGQuwpgI/s1600/P1060678+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURSFao3wd7DIg_dkSXlvRdM6ynsXlhmsmjG4B6beorXa9ZsIVM-tCn9Y5OppkoPdvLMczCi-5NrLkVjyN9WTkpngf4ghJK6TLc1ZEY55Q5npmZQMnwLhodY-tNdKnf68a-ZUAGQuwpgI/s400/P1060678+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A distant dragon - Common Hawker</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fJMCrInugXzYkN07FN4Ed55bcDVQlITss49T8uQTiOi7zOmk_ysAO8vQ-f1qrWYoK8OMAuGG1yEG274HSWB3HSiFKn5vJ_ZLEcZ-hFvuj4ZTyKZ-s3ZwGs9pq92YB-CT152KsFAjsIY/s1600/P1060679+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fJMCrInugXzYkN07FN4Ed55bcDVQlITss49T8uQTiOi7zOmk_ysAO8vQ-f1qrWYoK8OMAuGG1yEG274HSWB3HSiFKn5vJ_ZLEcZ-hFvuj4ZTyKZ-s3ZwGs9pq92YB-CT152KsFAjsIY/s400/P1060679+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the pools on Wee Fea</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fpWgKledBwQ4HyMO45gTj0xIY4HdA6J3SuhfhyWdUynabGpCJPFPxN2Hm7m33H-8I5hvA9zghkpkLO9xjGRYutYIZQmNWz1QIqP_rbdsribc6Ay1dz1Tpfg1f9P0UElD-GcoFnHJg1g/s1600/P1060687+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fpWgKledBwQ4HyMO45gTj0xIY4HdA6J3SuhfhyWdUynabGpCJPFPxN2Hm7m33H-8I5hvA9zghkpkLO9xjGRYutYIZQmNWz1QIqP_rbdsribc6Ay1dz1Tpfg1f9P0UElD-GcoFnHJg1g/s400/P1060687+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fledgling Cuckoo being fed by a Meadow Pipit parent</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hHVesYF_wXkzyZ1XgBDgMdjZ1KU0BfQxGMAcUO2bd-cSm5JvZqxrYjDZO6LCn1QZ1krjhtOdnZPPwZTbLvBcqTGeAvtGBVukD94AM1xFeg4YjmrPZAXFDz17KZsBQ-kvUVgQUcDASzQ/s1600/P1060695+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hHVesYF_wXkzyZ1XgBDgMdjZ1KU0BfQxGMAcUO2bd-cSm5JvZqxrYjDZO6LCn1QZ1krjhtOdnZPPwZTbLvBcqTGeAvtGBVukD94AM1xFeg4YjmrPZAXFDz17KZsBQ-kvUVgQUcDASzQ/s400/P1060695+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coal Tit</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHxAHX5RxXuBVxSMb3zE0RAsHJHPtpFoC3XykOVTmmOca3nneqAb4Y_Az127s0VPdYK6VlNBEGtYwclftffQz6vBymUZgx68mxHpgrUvhuRd0VOJAdaZ1sg60iBINle92-N67_WZZDcs/s1600/P1060700+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHxAHX5RxXuBVxSMb3zE0RAsHJHPtpFoC3XykOVTmmOca3nneqAb4Y_Az127s0VPdYK6VlNBEGtYwclftffQz6vBymUZgx68mxHpgrUvhuRd0VOJAdaZ1sg60iBINle92-N67_WZZDcs/s640/P1060700+%25282%2529.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A roadside Field Gentian</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQmViUaRQ705ai4GVAOsTu5uj3UgnvOhsryTJAzHbX1rhzumHy_k0hvJip6vcxbpa2yZpXK0VEiaMjiWjcx8_NRvuO2Js6Hk6oBg5KHjz4AjJeRXMbu475UAoRHRJ9_6aM5l0FhsmosOI/s1600/P1060701+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQmViUaRQ705ai4GVAOsTu5uj3UgnvOhsryTJAzHbX1rhzumHy_k0hvJip6vcxbpa2yZpXK0VEiaMjiWjcx8_NRvuO2Js6Hk6oBg5KHjz4AjJeRXMbu475UAoRHRJ9_6aM5l0FhsmosOI/s640/P1060701+%25282%2529.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Field Gentian</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHtR-GluiDSc_fZ5H5l0wOaq8nLVey24Jyap7sPknYufaAiJAeCFY48WxTDpuJk-h5lAj-2wwvyqy2fIt_3_Rm-Mzjz7AtcHXX2L4bl9rkwwwPXSzgA8GGqeE1dhyphenhyphendYDuu9ILbNAIi84/s1600/P1060714+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHtR-GluiDSc_fZ5H5l0wOaq8nLVey24Jyap7sPknYufaAiJAeCFY48WxTDpuJk-h5lAj-2wwvyqy2fIt_3_Rm-Mzjz7AtcHXX2L4bl9rkwwwPXSzgA8GGqeE1dhyphenhyphendYDuu9ILbNAIi84/s400/P1060714+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Hawker</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUWrvxtJmx0AXPOk_1GW4G2E5vAp8RogqZVC7BSuBJ0uBCFPxYrGsbMTLk-aZVTJCvFiYZPSnhVPVwsyO8wcJNggnJCNuLFHovFYciJQXT5vGXnj2MgsnStApn_dBT48L-RYUkgIyXFY/s1600/P1060721+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUWrvxtJmx0AXPOk_1GW4G2E5vAp8RogqZVC7BSuBJ0uBCFPxYrGsbMTLk-aZVTJCvFiYZPSnhVPVwsyO8wcJNggnJCNuLFHovFYciJQXT5vGXnj2MgsnStApn_dBT48L-RYUkgIyXFY/s640/P1060721+%25282%2529.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Candle of the Burn of the Sale</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqV1nNodkpoH2Zg43I0yNLnFyJzZpEBMZ6r3OFt5fq5FgHzNqr-FvjgA1zCrwuO4xnvoQcOvH6ViPSrLeyx37ezkEYevJlHcSHrdSKCY8TiOZH13qEwjaAX7lmBue4reu7k2JQ8R8zws/s1600/P1060724+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqV1nNodkpoH2Zg43I0yNLnFyJzZpEBMZ6r3OFt5fq5FgHzNqr-FvjgA1zCrwuO4xnvoQcOvH6ViPSrLeyx37ezkEYevJlHcSHrdSKCY8TiOZH13qEwjaAX7lmBue4reu7k2JQ8R8zws/s640/P1060724+%25282%2529.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Burn of the Sale running through a gorge</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXwOt2FviHSWEsb6iHWyfwN_j7Wy6VC66AkiQWsaLGLbcGkaJhryl6UgXO6on01vSKGfb5AmdEal6iuw1aiLlUWCWRetDapH9ShbaWLDBIMVSMGdn8Vj1bDhdEf_OlMO_1LvFjD_EL5Q/s1600/P1060733+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXwOt2FviHSWEsb6iHWyfwN_j7Wy6VC66AkiQWsaLGLbcGkaJhryl6UgXO6on01vSKGfb5AmdEal6iuw1aiLlUWCWRetDapH9ShbaWLDBIMVSMGdn8Vj1bDhdEf_OlMO_1LvFjD_EL5Q/s640/P1060733+%25282%2529.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch in the rain</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdbfhNc5tb_ecf81sZZuH9QrictzZI3hdxWIWSO0gObt08zZ6IA9wrimyZn8uhPFodA5m-GVUG1LHbpLCvz93K6oZwsU-dsSWXePbqvXwpUi7RfLsYt6kqsw54tecV9jUTREdM-P1ySc/s1600/IMG_4520+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdbfhNc5tb_ecf81sZZuH9QrictzZI3hdxWIWSO0gObt08zZ6IA9wrimyZn8uhPFodA5m-GVUG1LHbpLCvz93K6oZwsU-dsSWXePbqvXwpUi7RfLsYt6kqsw54tecV9jUTREdM-P1ySc/s400/IMG_4520+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-tailed Eagles (chick on left, adult on right)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQs9eE0hZT3gjMwRgN3BsRyLS2z6EoOSB9CAU5xM9XiNLDjqDhBZ4rptSL9SnVQvPVM4H2VuFxApm-rjn8jmaJN1wQDP1YgqpOMXwLsFmETHgqAH6WZFrGrnblwUy9EUVMoXTdWlxjypE/s1600/P1060738+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQs9eE0hZT3gjMwRgN3BsRyLS2z6EoOSB9CAU5xM9XiNLDjqDhBZ4rptSL9SnVQvPVM4H2VuFxApm-rjn8jmaJN1wQDP1YgqpOMXwLsFmETHgqAH6WZFrGrnblwUy9EUVMoXTdWlxjypE/s400/P1060738+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Searching for Golden-ringed Dragonflies (unsuccessfully)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMwd6vDl4ArpM4QERvmYpo2PjN5g91IJ_zUox1vRn21hY6V8uwPhtvJX7Gyr0c_EJHOzZfaUdPeqXNjTmJ9yLVIcdVXhibF1iMFmF4FrLUv4gu7nDdvmKMIDTqAHD-bhqUWATF3ggykE/s1600/P1060751+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMwd6vDl4ArpM4QERvmYpo2PjN5g91IJ_zUox1vRn21hY6V8uwPhtvJX7Gyr0c_EJHOzZfaUdPeqXNjTmJ9yLVIcdVXhibF1iMFmF4FrLUv4gu7nDdvmKMIDTqAHD-bhqUWATF3ggykE/s400/P1060751+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grass of Parnassus</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-87856097806606876962020-07-27T06:30:00.000+01:002020-07-27T06:30:04.959+01:00Skailling back...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">or "Getting on Marwick".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last Friday was a peach of a day, much sunnier than forecast and ideal for a walk on the west coast of mainland Orkney. Our Lass and I parked by Skaill Bay and set off towards Marwick along the low clifftops.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJDJlimkD70GpUXIa39r7IljIMlaiSVqDyYt4-FHUadPyQBfcoePeZknZ6ei5dLR2mufFLJhkJHi02T5H7q3pIYAQjJKQ7D0n2IhP0jwDLWdLbHf3ERPgCUFGbx7-gCla8LJeVLefk9o/s1600/P1060499+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJDJlimkD70GpUXIa39r7IljIMlaiSVqDyYt4-FHUadPyQBfcoePeZknZ6ei5dLR2mufFLJhkJHi02T5H7q3pIYAQjJKQ7D0n2IhP0jwDLWdLbHf3ERPgCUFGbx7-gCla8LJeVLefk9o/s400/P1060499+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock Pipit</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdFIM1Mo5gWyajISbCaPqXladjY-DExGy7KmviU5j8KWlEoOSNmgvjE8PW3oCh0ZV-jdQOlz-BbRb9RIONlDNS7sYwRWeUydsRVbJ24iQKEcGQU_0Lfw8u1UYuSerUFDiSHWO_P6v23o/s1600/P1060503+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdFIM1Mo5gWyajISbCaPqXladjY-DExGy7KmviU5j8KWlEoOSNmgvjE8PW3oCh0ZV-jdQOlz-BbRb9RIONlDNS7sYwRWeUydsRVbJ24iQKEcGQU_0Lfw8u1UYuSerUFDiSHWO_P6v23o/s400/P1060503+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You've either got or you haven't got... stile!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbRxff9DZ6oNmruKPtfA69m3HGpjRvX-v0g2uzBs-9wrpjKGkiOvI9kyCheckWSTiEORF-9IhF_QsXurkBc0SqmJMaj4gpqm2hDs19p3H_Ckm63KKdZlNDCRgGrjudvSB71yEFeHAPdk/s1600/P1060510+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbRxff9DZ6oNmruKPtfA69m3HGpjRvX-v0g2uzBs-9wrpjKGkiOvI9kyCheckWSTiEORF-9IhF_QsXurkBc0SqmJMaj4gpqm2hDs19p3H_Ckm63KKdZlNDCRgGrjudvSB71yEFeHAPdk/s400/P1060510+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This sea stack is known variously as Stack of Roo or Castle of Geostic</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gZRuo_Kao_0GEEwHE6piMqRnFcSaTlpogZ5aK18GTmyoAlodXiw2O9qZPFGU0QOsbhuWj88rzFVTbCpNvm86fBBnG_mNIZzoMntgXhuBzaPpL6lVXsxmJaBS95H_RsHmc4FbmZ0ChG0/s1600/P1060512+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gZRuo_Kao_0GEEwHE6piMqRnFcSaTlpogZ5aK18GTmyoAlodXiw2O9qZPFGU0QOsbhuWj88rzFVTbCpNvm86fBBnG_mNIZzoMntgXhuBzaPpL6lVXsxmJaBS95H_RsHmc4FbmZ0ChG0/s400/P1060512+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A portal to another realm</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLSIcBoRpVe-NL05JycmAI46ZwO-Ff15wQaQfyNJNIKl3DhPgKe61QTopylcHmrpXPVqvIuJkOFyCidLK0QQwYEq6ck1QrpgK2dsmorAT1f0m0KQBD9Zugxiejox1iSmUV7YhKY379dhU/s1600/P1060514+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLSIcBoRpVe-NL05JycmAI46ZwO-Ff15wQaQfyNJNIKl3DhPgKe61QTopylcHmrpXPVqvIuJkOFyCidLK0QQwYEq6ck1QrpgK2dsmorAT1f0m0KQBD9Zugxiejox1iSmUV7YhKY379dhU/s400/P1060514+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stack of Roo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5bFOHmQW7C40zYmqWQY9fI7gRVXosWW8x1tNtl2tMBn6ag-pNwSL2PWSD_pT9bRlCYBswQd2LndpBpjjdEuRQnOcd9wmFF4NuPgMKcUKCUCqWnS7TtUDc_pHTCfTQmqHzKQbvXaHEnI/s1600/P1060519+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5bFOHmQW7C40zYmqWQY9fI7gRVXosWW8x1tNtl2tMBn6ag-pNwSL2PWSD_pT9bRlCYBswQd2LndpBpjjdEuRQnOcd9wmFF4NuPgMKcUKCUCqWnS7TtUDc_pHTCfTQmqHzKQbvXaHEnI/s400/P1060519+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Fulmar family</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgly0lnDECDExPiCkzexujn_a6rmol52j86lk-NbpskUnr5n1uuesPwrfOZu-IW3fXXf30OL0ljgHTyxi4P8XVTPCx1VEtX-cZUGQI2Biz3xjZ8SrUNTE-5NhAJoFH4RMNW6pJyI0OoO-Q/s1600/P1060530+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgly0lnDECDExPiCkzexujn_a6rmol52j86lk-NbpskUnr5n1uuesPwrfOZu-IW3fXXf30OL0ljgHTyxi4P8XVTPCx1VEtX-cZUGQI2Biz3xjZ8SrUNTE-5NhAJoFH4RMNW6pJyI0OoO-Q/s400/P1060530+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Risso's Dolphins out to sea</td></tr>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyFubuXnAzmcsM1tRpbQUIW7VaSMM7CQyaky-BJT8ic_N52ScRmwGkNIe1sZ2om_9LAUJAvGATEz6Wqexr_6Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrnVyU4scMeg_7wowXwFjK1xJbdQOfNTJ2MDsxIY7eJqfGrLAIb4I1_pEUq40GlEQw4ZB34-O4S0bGS9DGahpfzhZTiHGizG-qen4FzUf429cWbFNK3npLGpDPR5PFtG3mYA__wI8CO0/s1600/P1060555+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrnVyU4scMeg_7wowXwFjK1xJbdQOfNTJ2MDsxIY7eJqfGrLAIb4I1_pEUq40GlEQw4ZB34-O4S0bGS9DGahpfzhZTiHGizG-qen4FzUf429cWbFNK3npLGpDPR5PFtG3mYA__wI8CO0/s400/P1060555+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puffins</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJ64s__Y-qja35G2yxI7QD1H8zb1pMjatL3EwU3Ftlq-xtG1Oma_q2Z6yIpT6y8Tge57kpQoGvTnE5NPeHjGUmQBym2TGRS7gtLjQ0beR9pL6_JmcmlbUVCu9J399fQBbic4Y_Qm5t74/s1600/P1060567+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJ64s__Y-qja35G2yxI7QD1H8zb1pMjatL3EwU3Ftlq-xtG1Oma_q2Z6yIpT6y8Tge57kpQoGvTnE5NPeHjGUmQBym2TGRS7gtLjQ0beR9pL6_JmcmlbUVCu9J399fQBbic4Y_Qm5t74/s400/P1060567+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A parasitic wasp <i>Amblyteles armatorius</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidud6CTa-259jU5J73cRCSz309Xo7bNORO2qyxhOVMb9_Xq9-MLwJCWfhxd2OAojjbtAmr8SQ0bXQNCZxbdEork7a_I_tZ5DnPNNhV5-oq_Ddz60_jVBZVrFECdArfeqSdEUi1tEw1JUw/s1600/P1060578+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidud6CTa-259jU5J73cRCSz309Xo7bNORO2qyxhOVMb9_Xq9-MLwJCWfhxd2OAojjbtAmr8SQ0bXQNCZxbdEork7a_I_tZ5DnPNNhV5-oq_Ddz60_jVBZVrFECdArfeqSdEUi1tEw1JUw/s400/P1060578+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skylark</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDXdadMfNfzVXG_KL9tL87MNyKOnjlthrnDs3TXyle-mBnpX3bzFqZ488D24LoHvgoq2ERVfiUZmr3gxFsH_gYWcOCOW3_gCGVRR530w2UTxM-LC2i08sNGsDfbmcI98HolsmcwCQb1I/s1600/P1060586+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDXdadMfNfzVXG_KL9tL87MNyKOnjlthrnDs3TXyle-mBnpX3bzFqZ488D24LoHvgoq2ERVfiUZmr3gxFsH_gYWcOCOW3_gCGVRR530w2UTxM-LC2i08sNGsDfbmcI98HolsmcwCQb1I/s400/P1060586+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking north towards