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

An Carn, lost village on Jura

On my last day on Jura we visited the ruined village of An Carn. It's a long way from anywhere - 4 miles from Barnhill and about 20 from Craighouse. Park at the road end and head across tussocks, scrubby woodland and bog to the coast. You will be rewarded for your exertion, as we were, with fine views of the Sound of Jura and a poignant reminder of life gone by in the form of several ruined houses and some excellent cup marked rocks. It was a day full of both social and natural history. What a wonderful place Jura is!
Becky

An Carn village, Jura

Cup-marked Rock, An Carn

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, An Carn

Pregnant Lizard

Reed Bunting

Scaly Male Fern  (Dryopteris affinis) at An Carn

Forester Moth (Adscita statices)

Walk to McArthur's Head

Lorna, Jim McNulty and I  had a fantastic walk on Saturday to Proaig and then on to McArthur's Head. The weather was brilliant and we saw lots of wildlife (except, surprisingly, otter). We also saw many types of sea-faring vessels including a newly built naval destroyer, the 0945 ferry, the 1530 ferry and the 1800 ferry (which tells you how long our walk was!) As well as sea-faring vessels we saw plenty of air activity too with it being the Airport Show Day. Our attention was on natural history, however and on enjoying the scenery. This was one of the first walks I did when I came to Islay in 2004 and I said then it was my favourite walk so far; I still say it's hard to beat!
Becky

BIRDS:Wheatear, Stonechat, Willow Warbler, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Snipe, Blackbird, Wren, Guillemot, Razorbill, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Gannet, Shag, Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Whitethroat, Hen Harrier, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Mallard, Hooded Crow, Swallow, Curlew, Greylag Goose, Common Sandpiper, Rock Dove, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Twite, Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting

INSECTS: Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Small Copper (1), Common Blue (3 or 4), Large Red Damselfly, Common Hawker (1), Small Tortoiseshell, Fox Moth larva, Galeruca tanaceti

OTHER: Adder, Bluefire Jellyfish, Lion's Mane Jellyfish, Hermit Crabs, Fallow Deer, Common Seal

Fox Moth Caterpillar - 1st instar

Galeruca tanaceti - a type of leaf beetle

Common Hawker (f)

Bluefire Jellyfish or Cyanea lamarckii (we think)

Reed Bunting (f) at Proaig

Common-spotted Orchid

Stonechat (m)

Fallow Deer with Sgarbh Breac in background

The 'Finlaggan' goes past McArthur's Head lighthouse.