Ardnave Ramble 8th July

A small but keen group of five enjoyed a ramble at Ardnave in warm (even hot) sunny conditions on a day when the temperature at the airport met station reached a massive 22 degrees C! Ardnave Loch held the family of Mute Swans (4 cygnets) and Tufted Duck (c.9 ducklings) and after finding a few plants growing round the edge we walked over the grassy ridge and down to the shore of Loch Gruinart, finding Becky's favourite plant (the Harebell) on the way, except that she wasn't there to enjoy it! Several Six-spot Burnet moths showed off their red spots and red underwing and gave rise to a discussion about the difference between moths and butterflies, the clubbed antennae of the latter being a main distinguishing feature, except for those species which don't have them, not forgetting that the burnet moths have clubbed antennae! And, of course, butterflies fly during the day, and moths at night, except for those, like the burnets, which fly during the day. Hmm, perhaps the burnets are really butterflies! Passing the rocky islet on the shore brought three or four Arctic Terns into the air which from their angry calls must have had young to protect. A Redshank similarly showed its displeasure at our (brief) proximity to where it, too, must have had its young. Bog Pimpernel was admired by all on the edge of the marshy ground, but despite quite extensive searching no orchids could be found.

Mammals
Hare, Grey Seal

Birds
Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Eider Duck, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Arctic Tern, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Wheatear, Swallow

Flowers
Lesser Spearwort, Marsh Marigold, Meadow Buttercup, Bulbous Buttercup, Lady's Smock, Water-cress, Common Milkwort, Ragged Robin, Common Mouse-ear, Sea Spurrey, Yellow Meadow Vetchling, Black Medick, White Clover, Red Clover, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Lady's Bedstraw, Spear Thistle, Marsh Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Thyme, Daisy, Thrift, Cat's-ear, Hawkbit, Harebell, Bog Pimpernel, Water Forget-me-not, Germander Speedwell, Eyebright, Water Mint, Sheep's Sorrel, Yellow Flag, Common Reed, Common Butterwort, Common Nettle, Bracken, Soft Rush, Black Bog-rush, Star Sedge, Common Cotton-grass, Common Spike-rush

Butterfly and moth
Small Heath, Six-spot Burnet

Malcolm

Bog Pimpernel

Six-spot Burnet