Despite the weather, there were five of us for today's ramble, which was rather wet. Just as we thought it was drying up, it started raining again. Still, we saw more butterflies than on any other ramble and the highlight was a Swift at the end of the walk - a rare sight on Islay. As usual, many thanks to all for your contributions and I'm glad we could introduce Cathy to the Pyramidal Orchid! The rain grounded a Common Blue butterfly which gave us a great opportunity to look at it closely. There is a double thickness Marsh Thistle with a Mohican style 'haircut' just before you go down to the beach which warranted a photo. So all in all, a ramble worth getting wet for!
Becky
BIRDS
Eider, Oystercatcher, Starling, Sand Martin, Swift, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Curlew, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Red-breasted Merganser
FLORA
Tormentil, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Daisy, Meadow Buttercup, Grass of Parnassus, Black Bog Rush, Heath Milkwort, Cat's-ear, Mouse-ear sp., Eyebright, Spear Thistle, Marsh Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Lady's Bedstraw, White Clover, Red Clover, Bracken, Wild Thyme, Marsh Pennywort, Silverweed, Lesser Meadow Rue, Pyramidal Orchid, Northern Marsh Orchid, Common Twayblade, Frog Orchid, Heath-spotted Orchid, Cuckoo Flower, Marsh Marigold (leaves), Ragged Robin, Curled Dock, Meadowsweet, Yorkshire Fog, Thrift, Tufted Vetch, Sea Milkwort, Marram Grass, Common Scurvy Grass, Marsh Lousewort
INSECTS
Six-Spot Burnet, Small Heath, Dark Green Fritillary, Common Blue
LICHENS
Xanthoria parietina (bright yellow),
Lecanora gangaleoides (white crustose lichen with black ‘jam tarts’)
Ramalina sp. (grey-green tufty species on stone walls),
Anaptychia runcinata (goes green when wet)
MAMMALS
Grey Seal
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| Common Twayblade |
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| Dark Green Fritillary |
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| Frog Orchid |
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| Giant Marsh Thistle |
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| Pyramidal Orchid |
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| Looking at a water-logged Common Blue butterfly through the hand lens. |
