Rats!

 

Playing with the new camera trap, our suspicions were confirmed.

Small Tortoiseshell.

A butterfly was unexpected midweek, Found at work fluttering around inside the building. Other Lepidoptera were less unexpected with headlamp searches still finding Winter Moths, fewer, but still present.

House Sparrows.

House Sparrows still active at the weekend backwards and forwards from cover to food. A Brambling still present with 23 Chaffinch.

A bit of a look at lichen by the sea, I think this may be Lecanora gangaleoides.

Lecanora gangalaoides, hopefully.

I bought the FSC guide to ferns this week and was pleased to find a key to horsetails within it which should prove useful. Also some FSC picture leaflets to lichens which will supplement Dobson, at least get me on the right track I hope.

The WeBS survey didn't produce anything of great interest. However, lots of wildfowl on The Shunan and the two Whoopers attracting a variety of associate feeders.

 

Whoopers with Gadwall, Wigeon and Tufted associate feeding.

Disappointingly my ladybird larva from last year has been deemed unidentifiable to species. Chances are it is 10 spot but 2 spot can't be ruled out. Still the first ladybird larva for Orkney but it would have been nice to get it to species.