We headed off to Waulkmill Bay on 12th June. The last four weeks have been monotonously cold with northerly winds daily. Much of Waulkmill faces south so if anywhere in Orkney is likely to have blooms, it's going to be Waulkmill. It didn't disappoint although a few flowers were a wee bit late notably Bogbean and Goldenrod. Butterwort was brilliant and unashamedly here it is:

and here is the 'we'

the forest of Butterwort is directly behind the 'we'

here is our list - by no means exhaustive

Waulkmill toilets: Invasive plants and recolonising heath-type plants:

Broad-leaved Dock, Ragwort, Dandelion, Hogweed, Procumbent Pearlwort,

Heath Speedwell, Northern Marsh Orchid, Common Cats-ear, Greater Woodrush, Angelica

Waulkmill road: Invasive and heathland

Creeping Thistle, Red Clover, Rosebay Willowherb, Broad-leaved Dock, Cow Parsley, Ground Elder

Tormentil, Hard Fern, Ling, Marsh Thistle, Broad Buckler Fern, Meadowsweet, Ribwort Plantain, Lady’s Smock, Bush Vetch

Waulkmill track: Invasive and heathland

Greater Plantain; Rose-bay Willowherb, Broad-leaved Dock, Curled Dock, Ground Elder, Stinging Nettle

Ling, Meadowsweet, Greater Woodrush, Meadowsweet, Eared Willow, Tufted Hair-grass, Lousewort, Heath Woodrush, Red Campion, Angelica

Fen: wetland

Marsh Marigold, Ragged Robin, Bogbean

Shore:

Orache, Sea Mayweed, Cleavers, Perennial Sowthistle, Curled Dock, Scots Lovage, Silverweed, Procumbent Pearlwort, Yellow Flag

Lichens: Verrucaria (black) and Xanthoria (yellow)

Saltmarsh:

Sea Plantain, Scurvy-grass, Thrift, Sea-milkwort, Sea Arrowgrass

Cliffs:

Golden-rod, Butterwort, Aspen, Wood Sage, Common Milkwort, Foxglove and Moss Carder bees, Northern Marsh Orchid, Primrose, Honeysuckle, Eyebright, Common Dog Violet, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Bush Vetch, Slender St John’s Wort, Angelica, Crowberry

Also: two Garden Tiger caterpillars, a Common Heath moth, three Whimbrels, Arctic Tern, Red-breasted Mergansers, Eiders