Ramble at Sanaigmore, 25th June 2012

There were seven of us for today's ramble at Sanaigmore and it was good to be out again after having to cancel last Friday's ramble due to the torrential rain. As usual we had several pairs of enthusiastic ears and eyes, picking out a variety of wildlife. We did our best to turn a flock of Jackdaws into a flock of Choughs, but it didn't work! We have a few mysteries awaiting identification, which I always enjoy. Thanks to all for an enjoyable ramble (and for finding lots of mermaids' purses for me!) Let me know if I've missed anything out.
Becky

BIRDS
Sand Martin, Swallow, Rock Dove, Black Guillemot, Jackdaw, Starling, Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Skylark,  Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Linnet, Pied Wagtail, Shelduck, Cormorant, Wren, Herring Gull, Raven, Hooded Crow

FLORA
Bird's-foot Trefoil, Meadow Buttercup, Marsh Marigold (leaves and seed heads), Silverweed, Dove's-foot Cranesbill, Common Storksbill, Monkey Flower, Water Cress, Water Mint, Water Forget-me-not, White Clover, Red Clover, Lady's Bedstraw, Daisy, Common Hawkbit, Eyebright, Spear Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Common Burdock, Lesser Burdock, Common Nettle, Yellow Iris, Field Gentian,  Common Centaury, Wild Thyme, Pineapple Mayweed, Prickly Sow Thistle, Yorkshire Fog, Fairy Flax, Broad-leaved Dock, Curled Dock, Biting Stonecrop, Marram Grass, Sea Milkwort, Thrift, Bog Pimpernel, Common Milkwort, Ribwort Plantain, Carnation Sedge, Dog Violet, Germander Speedwell, Brooklime (Veronica beccabunga), Ragwort

LICHEN AND FUNGI
Xanthoria parietina (foliose; bright yellow on rocks and wall), Parmelia saxatilis (foliose; grey), Anaptychia runcinata (foliose; brown/bronzey patches on wall), Ramalina sp., (fruitose; grey/green bushy patches on wall), lichen'), plus other unknown species, unknown fungus (Turf Mottlegill?)

MAMMALS
Rabbit

INSECTS
Agrypnus murinus (Click Beetle), Small Heath butterfly, Six-spot Burnet Moth, Bombus lucorum or Bombus magnus

SEASHORE
Dogfish Eggcases, Skate Eggcases



Serious botanising



Agrypnus murinus (Click Beetle) Tentative ID as only one record for Scotland!

Bombus magnus or Bombus lucorum (they may be the same, rather than two different species)

Unknown fungus - possibly Panaeolus fimicola/Turf Mottlegill

Six spot Burnet moth