Spring!!!

It's so exciting when you see your first caterpillar and beetle at the beginning of a new year. On various walks last week, Paul and I saw quite a few Drinker Moth caterpillars and this large chrysalis which we later identified as an Emperor Moth chrysalis. Why haven't I seen them before? The moth itself will emerge probably later this month. Of course lichens are here all year round, which makes them extra delightful, so I've included a sample of just some that we saw on our Islay travels!
Becky
PS The beetle got away photoless!

Drinker Moth caterpillar

Emperor Moth chrysalis

Cladonia floerkeana

Cladonia sp

Fuscidea cyathoides

Downy moss?

The Eastern Hinterland

A couple of weeks ago I traversed boggy moorland between Sanaigmore and Gruinart. On Monday my friend Jane and I ventured further east to visit land which I suspected had seldom been subjected to the weight of human feet. With low late November light I stopped often to take photographs of the late autumn colours; it really was magnificent. We passed Loch Laingeadail with its tiny crannog and Loch an Fhir Mhòr which is where my theory that we were almost on uncharted territory fell apart - for what did we come across but a veritable ruined settlement. Apparently it dates from the 19th century and comprises 5 buildings with remains of wall also extant. This little settlement is well worth a visit for it has a huge slate lintel above the fireplace and tiny stone cupboards built into the remaining walls. Trouble is, you have to traipse across sinky bog to reach it. Oh well! I apologised to Jane for telling a lie - I'd asked whether she wanted to come on a boring, featureless and boggy walk; she'd agreed - on that basis - and it turned out to be boggy, yes, but also full of features and definitely not boring. We saw Snipe, Raven and Stonechat, very interesting, colourful fenceposts, goose droppings and lots of lichens. Who's up for another 'boring' walk! For more information on the crannog on Loch Laingeadail, visit http://alturl.com/82hiv. For more information about the ruined settlement near Loch an Fhir Mhòr, see http://alturl.com/wppyk.

Becky

Crannog on Loch Laingeadail

Ruins near Loch an Fhir Mhòr

Red Deer running towards Sanaigmore

Goose droppings in an unusual place

Fencepost (the first for a while!)

Flavoparmelia caperata

Cladonia portentosa ('Reindeer Moss')

Another Cladonia sp

Final Photos from Kintour Ramble

Hoverfly (Helophilus sp)

Lichen - Cladonia spp.

Delicate fungus - mycena sp

Petticoat Mottlegil - Panaeolus papilionaseus.

More Photos from Storakaig

More photos from our walk to Storakaig last Saturday.

Young male adder

Cladonia community

Fuscidea cyathoides

Red Deer Stag

Unusual pellet on the Sound of Islay

The Sgurr - a day stolen from spring

On yet another one of spring's rare gifts to Islay residents and tourists, Fiona MacGillivray and I set off on a walk through blanket bog east of Glenegedale and up the Sgurr. It was mainly a reccy for Fiona's forthcoming survey work for Islay Energy Trust. Wow! What a day! The Golden Plover are returning to their breeding grounds and the lichen are, well, doing what they do all year round to be honest, but we enjoyed this day of days - slipping and sliding (and sometimes falling!) our way across bog and moor. The clouds were just fantastic - cumulus and cirrus for those who thought my cloud interest was just a passing phase! Come on spring, give us more days like this!
Becky

Fiona on the Sgurr

Various Cladonia spp

Fir Club Moss - Huperzia selago

Flock of Golden Plover

Hen Harrier pellet (probably)

The Sgurr