Marwick Head</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjtkJ_7xEBdZaU4COoGekUST2m45aX8JfNR8iU5NvSB_E7S_Nqvkdo2OMT945bc6JK5s6MCApvazOW-fFiyC6piCDEJ76JP5pz4zMm4najioe_MfNx0Ggc8g5XM28dcx3a77-G3x0U3Y/s1600/P1060589+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjtkJ_7xEBdZaU4COoGekUST2m45aX8JfNR8iU5NvSB_E7S_Nqvkdo2OMT945bc6JK5s6MCApvazOW-fFiyC6piCDEJ76JP5pz4zMm4najioe_MfNx0Ggc8g5XM28dcx3a77-G3x0U3Y/s400/P1060589+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tranquil rockpool with the Atlantic beyond</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlSVgFHHYOu7MosO4zo7Zx2_axmpx2pMqegjEzIimzD5r55eAhQGRKWJxNbWJZ-QITNgufRuut-YneEIKSAWyTPkc4ED45l-KMcMutDZDaYC46X0w82La6HfG_8KNIfD3lSMCW35qhsA/s1600/P1060597+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlSVgFHHYOu7MosO4zo7Zx2_axmpx2pMqegjEzIimzD5r55eAhQGRKWJxNbWJZ-QITNgufRuut-YneEIKSAWyTPkc4ED45l-KMcMutDZDaYC46X0w82La6HfG_8KNIfD3lSMCW35qhsA/s400/P1060597+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Lass and the Old Man of Hoy</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-jXRof68RLBWATgGuonubBHvdIqyoToMT5uHWiOuhZ3hnAhIf0VzIL1Xwhb5mHH-wn6lK_CFdDn0Xag1OriApzoMMpC_mtkYcC4aTuE1NuWiOV4voD8ih3rPMlEfWliqL_ira_6yENI/s1600/P1060598+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-jXRof68RLBWATgGuonubBHvdIqyoToMT5uHWiOuhZ3hnAhIf0VzIL1Xwhb5mHH-wn6lK_CFdDn0Xag1OriApzoMMpC_mtkYcC4aTuE1NuWiOV4voD8ih3rPMlEfWliqL_ira_6yENI/s400/P1060598+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hoy and a lumpy bit of mainland Scotland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yvlUmR_aIOlD0oZzqC1gRk3QCDh_ybYuqRnZYb1BlnBCeRLMAfpuppHbfL-i8hbD_h_v0CKLRwA8txQPS7TnBAxBipNOU5t6YKpsoa6JA9JglyXqLG9Dwxf4NjFeSZO_Spwq62KOP10/s1600/P1060600+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yvlUmR_aIOlD0oZzqC1gRk3QCDh_ybYuqRnZYb1BlnBCeRLMAfpuppHbfL-i8hbD_h_v0CKLRwA8txQPS7TnBAxBipNOU5t6YKpsoa6JA9JglyXqLG9Dwxf4NjFeSZO_Spwq62KOP10/s400/P1060600+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fish fossil with a limpet shell for scale</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFIzwDPts2O4Dqxi26zaJsNF0uFn8XeOoFs43ODJlv13nRApQZDp-5uZbegA37kXPRa2dsAFakeVUvaMAX7LKY5UkhhKvgbaBnMm4alfbaEPzsRH-1P2HZ6L_7q18HTO4oHXm2GgFRf4/s1600/P1060601+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFIzwDPts2O4Dqxi26zaJsNF0uFn8XeOoFs43ODJlv13nRApQZDp-5uZbegA37kXPRa2dsAFakeVUvaMAX7LKY5UkhhKvgbaBnMm4alfbaEPzsRH-1P2HZ6L_7q18HTO4oHXm2GgFRf4/s400/P1060601+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still looking north to Marwick Head</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNfmyTgB7Ac2qvX47tJKt9eWEKCCldT0zp2c5y4PgiLstZ3JbC1Iz3DhU-iyQ82-KH4ILROrBipJETndLB9yDZj__aCZd4UmI6tuhdorJN7uHkayVUMjsICg4d0Xm2ikWL3hLHiXOeW8/s1600/P1060606+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNfmyTgB7Ac2qvX47tJKt9eWEKCCldT0zp2c5y4PgiLstZ3JbC1Iz3DhU-iyQ82-KH4ILROrBipJETndLB9yDZj__aCZd4UmI6tuhdorJN7uHkayVUMjsICg4d0Xm2ikWL3hLHiXOeW8/s400/P1060606+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking south towards Skaill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XH5xYkYjPEcS_iOPZag0buZ0JK8dYe5irL9V5KWpY7wnvrp16cRtkjCEGyJSuxs81lA6BNYSqgtu3Cqt9MI24ay9q76PPcVeN87CqPFdt5h4YVLP422ctt_a4HBx5Am0GL-paGfXSPk/s1600/P1060618+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XH5xYkYjPEcS_iOPZag0buZ0JK8dYe5irL9V5KWpY7wnvrp16cRtkjCEGyJSuxs81lA6BNYSqgtu3Cqt9MI24ay9q76PPcVeN87CqPFdt5h4YVLP422ctt_a4HBx5Am0GL-paGfXSPk/s400/P1060618+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puffins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5l6UxI8p933ApR9ls0E7cXbIXqZQ8CEJvrRtl4EIpTeZjPpXicXFtDYbZZa1Yd4XF1D79dMI1sevQO-Z-MtFTJUUI03Pc7p16jLWeIAIbmIynoaOBQCmqDVRCDxWAS3SfVIh096PN_wY/s1600/P1060620+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5l6UxI8p933ApR9ls0E7cXbIXqZQ8CEJvrRtl4EIpTeZjPpXicXFtDYbZZa1Yd4XF1D79dMI1sevQO-Z-MtFTJUUI03Pc7p16jLWeIAIbmIynoaOBQCmqDVRCDxWAS3SfVIh096PN_wY/s400/P1060620+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puffins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFseAWmQQXESjt_bIDl7-afse1Y2nBM09TbHMLA9fiSTAD7Owp5iLshcpYqm8Etcqyf8E4kHf0hCLehptJ2TwxglLDWN7DvIU7k2ua9nrg75S8xD-i6XbiPxPMNfQdvqrKKZ2b0zYN81Y/s1600/P1060623+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFseAWmQQXESjt_bIDl7-afse1Y2nBM09TbHMLA9fiSTAD7Owp5iLshcpYqm8Etcqyf8E4kHf0hCLehptJ2TwxglLDWN7DvIU7k2ua9nrg75S8xD-i6XbiPxPMNfQdvqrKKZ2b0zYN81Y/s400/P1060623+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stack of Roo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHiHj9bvh7NzmpSrfeJnG2C9f2-NcQqFzYr7nfuSbzaecGC6-M_S_TnI5Nq8uOHl4xRlZjLfa1fE7JCNNi_z-n48hIf74zsvwMTSQY4ManXBN3GEg8baxFOuD4Mvt3G6527ek9kBt6Ks/s1600/P1060624+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHiHj9bvh7NzmpSrfeJnG2C9f2-NcQqFzYr7nfuSbzaecGC6-M_S_TnI5Nq8uOHl4xRlZjLfa1fE7JCNNi_z-n48hIf74zsvwMTSQY4ManXBN3GEg8baxFOuD4Mvt3G6527ek9kBt6Ks/s400/P1060624+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It looked to be a glorious day at sea too</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPInnjg3se89Xt_qGQZaQA7JHCcvEDjoY7-mHCJsgeOClfa0H98Ua57h21M-ZiuBB0PNBwWpgKebmLHk-dZjU-64tRzogwrPvy_S9NZ7q_wxV4kFzLKlKC29v2I2N0J5oXlng9uc-AJUw/s1600/P1060626+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="918" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPInnjg3se89Xt_qGQZaQA7JHCcvEDjoY7-mHCJsgeOClfa0H98Ua57h21M-ZiuBB0PNBwWpgKebmLHk-dZjU-64tRzogwrPvy_S9NZ7q_wxV4kFzLKlKC29v2I2N0J5oXlng9uc-AJUw/s400/P1060626+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bit like a shield bug, but I don't think it is</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQv_v5ztBslxUuoK4zjwvYnkhVIWhMyxga8o7gswTyWNRZ__PY7I55wm9lIFR5nOamDkicpKcKmmxn_8rWOfBtc02GzSHlt7EuJRdkcbC0CabUOGDwHmFW5k-FZA1iwnBq7gdX87sE1M8/s1600/P1060630+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQv_v5ztBslxUuoK4zjwvYnkhVIWhMyxga8o7gswTyWNRZ__PY7I55wm9lIFR5nOamDkicpKcKmmxn_8rWOfBtc02GzSHlt7EuJRdkcbC0CabUOGDwHmFW5k-FZA1iwnBq7gdX87sE1M8/s400/P1060630+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ringed Plover</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The there-and-back route was about eight miles and, out of condition as we are, I'm ashamed to say that we slumped into the car exhausted upon our return. On the way home, we stopped off at an Italian restaurant for a takeaway (2 x 12" Vegetarianas and a couple of desserts). </span>Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-49053206704753548372020-07-26T06:30:00.000+01:002020-07-26T06:30:01.248+01:00Random images<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At this time of year, if the wind drops in the evening, then it's virtually guaranteed that there will be midges about. This little group on our lounge window may well be owl midges, but I didn't take the chance of finding out to the contrary and remained indoors.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisY80u7sTKKIvhHXsY4sXkWBsEY5wxvwOvZK5CgEkp3Qr7CWl9njCdwVdQQ2JmWRAPas3xATo6SsEb1kN8z3vastosfPkENEabqIgEj4GinGW5-gqr-fmUAblBHYhGm4KORC_Gw6r_5ak/s1600/P1060446+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="847" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisY80u7sTKKIvhHXsY4sXkWBsEY5wxvwOvZK5CgEkp3Qr7CWl9njCdwVdQQ2JmWRAPas3xATo6SsEb1kN8z3vastosfPkENEabqIgEj4GinGW5-gqr-fmUAblBHYhGm4KORC_Gw6r_5ak/s400/P1060446+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Midge menage at sunset</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Midweek, I had to go across to the Scottish mainland, so caught an early ferry from Stromness to Scrabster. As we sailed out of Stromness, there were nice views of the cliffscape of the island of Hoy (albeit through a window due to pandemic restrictions).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdGZ2ht5YWXiaLtsU3OjfDXEn5bo3qTHStvJC734B_nIkMF2XFHzozakS8YBxKZ0K_Vy9m2FRQk_x2bX-3rr3WkiifZlMVQXRIUGEWFBiagHcQdazxInURrGHjz7IWuBNUYHmyRITyP4/s1600/P1060459+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdGZ2ht5YWXiaLtsU3OjfDXEn5bo3qTHStvJC734B_nIkMF2XFHzozakS8YBxKZ0K_Vy9m2FRQk_x2bX-3rr3WkiifZlMVQXRIUGEWFBiagHcQdazxInURrGHjz7IWuBNUYHmyRITyP4/s400/P1060459+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kame</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St John's Head</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjgVI3_TIDmjJZ6Tj7l-bAV-WWnc8w72d2BZEsQycxgrhyC3gwKdD3PchnHd2orb1ceW3nThxhXknUbFxvMiO1Aqrf-i3sq4oZV_z0PU39n5G60DvRpFpvpZ6t_kw3T27a-QQMg1ZrRQ/s1600/P1060470+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjgVI3_TIDmjJZ6Tj7l-bAV-WWnc8w72d2BZEsQycxgrhyC3gwKdD3PchnHd2orb1ceW3nThxhXknUbFxvMiO1Aqrf-i3sq4oZV_z0PU39n5G60DvRpFpvpZ6t_kw3T27a-QQMg1ZrRQ/s400/P1060470+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Old Man of Hoy</td></tr>
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Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-20719058398369273062020-07-25T15:38:00.000+01:002020-07-25T15:38:04.530+01:00A skelping for BoJo, a scalping for me<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The big news in Orkney this week has been <strike>that I have finally had a haircut</strike> the visit of Boris Johnson, the UK Prime Minister, who journeyed to Scotland to try to bolster support for the UK Union. After a wonderfully sunny day on Wednesday, Thursday brought low cloud and persistent drizzle, meaning that visibility was very poor (a perfect metaphor for this visit and his premiership in general, perhaps?).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If the Tory leader (or his advisors) thought that travelling to a remote Scottish island would guarantee good media coverage i.e. carefully stage-managed PR stunts, they reckoned without the strength of feeling within the archipelago for the Government's handling of the pandemic response, Brexit, selling off the NHS, lowering of food standards, Black Lives Matter and, to a lesser extent, Scottish independence.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's <a href="https://theorkneynews.scot/2020/07/24/prime-minister-boris-johnson-visits-orkney/">a report</a> from one of the local online news outlets.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is generally accepted (I think that's fair to say), that the Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has done a much better job of leading her government's pandemic response compared to the UK Prime Minister. Some commentators have suggested that Boris Johnson visiting Scotland in the first place was a tacit admission of this fact.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile, in my trivial hirsutes, these past four months have seen my hair grow to its longest ever. Yes, I know I was alive in the 60s and 70s, but the Tense bonce has never, ever, been this fleecy. Fortunately, all those pandemic-necessitated face coverings were also ideal for preventing the wool being pulled over my eyes.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehRDZcJqrdy-WB2u2TNHWXDzZYY6p5UPP7m9R7IzBh5FXAaP8vYQDe0xm6E9fsvjMWnfIQuaW7JvcmaAfXjCva9eIXEp1Qj79cWlY7v8MtYGwU04UFu1uC9q22wFCu24WE2kL3wrOF-E/s1600/113070839_632963664290359_241105500918230455_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehRDZcJqrdy-WB2u2TNHWXDzZYY6p5UPP7m9R7IzBh5FXAaP8vYQDe0xm6E9fsvjMWnfIQuaW7JvcmaAfXjCva9eIXEp1Qj79cWlY7v8MtYGwU04UFu1uC9q22wFCu24WE2kL3wrOF-E/s400/113070839_632963664290359_241105500918230455_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hairdressers were finally allowed to re-open in Scotland on July 15th, so I have been patiently counting down the days to my latest hair appointment. Thankfully, I no longer look like an evil purple Minion (though, to some extent, this may depend upon the lighting conditions).</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also before</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyqFy40B9ntCJ_7Yh_MnwZYnSVTbPv-aC-oJNQEp6XaP10Kajv22-3ZMx6akBFNUWChswsod0RrRg_7DLGfsoDM5rc3btCVdfo6IncM_Vtx8eObOXipSNZ_cUYNPHDK3qnxjbs17vs9k/s1600/114453397_287395222346893_3919746220166214642_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyqFy40B9ntCJ_7Yh_MnwZYnSVTbPv-aC-oJNQEp6XaP10Kajv22-3ZMx6akBFNUWChswsod0RrRg_7DLGfsoDM5rc3btCVdfo6IncM_Vtx8eObOXipSNZ_cUYNPHDK3qnxjbs17vs9k/s400/114453397_287395222346893_3919746220166214642_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am glad to report that I once again feel comfortable in my own skin, though I doubt that the phone calls from cosmetics firms will be jamming the switchboard at Tense Towers.