Bumblebee walk at Polin Bay

A terrific day (22nd May), starting at Durness and the Loch Borralie area, where Donald Mitchell of the Highland Council Ranger Service had seen several Great Yellow BUmblebees in 2006.  Still early for our target species but some fascinating flora including Mountain Avens and the gorgeous Scottish Primrose, while a Skylark briefly left her nest, snug in a clump of marram grass.  In the afternoon, the bumblebee walk at Droman and Polin at the Sandwood Estate attracted some interest despite the week's Cape Wrath Challenges.  We saw a number of white-tailed and common carder bees, the latter favouring the Bush Vetch that was coming into flower.  A brood of four young Lapwing chicks were delightful, and Twite also buzzed by.  The view across to Foinavon (an infamous not-quite-Munro), Arkle and Ben Stack was fabulous - a complete contrast to March's winter gales and venemous precipitation.  Many thanks to Don O'Driscoll and Cathel Morrison of the John Muir Trust for their help, and of course to Charlie and Millie for endless Labrador entertainment.