Camping and caves at Bagh an Da Dhoruis

Wow! What a trip this was! Two days away from toil and trouble; days when you have to pinch yourself to know you're still human and living on earth and not on some amazing Paradise. Of course, Islay can be utopian, or almost (there are always midges and clegs and tics to remind us of its earthly status). Those aside, however, and you're left with something so idyllic you want to invent a new word for the occasion. Walking from Bunnahabhain northwards and inland, we descended very steeply to the beautiful Bagh an Da Dhoruis where the sunshine and clegs welcomed us and the caves beckoned. Armed with a good torch and the gung ho attitude of our youngest two members, we set off to explore Islay's inner core. The intrepid need not read on. It was a belly crawling experience in parts with the wonder of stalactites and stalagmites, spiders, dead goats and cave pools bathed in sunshine. We went in about 200 metres to the rear of the cave's chamber where you could stand up in complete darkness and be afraid - very afraid! We emerged from the cave's birth canal onto sun-kissed sand and sea, gathered wood and had a banana BBQ before hitting the pillow. Of course we saw lots of flora and fauna en route:

FLORA
Cross-leaved Heath, Bell Heather, Bog Asphodel, Tormentil, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Heath-spotted Orchid, Wild Thyme, Thrift, Sea Campion, Flag Iris, Milkwort, Lesser Spearwort, Meadow Buttercup, Bog Myrtle, Self-heal, White Clover, Red Clover, Bracken, Marsh Bedstraw, Eyebright, Marsh Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Spear Thistle, Common Nettle, Common Cottongrass, Round-leaved Sundew, Butterwort, Foxglove, Bilberry, Wild Strawberry, St John's Wort sp

BIRDS
Pheasant, yellowhammer, Redpoll, Blackbird, Wren, Stonechat, Whinchat, Whitethroat, Common Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Shag, Kestrel, Peregrine, Buzzard, Grey Heron, Black Guillemot, Fulmar, Gannet, Swallow, Arctic Tern, Hooded Crow, Cuckoo

MAMMALS AND AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES
Grey Seal, Red Deer, Common Frog, Common Lizard, Rabbit

INVERTEBRATES
Sea Gooseberries, Dung Beetle, Large Heath, Small Heath, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Small Copper, Ringlet, Peacock caterpillars, Forester Moth, Elephant Hawk Moth, Emperor Moth (caterpillars), Green Tiger Beetle, Carabus glabratus, Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Large Red Damselfly, Pond Skaters, mating Bumble bee sp

A fantastic trip!
Becky

Bagh an Da Dhoruis

Emperor Moth caterpillar - final instar

Forester Moth

Golden-ringed Dragonfly

Mating Bumble Bees

Peacock caterpillars

Sun-kissed sand

Whinchat

Into the grim grotto!

Bàgh an Dà Dhoruis

Apologies for any mis-spellings in the title - my map is so worn that I can no longer read it in places! *Thanks Armin - now corrected!* Lorna and I had a long walk to this beach on the north coast of Islay on Saturday. It was a most glorious day with just enough breeze to make walking comfortable and keep the midges at bay! We saw lots of wildlife, with caterpillars being our highlight this time. This beach is perhaps my favourite beach on Islay (I know I've said somewhere on The Oa is, but I've just changed my mind!) It's pretty inaccessible too, which means it's never mobbed and has lots of volcanic sills as well as views of Colonsay. Now all the thousands who read this will be heading to the north of the island . . . A wonderful walk!
Becky

Bombus hortorum - Garden Bumble Bee

Broom Moth caterpillar

Emperor Moth caterpillar

Satyr pug caterpillar

Ladybird Update (Complete with Adder!)

I was cycling to Port Ellen yesterday afternoon when I spotted this slithering female adder right by the road side! It's a good job she wasn't any where near the middle as I wouldn't have been able to move her to safety. I did however pick up a big emperor moth caterpillar that was making headway for the cat's eyes. What a treat!

I promised an update on our ladybird project at the visitor centre, so here it is! As you can see from this picture, they have finally emerged! It is interesting to see the freshly hatched pale yellow individual on the right next to the colourful patterned one on the left. We have also had many colour variations, particularly ones that are inverted (black with red spots). We are hoping that with a plentiful supply of aphids and greenery, our hatchlings will breed. If this is successful the next generation will reach adulthood after around 8 weeks, and be ready for hibernation upon release.

Lorna

A walk to Proaig

Last Tuesday several of us ventured to the east of the island for a walk from Ardtalla to Proaig. We saw lots of wildlife en route.
Becky

Emperor Moth caterpillar - 1st instar

Herb Robert (Robertiella robertiana)

Peacock Caterpillars near Proaig

Reed Bunting

Six-spot Burnet moths mating

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary - an unusual sighting for Islay

Small Copper