</span>Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-41229795478752351942020-07-21T06:30:00.000+01:002020-07-21T06:30:04.440+01:00Eagles and dragons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With the further relaxation of restrictions in Scotland on the 15th July, it became possible for travel between the islands of the Orkney archipelago for non-essential reasons. Quite rightly, up until that date, the inter-island ferries and aircraft had been limiting passengers to key workers and the like. I won't be drawn into a discussion as to whether the chance of seeing a dragonfly for the first time in eleven months counts as 'essential', but Eagle-eyed M was sure that going to see the White-tailed Eagle chicks on Hoy before they fledged was nothing short of a national emergency.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, on Saturday morning, Our Lass, M and I boarded the mv Hoy Head for the sailing to Lyness. As this was public transport, we were all sporting face masks of various kinds. Our plan for the day was quite flexible, because the weather of late has been a bit unpredictable and we couldn't be sure where the best spot for Odonata would be. However, as the time-sensitive part of the mission was '"Before the chicks fledge!", we headed straight for the Eaglewatch car park on the Rackwick Road.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For 2020, this pair of White-tailed Eagles has nested in the original nest from several years ago, rather than the one used in 2019. Either way, the distance from the car park to the cliff face of the Dwarfie Hamars is just over half a mile, making photography something of a challenge. As we were using a car, I had brought along my tripod, DSLR camera and Wrong Len, but the strong breeze still made this an interesting challenge. Tucking the tripod into the lee of the car, with one leg jammed between wheel arch and tyre seemed the most suitable option. Even so, the shots weren't great. Here's a couple of crops from the hour or so we spent there, staring into the sun and struggling to see the camera screen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is the nest site, an eagle chick is busy flapping its wings to exercise its flight muscles. Honestly! It's in the centre of the image, just below a white spot of lichen on the rock face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In this second photo is an eagle which M saw flying in. It is perched just to the right of a small sunlit bush in the centre of the image. At the time, we couldn't be sure whether it was an adult or the other chick, but M contacted the local RSPB warden who was able to confirm that neither chick had yet fledged, and that sometimes only one can be seen on the nest, with the other tucked away at the back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There were various options for good sites to look for dragonflies, but I will admit to feeling quite trepidatious, for as mentioned above, my odo diary indicated that it had been eleven months to the day since I had seen a dragonfly. No pressure. The strong breeze meant that the pools on Wee Fea would have no shelter at all for delicate aerial predators, nor indeed their prey. Similarly, the pools behind the beach at Rackwick would also be exposed to the full force of the wind. So we headed for a couple of pools adjacent to a burn which meanders out of this valley between Berriedale and the Red Glen.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XgflcuPXZneNh6PGPkOuCsX7-knLDgyK0g4Lf35uZod6vGBQRitzTlg13K-bkTPMKH8qmsqKZrRII4304_hJqrA6V525pYt207x8m0DwZtEHn6WVI853OuIt_n4FZPhgYUHyv8Y_LFw/s1600/P1060416+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XgflcuPXZneNh6PGPkOuCsX7-knLDgyK0g4Lf35uZod6vGBQRitzTlg13K-bkTPMKH8qmsqKZrRII4304_hJqrA6V525pYt207x8m0DwZtEHn6WVI853OuIt_n4FZPhgYUHyv8Y_LFw/s400/P1060416+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am biased, but I find this the most exhilarating view in Orkney.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fortunately, where this burn meets the Rackwick Road, there was some shelter from the breeze and, within a few minutes, both Our Lass and M had spotted distant dragonflies hawking for smaller insects. Not so fortunately, this spot was at the tip of a meander, meaning that when the dragonflies landed on low vegetation to bask in the sun, they were out of sight to anyone foolhardy enough to struggle through chest high bracken with the aim of identifying said dragons. Apparently.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But I was keen for a close encounter, so I nipped over a few wooden bridges, along the road a short distance, then back to the valley on the opposite bank, which gave excellent views of a roosting male Common Hawker.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the pool by the road, we also found a female Emerald Damselfly. Happy sigh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At another pool across the other side of the island, Our Lass spotted a Black Darter, which didn't hang around for a photo. Here, also, was a colony of tiny mining bees of the Genus <i>Andrena, </i>busy little creatures which were difficult to capture on camera.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And as if to properly mark the occasion, we just had time to fit in coffee and cake at the island tearoom, which helpfully provided outside seating. With <i>al fresco</i> dining, the one casualty of the breeze was the froth of M's cappuccino.</span>Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-28117106791141620792020-07-20T06:30:00.000+01:002020-07-20T06:30:04.616+01:00Edgy<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friday saw me joining in a walk on the west coast of West Mainland. Here there are quiet coves of calm water...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and geos with crashing Atlantic breakers.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvJ-lS2SrmZEKugUSQfRwqnMywoz1oxfYk-leggZCfG-oFZoTA2VZQ9Cg51-Y4INaIjGupIWTD5W2qrEnsXCCjlUxIwLkgBhlx7Vkqy8_wLre5yw5xnRn0gD0kj1rkq8upQXI6hOv94g/s1600/P1060239+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvJ-lS2SrmZEKugUSQfRwqnMywoz1oxfYk-leggZCfG-oFZoTA2VZQ9Cg51-Y4INaIjGupIWTD5W2qrEnsXCCjlUxIwLkgBhlx7Vkqy8_wLre5yw5xnRn0gD0kj1rkq8upQXI6hOv94g/s400/P1060239+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the maritime heath of the clifftops, there are swathes of Eyebright.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySpDWQ81EWLVDyuCoa3_7na73rqjnyqW1Y3q0SSpFX5uHlbL3CX84phtEqsNeeAbzpW0umYSLsxn2pKWhRvZficyzczYNeDXkh0ZQw-EsQtUsEIXKBmwnVDBRQXXHs7VmrgfvSV9Svoc/s1600/P1060246+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1482" data-original-width="1482" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySpDWQ81EWLVDyuCoa3_7na73rqjnyqW1Y3q0SSpFX5uHlbL3CX84phtEqsNeeAbzpW0umYSLsxn2pKWhRvZficyzczYNeDXkh0ZQw-EsQtUsEIXKBmwnVDBRQXXHs7VmrgfvSV9Svoc/s400/P1060246+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And above the turbulent tumult of the geos, there are seabirds a plenty. This is a Black Guillemot (Tystie).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehF4ZsUa7VjYiQsbBjFyMK435lzSeek0GKJglLUDAawgySp8ibmzjbasrUiH9tj4TS7orBzC7fWmNHpCpRXmt17itvzsmP3lRazc2urWaBeXujAWB_hIBJHuQdAJuvju94IOnjuYhBts/s1600/P1060260+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehF4ZsUa7VjYiQsbBjFyMK435lzSeek0GKJglLUDAawgySp8ibmzjbasrUiH9tj4TS7orBzC7fWmNHpCpRXmt17itvzsmP3lRazc2urWaBeXujAWB_hIBJHuQdAJuvju94IOnjuYhBts/s400/P1060260+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did I mention crashing waves?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfA7ZjLck_76npe3QJAfdZ04U_3IfZbRvHM_YT6nf8hmB7BS3_QoN1GkSOqLZTeJd9pkO0cB_RI5vEF80shEb5qG-y1tjzRVjJv2ai0MI6wkOfKJvFFTsjTTE-c7bkqs516vS7wUrUWE/s1600/P1060277+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfA7ZjLck_76npe3QJAfdZ04U_3IfZbRvHM_YT6nf8hmB7BS3_QoN1GkSOqLZTeJd9pkO0cB_RI5vEF80shEb5qG-y1tjzRVjJv2ai0MI6wkOfKJvFFTsjTTE-c7bkqs516vS7wUrUWE/s400/P1060277+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A clump of Wild Thyme on the cliff edge of another geo.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomj3hftSS3QCepzrCsjp3VKJEHp6_FPRnHk_vvhDse60V6lzbIh2lFZAQwpytwR0DaJgTj5eq4r27bTxiV13O3ERPL3T8lxmluNtI4UHhUCqqzChv6JXmxPR6beucGBOiv1c3rkhlHGQ/s1600/P1060285+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomj3hftSS3QCepzrCsjp3VKJEHp6_FPRnHk_vvhDse60V6lzbIh2lFZAQwpytwR0DaJgTj5eq4r27bTxiV13O3ERPL3T8lxmluNtI4UHhUCqqzChv6JXmxPR6beucGBOiv1c3rkhlHGQ/s400/P1060285+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A pair of Common Blue butterflies were mating on the bank of one of the many burns which flow off the heath and over the cliff edge.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOr9uIIBfTlWS5akbHpaHxZpIivK-zruyerPt9WJvYIswq_6n3Vgu5CXZMCdpp-ZWui62giRgYx3wA-h77UfHnn2SfumK_AV36JBK114BGnxkQ6YSxFBKPC1AzEV_FuV8N2mMGdp3i2hQ/s1600/P1060298+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOr9uIIBfTlWS5akbHpaHxZpIivK-zruyerPt9WJvYIswq_6n3Vgu5CXZMCdpp-ZWui62giRgYx3wA-h77UfHnn2SfumK_AV36JBK114BGnxkQ6YSxFBKPC1AzEV_FuV8N2mMGdp3i2hQ/s400/P1060298+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also by the burns and in wet flushes, were small colonies of Bog Pimpernel, such a gorgeous wee thing.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BxglqG5qe8o4iGlGfS2zS2zaBaOpAR8QpEU2GDCctEL8BnYaytmE_n2sPmPSBrVKseT4016_J_dt19-Fdt3ZuVYrFzH1xpvn3zADL2tJkHhn373xHDs0Fqvk7crrOwocxxABK9z2V4A/s1600/P1060302+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BxglqG5qe8o4iGlGfS2zS2zaBaOpAR8QpEU2GDCctEL8BnYaytmE_n2sPmPSBrVKseT4016_J_dt19-Fdt3ZuVYrFzH1xpvn3zADL2tJkHhn373xHDs0Fqvk7crrOwocxxABK9z2V4A/s400/P1060302+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's that time of year when the Fulmar chicks are just cute bundles of fluff.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhue4YYCeWGobsLLrdfTYBZqD6ppMdeqDg8FVBbxBfoDwkoCyy2MVqntXlWA4yKiz4lUt_6UujhhfkSwaonZq6W7D3dYW6PDT0-Y07Iqx9lPLefdHJcTjYvfStVHF2RVYIfl9Lugd_N77A/s1600/P1060309+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhue4YYCeWGobsLLrdfTYBZqD6ppMdeqDg8FVBbxBfoDwkoCyy2MVqntXlWA4yKiz4lUt_6UujhhfkSwaonZq6W7D3dYW6PDT0-Y07Iqx9lPLefdHJcTjYvfStVHF2RVYIfl9Lugd_N77A/s400/P1060309+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And occasionally, there's an opportunity to spend some time in the company of...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Puffins!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZe3smHXChr8QZiWOO2sqHCb03LI3zmUF19V9-UdKdu6t8-SghYGuaxodMTJ5w5oDBjchugFNcOIUuHo_tap65Cc5nx6A9L8pG-O6Dp_12htxM_552nfHnGqNPpYj2u-tYn04zxPq7erM/s1600/P1060311+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZe3smHXChr8QZiWOO2sqHCb03LI3zmUF19V9-UdKdu6t8-SghYGuaxodMTJ5w5oDBjchugFNcOIUuHo_tap65Cc5nx6A9L8pG-O6Dp_12htxM_552nfHnGqNPpYj2u-tYn04zxPq7erM/s400/P1060311+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a rock stack known as North Gaulton Castle. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6UKwKettVqkTdKIqX2ejUDJLX44hLq7_myTwd4CqIf2ky7_i1F2mvBOmLqdY-Ieqg4GC9AB9mvcg0nfF87OWnJ-rLAiwWv-3r7vaBcBkiePbKQ8AubhYq3qGz-SFXwQ8BQTt8XTBp5k/s1600/P1060321+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6UKwKettVqkTdKIqX2ejUDJLX44hLq7_myTwd4CqIf2ky7_i1F2mvBOmLqdY-Ieqg4GC9AB9mvcg0nfF87OWnJ-rLAiwWv-3r7vaBcBkiePbKQ8AubhYq3qGz-SFXwQ8BQTt8XTBp5k/s640/P1060321+%25282%2529.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the way back, there were more Puffins.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNzd7x6X-zTswfVeawIaGyHCzby-rAW2tbhW0ObD32UOyidpJPUu9S_vJPK4fRVNvbOr8klxNIRdi1dHReLWyh87hxU_qaYtZ5-OQIKyqqYkjaVL0Spdv4ADVFYVZfPAHNJoeMCpajOg/s1600/P1060334+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNzd7x6X-zTswfVeawIaGyHCzby-rAW2tbhW0ObD32UOyidpJPUu9S_vJPK4fRVNvbOr8klxNIRdi1dHReLWyh87hxU_qaYtZ5-OQIKyqqYkjaVL0Spdv4ADVFYVZfPAHNJoeMCpajOg/s400/P1060334+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqtdrPZynviGCR1l-7OqT6u6nEf9oQ4ujWnEo9lKx63cPrx3xIT9JbnqBVjsRsDa4OPuWXG2Qrg8bukoUDf54UUW7rhNmaxB50h_ubQhRps231vR_8iuz8IBfZukB9VUlASn71RIEKf0/s1600/P1060341+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqtdrPZynviGCR1l-7OqT6u6nEf9oQ4ujWnEo9lKx63cPrx3xIT9JbnqBVjsRsDa4OPuWXG2Qrg8bukoUDf54UUW7rhNmaxB50h_ubQhRps231vR_8iuz8IBfZukB9VUlASn71RIEKf0/s400/P1060341+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whilst the rest of the group were looking for wild flowers, I spotted a few mason wasps, which I think are <i>Ancistrocerus scoticus</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The wet flushes of the heath also contained much Bog Asphodel, adding a splash of colour to the landscape.