Stoat!

There are lots of stoats in Orkney. They have come in over the last few years from the Scottish mainland and have no natural predators here, so are a real problem. 

They are so lovely to watch, so curious - standing up on their back legs like meerkats, keeping an eye out for danger, so pretty, intelligent and playful. I've seen two of them playing on an old stone wall and they were having a great time. 

Unfortunately, having no predators to keep them in check, numbers are growing and Orkney's native  wildlife is suffering, so there is an eradication project underway with sniffer dogs and also traps. There is no other way to protect the ground nesting birds or the Orkney voles. 

We have seen them in the village and on the shore here, but never in the garden before. Lottie was just about through the window with excitement!

Back blips start on 26th! Catching up a little!