Sunny.

 Very.

It won't last, but while it does trips to Yesnaby to check out the Chrysolina and try to figure out more about its biology.

In this image the differences between males and females are quite clear, males are significantly smaller and the red on the elytra is distinctly brighter. I'm not sure that the size difference is generally as marked as in this pair.

Chrysolina latecincta (intermedia).

From today's outing and discussions on site (thanks NH) a few ideas to note. Generally the beetles are found in discreet groups. I was finding them on Thrift patches and short turf, NH was finding them more on open stoney ground. Are Plantago maritima and Plantago coronopus really the food plants? Where has that information come from? The short sward near the rough ground certainly contains plenty of Plantago coronopus but I'm not finding P. maritima nearby (this might be because my botanical skills are limited). Would proper biological survey methodology and statistical analysis help answer questions about behaviour and food plants?

I'm back there tomorrow morning, I rarely visit in the morning so that might be interesting.

This young? Otter Lutra lutra was hunting small eels Anguilla anguilla, it can be seen in the photo below eating one.

Not the best photo but it proves the point. The Otter was hunting for at least 40 minutes. It then left and went out of the water the same way as we had observed on the previous day. Younger daughter had observed gulls behaving oddly from the breakfast table the previous day, Otter from the kitchen, not bad!

I managed to see two Black-tailed Godwits from the garden today, gets that species on to the green year list for the patch, the one earlier was seen only from the car. In the end there were three Blackwits. A pair of Wheatear were present yesterday, Whimbrel flew over the day before. But the male Brambling is still present.

Various species are establishing territory, there are probably two pairs of Song Thrush.

Song Thrush.

Out on the coast I was especially pleased with this image of Rockit amongst the Scurvy Grass.

Rock Pipit.

 Earlier on the same walk at least ten Sand Martins were already busy at their nest holes. 

We went to an interesting talk tonight, before heading out to The Loons and the coast to see the dusk glow. This was an SOC online talk by Mark Lewis. I think this will be made available via a recording shortly. I'm happy to supply the URL if anyone is interested, it was about scarce birds in Scotland and some of the reasons why some are becoming more scarce and others less so; fascinating stuff.

The moth trap has had a couple of runs out, best so far have been Red Swordgrass and Red Chestnut. Common Quakers have been coming to the LEEK lure but best of all was a NFM Philedonides lunana that came to the FUN lure.

Philedonides lunana.

Red Chestnut.

Red Swordgrass.

It was too dim to take photos at The Loons this evening, but The Brough of Birsay looked good.