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3_HfI835RSJz6WIWPUs38t-vl5SZsW2G0Y1n9eFkP2nZu91R7aJF5PjAl-qFpK88boAoE2DoDdJTul7y8_AuQNviEDhz0r-aF1_00GTmsOmZnlEuU_B3ZAAMW4840brC-xv0Prc95QA/s1600/P1060385+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3_HfI835RSJz6WIWPUs38t-vl5SZsW2G0Y1n9eFkP2nZu91R7aJF5PjAl-qFpK88boAoE2DoDdJTul7y8_AuQNviEDhz0r-aF1_00GTmsOmZnlEuU_B3ZAAMW4840brC-xv0Prc95QA/s400/P1060385+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Try as we might, this butterfly wasn't keen on being photographed, so I had to make do with a distant shot. Later, we worked out that it was a Large Heath, which made sense bearing in mind the habitat. It wasn't very big, but is bigger than a Small Heath (which we don't have in Orkney).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DKVwaJDsY7vev5PhS3j5AcOy8aK6MqFEjSHOGK0vfFwUL6zMOepFxMDRxGH0Lg3fl_tnHk9mLhI8Qd2iSwEtABtvkIHZxcjxaLX5PdeUo_ClGMfUO_8Bp0Udgra9wUEXW62THTqVacc/s1600/P1060391+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DKVwaJDsY7vev5PhS3j5AcOy8aK6MqFEjSHOGK0vfFwUL6zMOepFxMDRxGH0Lg3fl_tnHk9mLhI8Qd2iSwEtABtvkIHZxcjxaLX5PdeUo_ClGMfUO_8Bp0Udgra9wUEXW62THTqVacc/s400/P1060391+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And there was just time for one more gratuitous photo of rugged cliffs, crashing waves and turquoise seas.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9P8ejtqT7UqAYsOnS-sVHnMD7MvrI90FWR20c1jLIX2lQc9gL6JPHmG7kYd1_aXNykEGe9i92IlMLMEYbijJBu96UxFpxd_NsEf2PbPFmiEb3NevmpggEq0QJLxPOIzVyv42mK5hyphenhypheneBo/s1600/P1060399+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9P8ejtqT7UqAYsOnS-sVHnMD7MvrI90FWR20c1jLIX2lQc9gL6JPHmG7kYd1_aXNykEGe9i92IlMLMEYbijJBu96UxFpxd_NsEf2PbPFmiEb3NevmpggEq0QJLxPOIzVyv42mK5hyphenhypheneBo/s400/P1060399+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-73343410051901915002020-07-19T14:57:00.000+01:002020-07-19T14:57:11.203+01:00In the thrall of the squall<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There I was, sat in bed this morning, adding dragonfly records from a Hoy trip to an Excel spreadsheet, when I glanced up and out of the window.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFW5xbb__BMtuJDVgz_yA_2Qzj8O6R7YOgcqkrsBD8hIi8hMP41fgFc-k2tu-z_ZfJF1vxqSZ2wwKq51-1kpma3nktUGSiufAY-crR7dvaSO1IAB-1-seZK-3e12luu_-x3KfnFqy-2M/s1600/P1060425+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFW5xbb__BMtuJDVgz_yA_2Qzj8O6R7YOgcqkrsBD8hIi8hMP41fgFc-k2tu-z_ZfJF1vxqSZ2wwKq51-1kpma3nktUGSiufAY-crR7dvaSO1IAB-1-seZK-3e12luu_-x3KfnFqy-2M/s400/P1060425+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whoa! Incoming rainbow! There then ensued a scramble for a camera, a dash to the front door and a quick check that I was sufficiently clothed before I opened it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-y0_fSQ963NsPBCT-7S7Qvw-ye2dIhSzjdtcLfxfy0SoCHI6MueXLsRWPqPhbU37hKKr0yQ_ah5Fnsrak-GLt125iLDn4wWyhAfuR1-zTpmYd3PI5q3Ts02CSQ1GiMQY4xrh49uohSk/s1600/P1060427+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-y0_fSQ963NsPBCT-7S7Qvw-ye2dIhSzjdtcLfxfy0SoCHI6MueXLsRWPqPhbU37hKKr0yQ_ah5Fnsrak-GLt125iLDn4wWyhAfuR1-zTpmYd3PI5q3Ts02CSQ1GiMQY4xrh49uohSk/s400/P1060427+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple of Rock Doves flew through the frame, hoping for world peace, free love and tolerance of sexuality.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzMaslluT471Hji1PJ1VDR3XBbTENWQ-ybAKDxsUq4HrZK61HbploBuqJXYMLIvMZI1g6z7q7y5lb4DdzsnCSgmNuFGTZz1WhOg5ZbqACRRbrSuaQOUxtCMR9FZgTnbo57I-1yDQCBt8/s1600/P1060429+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzMaslluT471Hji1PJ1VDR3XBbTENWQ-ybAKDxsUq4HrZK61HbploBuqJXYMLIvMZI1g6z7q7y5lb4DdzsnCSgmNuFGTZz1WhOg5ZbqACRRbrSuaQOUxtCMR9FZgTnbo57I-1yDQCBt8/s400/P1060429+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sun glinted off the windows of a car crossing Churchill Barrier 1, as I zoomed into the diffuse colours at the base of the rainbow.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KrlxzBPXPdTWkeZBlhA6_eP03g3jnb9KNRMFVH2tNeslr2jS-U0Fa-B-APcqKmxR5GL94OR83WfkU5BYlAqA3vSMsP9ydLpu8lSHSI6xU5uzqZSgK6aUEKzqOXzzUgUxLR__o4k1dc8/s1600/P1060433+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KrlxzBPXPdTWkeZBlhA6_eP03g3jnb9KNRMFVH2tNeslr2jS-U0Fa-B-APcqKmxR5GL94OR83WfkU5BYlAqA3vSMsP9ydLpu8lSHSI6xU5uzqZSgK6aUEKzqOXzzUgUxLR__o4k1dc8/s400/P1060433+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the approaching shower was darkening the sky, giving a more moody feel to the morning.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDaFp21At_HxKpilCkIu4SN_XdqiPwoRbj1hwoaAp_0a-RDyVxuOuGkLH3nisyEn6YlBafkNaJk1XMwr6Q8MYONJkAR7E9gj-JBig6K8unNc5coM_HqzpRhhOPiyYbVzXyFrT_pAtaLU/s1600/P1060439+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDaFp21At_HxKpilCkIu4SN_XdqiPwoRbj1hwoaAp_0a-RDyVxuOuGkLH3nisyEn6YlBafkNaJk1XMwr6Q8MYONJkAR7E9gj-JBig6K8unNc5coM_HqzpRhhOPiyYbVzXyFrT_pAtaLU/s400/P1060439+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With less light, a second rainbow became just visible.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27QxvfgjuMpyD2rPA53NY39VhyL-g1PkylxLNfIGC7kJ1mRsiO3kgN4rePwKSJK3WQSPkG3L9jMrY9NAcmAEJx5Iuc1zufMUVn-U1EqvIYgrw-6rwNIVG2On9NUyUvEFh101OaA6aa9k/s1600/P1060443+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27QxvfgjuMpyD2rPA53NY39VhyL-g1PkylxLNfIGC7kJ1mRsiO3kgN4rePwKSJK3WQSPkG3L9jMrY9NAcmAEJx5Iuc1zufMUVn-U1EqvIYgrw-6rwNIVG2On9NUyUvEFh101OaA6aa9k/s400/P1060443+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And as the shower started to launch raindrops onto my camera lens (and bare knees), the bow touched down at the other end of the arc.</span>Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-69156338919216416082020-07-17T06:30:00.000+01:002020-07-17T06:30:07.610+01:00Less blue, more pink<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another coastal walk? Why not. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This one was from the clifftops at Yesnaby, northwards towards Skaill. It was another blustery day, but it thankfully remained dry as Our Lass had forgotten her waterproof jacket. The route north was sunnier than the return journey, but it was enough of a day out to feel like a holiday trip.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We explored the maritime heath for flowering plants, finding Grass of Parnassus and Scottish Primrose without too much trouble. However, try as we might, we couldn't locate a Frog Orchid. Whilst Our Lass was photographing graffiti on a door lintel of the Broch of Borwick, I had a very brief view of a Ruby-tailed Wasp</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQ6UMcF_losRcOQ1JvTPkXySpYV9q5OBsYQ2F3svr97v48ZK2qJuRC-P9MLYn1q9Ti4k55suRKUrL8l1bAGrI56IjbEyI3VPK56Xj0Z3YA3nJFAbpHS-PXnI_hR9LfTxfO1RAkbgiBAI/s1600/P1060141+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQ6UMcF_losRcOQ1JvTPkXySpYV9q5OBsYQ2F3svr97v48ZK2qJuRC-P9MLYn1q9Ti4k55suRKUrL8l1bAGrI56IjbEyI3VPK56Xj0Z3YA3nJFAbpHS-PXnI_hR9LfTxfO1RAkbgiBAI/s400/P1060141+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broch of Borwick</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The clifftop path was, by turns, grassy then rocky. In some places it was difficult to understand how plants could possibly grow in such inhospitable locations.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheK6JwNP6pLdKcXj3JJ7vwxgjDFLjEkpQG4jOHuYLUlz1PQAkBxY_u8FYOOfncwqgXxaiUK1kNZW39Na88CmkuA240U7Va49VN9ZPPiUKS2Vnx-FzmZfA95vULlrA4xknc0D0ZjdSWHUI/s1600/P1060142+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheK6JwNP6pLdKcXj3JJ7vwxgjDFLjEkpQG4jOHuYLUlz1PQAkBxY_u8FYOOfncwqgXxaiUK1kNZW39Na88CmkuA240U7Va49VN9ZPPiUKS2Vnx-FzmZfA95vULlrA4xknc0D0ZjdSWHUI/s400/P1060142+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spot the Sea Milkwort</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCD43kA6m2yYWur0azFLAfl_tLax5DguLtrcHLvlQYoKer_8W7VkIn3l-5db1YHTAPfyCcitTgMh_gofx_eQrg0AfuLZuCuh8K5kngbCxbW7eQ6KQfy5EjBFOfT3OuTdNswjbGgcZyLE/s1600/P1060145+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCD43kA6m2yYWur0azFLAfl_tLax5DguLtrcHLvlQYoKer_8W7VkIn3l-5db1YHTAPfyCcitTgMh_gofx_eQrg0AfuLZuCuh8K5kngbCxbW7eQ6KQfy5EjBFOfT3OuTdNswjbGgcZyLE/s400/P1060145+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here it is!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am trying to learn how to separate the umpteen species and the permutations of hybrids of Eyebright. In Orkney, there are 14 distinct species and subspecies, with a further 18 hybridisations. But the one I stopped to photograph had an unexpected surprise for me. As I focussed on the Eyebright, something moved, and I realised that there was the rear end (I think) of a grub or larva tucked under a rosette of Buck's-horn Plantain. Quite why its arse looks like a fox's face, I do not know.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4RKQLD5grxgl0U-6rCmWPboesoTLsPeddnvRK5jo35Yn6NcxtVEMG6_mH6ckvgaCTuWVRZrzK_zug88B1EmJKhbgAKpcYGewHGWSXNZqFFqOa6Rfwhgcxl8kak_cUDku5XrH6eM7gvk/s1600/P1060149+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4RKQLD5grxgl0U-6rCmWPboesoTLsPeddnvRK5jo35Yn6NcxtVEMG6_mH6ckvgaCTuWVRZrzK_zug88B1EmJKhbgAKpcYGewHGWSXNZqFFqOa6Rfwhgcxl8kak_cUDku5XrH6eM7gvk/s400/P1060149+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Later, the County Flora Recorder saw the photo and informed me that this was Marshall's Eyebright, an endemic species to Scotland.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We stopped for lunch</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">beside a long geo, and watched Fulmars cavorting on the strong breeze, Arctic Skuas upsetting Herring Gulls and Tysties sitting about making thin, shrill piping sounds. When I had finished my sandwiches, I went to photograph a pair of Tysties and suffered another photo-bombing.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg061x3yYl6WGcmJO5SI3s9ij99DFjNuIGV1au0raWzwSMxlM3AO3g7QIo1zlPi5TnpibxVPxTqyXb6XbppC6xflglDhBrigHByQXGtIPhqPQ8hyYVgb07J-AyT6Sez0kKcAl9EqwsVDAA/s1600/P1060153+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg061x3yYl6WGcmJO5SI3s9ij99DFjNuIGV1au0raWzwSMxlM3AO3g7QIo1zlPi5TnpibxVPxTqyXb6XbppC6xflglDhBrigHByQXGtIPhqPQ8hyYVgb07J-AyT6Sez0kKcAl9EqwsVDAA/s400/P1060153+%25282%2529.JPG" width="398" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then there was more Eyebright research, but I have not ID'd this one yet (or been told what it is, which is more likelier).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1Da_BDA7mWP-FKO14AUxhuw9JpGi54jZFK5Ink7B3_7AEjdGUr81Hu7lY5qT05f3_97EPlNGZJ4qOLk6ZYi3oT1GFjffn-I1p-T7druig8Rc64pvrVrEMSdBNgxeJVc7IjRXs8iVCxE/s1600/P1060160+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1Da_BDA7mWP-FKO14AUxhuw9JpGi54jZFK5Ink7B3_7AEjdGUr81Hu7lY5qT05f3_97EPlNGZJ4qOLk6ZYi3oT1GFjffn-I1p-T7druig8Rc64pvrVrEMSdBNgxeJVc7IjRXs8iVCxE/s400/P1060160+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We lingered awhile by a small colony of Guillemots, watching the adults going to and fro between the sea and the cliff ledges. It is not every seabird colony where the action takes place at eye level (not a musical reference, but no-one is going to believe me).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-lC1zsckI1HHcoxeJxpSG4P-utEwAKDIJbPtrqpZEYM21SjZPmIPd_MCqrFYrbpnHnO35QSi19TOnpWC6yX8S7vDmu48GD-CruPdtt5wrnkd42DoL6PMXy9akxBVjqt7vIRtGtL4mqk/s1600/P1060170+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-lC1zsckI1HHcoxeJxpSG4P-utEwAKDIJbPtrqpZEYM21SjZPmIPd_MCqrFYrbpnHnO35QSi19TOnpWC6yX8S7vDmu48GD-CruPdtt5wrnkd42DoL6PMXy9akxBVjqt7vIRtGtL4mqk/s400/P1060170+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the return journey, we found a swathe of Ragged Robin in a wet flush. Here's Our Lass showing some solidarity with their pinkness. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjozRWRkJfnOEFL06Z69wHHZGGhyphenhyphenYM-1MqtzX_j5nGLHl0jD7v2Bunf9AWI0K54KRtjm0BZEUrSKrObLWuk8KczcYvlSeXpA_0n3LwF0XEX1YzFWPoeAhVc7SqdmNdndpC5t3uJZpLh4/s1600/P1060179+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjozRWRkJfnOEFL06Z69wHHZGGhyphenhyphenYM-1MqtzX_j5nGLHl0jD7v2Bunf9AWI0K54KRtjm0BZEUrSKrObLWuk8KczcYvlSeXpA_0n3LwF0XEX1YzFWPoeAhVc7SqdmNdndpC5t3uJZpLh4/s400/P1060179+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And no trip to Yesnaby at this time of year would be complete without a gratuitous Scottish Primrose photograph.</span><br />
