Grass Rivulet, second record for Islay

Ken Willets saw this moth at Kintra on 8th July this year. It is the second record for the island although he reported several more flying round the area. Thanks Ken!
Becky

Grass Rivulet (Perizoma albulata)

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 Kintra, 20th July 2012

Five of us set off on a glorious afternoon to explore Kintra and see more of it than before - not because we walked farther -just a different way! I have a feeling the way we went will not be repeated unless we have another Jack who was keen to cross a proper river and got his feet wet in the process. Highilghts were the Little Terns and male Hen Harrier. Eleanor was delighted. It was also encouraging to see so many butterflies- no dragonflies though.Thanks for the adventure folks!
Becky

BIRDS
Chough, Raven, Hooded Crow, Eider, Shag, Fulmar, Herring Gull, Oystercatcher, Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Swallow, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Hen Harrier, Arctic Tern, Little Tern, Rock Dove, Starling

FLOWERS
Yellow Rattle, Red Bartsia, Lady's Bedstraw, Lesser Meadow Rue, Forget -me-not sp., English Stonecrop, Thrift, Wild Thyme, Meadow Buttercup, Lesser Spearwort, Eyebright, Flag Iris, Bog Myrtle, Heath-spotted Orchid, Round-leaved Sundew, Tormentil, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Milkwort, Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Lousewort, White Clover, Marsh Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Spear Thistle, Common Cottongrass,  Common Nettle, Harebell, Cuckoo Flower, Hard Fern, Daisy, Self-heal, Heather, Yarrow, Marsh Willowherb, Yorkshire Fog, Perennial Rye Grass, Sea Plantain

INSECTS AND INVERTEBRAE
Harvestman ( Leiobunum sp)., Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Common Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Dark Green Fritillary

AMPHIBIANS
Common Frog

Dark Green Fritillary

Ringlet

The adventurous way beneath the waterfall

The waterfall at Kintra

Flora and Fauna, Kintra 18th June

The weather had turned by the time the three of us set off for our afternoon ramble at Kintra. It had been glorious in the morning, but was pouring with rain before 4 pm. (Hence the lack of photos.) Our ramble was therefore curtailed - as well as our list of flora and fauna. Thanks to Bill and Janet for their company and loan of a coat!
Becky

BIRDS
Common Gull, Jackdaw, Starling, Pied Wagtail, Lesser Redpoll, Chaffinch, Shag, Eider Duck, Oystercatcher, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Swallow, Wheatear, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Sandpiper, Rock Dove

FLORA
Tormentil, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Silverweed, Water Avens, Lesser Spearwort, Meadow Buttercup, Milkwort, English Stonecrop, Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Germander Speedwell, Heath Speedwell, Forget-me-not sp., Marsh Bedstraw, Lousewort, Heath-spotted Orchid, Round-leaved Sundew, White Clover, Eyebright, Marsh Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Spear Thistle, Common Cottongrass, Bog Myrtle, Common Nettle, Wild Thyme, Cuckoo Flower, Hard Fern, Daisy

MAMMALS
Wild Goat

INHT Wildlife Centre is now open in Port Charlotte

Our Natural History Centre in Port Charlotte is now open from 10.30am-4.30pm Monday - Friday.  A warm welcome to Lorna Williamson who is joining our Centre manager Becky Williamson for the season.  They will be busy getting the displays and tanks up and running this week.

Our program of natural history rambles starts on June 1st.  These are short and very informal and easy going 'Rambles' (as opposed to 'Walks') led by Becky at a series of different locations around the island.  As the name suggests, they involve a great deal of stopping to peer at and identify all sorts of plants, birds, bugs, beetles, lichens and liverworts.  They are very easy going, a perfect day out for all ages, abilities and levels of natural history knowledge.  One of the fun things that Becky hopes that you will help her with is to create lists of all the different species that you find - which is actually great fun.

The rambles must be booked in advance, by phoning either the Centre (01496 850288) or mobile (07967 205229) at any time up to 1.00pm on the day.  Each ramble starts at 2.00pm and lasts for around two hours.  There is nothing strenuous involved, but please come prepared with waterproof footwear and clothing to suit the weather.

