Last week. Nocturnal survey work in Northumberland produced barn owl carrying prey, young tawny owl calling and calling quail. Some of the highest densities of brown hare I've seen anywhere.

Saturday, went back to Duloch Park Pond to look for the Reed Warblers again but couldn't find them. I noticed 10 or more burnet moths flying over some rough grassland just north of the pond. I assumed these would be  the commonest species,  six spot, but on checking the pics these look to be the less common narrow-bordered five-spot. Found a Butterfly Conservation leaflet that mentions this species is common in England but less so in Scotland, although on the increase and spreading north from Borders and D and G, with colonies at Aberlady Bay and Falkirk.

Heading back up the A1 from Northumberland on Friday, a movement of Painted Lady was noticeable and it was no surprise to find several around Dunfermline this weekend

Since first noticing rosettes on the lawn a few years ago and leaving patches of grass uncut, the orchids have gone from strength to strength. This year the most ever with 9 Common Spotted and 3 Northern Marsh