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<br />Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-91783828129590413442020-07-15T22:09:00.003+01:002020-07-16T07:21:58.321+01:00A further pond update<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last time on 'Pond update', we were musing about whether there was going to be wholesale upheaval in the garden, and if so, should fitting the pond liner be put on hold for the time being?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This morning, this happened...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ219pw8KFhOa-tOx5qs4x-YhtXNRMoqlT6bUo_rH0MDqXK6vD_LYJf4FZkkVCb3xTdedSwukNBNOHY-RPsDyPT6-GNY2kP3k7DDL5RzlGpywOHE_iqp4jkNff4rZx-j-BDiyMv-BSiBc/s1600/107876567_316274203110337_6270480440233749686_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ219pw8KFhOa-tOx5qs4x-YhtXNRMoqlT6bUo_rH0MDqXK6vD_LYJf4FZkkVCb3xTdedSwukNBNOHY-RPsDyPT6-GNY2kP3k7DDL5RzlGpywOHE_iqp4jkNff4rZx-j-BDiyMv-BSiBc/s400/107876567_316274203110337_6270480440233749686_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The plan for the next step was to locate the end of the outfall pipe beyond the inspection chamber...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJ85nWBbhqsAbM1BD9y9ccxSs5PvwdEp12QS4iUa3_QUvq9Sz0Eo5O4yEfvTZG1v8cHMctdMZn_-UyYMbpSsJnLt9rfMjYdBhsv6pazHPDBPVOKfH4G5y7Euk3NEi-6uyOHpLelqXLlA/s1600/P1060208+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJ85nWBbhqsAbM1BD9y9ccxSs5PvwdEp12QS4iUa3_QUvq9Sz0Eo5O4yEfvTZG1v8cHMctdMZn_-UyYMbpSsJnLt9rfMjYdBhsv6pazHPDBPVOKfH4G5y7Euk3NEi-6uyOHpLelqXLlA/s640/P1060208+%25282%2529.JPG" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This cleared any blockage at the end of the pipe, but revealed that the percolation of grey water was sub-optimal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So the hole was extended beyond the current soakaway...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4VwEKV4-ZGsmoGJ7UQLHWDsFZn-E0mqHFKgMbCuu7lchpvfFp1UpukzsWZsa6wp2yhk0G3PH9F1P7aTc-_2qchAaXr5r7mB5gO3zJN8xletHQWeDoC7hu-O6RmU5LkN68m35SX-GP2A/s1600/P1060214+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4VwEKV4-ZGsmoGJ7UQLHWDsFZn-E0mqHFKgMbCuu7lchpvfFp1UpukzsWZsa6wp2yhk0G3PH9F1P7aTc-_2qchAaXr5r7mB5gO3zJN8xletHQWeDoC7hu-O6RmU5LkN68m35SX-GP2A/s640/P1060214+%25282%2529.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and a new soakaway pit was dug.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZwsyJGEUBEOU3m8aRRJbjR6eoxVVG45WYwr24Aig_kBnetMYLsUcgvyp_YxKMmCyq7x2fG9N9OeCr-tSDqhjHlmWbtU5s_L4NGt44IaA2kkfGC8StXHpfpsBpkeieVtoXuFncyV2UdQ/s1600/P1060213+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZwsyJGEUBEOU3m8aRRJbjR6eoxVVG45WYwr24Aig_kBnetMYLsUcgvyp_YxKMmCyq7x2fG9N9OeCr-tSDqhjHlmWbtU5s_L4NGt44IaA2kkfGC8StXHpfpsBpkeieVtoXuFncyV2UdQ/s400/P1060213+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fortunately, Tense TV was live at the scene to witness the rough and the smooth of hydraulic excavation power.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyMw3WG0Ixb-ITDRIiR_pC5OS0W8E47QJtWyM_O6l7cwjgzbFj6Hv7LrFtzTh2qjz0ELX0EAVR4KHRj6hN6bQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When Our Lass arrived home from work, she was a bit shocked. That was until her inner geologist kicked in, as bedding planes and strata were pondered over.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If that has all been too stressful for you, here's some lovely pea flowers, growing with Fumitory accompaniment, and a Common Marbled Carpet moth (possibly).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHXwtQeJ86jNEYKGqQdD8QLgkEDIV_c1PS7p49hFjbOG9p429Z78FiXYDk9jD9MEbBrzlTkHkLQ-aquJPg9h0QfduY1PFgzyMOkENa_70RSDiBvxQy-LsipSElCEFQEBE567VUyLzlkM/s1600/P1060225+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHXwtQeJ86jNEYKGqQdD8QLgkEDIV_c1PS7p49hFjbOG9p429Z78FiXYDk9jD9MEbBrzlTkHkLQ-aquJPg9h0QfduY1PFgzyMOkENa_70RSDiBvxQy-LsipSElCEFQEBE567VUyLzlkM/s400/P1060225+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the avoidance of doubt, most of my day was spent indoors, watching our untidily-worded garden transform into an anagram of itself.</span>Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-435556659861775532020-07-15T06:30:00.000+01:002020-07-15T06:30:12.021+01:00Not so still life<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My rent-a-crowd duties went up a gear the other day, when I participated in a recce for a hill walk across in West Mainland. The 'crowd' consisted of three of us, covering expertise on plants and insects, although I was never going to be very busy with Odonata. Instead, I tried to soak up info about all the flora we were seeing. It was quite strange being in a group of four, the largest gathering I've been involved in for ages.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a blustery day too, with a heavy shower as soon as we set off, but there was much botanical interest to photograph, if only the wind wouldn't keep moving it about. Most of my images were binned because of motion blur.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heath Fragrant Orchid, even I could smell it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bog Asphodel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUz1_a5kIkbJsV_AUGlmCm74Fg_DMG6LG5sDwxl01IjynLSvf5DP8mvnKXtcZSbONWnwSX58Em3FymjTlaPp7v6tDEVXJk35uvi3lbshF1XplGQRHSRx63EAuI1iWjqTRWd7LaqDJYrc/s1600/P1060027+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUz1_a5kIkbJsV_AUGlmCm74Fg_DMG6LG5sDwxl01IjynLSvf5DP8mvnKXtcZSbONWnwSX58Em3FymjTlaPp7v6tDEVXJk35uvi3lbshF1XplGQRHSRx63EAuI1iWjqTRWd7LaqDJYrc/s400/P1060027+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Harvestman of some kind</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIBapOZh4iggfCc_VW9CGBM74G8QrNmnpf7qs71JVaZiODVLzdlejyiw4J2npE_X4r1dfNLIEDw1gzLwoKHg3QQ_TcZAK5vBiOmLwEy8QGMrxhySxB1lqxj3tY70aTVgh2HzuemyqUJY/s1600/P1060039+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIBapOZh4iggfCc_VW9CGBM74G8QrNmnpf7qs71JVaZiODVLzdlejyiw4J2npE_X4r1dfNLIEDw1gzLwoKHg3QQ_TcZAK5vBiOmLwEy8QGMrxhySxB1lqxj3tY70aTVgh2HzuemyqUJY/s400/P1060039+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emperor Moth caterpillar, second instar</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYw5QOHj-9Z9I2pPGmYFA2QVsWCX60rIZEQqSOCZlXU_rDW6VZAZDSoJCXn5ObYiBeVMGMtR1u9QtWO-UqF9sN7glpY-3q_ScqhBs4DPtTN7hc6XjW_D3Gwm6z4kEp6SHpiEFvgeZpnek/s1600/P1060042+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1317" data-original-width="1317" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYw5QOHj-9Z9I2pPGmYFA2QVsWCX60rIZEQqSOCZlXU_rDW6VZAZDSoJCXn5ObYiBeVMGMtR1u9QtWO-UqF9sN7glpY-3q_ScqhBs4DPtTN7hc6XjW_D3Gwm6z4kEp6SHpiEFvgeZpnek/s400/P1060042+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emperor Moth caterpillar, fourth instar</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZ6GW6Rdemuo3NVyZaFDs-lq_Kpnriac3_69E06uXOO9bzAE2cl5DepMKg9M9umMkEkvAjjalqjToeRQONiRu-mcgyRMZqzTD-E6tt1n4KFCKO4sJ6u9qLD8MRMQCjxgtoeTRLXnTEHM/s1600/P1060060+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZ6GW6Rdemuo3NVyZaFDs-lq_Kpnriac3_69E06uXOO9bzAE2cl5DepMKg9M9umMkEkvAjjalqjToeRQONiRu-mcgyRMZqzTD-E6tt1n4KFCKO4sJ6u9qLD8MRMQCjxgtoeTRLXnTEHM/s400/P1060060+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A peedie mushroom</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the top of the hill, there were views in all directions, but my favourite was this one, across to the island of Graemsay and the hills in the north of Hoy beyond.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sPkQQ0uF35yIgxT-7PMfLw4XFBy94Xs-oIV0zf2Uv3AzujyzXZMAiTVP3VTM28hrqMVr-wx9NLFyNo-RKJ1xfjt5iQvmKvt9-Ux-ltCcAyuE0o2jtmGSfaVwcLfaCMrmrRQ7OeOACtE/s1600/P1060095+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1444" data-original-width="1444" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sPkQQ0uF35yIgxT-7PMfLw4XFBy94Xs-oIV0zf2Uv3AzujyzXZMAiTVP3VTM28hrqMVr-wx9NLFyNo-RKJ1xfjt5iQvmKvt9-Ux-ltCcAyuE0o2jtmGSfaVwcLfaCMrmrRQ7OeOACtE/s400/P1060095+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tiny wasp, thought to be a spider hunter. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marsh Lousewort</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stag's-horn Clubmoss</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the return journey, Eagle-eyed M spotted a male Hen Harrier quartering a distant moor. It was flying into the wind, so its progress was slow, but that just gave us more time to enjoy the moment.</span>Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-62026127665954287142020-07-14T06:30:00.000+01:002020-07-14T06:30:05.382+01:00Light and shade<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One evening last week produced some wonderful ephemeral skies and nice lighting effects.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thankfully, the good folk of Rackwick Bay on the west side of Hoy were not repeating any Bikini Atoll tests, but it did look like it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Late evening, the sun was hidden behind a thick bank of cloud, with just a thin sliver of light at the horizon and a few cloud tops tinged pink.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But towards sunset, the light intensity ramped up again, but from a very shallow angle. This was enough to drag me away from The Art of Persia on iPlayer, and even stand on a garden chair to see over the wire fence of the field across the road. Sadly, this was too much human for a flock of Curlews to suffer and they wandered off to the other side of the field. A lone Lapwing remained to give some scale to the lines in the recently-mown pasture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then it was sunset...</span><br />
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<br />Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-7649304881451374632020-07-13T06:30:00.000+01:002020-07-13T06:30:01.065+01:00Head, white and blue<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the predicted further lessening of lockdown restrictions and the likely resumption of tourism, Eagle-eyed M of Wild Orkney Walks was keen to recce some walks to check for any changes which would need to be made to risk assessments. I was invited along as a socially-distanced minimal rent-a-crowd, an extra pair of eyes and cover against lone working. The weather was better than forecast, as we ambled towards Mull Head from the Gloup car park.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">M quickly found some Scots Lovage, a plant I had not so far seen this year. I was pleasantly surprised to discover the little purple anthers in the close-up photo, as well as several insects which I didn't realise were there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were plenty of Common Blue butterflies about, but they were mostly rather flighty. I had to take my time to get into position for the below pic. Slow and low was the way to go. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we ventured further north and the clifftop vegetation turned from grassy slopes to heath and moor, there were some lovely views out to sea, across swathes of Bog Cotton.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At a narrow geo, our gazes were drawn towards a dark silhouette at the seaward end of the ravine. A lone sentinel at the gate in the form of a Shag.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we neared the Head, a pair of Arctic Skuas were hunting just off shore, monitoring the returning auks bringing food back for their chicks. Although it was a tough ask for my little point and shoot, I did manage an image of the pale phased bird of the pair.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the cliff ledges, it was difficult to spot the Guillemot chicks, as the adult birds were protecting their offspring from marauding gulls by shielding them with their bodies. In the below photo, there is a young Guillemot in the centre of the image.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">M isn't just eagle-eyed, she has good hearing too, and she picked up the call of Red-throated Diver as it flew in off the sea. Again, it was asking a lot of my camera!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At a small cove, we stopped to listen to the echoing calls of Black Guillemots. The birds were hidden from our view, but their piping notes bounced around the rock walls and to our ears. In the sheltered waters of the cove, we could see some large jellyfish, possibly Lion's Mane?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we retraced our steps, we found a female Common Blue butterfly perched on a grass head in the centre of the path. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We both took several photos of her before moving on, and as we did so, she suddenly fell off the seed head and plummeted into the undergrowth. I assumed that this was a belated reaction to our presence, as a perceived predator threat. Down between the grass blades, the butterfly remained motionless, so the only other reason I could think of for her behaviour, laying eggs, seemed a remote possibility, especially as there didn't appear to be any Bird's-foot Trefoil present.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I took another photo then, for some reason, I offered my hand to the butterfly. She stepped straight onto it and did a pirouette to orientate her wings to where the sun would be through the clouds. Maybe the warmth of my hands was a bigger draw than the fear of human predation? It was a lovely wildlife moment. Happy sigh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we returned to the car park, another small cove held a few Razorbills and a single Guillemot. This one was the bridled form which looks like it is wearing spectacles. Beside it was an unhatched egg, presumably rather late in the season for it to hatch now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before the walk's end, there was just time for one more, ever-so-slightly gratuitous Bog Cotton photo.</span><br />
