Nature Ramble at Sanaigmore, 1st July 2013

There were fewer of us for today's ramble, 4 visitors and Malcolm and I, but what we lacked in numbers, we made up for in enthusiasm. The highlight had to be the Corncrake calling obligingly at the beginning of the ramble. Unlike last week's otter, it was a first for a couple of our visitors and they were delighted! We identified a few new plants as well as revelling in the abundance of flora. I've been promised the list will be checked and omissions pointed out! I wait with bated breath!
Becky

BIRDS
Corncrake, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Arctic Tern, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Raven, Blackbird, Wren, Wheatear, Gannet, Skylark

FLORA
Cut-leaved Crane's-bill, Common Storksbill, Eyebright, Ragwort, Common Milkwort, Water Forget-me-not, Germander Speedwell, Field Speedwell, Thrift, Wild Thyme, Biting Stonecrop, Thyme-leaved Sandwort, Sea Rocket, Sea Milkwort, Marsh Marigold, Bulbous Buttercup, Meadow Buttercup, Ragged Robin, Lesser Spearwort, Watercress, Water Mint, Carnation Sedge, Oval Sedge, Black Sedge, Yorkshire Fog, Crested Dog's-tail, Daisy, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Silverweed, Monkey Flower, Water Forget-me-not, White Clover, Red Clover, Lady's Bedstraw, Daisy, Common Mouse-ear, Hawkbit, Spear Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Lesser Burdock, Common Nettle, Yellow Iris, Autumn Gentian, Common Centaury, Self-heal, Pineapple Mayweed, Fairy Flax, Yarrow, Broad-leaved Dock, Curled Dock, Field Gentian, Cuckoo Flower, Dog Violet, Northern Marsh Orchid, Hawkweed, Cat's-ear, Marram Grass, Hemlock Water-dropwort

INSECTS
Small Heath, Common Blue, Click Beetle, Bombus pascuorum (Common Carder Bee), Bombus lucorum (White-tailed Bumble Bee)

LICHEN
Xanthoria parietina (bright yellow foliose sp), Ramalina sp, (fruitose sp), Anaptychia runsinata (brown, but goes green when wet), Lecanora sp (crustose sp - has jam tart like apothecia), Physcia adscendens (has 'eyelashes')

Bombus pascourum (Common Carder Bee)

You sometimes need to be prepared to get down on all fours during our rambles!

With the late spring this year, the Thrift is out at the same time as the Wild Thyme, producing an even more colourful than usual floral carpet!