Nature Ramble at Ardnave - 20th August 2012

Our first nature ramble in a fortnight!!! The sun shone all morning and then, as if on cue, as soon as I'd switched the engine off, the rain started. It was a heavy downpour, but all five of us were determined to carry on with the ramble. Then, just as I was considering a curtailed ramble as Olivia's feet were getting very wet, the sun returned - much to our delight. Sheepsbit Scabious was a new flower for us I think at this locality, so that was a highlight and the Chough performed well, calling for us as they flew overhead.
Becky

BIRDS
Herring Gull, Turnstone, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, Common Gull, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Raven, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Chough, Starling, Rock Dove, Oystercatcher, Swallow, Wheatear, Greylag Goose 

FLORA
Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Meadow Buttercup, Water Cress, Water Mint, Forget-me-not sp., Silverweed, White Clover, Daisy, Mouse-ear sp., Eyebright, Marsh Thistle, Spear Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Thrift, Lesser Spearwort, Ragged Robin, Common Nettle, Yellow Iris (leaves), Common Storksbill, Ribwort Plantain, Bracken, Cat’s-ear sp., Chalk Milkwort, Red Clover, Harebell, Grass of Parnassus, Bog Pimpernel, Pineapple Mayweed, Self-heal, Wild Thyme, Tormentil, Marsh Willowherb, Purple Loosestrife, Slender Stalked St. John's Wort, Water Speedwell, Devil's-bit Scabious, Sheepsbit Scabious, Heather, Bell Heather, Common Nettle, Red Bartsia, Harebell, Common Burdock, Purple Loosestrife, Goosegrass

LICHEN
Lecanora sp. (white crustose lichen with black 'jam tarts'), Xanthoria parietina (yellow foliose lichen)

BUTTERFLIES AND DRAGONFLIES
Small Copper, Small Tortoiseshell, Green-veined White, Common Darter

SHORE CREATURES
Shore Crab, Cockle Shell, Common Whelk, Limpet

Goosegrass -  Galium aparine

Sheepsbit Scabious -  Jasione montana

Sheepsbit Scabious -  Jasione montana