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<br />Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-1043178853216104582020-07-12T11:06:00.001+01:002020-07-12T11:06:20.078+01:00Up the stares and along a landing<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's been seven days since I last posted, but for once I can't blame a lack of muse, as there's five blogposts in draft from various goings-on and all manner of what-have-you. Between being out there doing stuff (work is slowly picking up again) and maybe a lack of motivation to be tippy-tappetting away at a keyboard, there has been a week's silence from Old Tense. One consequence of lockdown (and I will let you decide, dear reader, whether it is a favourable outcome), is that my nominal two posts a week target has been buried under a flurry of Tense Towers tales, such that we're several months ahead of schedule. And there's more local legends and parochial prattlings in the wings, pending a possible second wave of virusness. So, without further ado, let's begin catching up on recent events hereabouts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last weekend, a third oil platform sailed into Scapa Flow and anchored off Howequoy Head. This is the Stena Don, a frequent visitor to Orkney when things are quiet in the spewing-forth-of-fossil-fuels business. It arrived with a complement of three ocean-going tugs which helped to tether the rig in position. Our corner of the Flow was busy that day, as there were also three freighters at anchor with no goods to ship anywhere. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At one point, a helicopter landed on the Stena Don, and we wondered who was to-ing or fro-ing (if you're wondering, yes, I am on a bonus scheme with hyphens in this post). Later that day, there was a peculiar conjunction of two of the tugs, Njord Viking and Loke Viking, so we reckoned that the chopper must've been Dr Dolittle coming to see his Pushmi-Pullyu.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With all the staring out of the window, I noticed a tiny thing on the sill (well, apart from all the dust etc), but what it was, I couldn't begin to fathom. Shaped like a cartoon bone, purple with pale speckling, what the heck was it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My best guess is some part of a flower?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whilst I haven't seen a dragonfly so far this year, I was cheered up immensely by this rock engraving from Rob at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/orkneybeachcrafts/">Orkney Beach Craft</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rob is now busy with a house name plate for us... with a difference.</span>Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-90368487902754453382020-07-05T12:39:00.003+01:002020-07-05T12:39:18.922+01:00Pond update<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is six weeks since I blogged about the creation of a garden pond at Tense Towers. To be honest, there's been little progress since, for a number of reasons, but the plan is still to have a functioning water body before the end of the Summer. I should perhaps qualify that remark, as anecdotally, the end of the Orcadian Summer is associated with the second week of August, when a cold wind invariably appears, to scoff at Hawaiian shorts and pina coladas. Maybe I should aim for the Autumnal equinox?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyway, back in May, I left you with news that the liner and some pond plants had been ordered. The pond plants from <a href="https://perthshirewildlife.co.uk/celtica-wildflowers/">Celtica Wildflowers</a>, in Perthshire, duly arrived and were put into small water-filled containers to acclimatise. And there they still are, although the House Sparrows have found these containers and happily drink from them. Indeed the hole excavated for the pond has been a source of great interest for sparrows, Starlings, Rock Doves and an assortment of gulls, although now it is beginning to develop a green frisson as plants begin growing from the bare earth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The liner took a little longer to arrive, actually a lot longer, as apparently the whole world was using lockdown as an excuse to dig a pond. The manufacturers couldn't keep up with demand, so my liner was going to be a while. Obviously, lots of ponds should be great for wildlife, but the aquatically-minded creatures at Tense Towers would have to be patient.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Traditionally, during the Summer in Orkney, the phrase "Is there a liner in?" refers to whether there's a cruise ship berthed at Hatston quay, disgorging bus loads of tourists to the scenic honeypots of the archipelago, but that ain't happening either, for obvious reasons.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the beginning of this week, the pond liner finally arrived, almost to the day when we discovered a problem with our sewage arrangements. We aren't on a sewage main, but have a septic tank to take care of such things. Investigations continue, but it would seem poodent to wait and see whether half the back garden has to be excavated to repair a soak away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As they say, shit happens.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A more recent blogpost bewailed the lack of rain and the dire consequences for dragonflies and damselflies hereabouts. Predictably, since then, it's done nothing but rain, or at least we have had a series of light showers. I can't help but think that these would have been handy for filling up a nascent water body and pacifying any passing Naiads. I can but hope.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To be continued...</span>Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-7317014153126373072020-07-04T12:37:00.000+01:002020-07-04T12:37:10.356+01:00Muddy waters blues<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It had been about a fortnight since the last visit to Russadale and the several dozen damselflies busying about their life cycles, so another trip was due to monitor any changes. Eagle-eyed M and I met up at Happy Valley, at the foot of Russadale, and quickly checked its pond for odes. There were a couple of Large Red Damselflies and about ten Blue-tailed Damselflies, some freshly-emerged, some overmature. At the time I remarked that this was the most populous I had seen the pond, so I couldn't wait to saunter up the hill to the quarry pools.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It really is a pleasant walk, between heather banks and verges of wild flowers, a little rough underfoot, but the climb is very gentle. Stonechats, Willow Warblers, Robins, Meadow Pipits and Wrens were all feeding y</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">oung. Hoverflies and butterflies, a few moths and a bazillion other flying insects were all on the wing, as were a Hen Harrier and a Cuckoo.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we arrived at the quarry, however, our mood darkened at the sight of virtually dry pools and an almost complete absence of damselflies. M spotted one fluttering up from the vegetation, a very fresh Blue-tail, and we mused that this could be last one emerging from the pools this year unless there's some prolonged spells of rain soon. There are dragonflies which breed here, whose flight season has not yet begun, so their larvae are stuck in the mud. I have no idea whether that is a survivable situation for Black Darters and Common Hawkers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How and ever, not everyone was so distraught at the lack of water in the pools. A female Crane Fly was busy egg-laying into the mud. I have to admit to wincing whilst watching it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Somewhat down-heartedly, we retraced our steps through the dale, musing upon the lack of rainfall and the natural processes of vegetative succession which were threatening this breeding site for at least four species of Odonata. Thankfully, Nature slowly worked its magic upon us, as the other wildlife of Russadale came to our rescue.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Red-thighed St Mark's Fly</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A female Common Blue butterfly</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valerian fit to burst</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ta Dah!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, that conjunction of red flower bud and green ferniness</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XnLtEYn7E396-X8_w4Nl1Nfd6jQ9RnxSvSYhtzkXKI6BR0HnRkomR7GqnHufMwwQtuDj7jxqIbmNMBgd1_YYd2T5D4tpWh4qXXF6Zufz2NXBG6Kf1FCQHazOlX0PtnGzZ_TpTvtj6Mk/s1600/P1050807+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XnLtEYn7E396-X8_w4Nl1Nfd6jQ9RnxSvSYhtzkXKI6BR0HnRkomR7GqnHufMwwQtuDj7jxqIbmNMBgd1_YYd2T5D4tpWh4qXXF6Zufz2NXBG6Kf1FCQHazOlX0PtnGzZ_TpTvtj6Mk/s640/P1050807+%25282%2529.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slender St John's-wort</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOoNCduAQjTA_GUQKjAxwSYBJQAoKECWJzrP2kXpgRw_zAgxzzguZ3cwPPEJ3M6mllEH97QIjEf_KkOx1QEzNdavNoUJ_1cQYrs48vQ8xLkmI45mwHnf0ZvXhfKbw8nmJyq_Um5Vd00Y/s1600/P1050820+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOoNCduAQjTA_GUQKjAxwSYBJQAoKECWJzrP2kXpgRw_zAgxzzguZ3cwPPEJ3M6mllEH97QIjEf_KkOx1QEzNdavNoUJ_1cQYrs48vQ8xLkmI45mwHnf0ZvXhfKbw8nmJyq_Um5Vd00Y/s400/P1050820+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Meadow Brown butterfly</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhGK2B3jZCPBe1yNdVJJraOuZoF0cSYdODxi5uPXdAg-PbEIrxoOZYW9EuTt3ip06FxdrScfZWgfBuekwUWV98pDATVdmGs8b4QlrB6cGE8uFIBkNxnR155O1-N7jN94_eheHrK9QSLw/s1600/P1050829+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhGK2B3jZCPBe1yNdVJJraOuZoF0cSYdODxi5uPXdAg-PbEIrxoOZYW9EuTt3ip06FxdrScfZWgfBuekwUWV98pDATVdmGs8b4QlrB6cGE8uFIBkNxnR155O1-N7jN94_eheHrK9QSLw/s400/P1050829+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A male Common Blue butterfly</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpMq7wMmgomTjIasRWZgdmkD2xZ3EYo_rLu1zzwnLcdZvJjEcnY9IPpMz7axp_hrJpLrUp_Jgu5fytP163IUtUPB4_SkV1_LGiGWA8eU-cDEdXIOGfpoF6r2tlZnykjBE6PNusBLxhyphenhyphenU/s1600/P1050835+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpMq7wMmgomTjIasRWZgdmkD2xZ3EYo_rLu1zzwnLcdZvJjEcnY9IPpMz7axp_hrJpLrUp_Jgu5fytP163IUtUPB4_SkV1_LGiGWA8eU-cDEdXIOGfpoF6r2tlZnykjBE6PNusBLxhyphenhyphenU/s400/P1050835+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue boys on Valerian</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEseX2-jT6Mx0hL3vaZ69wg8kCn8txRKail-8hCoNlKj4tvDV8QBo5FTZVNbLJ1_7Tq7XSwwsNwnOEWSY9CqLKCaXgzDmC-d0-bbCN0QhG29TCmXkfqRlEES5RSkir73uVLLdq40qrjo/s1600/P1050842+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEseX2-jT6Mx0hL3vaZ69wg8kCn8txRKail-8hCoNlKj4tvDV8QBo5FTZVNbLJ1_7Tq7XSwwsNwnOEWSY9CqLKCaXgzDmC-d0-bbCN0QhG29TCmXkfqRlEES5RSkir73uVLLdq40qrjo/s400/P1050842+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another male Common Blue butterfly</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since that visit on Thursday, and as I type this now, it has rained and is forecast to continue for much of the weekend. I can only hope for sufficient precipitation to recover the situation (with apologies to all the local farmers trying to cut hay for fodder and silage).