Invertebrates galore!

It's been such a good year for butterflies on Islay and with the return of the sun, mum and dad and I had a walk to the ruined village of Olistadh and then on to Kilchiaran and what some insects we beheld! Here is a selection of the bounty of the day. I've never seen so many Small Coppers all in one place, but the highlight had to be the Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillar slowly crossing the path on its way to find somewhere to pupate. The first I've ever seen!
Becky

4-spot Orb Weaver spider - we watched anxiously as a bumble bee, caught in its web, fought for freedom. Not wanting to intervene, we watched the spider approach its prey, the bee struggle, the spider get closer - and finally breathed a sigh of relief as the bumble bee extricated itself and found its freedom. Phew!

Black Darter

Buff Ermine larva

Common Darter

Drinker Moth larva

Elephant Hawk Moth larva

Rosy Rustic

Small Coppers mating

White Ermine larva

Family Activity Session - Pond Dipping/Bug Hunt

We had one enthusiastic family join us for pond dipping and the bug hunt this afternoon. We managed to avoid one shower but definitely not another! We had more joy bug hunting than pond dipping this time, although we saw both Greater and Lesser Water Boatmen and some leeches in the pond. We caught two different spiders, lots of little blue hopper things (still to be identified) and then there were those which got away . . .
Becky

Pond Dipping fun

Black Darter (female)

Crab Spider (Xysticus cristatus?)

Harvestman sp. (Paroligolophus agrestis?)

Leaf hopper  - Cicadella viridis

Storakaig to An Cladach

In glorious weather Lorna and I walked from Storakaig to An Cladach bothy via Gleann Choireadail and back to Storakaig via Gleann Logain on Saturday. It was a fantastic walk with lots of wildlife, though few birds. Highlights of the day were the otter, adders and dragonflies. Here's our list:

BIRDS
Twite, Rock Pipit, Raven, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Gannet, Cormorant, Red-throated Diver, Linnet, Rock Dove, Stonechat

INSECTS AND SPIDERS
Small Copper, Meadow Brown, Dark Green Fritillary, Common Hawker, Black Darter, Golden-ringed Dragonfly, 4spot Orb Weaver Spider, Wolf Spider, Craneflies, Pond Skater, Whirlygig Beetle, Common Green Grasshopper, Harvestmen, Dor Beetle

REPTILES, AMPHIBIANS AND MAMMALS
Adder, Common Frog, , Common Lizard, Otter

FLORA
Skullcap, Devil's-bit Scabious, Cross-leaved Heath, Hawkbit, Bell Heather, Marsh Thistle, Heather, Marsh Lousewort, Long-leaved Sundew, Round-leaved Sundew, Butterwort, Spear Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Eyebright, Milkwort, Bracken, Heath-spotted Orchid, Tormentil, Rowan, Common Nettle, Bramble, Bilberry, Bog Myrtle, Cotton Grass, Juncus sp.

Four-spotted Orb Weaver Spider

Black Darter (male) - obelisk position - tail raised (to allow air to circulate better round the body and thus cool down on a hot day)

Common Hawker - male

Common Green Grasshopper

Furrow Spider -  larinioides cornutus

Golden-ringed Dragonfly ovipositing

The moorland pool where we saw all the dragonflies