Ramble down Glen Astle yesterday

Yesterday my parents and I sauntered down Glen Astle in true naturalist mode, even slower than usual. Our main purpose was to find Marsh Fritillary webs as this is the time of year to look for them around Devil's-bit Scabious plants. There is plenty of Devil's-bit Scabious in Glen Astle and we managed to find two webs. The caterpillars were just emerging from their safe haven in order to soak up some of the welcome sunshine. Apart from the webs, it was a very successful ramble for anything other than birds. Here are some of our highlights. Once identification has been confirmed for our other sightings, I will post them to the blog. Becky

Devil's-bit Scabious - the food-plant of the Marsh Fritillary

Marsh Fritillary caterpillars and web

Small Copper

Trailing St. John's Wort (Hypericum humifusum)

Glen Astle to Kintra

Was it the hottest day of the year yesterday on Islay? Phew! It certainly felt like it as we struggled through long grass, bog, trees and midge and cleg infested landscape - and returned sunburnt, scratching, grazed and dirty - but smiling! It was a magnificent walk with Hen Harrier, Harebells and Heather - and lots more! The highlights were the Marsh Thistle (possibly tallest on Islay), the 4 spot Orb Weaver spider and the White Cross-leaved Heath.
Becky

BIRDS
Raven, Hen Harrier (f), Buzzard, Eider, Shag, Wheatear, Willow Warbler, Robin, Blackbird, Wren, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Hooded Crow, Grey Heron, Starling, Stonechat, Lesser Redpoll, Rock Dove, Herring Gull, Oystercatcher, Reed Bunting, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch

BUTTERFLIES AND INVERTEBRATES
Dor Beetle, 4-spot Orb Weaver, Ringlet, Small Heath, Green-veined White (about 40 in one spot), Common Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Dark Green Fritillary, Grasshoppers

MAMMALS
Feral Goat, Rabbit

FLORA
Self-heal, Hawkbit, Cross-leaved Heath, Bell Heather, Heather, Milkwort, Round-leaved Sundew, Harebell, Thrift, Marsh Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Spear Thistle, Heath-spotted Orchid, Meadowsweet, Wild Thyme, Bog Pimpernel, Grass of Parnassus, Marsh Willowherb, Bog Myrtle, Goat Willow, Ragged Robin, Bracken, Hard Fern, Devil's-bit Scabious, Tormentil, Butterwort (leaves), Marsh Lousewort, Eyebright, Daisy, White Clover, Red Clover, Bog Asphodel

Feral Goats near Kintra

Harebell

Hawkbits

Allan and the tallest Marsh Thistle on Islay? (Allan is 6' 1")

Mud and Wood near Kintra

Soldier's Rock

Araneus quadratus 4 Spot Orb Weaver

White Cross-leaved Heath

Ramble at Glen Astle

John and I decided to see if we could walk right round the Glen Astle Lochs - and discovered it's impossible, but we did it! Here's a list of the flora and fauna we saw that made it worth it!

BIRDS
Whinchat, Stonechat, Buzzard, Grasshopper Warbler, Wren, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Lesser Redpoll, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Tufted Duck, Oystercatcher, Fulmar, Hooded Crow, Reed Bunting

FLORA
Round-leaved Sundew, Long-leaved Sundew, Butterwort, Milkwort, Lousewort, Marsh Lousewort, Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Bracken, Common Nettle, Creeping Thistle, Marsh Thistle, Spear Thistle, Flag Iris

INSECTS, AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES
Small Heath, Green-veined White, Common Blue Damselfly, Chevron Moth, Wood Tiger Moth, Adder, Toadlets, Northern Eggar Caterpillar, Six Spot Burnet, Pond Skaters

No Mammals!
Becky

Northern Eggar Caterpillar

Mating Common Blue Damselflies



Chevron Moth



Glen Astle to Lenavore on The Oa

Mark, Lorna and I had a looooooooong day out on The Oa yesterday, in glorious weather. We walked down Glen Astle, turned left and walked back to the road via Giol and Fang Dhu. Prepared for the worst, we ended up carrying far too much excess clothing and not enough sun cream! We had a fantastic day (excluding the clegs and the grand-daddy tick I acquired) and saw over 30 species of birds including Hen Harrier, Golden Eagle and Redpoll; 9 species of butterfly and moth; 19 toads (Lorna was counting!); 2 adders (sadly only I saw them); a pregnant lizard; a few unidentified beetles and a tiny cricket. It was encouraging to see several families of Stonechat, Reed Bunting and Meadow Pipit. My favourites were the Redpoll -a brilliant pink and the Grayling butterfly; Lorna's favourite was the toad and Mark's was the juvenile Buzzard we saw driving to our starting point. Thanks to Mark for the great photos.
Becky

Common Blue Damselflies mating - Mark Nelson

Juvenile Buzzard - Mark Nelson

Juvenile Buzzard - Mark Nelson

Grayling

Lorna with toad