</span>Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-91819013907453690712020-07-03T21:47:00.004+01:002020-07-03T21:47:58.404+01:00Blue for you<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After last week's outing along a stretch of the east coast of South Ronaldsay, Eagle-eyed M suggested that, for this week, we should try the west coast instead. This shoreline, from Sandwick down towards Burwick, looks out onto the Pentland Firth, across to the islands of Swona and Stroma, and further to Caithness on the Scottish mainland.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We began at the bay of Sand Wick, where a flock of Oystercatchers were enjoying the sun, sea and sand. A single Sandwich Tern flew by, and Ringed Plovers were scurrying about the beach. A grassy path wound its way up from the shore onto the low cliffs and we headed south through habitats which alternated between coastal heath and verdant pasture, depending upon how much improvement had been carried out to the neighbouring fields.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where run-off was providing over-nutrification, the grass was long and lush, with plenty of thistles. Where run-off was minimal, crowberry and heather held sway. In one small geo, the lush vegetation ran downhill all the way to the beach. These orchids were just above the high tide line.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, the plant we were looking for was to be found in the wilder areas of heath, and in Orkney the flower is mainly located on this stretch of coast and the island of Eday. Whilst our target was quite similar to Devil's-bit Scabious, we weren't going to have the wool pulled over our eyes, we were on the hunt for Sheep's-bit.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With some Catsear</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And in the sheltered gullies, flitting amongst the trefoils and vetches, were many Common Blue butterflies. They were tricky to approach or photograph.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whilst in pursuit of the Blues, I spotted a potter wasp, a five-banded one, which was busy robbing nectar from some Tufted Vetch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our luck with the weather didn't quite hold out, as we were caught in a shower during the return trip, but we didn't let that dampen our spirits after a wonderful day's wildlife watching.</span>Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-39073904293344539042020-06-29T16:39:00.000+01:002020-06-29T16:39:41.740+01:00Beetles - magical blustery tour<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a bit of an ID mystery hanging over last week's beach and clifftop walk, the leaf beetle found in a buttercup flower. I thought it might be worthwhile going back for another look to see if I could find another one to help with the identification of the species. Our Lass was just keen to be out in the fresh air. And, by heck, was it fresh. Rather than a westerly, the wind was now more of an easterly, coming straight off the sea and gusting across the clifftops. Only the Fulmars seemed pleased with this arrangement, as they performed ludicrous aerial manoeuvres and hung in the blustery air, trying to score maximum points from the judges. Posers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You will probably remember the route: a mile of sand and surf, a gentle climb to the clifftops, seabird colonies, moorland and a disused quarry.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A clump of Oysterplant</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfsjp8Wr8ytHFpMz29CjvYzX8b3GDsSv0c4uH65l74YVXz4cGMscycC3CCXipXqMcdMjSaIMzB3xg-mk8Xdc0ruyjb_hhaXQuWTej89koyRg46q41us6L56b-wc350CNs-JCbmQTPxHY/s1600/P1050609+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfsjp8Wr8ytHFpMz29CjvYzX8b3GDsSv0c4uH65l74YVXz4cGMscycC3CCXipXqMcdMjSaIMzB3xg-mk8Xdc0ruyjb_hhaXQuWTej89koyRg46q41us6L56b-wc350CNs-JCbmQTPxHY/s640/P1050609+%25282%2529.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A feather trying to look inconspicuous amongst the Sea Sandwort</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oysterplant close-up</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the southern end of the beach, we walked through swathes of buttercups, but although they were teeming with hoverflies and this sawfly, there was nary a beetle to be seen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the shore, a family of Shelduck took to the water. These four ducklings are quite well-grown now and have lost their humbug stripes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because of the blustery wind, we were rather glad of any shelter the disused quarry could provide. One small corner in particular seemed to be in occasional sunshine and be sufficiently protected from the weather. And, inevitably, this was where all the insects were hanging out. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4KFGnh1Y3RMtPGo_6J8lYsFojslyTnn1qiiIzZzdYEvyPMh365oY0VlhywnN04zoDm8VKP3We2U-KKsVgsxf3gOSSn9Fxvp09cfc9TnJUzc5uMSps1hKjYino1t9mzNfjjvOM9IaV1Q/s1600/P1050631+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4KFGnh1Y3RMtPGo_6J8lYsFojslyTnn1qiiIzZzdYEvyPMh365oY0VlhywnN04zoDm8VKP3We2U-KKsVgsxf3gOSSn9Fxvp09cfc9TnJUzc5uMSps1hKjYino1t9mzNfjjvOM9IaV1Q/s400/P1050631+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Five-banded Potter Wasp</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgAzQccOgZCDTJMmSO83t1XQ2ziZ4IEVbykmIRfAy1UVnM7TXG_NNAumlotaw8d53_UMdudddAa4H2qW0tsm7JaHl3hFZXgaWooGAar87WeayRFdOmUYhDf6g0XbHitaHc0bK8kLvJ9w/s1600/P1050633+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgAzQccOgZCDTJMmSO83t1XQ2ziZ4IEVbykmIRfAy1UVnM7TXG_NNAumlotaw8d53_UMdudddAa4H2qW0tsm7JaHl3hFZXgaWooGAar87WeayRFdOmUYhDf6g0XbHitaHc0bK8kLvJ9w/s400/P1050633+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eyebright sp.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eyebright close-up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZYmd6NeAl-p9H9edDsjwPkJsfN7KpmW0E-o0jCw-ktDdOHYJMqFIRbJUI1V3L2Be6QmM3pyxRQDIwZOgeypp7cnieM4y3u-ftohV66jtl-7FsrEl9ubj95OfJtBMpD6o6PCLBB9M-3c/s1600/P1050637+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1026" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZYmd6NeAl-p9H9edDsjwPkJsfN7KpmW0E-o0jCw-ktDdOHYJMqFIRbJUI1V3L2Be6QmM3pyxRQDIwZOgeypp7cnieM4y3u-ftohV66jtl-7FsrEl9ubj95OfJtBMpD6o6PCLBB9M-3c/s640/P1050637+%25282%2529.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of two female Blue-tailed Damselflies</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMtJOKISDHJxFTyDBeUS6HPQST1zsv9bluZfIbqa6QgEQw_FMkrv0tW4I5SW6NCLqnbGNktKiTl_4Cm8QG94y3pwn5C8PMe0Yi5PUCHlPTUE6S_pziZpQUE_hNBDeNj94oGcCHyizRAg/s1600/P1050642+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="949" data-original-width="949" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMtJOKISDHJxFTyDBeUS6HPQST1zsv9bluZfIbqa6QgEQw_FMkrv0tW4I5SW6NCLqnbGNktKiTl_4Cm8QG94y3pwn5C8PMe0Yi5PUCHlPTUE6S_pziZpQUE_hNBDeNj94oGcCHyizRAg/s400/P1050642+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Blue butterfly being incognito</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cRufzT4mJ3GV6BUhScIL0Rq2wbfytfoTyhk8DrXgGfpLMHuXRvfKjQ-THpAQDRNoLl605Nk5atghE43YLLSAdEGcKn6H40AoU8Jb4mgeCJShU9XwOM3sM81KvKePpwAZ3lL8hR_3i3E/s1600/P1050645+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cRufzT4mJ3GV6BUhScIL0Rq2wbfytfoTyhk8DrXgGfpLMHuXRvfKjQ-THpAQDRNoLl605Nk5atghE43YLLSAdEGcKn6H40AoU8Jb4mgeCJShU9XwOM3sM81KvKePpwAZ3lL8hR_3i3E/s400/P1050645+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Blue butterfly</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTtgPKUbePqwmc5BzwVt-lAWyiTdrnxc7bhHoj0_mtUXpFAn13phXfNCnFDzks2Q8StKS3XQLFrjaBgq_1Sje37-g80_y0xdmg57WsC89oHIt-6VRxyvPciFM4OBTc6JeeldFM8nLurw/s1600/P1050657+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTtgPKUbePqwmc5BzwVt-lAWyiTdrnxc7bhHoj0_mtUXpFAn13phXfNCnFDzks2Q8StKS3XQLFrjaBgq_1Sje37-g80_y0xdmg57WsC89oHIt-6VRxyvPciFM4OBTc6JeeldFM8nLurw/s400/P1050657+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue-tailed Damsel and friend</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back out on the moor, the only caterpillars we could find were still those of the Emperor Moth, but these were of an even later instar, and were now sporting the more familiar green livery with black stripes and yellow spots.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PoZmo1S5eJpvVdPOf4SQfEj3g9erNVv88F5QH6xJsyhoalbSYdzQIiFqZGqSpKmpYNL62IhQvL5sAEoCrJ8B-6ADIk4Eg1q3-qJLpa4GdaWnFmi8Ko5nla5hl1CfXiFJFb2k5Gt4UhI/s1600/P1050664+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PoZmo1S5eJpvVdPOf4SQfEj3g9erNVv88F5QH6xJsyhoalbSYdzQIiFqZGqSpKmpYNL62IhQvL5sAEoCrJ8B-6ADIk4Eg1q3-qJLpa4GdaWnFmi8Ko5nla5hl1CfXiFJFb2k5Gt4UhI/s400/P1050664+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And right at the end of the walk, as we climbed through the dunes to leave the beach, some Yarrow was just coming into flower. I had not previously looked this closely at a head of Yarrow, they are rather pretty.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-45485325906373144752020-06-28T06:30:00.003+01:002020-08-19T07:15:29.926+01:00All life is here<span face="" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">During the course of my wildlife blogging, I quite often, and rather blithely, refer to 'local gurus' and 'experts on social media' who help me out with identifying all manner of flora and fauna. Not wanting to give the impression that this is a facility exclusively for Old Tense, perhaps I should explain a bit more.</span><br />
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<span face="" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The UK has a long history of biological recording, think of all those 18th Century parson-naturalists like the Reverend Gilbert White, and these days there is a well-established network of county recorders for most lifeforms, from birds and mammals to fungi and slime moulds. The UK is divided up into Vice Counties, a system devised in 1852 by H C Watson. Most national recording schemes will have a vice county recorder to cover the area where you are. As well as individual schemes for the various groups of organisms, there are local biological record centres, and all these organisations feed into the National Biodiversity Network (recently split into four covering England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), and this in turn feeds into the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. All of this data is useful for monitoring populations, identifying trends and informing decisions about conservation. As an example, I am a recorder for dragonflies and damselflies in Orkney. I feed records into the local records centre (housed in the Library and Archive in Kirkwall) and also online into iRecord for the British Dragonfly Society (and hence onto the NBN). Each small record at local level is a vital piece in the larger global jigsaw.</span><br />
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<span face="" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Sadly, the whole system is not as joined up as it could be, with data flow not always guaranteed in both directions, which is why I send info in two directions, locally and nationally, just to ensure as much transparency as possible.</span><br />
