Islay Natural History Trust: Nature Ramble at Kilchiaran

Yesterday we had our first ramble of the season and the first one ever at Kilchiaran. What a spot and what a day! We've made a great start to the season's list of flora and fauna. The place was alive with birdsong and alarm calls. There are at least two pairs of Ringed Plover nesting on this beach so we didn't venture onto the beach itself and would ask walkers to take great care on this site for the same reason. Here's our list (I so love doing this!):
Birds
Meadow Pipit (obviously feeding young), Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail (family), Ringed Plover (nesting), Gannet, Fulmar, Chough, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wheatear (family), Snipe, Common Sandpiper (pair), Oystercatcher, Rock Dove, Sand Martin (nesting), Swallow, Eider (nursery of 15 young)
Flora
Butterwort, Lesser Celandine, Primrose, Foxglove, Scaly Male Fern, Water Mint, Common Scurvy Grass, Forget-me-not sp., Germander Speedwell, Yellow Pimpernel, Knotted Pearlwort, Marsh Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Spear Thistle, Tormentil, Thrift, Silverweed, Common Nettle, Broad-leaved Dock, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Kidney Vetch, Yellow Flag, Marsh Marigold, Meadow Buttercup, Daisy, White Clover, Dog Violet, Ragged Robin, Cuckoo Flower
Mammals and Insects
Grey Seal, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Small Heath Butterfly, Small Copper Butterfly, Small White Butterfly
Lichens
Xanthoria sp, Anaptychia runsinata, ramalina sp, Ochrolechia parella

Our next ramble is on Friday, at Bunnahabhain at 2 pm. Phone 01496 850 288 or 07967 205229 to book.
Becky