Wandering round Orkney

It's five years since Mrs WJ & I visited Orkney and that's far too long, so we packed the car and set off on the long journey north. Last time we visited we did the trip from Suffolk in a single day, but this time we broke the journey so we could visit an old friend who's working at RSPB Forsinard for a few months. It was fascinating to see all the Sundews in the boggy areas

There are a number of RSPB reserves on Orkney, from the wonderfully named The Loons, where this Little Grebe was searching for food

and Brodgar, where insects were a bit thin on the ground as it'd been a bit chilly in recent weeks. A deliriously happy Sawfly was rolling around in pollen though 

Red Throated Divers were pottering around Birsay

Cottasgarth is well known for Hen Harriers of course, and there was a nest up on the hill, meaning regular views of these lovely birds - the Ring-tail female

and the ghostly male - though we had to wait until Birsay Moor for a reasonable shot of one (actually we just stopped on the single carriageway road so Mrs WJ could grab the shot, luckily Orkney roads aren't very busy!)

You don't have to visit reserves of course, the coastline is great for all sorts of wildlife - this Merganser was feeding at the Sands of Evie

and there were quite a few Skuas at Yesnaby

Deerness gave us an excuse to sit on the ground when I nearly stood on this Emperor moth

but insect prize has to go to the Hoy Green Tiger Beetle - there were loads of them scurrying around the old Postal track

But it was the Brough of Birsay we returned to a couple of times, not just because of the Skylarks poking around

But of course the Puffins are there

As well as Razorbill

and the odd seal bobbing in the waves

Eventually though, you have to say cheerio to the Black Guillemots (Yesnaby again)

and head for home - escorted all the way back to Thurso by the ever present Fulmar