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<span face="" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Orkney is Vice County 111 (which may explain why there's not much cricket played here), and the Orkney Field Club, effectively the local natural history society, has a network of experts covering as many taxa as possible. Many, but not all, of these experts are based locally, and willingly volunteer their time to educate and enthuse the rest of us. So if I have an ID conundrum, I know there's likely to be someone I can ask.</span><br />
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<span face="" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Orkney is a very community-spirited place (some would say too community-spirited i.e. nosy!), and this has translated into a whole host of dedicated pages and groups on Facebook, where folk can share information and generally help each other. Natural History is no exception. I regularly visit pages for birds, insects, spiders, cetaceans, wildflowers, fungi and, obviously, dragonflies. The latter is a site run by myself, so that folk can easily let me know of their sightings or ask me ID questions. I know social media comes in for a fair bit of criticism, some of it warranted, but there is also a beneficial side to it.</span><br />
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<span face="" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This morning I took the plunge and also joined the UK Hoverflies Facebook group, where I can post photographs of an unidentified species of hoverfly and someone will likely know what it is. If I include the date and a grid reference, the group admins will generate a record for the national database.</span><br />
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<span face="" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess what I am saying is that if you have a reasonable photograph of a critter or a flower, it should always be possible to have it identified. Maybe not to species, but likely to Genus.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglCznNZEXAGBdaMrc-mISw53TSGiM20tkS0RAMs02JAOQ03CTk2qgqfIl9aUOCr6QHG2v-wiBQQWMHk_NRiIHZ0jDKvpxUXJj1Imtl5tmXo6FUg8O6LPKH93-tszz9_YCnl5kpP8XWBk/s1600/VC+map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="527" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglCznNZEXAGBdaMrc-mISw53TSGiM20tkS0RAMs02JAOQ03CTk2qgqfIl9aUOCr6QHG2v-wiBQQWMHk_NRiIHZ0jDKvpxUXJj1Imtl5tmXo6FUg8O6LPKH93-tszz9_YCnl5kpP8XWBk/s640/VC+map.jpg" width="438" /></a></div>
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<span face="" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a go at working out the Vice County number for where you live and then see if you can find a local recorder for the wildlife that is most important to you, whether it be birds, butterflies, bats or bryophytes. Perhaps then you could submit a record of a sighting and contribute to the global knowledge of life on Earth. There's more info on the <a href="https://www.brc.ac.uk/">Biological Record Centre</a> page.</span>Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-33860642871632087492020-06-27T08:13:00.000+01:002020-06-27T08:13:06.475+01:00Flowers and wee beasties<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We are very fortunate, Our Lass and I, to be locked down on an island. OK, we're a bit limited in immediate destinations during normal circumstances, the weather might be horrendous at times, and we miss visiting family, but... but when we do go to the coast, we really struggle to meet anyone else. Jings, the scenes on the news are simply mind-boggling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A few days ago, I was invited to help Eagle-eyed M with a recce for a couple of clients who are hoping that travel restrictions will be lifted by August. It was a route that I haven't walked for several years, so I didn't need much persuading.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We met up in the car park for one of Orkney's many wee shoreside kirks and set off along the beach, a mile of golden sand and turquoise seas, edged with Sea Sandwort, Oysterplant and Sea Rocket. Sand Martins hawked across the vegetation, Red Admirals flitted from flower to flower and Shelducklings bobbed in the shallows with their parents. There were fewer than half a dozen other folk present, all at the car park end of the bay, and our passage was safely negotiated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We clambered up a gentle slope which gradually wound its way up onto the clifftops further south. The path was rather overgrown due to lack of footfall, but it was neatly delineated by buttercups, a yellow line to guide us through the verdant undergrowth. As we climbed away from the beach and through different habitats, there were more and more wild flowers to appreciate.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tufted Vetch</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goldenrod</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Soon, we experienced the sights and sounds of several seabird colonies, an aural and olfactory sensation which was kinder on the ear than the nose. Guillemot, Razorbill, Shag, Kittiwake and Fulmar were all busy raising the next generation. Great Skuas and Great Black-backed Gulls patrolled the cliffs, ever alert for an easy meal, and on the clifftop path we came across several eggshells robbed from the ledges below. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sunshine had now disappeared, which made the wind seem cooler, so we took the opportunity to shelter in a small quarry and have lunch. There were flowers aplenty here too, but also a clear pool with newts (I didn't know we had those in Orkney), leeches and Great Diving Beetles. At one end of this pool were a few patches of Broad-leaved Pondweed, and as several folk had seen damselflies here in recent years, I thought that they would be worth investigating.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yup, several flower stalks were hosting recently-emerged damselflies, complete with their exuviae, the shed larval skins.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the exuviae were all in the 'head down' position, I knew that these were Blue-tailed Damselflies, even though the new adults were still to fresh to have much colour. However, there was plenty of colour around and about.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQEyORKwyYfwB8vHYDoC6en6y6R4Iv3-GWwLAUkI4ifYDMhZoREvwfl_w_W7uL2i4Wb-Ukg5gkOR3rUAvpe6_4_PPhWAawYFmCD5K3ikRBsOMnKBZdl-P2P_dXM33jM36nxfHHVjTnw8E/s1600/P1050529+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1482" data-original-width="1482" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQEyORKwyYfwB8vHYDoC6en6y6R4Iv3-GWwLAUkI4ifYDMhZoREvwfl_w_W7uL2i4Wb-Ukg5gkOR3rUAvpe6_4_PPhWAawYFmCD5K3ikRBsOMnKBZdl-P2P_dXM33jM36nxfHHVjTnw8E/s400/P1050529+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butterwort</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kidney Vetch</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It began to rain, but we pressed on south for a while longer. M spotted some tiny black caterpillars, about 10mm long, feeding on Crowberry plants, which I photographed in case they could be identified later.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All along the route, there had been Meadow Pipits flitting all around us, adults busy feeding hungry young beaks, so by this point we were a bit blase about small brown speckled birds. However, one of them didn't look quite pipit-y as it flew off and, through our bins, we realised that it was a Crossbill. It too was feeding on Crowberry, and our original flummoxedness at its identity was in part due to the fact that it wasn't at the top of a pine tree!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the wind and the rain, most insects were sheltering from the weather, and I was fortunate to spot this Red Admiral butterfly tucked away on a patch of bare earth in a small depression.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the return trip, we popped into the quarry again to see how the emerging damsels were doing. With the cloud and cool temperatures, the answer was not much. However, I did find a few larvae, sat on pondweed leaves, presumably having converted to air-breathing after a year of an aquatic lifestyle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">M's sharp eyes spotted another recently-emerged adult and its exuvia at the water's edge, so I was able to take some close ups of both.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heading north, M found more caterpillars, larger than the wee black ones. These were about 35mm long, strikingly marked and feeding on Meadowsweet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Later, after a discussion with a local expert, we learnt that both caterpillars were different stages (instars) of Emperor Moth larvae, which will end up as a large green caterpillars with black hoops and yellow spots.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">M pointed out some Yellow Vetchling which was just coming into flower and I noticed a small insect crawling across it. Looking closer, this turned out to be a potter wasp, a different species from the one I'd seen a week or so ago. As I took photographs of it, I realised that it was robbing nectar from the Vetchling through holes bitten in the base of the flowers. What we couldn't be sure of was whether the wasp had done this or it was merely taking advantage of holes made by bumblebees.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just before we returned to the shore, I noticed a tiny beetle in a Buttercup flower. Again, I had no idea what it was, but I contacted the local beetle recorder later, who couldn't be absolutely sure from a photograph, but thought it likely to be a leaf beetle, Hydrothassa marginella. As there's few records for this species in Orkney, I may have to return to find it again!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sun was shining once more as we made our way back along the beach. Several broods of tiny Eider chicks were braving the gently-breaking waves by the rocky shore and Oystercatchers kept a wary eye on our progress. In a foraging spirit, I was encouraged to try some Sea Rocket leaves, which in taste were... peapod-y... peapod-y... peap... !!!... MUSTARD!</span>Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802716903254015310.post-61842152117121978462020-06-26T11:33:00.002+01:002020-06-26T11:33:31.954+01:00Lockdown parenting<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other morning, in a fit of lockdown boredom, I began cleaning the windows. Well, not the glass, that's just too humdrum. No, I launched into cleaning the frames and hinges of the opening ones. A word to the wise, I now know that there's lots of sufficiently sharp edges involved in this endeavour, if one is not paying enough attention to where one whizzes a damp cloth. My fingers and knuckles were covered in a myriad of small cuts, and I had to be careful not to leak all over the white window frames.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the task, I kept hearing finches, yup, definitely finches, maybe even Linnets? My record on drab-looking finches isn't great, I admit. But by the time I had stepped off the ladder, or dried my hands, or most infuriatingly, managed to grab my camera, the birds had vanished from sight and sound. Gah!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eventually, however (so dogged persistence, rather than excellent fieldcraft), I managed to spot the little loves as they flitted to and fro, sometimes perched on a fence, other times hidden in the long grass of the neighbouring pasture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a male Linnet, looking about as resplendent as a brown bird with a rosy wash can, and three of a brood of fledglings. Hungry fledglings, at that. Crivens, the guy was run ragged, collecting food and sharing it out between his offspring. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a while, even I began to feel sorry for him!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eventually, I let out a little supportive cheer of shared parenthood when he managed to have a few seconds' peace. He had earned it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Imperfect and Tensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.com4