At Bunnahabhain: we meet beside the road before it turns down to the distillery.
At Kilchiaran: we meet by the chapel.  There is plenty of parking in the laybys.
At Sanaigmore: there's plenty of parking at the end of the road.
At Killinallan: meet where the road ends in a (usually) locked gate.
At Ardnave: beside the loch where the track turns left towards the farm.
At Kintra: in the signposted car park through the gate out of the farm yard.

Prices for the Rambles are the same as admission to the Centre - Adult £3, Concession £2, Child £1.50, Family £7.50

Kintra - Niall Colthart

We have some spectacular shots of Islay during the recent storms taken by Niall Colthart.  This is of Kintra at the south end of the Big Strand.  Thanks Niall....

Flora and Fauna at Kintra 9th September, 2011

Yes, it was miserable this morning, but thankfully by the afternoon we had a glimpse of celestial yellow stuff for the ramble at Kintra. Didn't mean we didn't get VERY muddy! It was the third ramble for the three ramblers from down south and they've also joined Craig on Colonsay and Mark on Islay for the RSPB walks so, by now, they were reeling off the names of all the flowers and birds themselves! Goldcrest is a new one for our rambles list. Thanks Carol, Sandy and Phil. Here's our list!

BIRDS
Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Starling, Hooded Crow, Chough, Raven, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Grey Heron, Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Swallow, Common Gull, Cormorant, Eider Duck, Red-throated Diver, Greylag Goose, Gannet

FUNGI AND LICHEN
Red Waxcap, Yellow Waxcap, Clavulinopsis luteo-alba, lots of unknown species, Peltigera membranacea (Dog lichen)

INSECTS
Green-veined White, Emerald Damselfly (female), Red Admiral, Bombus pascuorum (Common Carder Bee), Common Hawker, Cranefly, Grasshopper sp.

AMPHIBIANS
Common Toad

FLORA
Lady's Bedstraw, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Red Bartsia, Red Clover, White Clover, Ivy-leaved Crowfoot, Sheep Sorrel, Eyebright, Self-heal, Marsh Marigold, Flag Iris, Common Reed, Common Spiked Rush, Jointed Rush, Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Bell Heather, Bog Pimpernel, Devil's-bit Scabious, Harebell, Daisy, Hawkweed sp., Marsh Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Spear Thistle, Tormentil, Meadow Buttercup, Lesser Spearwort, Silverweed, Mouse-ear sp., Ragged Robin, Common Cottongrass, Bog Asphodel, Bog Myrtle, Yellow Rattle, Yarrow, Marsh Pennywort, Common Nettle, Milkwort, Yorkshire Fog, Marsh Willowherb

Grasshopper - any ideas which species?

Clavulinopsis luteo-alba (I think!)

Flora and Fauna at Kintra, 22nd August 2011

What a great ramble! There were 9 of us today and we were able to cross the mighty ravine this time. I like it when folk stop and ask me questions - lets me know they're still interested, so thanks to all for their questions and patience and enthusiasm. Here's the list. Look out for the GREAT, BIG FLY (yet another Bumble Bee mimic) and see Carl's previous post. Thanks also to Catriona (I think) for demonstrating how to use a rush for a wick and to Ann and Bill for the geology lesson!
Becky

BIRDS: Cormorant, Shag, Black Guillemot, Eider, Common Gull, Wheatear, Rook, Chough, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Swallow, Twite, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Starling, Raven, Pied Wagtail

FUNGI AND LICHEN: Panaeolus semiovatus (in cow dung), Red Waxcap, Puffball, Xanthoria parietina (yellow on rocks), Anaptychia runsinata (brown seaweed foliose species), Ramalina sp. (on stone), Cladonia portentosa - Reindeer moss (grows in grass), Ochrolechia parella - Fish-eye lichen (white on stone), Parmelia saxatilis (foliose on stone/fence posts), Rhizocarpon geographicum - 'map' lichen (bright green on stone)

