North coast arrival

Quick update just now as things have been busy and internet access intermittent along the north coast of Caithness and Sutherland. Scottish Biodiversity Week this year ran from 16th-24th May and with the help of the Caithness LBAP, Highland Council Rangers and the John Muir Trust, a programme of walks and talks went really well.  Thankfully the weather was an improvement on my last visit in March!  Many thanks also to Caithness Summer Fruits of Halkirk for letting us visit their polytunnels - the photo shows a White-tailed Bumblebee visiting a raspberry flower.

 

There was even a sighting of Great Yellow Bumblebee at Dunnet Bay (on dandelion) during the week, hot on the heels of a remarkable early report in April.  It's been an early spring around Stirling, so perhaps also in the north?  Regardless, after just one report of Great Yellow Bumblebee in Caithness last year (and two in Sutherland), this is a very encouraging start!  Seven other bumblebee species were seen along the north coast of Caithness and Sutherland during Scottish Biodiversity Week 2009.