Firsts

This is a gloriously exciting time of year for the increasing numbers of 'firsts of the year'. So, over my two walks yesterday and today, I chalked up four of these firsts, the first of these firsts being this almost immaculate peacock butterfly. How did it manage to stay so smart after overwintering in this grim climate?

To see the peacock would have been enough excitement for one day but only a few further steps further along the track I found the first tortoiseshell of the year. Then, today, deep in the woods, I found....

....just one small patch of wood sorrel. There was nothing special about this spot so I have no idea why a dozen or so sorrels should have choses to thrive so early there.

Then, walking along the path below Dunrobin Castle, I heard the unmistakeable calls of sandwich terns. Several minutes' hunting with the binoculars finally located them. The camera could only just cope with the distance but, if you look very carefully, there are three terns in the centre of this picture, two on the larger rock and one on a smaller rock just in front of them.

I love these terns, mostly for where they've been over the winter, far, far to the south on the west coast of Africa.