FLORA: Red Bartsia, Harebell, Tormentil, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Devil's-bit Scabious, Black Knapweed, Marsh Thistle, Spear Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Dove's-foot Crane's-bill, Marsh Pennywort, Marsh Lousewort, Lady's Bedstraw, Daisy, Meadow Buttercup, Lesser Spearwort, Ivy-leaved Crowfoot, English Stonecrop, Yellow Rattle, Mouse-ear sp., Hawkweed sp., Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Bell Heather, Common Nettle, Germander Speedwell, Wild Thyme, Bog Myrtle, Common Spiked Rush, Perennial Rye Grass, Yorkshire Fog, Common Cottongrass, Silverweed, White Clover, Red Clover, Curled Dock, Carnation Sedge, Reed, Knotted Pearlwort

INSECTS: Peacock Butterfly, Meadow Brown, Green-veined White, Tacchina grossa, Bombus lucorum (White-tailed Bumble Bee), Bombus pascuorum (Common Carder Bee), Carabus sp., (Ground beetle), Eristalis arbustorum male (hoverfly)

Catriona demonstrates how to use the white inside a Common Spiked Rush as a wick - a lesson learned from Loch Tay crannog.

Tachina grossa

Eristalis arbustorum

Happy ramblers at Kintra.

Flora and Fauna at Kintra 5th August 2011

It was an energetic ramble today with one family with three children and two others joining us. The river was crossable this time and the highlights were the Red-throated Divers and Merlin. The Wild Thyme was also a favourite, reminding us of the stuffing we eat with chicken!
Becky

BIRDS
Pied Wagtail, Starling, Swallow, Hooded Crow, Meadow Pipit, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Sand Martin, Twite, Oystercatcher, Common Gull, Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Eider, Chough, Shag, Black Guillemot, Red-throated Diver, Raven, Greenfinch, Wheatear, Chaffinch, Merlin, Linnet, Great-black-backed Gull, Reed Bunting, Redpoll, Mistle Thrush, Gannet

FUNGI
Trichoglossum hirsutum (in spaghnum), Panaeolus semiovatus (in cow dung)

INSECTS
Dor Beetle, Leaf Hopper, Meadow Brown, Small Tortoiseshell, Small Copper, Green-veined White, Bombus muscorum, Small Heath, Golden-ringed Dragonfly, grasshopper sp., Soldier Beetle

FLORA

Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Meadow Buttercup, Forget-me-not sp., Lady’s Bedstraw, Silverweed, White Clover, Mouse-ear sp., Eyebright, Marsh Thistle, Spear Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Lousewort, Lesser Spearwort, Ragged Robin, Cat’s-ear, Common Cottongrass, Tormentil, Wild Thyme, Self-heal, Yellow Rattle, Red Bartsia, English Stonecrop, Ivy-leaved Crowfoot, Marsh Pennywort, Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Daisy, Hard Fern, Common Sorrel, Bog Asphodel, Angelica, Yarrow, Sea Plantain, Heather, Water Cress, Goat Willow, Bog Myrtle, Round-leaved Sundew, Redshank, Bracken, Common Nettle, Harebell, Common Scurvy Grass, Lesser Burdock, Red Clover, Milkwort sp., Yorkshire Fog, Fox-tail, Perennial Rye Grass, Marsh Willowherb, Marsh Bedstraw, Devil's-bit Scabious, Thrift, Reed, Black Knapweed, Jointed Rush, Carnation Sedge, Marsh Speedwell

Yarrow - Achillea millefolium- pink variety



Yarrow - Achillea millefolium - white variety

Small Copper - Lycaena phlaeas

Trichoglossum hirsutum

 

We managed to herd our ramblers together for the photo!

 

 

 

 

 
 

Flora and fauna at Kintra, 18th July 2011

GrassThere may only have been three of us on today's ramble but we still saw a lot. We were unable to cross the 'trickle of a burn' that I'd warned our Californian ramblers about because it had turned into a veritable Grand Canyon river after the downpours of yesterday. But our detour route meant we saw something that I have never seen before IN MY LIFE! Fanfare please! Quite appropriate really given our forthcoming talk on dragonflies and damselflies next week. We saw an Emerald Damselfly which, according to our records has only been recorded 6 times on Islay before (almost certainly under recorded). It is quite difficult to spot and incredibly difficult to photograph as the camera wants to focus on anything and everything else green except the dameselfly - but I managed it in the end and it is a real beauty. I was beside myself with excitement.

