Thursday 24 April 2014
Wednesday 23 April 2014
Green Hairstreak and Oil Beetle
I'm always very excited about seeing my first Green Hairstreak and this was especially precious as it actually crawled onto my hand!!! As if this excitement was not enough, we also saw a species of Oil Beetle which is quite scarce. I await Crystal's id! Watch this space . . .
Becky
Becky
Green Hairstreak |
Violet Oil Beetle |
Violet Oil Beetle |
Emperor Moth
Sornasairidh from Ballachlaven
Lorna and I enjoyed a long walk in the spring sunshine across bog and tussocks and heather from Ballachlaven farm to the lovely ruin of Sornasairidh. It was 8 miles altogether and we saw 15 lizards, 4 ruins, 5 Golden Eagles, 1 Buzzard, 1 dun and 0 clouds!
Becky
Becky
Carabus glabratus |
Clach an Tiompan |
Cladonia sp |
Drinker Moth caterpillar |
Golden Eagles |
Emperor Moth - female |
Common Lizard |
Red Deer hinds |
Sornasairidh ruin |
Tuesday 15 April 2014
Serenity at Killinallan
The Sanderling was unfazed by our presence; the skies were serene; the Emperor Moth had got on with its emerging; the Marsh Fritillary Caterpillars were napping; the bees were humming; the larks were exalting - all was right with the Islay world!
Becky
Becky
Bombus pascuorum - Common Carder Bee |
Freshly emerged female Emperor Moth - Saturnia pavonia |
The beach at Killinallan, looking towards Gortantoid |
Marsh Fritillary caterpillars (sadly with some parasitized) |
Sanderling at Killinallan |
Friday 11 April 2014
Juniper Haircap Moss
A new moss for me (or rather one that I have positively identified!) The red 'flowers' are actually the male plants and the 'flowers' are modified leaves that form small terminal 'flowers' at the shoot ends.
Juniper Haircap Moss (Polytrichum juniperinum) |
Friday 4 April 2014
Purple Saxifrage and Marsh Fritillary Caterpillars
I tend to think spring is advancing when I see these tiny black creatures emerge from wherever they've been hiding all winter, make their way to the top of a plant shoot and bask in the warm sun. Little did I expect to see them twisting and turning their pin-sized heads this cold and breezy afternoon on our stroll on the Oa. But there they were - and lots of them. It was fantastic! As if that wasn't exciting enough, Jane spotted first one, then several clumps of brilliant lilac Purple Saxifrage adorning the cliffs. These amazingly coloured flowers know where to grow for safety, for nothing can graze them there! The ones I photographed were the only accessible ones! What a wonderful afternoon!
Becky
Becky
Marsh Fritillary caterpillars |
Each black spot is a clump of caterpillars! |
Purple Saxifrage |
Purple Saxifrage on the cliffs on The Oa |
Tuesday 1 April 2014
Spring!!!
It's so exciting when you see your first caterpillar and beetle at the beginning of a new year. On various walks last week, Paul and I saw quite a few Drinker Moth caterpillars and this large chrysalis which we later identified as an Emperor Moth chrysalis. Why haven't I seen them before? The moth itself will emerge probably later this month. Of course lichens are here all year round, which makes them extra delightful, so I've included a sample of just some that we saw on our Islay travels!
Becky
PS The beetle got away photoless!
Becky
PS The beetle got away photoless!
Drinker Moth caterpillar |
Emperor Moth chrysalis |
Cladonia floerkeana |
Cladonia sp |
Fuscidea cyathoides |
Downy moss? |
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