Jack Harrison's occasional blog

25th April I had waited a long time for yesterday finally to happen.  Comma butterfly in north Scotland. One hundred years ago it was a very scarce species and virtually confined to the English/Welsh border where the caterpillars fed on cultivated hops.  Then (perhaps under insecticide pressure) it began using nettle and the Comma's range expanded.  I saw my first one in Great Yarmouth in 1947 when I was eight years old.    They have been reported in north Scotland for the past two years so yesterday was inevitable.  The one in the picture was at Cawdor near Nairn. On Sunday while my wife went for a significant walk (my bad knees limit my mobility) I chased the long-staying Slavonian Grebe, one of Scotland's rarest birds, in Burghead Harbour.  This one has been photographed by all and sundry countless times, but I couldn't resist one more shot. I end on something bizarre.  A light switch. Spectrum from a hanging ornament just happened to light the light! Jack

 20th April - Dangerous new world Several developments make me very concerned.  Firstly this cartoon (unknown origin so maybe apologies for using). I had mentioned exactly this concern a few days ago: Yesterday, the opposition leader Keir Starmer was challenged by a publican for not opposing .  Starmer subsequently (via his disciples) : On Twitter, Labour’s press team said: “A clip circulating online shows Keir Starmer being confronted by someone spreading dangerous misinformation about the Covid-19 pandemic. We will not be amplifying it.” This comes to my main point.  The public has been brainwashed by mainstream and social media.  Of course Covid-19 is nasty and can kill.  But so can many other things.  Yet when outdoors, (if you can find the small print that the authorities don't want you to see) the risk of transmission is minuscule.  But I still see people stepping off the pavement onto the road (then at far greater risk from traffic or tripping) to avoid another person.