We also saw lots of the delicate Grass of Parnassus and a beautiful male Hen Harrier. Here is the list:

BIRDS
Hen Harrier (m), Redpoll, Chaffinch, Meadow Pipit, Chough, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Oystercatcher, Eider, Gannet, Twite, Raven, Hooded Crow, Starling, Swallow, Rock Dove, Pied Wagtail

LICHEN
Peltigera membranacea (Dog Lichen)

FLORA
Self-heal, Heath-spotted Orchid, Heather, Cross-leaved heath, Bell Heather, Grass of Parnassus, Heath Milkwort, Bog Pimpernel, Bog Asphodel, Bog Myrtle, Tormentil, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Meadow Buttercup, Lesser Spearwort, Lousewort, Marsh Lousewort, Daisy, Cat's-ear, Mouse-ear sp., Eyebright, Red Bartsia, English Stonecrop, Spear Thistle, Marsh Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Lady's Bedstraw, White Clover, Red Clover, Bracken, Hard Fern, Wild Thyme, Marsh Pennywort, Silverweed, Yellow Rattle,

INSECTS
Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Emerald Damselfly, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, White sp., Small Heath, Marsh Fritillary caterpillars

REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS
Common Frog, Common Toad

Becky

Emerald Damselfly

Grass of Parnassus

Flora and fauna Kintra 1st July

We had six on today's walk at Kintra and I think it was the best weather we've yet had for our rambles and I was encouraged to see more butterflies about. Amongst our ramblers were an amateur geologist who reinforced some of the things Alistair talked about a few weeks ago and some members of Rochdale Natural History Society who have been moth trapping whilst they've been here. I was delighted to find interested ears for the abundance of lichen we saw! Thanks everyone. Here's the list. Please let me know if I've left anything out. Carl, we need your dictaphone!
Becky

BIRDS
Common Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Chough, Hooded Crow, Pied Wagtail, Arctic Tern, Cormorant, Eider, Oystercatcher, Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Song Thrush, Redpoll, Chaffinch, Fulmar, Great Northern Diver, Raven, Meadow Pipit, Sand Martin, Swallow, Wheatear, Rock Dove, Starling

FLORA
Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Meadow Buttercup, Bulbous Buttercup, Creeping Buttercup?, Forget-me-not sp., Lady’s Bedstraw, Marsh Marigold, Silverweed, Germander Speedwell,White Clover, Mouse-ear sp.,(Common)  Heath-spotted Orchid, Eyebright, Marsh Thistle, Spear Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Lousewort, Cuckoo Flower, Lesser Spearwort, Ragged Robin, Cat’s-ear, Common Cottongrass, Tormentil, Wild Thyme, Self-heal, Yellow Rattle, Red Bartsia, English Stonecrop, Heath Bedstraw, Heath Speedwell, Ivy-leaved Crowfoot, Marsh Pennywort, Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Daisy, Hard Fern, Blinks, Common Sorrel, Sheep's Sorrel, Bog Asphodel, Hogweed, Knotted Pearlwort, Yarrow

INSECTS
Small Heath (1), Common Blue (7), Large White (1), Ringlet (2), Four-spotted Chaser (1)

LICHEN
Xanthoria parietina (bright yellow), Caloplaca crenularia (orange dots on rock), Lecanora gangaleoides (white crustose lichen with black ‘jam tarts’), Ramalina sp. (grey-green tufty species on stone walls)
Parmelia saxatilis (leafy lichen on wood or stone), Cladonia portentosa (Reindeer moss/lichen), Cladonia pyxidata (cup lichen in peat), Ochrolechia parella (white - ‘fish-eye’ lichen)

FUNGHI
Round Dung cap, Red Wax Cap?

