Flora and Fauna at Ardnave, 23rd September 2011

The rain held off for the six of us this afternoon at Ardnave. Most of the wild flowers have now finished, but fungi is springing up all over the place and the waders are passing through.The highlight today was the flock of Wigeon that landed on Loch Gruinart just as we left to walk back to the cars. We also saw a flock of about 20 Ravens flying low over the Loch. Thanks for everyone's contributions. Next Monday will be our last ramble for the season, so join us if you can at Kintra (booking required).
Becky

BIRDS
Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Raven, Meadow Pipit, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Common Gull, Black-headed Gull, Rock Dove, Starling

MAMMALS
Rabbit

LICHEN AND FUNGI
Xanthoria parietina (yellow foliose), Anaptychia runsinata (Brown foliose turning green when wet), Ramalina sp. (grey/green fruitose), Lecanora sp (crustose with black 'jam tarts'), Physcia adscendens (with 'eyelashes'), Caloplaca flavescens (orange with 'fingers'), Ochrolechia parella or Fish-eye Lichen (white crustose with 'dents' in apothecia (fruiting bodies))

INSECTS
Bombus lucorum (White-tailed Bumble Bee), Bombus pascuorum (Common Carder Bee), Unknown tiny black bug, Leafhopper, Froghopper

FLORA
Dove's-foot Cranesbill, Common Storksbill, Jointed Rush, Common Spiked Rush, Daisy, Dandelion, Hawkweed sp., Ragged Robin, Grass of Parnassus, Lady's Bedstraw, Devil's-bit Scabious, Marsh Lousewort, Water Mint, Water Cress, Mouse-ear sp., Chickweed, Forget-me-not, Brooklime (Veronica beccabunga), Common Nettle, Spear Thistle, Marsh Thistle, Self-heal, Lesser Spearwort, Silverweed, Red Clover, White Clover, Prickly Sow Thistle, Red Bartsia

Prickly Sow Thistle - Sonchus asper

Watching the poor White-tailed Bumble Bee cling to a Scabious

Red Bartsia - Odontites vernus