Photos from Jonathan Farooqi

At last I can show Jonathan's excellent photos from his recent visit to Islay. We had image storage problems with the blog (because we're posting so much!) so sorry for the delay in posting this. I was delighted to receive these photos from 11 year old Jonathan Farooqi who visited the Centre with his family. They tested the new Weights Quiz for me! These are fantastic photos. Well done Jonathan!
Becky

Basking Shark in the Sound of Islay

Choughs at Ardnave

Frog Orchid at Killinallan

Osprey, Bowmore

Common Toad, Bridgend

Ramble at Killinallan, 29th June 2012

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

Common Twayblade

Dark Green Fritillary

Frog Orchid

Giant Marsh Thistle

Pyramidal Orchid

Looking at a water-logged Common Blue butterfly through the hand lens.

Photos from the Rochdale gang

Gold Swift

Frog Orchid at Killinallan

Thanks to Steve and Yvonne and co. for their records over the past couple of weeks and for these wonderful photos.
Becky

Female Common Hawker

Immature male Common Darter

Flora and Fauna at Killinallan 20th June 2011

Here's the list and what a list today! We had five folk on our ramble, each enthusiastic and it was encouraging to see new species of orchids appearing, my first sighting of Common Blue for the year (freshly emerged and pristine) and most of all, the Small Elephant Hawk Moth, which is a first for me, as was the Sexton Beetle. Thanks to all for their contributions. Do let me know if I've missed anything off. I suspect there may be some jealous eyes reading this now!
Becky

Small Elephant Hawk Moth (Deilephila porcellus)

Common Sexton Beetle (Nicrophorus vespilloides)

Common Blue male (Polyommatus icarus) Look at the detail on the antennae!

Frog Orchid (Coeloglossum viride)

BIRDS
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Meadow Pipit
Skylark
Pheasant
Oystercatcher
Redshank
Rock Dove
Cormorant

FLORA
Eyebright
Early Marsh Orchid
Northern Marsh Orchid
Pyramidal Orchid
Heath Spotted Orchid
Frog Orchid
Common Twayblade
Common -spotted Orchid
Chalk Milkwort
Marsh Lousewort
Tormentil
Bird’s-foot Trefoil
Silverweed
Horsetail
Water mint
Marsh Pennywort
Burnet Rose
Germander Speedwell
Meadow Buttercup
Marsh Marigold
Cuckoo Flower
Thrift
Primrose
Marsh Thistle
Yellow Iris
Black Sedge
Daisy
Chickweed sp.
Wild Thyme
Autumn Gentian (not yet in flower)
Cats-ear
Grass of Parnassus (one only)
Lesser Meadow Rue
Forget-me-not sp.
Fairy Flax
Sea Arrowgrass
White Clover
Scurvygrass
Ragged Robin
Tufted Vetch
Meadowsweet (not yet in flower)
Lady’s Bedstraw
Bogbean
Spear Thistle

MAMMALS
Grey Seal
Rabbit

REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS
Frog (large adult)

INSECTS
Common Blue (1 male)
Small Heath (6)
Small Elephant Hawk Moth (1)
Common Sexton Beetle (Necrophorus (or Nicrophorus) vespilloides) (1)
Click Beetle - Agrypnus murina (1)
Six-spot Burnet Moth (6)
Fox Moth (1 female)
Bumble Bee (Bombus pascourum)

SHORE
Shore Crab (lots of babies)

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