Red Bartsia (Odontites vernus)

Ivy-leaved Crowfoot (Ranunculus hederaceus)

English Stonecrop (Sedum anglicum)

Round Dung-cap

Red Wax-cap

Flora and Fauna List Kintra 13th June 2011

We had the best ever turn out for today's ramble at Kintra - nine folk! That meant more eyes and ears - and definitely cameras! It really was an enjoyable walk, if windy. May thanks to all for their contributions. Here's the list - big on lichens today as well as birds.
The Golden-ringed Dragonfly was a pleasant surprise, given the wind, but the same wind caused this battered Small Heath to cling tenaciously to Mark's finger. The top picture is of an unidentified beetle - any ideas? Noticeably not a single mammal today!
Becky

BIRDS
Meadow Pipit (3)
Ringed Plover (1)
Common Gull (50)
Great Black-backed Gull (2)
Herring Gull (4)
Rock Dove (6)
Pied Wagtail (2)
Oystercatcher (16)
Eider Duck (40)
Swallow (4)
Sand Martin (6+)
Linnet (2)
Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Redpoll (6)
Twite (2)
Wheatear (2)
Raven (6)
Common Sandpiper (2)
Rock Pipit (3)
Chaffinch (6)
Hen Harrier (1 fem.)
Shag (4)
Fulmar (6+)
Razorbill
Red-breasted Merganser (2)
Willow Warbler (1)
Wren (1)
Skylark (1)

INSECTS
Dung Flies
Green-veined White
Small Heath
Small Copper
Golden-ringed Dragonfly
6 spot Burnet moth
Green Tiger Beetle
Bumble Bee sp. (Bombus ?)
Poecilus sp. (bronzey beetle in peat)

LICHEN
Xanthoria parietina (bright yellow)
Caloplaca crenularia (orange dots on rock)
Lecanora gangaleoides (white crustose lichen with black ‘jam tarts’)
Ramalina sp. (grey-green tufty species on stone walls)
Peltigera membranacea (dog lichen in grass)
Lecanora sulphurea (green crustose lichen on stones)
Parmelia saxatilis (leafy lichen on wood or stone)
Cladonia portentosa (Reindeer moss/lichen)
Cladonia fimbriata (cup lichen in peat)
Cladonia floerkeana (matchstick lichen)
Ochrolechia parella (white - ‘fish-eye’ lichen)
Parmotrema chinense ('Powdered Ruffle lichen’)

FLORA
Bird’s-foot Trefoil
Meadow Buttercup
English Stonecrop
Dove’s-foot Cranesbill
Forget-me-not sp.
Heath Bedstraw
Marsh Marigold
Silverweed
White Clover
Daisy
Mouse-ear sp.
Early Marsh Orchid
Eyebright
Marsh Thistle
Spear Thistle
Creeping Thistle
Lousewort
Thrift
Cuckoo Flower
Lesser Spearwort
Ragged Robin
Sweet Vernal Grass
Yellow Iris
Bracken
Cat’s-ear sp.
Butterwort
Milkwort sp.
Cotton Grass Multiflora
Star Sedge
Tormentil
Heath-spotted Orchid
Wild Thyme
Round-leaved Sundew
Heath Speedwell
Heather
Hard Fern
Pennywort

INHT "Nature Rambles" programme announced

Sea Campion (Silene uniflora)

At Kintra

Green veined White (Pieris napi thomsoni)

On a Dog violet near Kintra.  I think this is probably a female.  Again I am assuming this is the Scottish subspecies P. n. thomsoni.

A Wee Drinker

Most of the Drinker moth (Philudoria potatoria) caterpillars we are finding right now are big - but we found this tiny wee thing at Kintra today.
Carl

Tockmal on the Oa



The old abandoned village of Tockmal on the Oa is about half a mile inland from Soldier's Rock and a couple of miles from Kintra Farm.



Like all of the abandoned villages on Islay it is a bleak place and it is difficult to imagine lives led among these rude piles of stones.



The quality of land round about is very poor - some of the houses are now sitting in bogs, presumably they were artificially drained when people lived in them.



They are now left to the Scottish Black-face sheep - hardy animals.  This lamb can only have been a few hours old.



There are a lot of buildings at Tockmal, many can be seen still standing but there is evidence of many more that have all but disappeared.



In addition to the buildings there are a lot of substantial earthworks such as these parallel walls enclosing a sort of road.  I have no idea what they were used for - but a great deal of labour was involved in building them.



Thrift at Kintra (Armeria maritinum)

Took a walk to Soldier's Rock on the Oa today - starting out from Kintra Farm and walking via the old ruined village of Tockmal.