Serenity at Killinallan

The Sanderling was unfazed by our presence; the skies were serene; the Emperor Moth had got on with its emerging; the Marsh Fritillary Caterpillars were napping; the bees were humming; the larks were exalting - all was right with the Islay world!
Becky

Bombus pascuorum - Common Carder Bee

Freshly emerged female Emperor Moth - Saturnia pavonia

The beach at Killinallan, looking towards Gortantoid

Marsh Fritillary caterpillars (sadly with some parasitized)

Sanderling at Killinallan

Purple Saxifrage and Marsh Fritillary Caterpillars

I tend to think spring is advancing when I see these tiny black creatures emerge from wherever they've been hiding all winter, make their way to the top of a plant shoot and bask in the warm sun. Little did I expect to see them twisting and turning their pin-sized heads this cold and breezy afternoon on our stroll on the Oa. But there they were - and lots of them. It was fantastic! As if that wasn't exciting enough, Jane spotted first one, then several clumps of brilliant lilac Purple Saxifrage adorning the cliffs. These amazingly coloured flowers know where to grow for safety, for nothing can graze them there! The ones I photographed were the only accessible ones! What a wonderful afternoon!
Becky

Marsh Fritillary caterpillars

Each black spot is a clump of caterpillars!

Purple Saxifrage

Purple Saxifrage on the cliffs on The Oa

A walk on the wild side

A great walk with lots of things to look at - both little and large, both manmade and natural, both old and young.
Becky

Young - Marsh Fritillary caterpillars

Old - ancient Gneiss rock

Small - Ruby Tiger Moth caterpillar

Large (to a caterpillar!) - Stonechat

Manmade - dun near Port Froige

Natural - natural arch near Port Froige

Beinn Bheigier

For a very brief moment I was the tallest person on Islay on Thursday - and then my son stood next to me on the summit of Beinn Bheigier. What a joy it was to have him there with us. Lorna usually accompanies me, but James' presence made it even more special. It was James that spotted the White-tailed Eagle rising up from just in front of us with wings that seemed to go on forever and James who managed to get closest to the Red Deer. I was thrilled when Lorna exclaimed, "Marsh Fritillary caterpillars!" and we watched these tiny, but growing creatures emerging from hibernation to bask in the afternoon sun. What a wonderful day! I shall remember it always.
Becky (text) Lorna (photos)

Buzzard 

White-tailed Eagle

Marsh Fritillary caterpillars 

Raven 

James and the Red Deer

Spider

Photos from Paul Kirkland

Paul was here recently, working for Butterfly Conservation Scotland and he sent us these photos from his trip. On his previous trip he had been working on leeches and returned to the site on this occasion to see if he could find any leech cocoons. Hey presto! He did! He's kindly donated one to the Trust and (arguably) ugly though the adults are, the cocoon looks so intricate and beautiful through the microscope. Thanks, Paul! I had no idea such things existed!
Becky

Horse Leech 'cocoon'

Medicinal Leech 'cocoon'

Marsh Fritillary Web

Marsh Fritillary Web at Claddach

Sanaigmore

Grey Seals at Claddach

Marsh Fritillary Webs and Bees

After the ramble Lorna and I went to look for Marsh Fritillary webs. We saw about a dozen at one site and were encouraged by this. Also by the number of bumble bees emerging in the lull of the storm.
Becky

White-tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lucorum) on Devil's-bit Scabious

Marsh Fritillary caterpillars braving the elements

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)

Walk to Stremnishmore

Whilst Fiona was exploring moorland at Upper Killeyan yesterday, I was not too far away, walking to Stremnishmore, a deserted farmstead on the Oa. There was a lot to be enthused about (despite lack of good lighting for photography), but I was particulary excited about these Marsh Fritillary caterpillars. These butterflies seem to have had a poor year, not helped no doubt by THE storm of 23rd May, so it was encouraging to see these critters swarming about. I only saw one web though.

Also saw this common ground beetle, Pterostichus niger.
Becky

Marsh Fritillary caterpillars, pre-hibernation

Pterostichus niger