A Pond of Wonders

So a slightly delayed post about our pond dipping activity day at Bruichladdich. last Friday we met down at the Bruichladdich pier before traveling up to George's pond, a great little spot which became a great pond dipping experience. Before nets even got wet a few keen eyed pond dippers spotted some tiny froglets just in the grass around the pond, followed swiftly by a tiny toadlet, sparking discussion about the difference between the two, unfortunately these little fellas made an escape attempt whilst we were distracted by the other wonders we found. The activity started slow as the weather was hot and all the mini-beasts headed to the deeper regions, but a few clouds saved the day and with a few keen eyed netters we soon had trays over flowing with key species and a few monsters of the pond.

                                                                                                       












                                                   
So our first finds were the typical water boatmen, mostly greater water boatmen but these were soon overshadowed by the first water scorpion of the day, after which we would find a handful more including this monster specimen who probably should of had his own bucket as these veracious predators see everything on the menu including tadpoles fish and even our tiny froglets. This one soon made quick work of one of our damselfly nymphs another top predator of the pond with the alien like hinged bottom jaw similar to their dragonfly cousins, they hunt by ambush grabbing anything that strays too close.

One of my personal favorites from the day was this brilliant water beetle, One of my favorite things to find in ponds; their larvae rival the water scorpion for top dog in most ponds. Alongside the usual groups of beetles and insects this was already a good haul until a shout went up for an eel. A great find Immediately followed by another great find, a leech, these two together where unexpected and we were incredibly luck.

These capped our pond dipping day and after releasing the critters back to the pond it was back to the centre to return some very muddy nets, and to let clean some very muddy wellies.
 

Rockpooling at Bruichladdich

Having recently arrived back on Islay for the summer, high on my list of priorities was, of course to explore some rockpools! At Bruichladdich, this usually means turning over the many stones available at low tide, and often discovering something different with each visit. The weather yesterday was not exactly in our favour, and also seemed to affect the usual abundance of creatures. However, dipping into the shallows, mum and I were excited to find a Comb Jelly (4cm long, but grows up to 12cm), and a Leuckartiara Jellyfish (about 1cm long) which belongs to the Hydrozan medusae group. I have long wanted to see the latter, sometimes wandering down to the shore at night, hoping to pick them out by torchlight. We were happy to be able to contribute a few new additions to the INHT Visitor  Centre touch tank, such as 15 Spined Sticklebacks, and a pretty pink Hermit Crab. Another species common at this location is the Small Brittlestar, which due to their size, will not be kept in our tanks, but are well worth looking for. 

Keep an eye out for our INHT family activity sessions, including our popular rockpooling trips. On Friday 4 July, at 2-3.30pm in Port Ellen, we will be Exploring Sandy Shores. Bring your wellies, and join us! 

Comb Jelly

Leuckartiara Jellyfish

Lorna

Roe Deer fawns - George Jackson

Many thanks to George for this shot of new-born Roe deer fawns down on the Shorefield near Bruichladdich.

Oil tanker Keewhit at Bruichladdich Pier last week

We have had a month of cold dry weather with an easterly airstream giving good visibility.  The ground is very dry for the time of year and there is little water in the burns.

Loch Indaal

Loch Indaal pictured from a skyjack being used to erect a new warehouse at Bruichladdich Distillery.

Yet another dawn

I make no excuses for posting yet another sunrise photo taken from Bruichladdich. This is what I see as I sit at my desk. I'm beginning to wonder if there isn't a volcano somewhere over there! I should add that I have not made any colour adjustments.
Malcolm

Another dawn

Spectacular skies continue to appear. This morning's seen from Bruichladdich was worth two photos.
Malcolm

Fuel tanker - Onyx

Fuel tanker 'Onyx' off Port Charlotte this week after delivering heavy fuel oil to Bruichladdich Pier for Islay's distilleries

Otter - Bruichladdich Minimarket

Bruichladdich Rockpooling

It's about time I blogged our rockpooling at Bruichladdich last Sunday. The full species list for this is upstairs in my room, and after today's long walk with  mum (Becky Williamson) it's staying there! Sorry for the disappointment.. Here are the best finds from the day.

Mystery worm/leech.

One of two trays we emptied the buckets into back at the visitor centre, before deciding what to keep in the tanks.

James introducing us to Benny the blenny!

Breadcrumb sponge. This one is demonstrating a lack of algae due to little light, shown by its orange colour. As in the Port Mor specimen from Tuesday's activity session, they are usually green.

Sand/small brittlestar. Found in abundance under stones at Bruichladdich, particularly in muddy pools.

Chiton.

Lorna

Bruichladdich Rockpooling Galore 5 July 2012

Niall, Lynda, Isi and I had a fantastic time wandering the shallows and turning over rocks at Bruichladdich on Thursday. Niall particulary enjoyed chasing after Common gobies while encountering countless Hermit Crabs, while Lynda, Isi and I discovered lots of mysterious creatures under rocks, many a challenge to identify. We spent the lowest part of the tide at Bruichladdich before continuing to Port Mor.



Hymeniacidon perleve - often found alongside Breadcrumb sponge.





Ascidiella aspersa - sea squirt




Corella parallelogramma - sea squirt




The star ascidian - our most beautiful species of sea squirt.




Eggs of the Nucella lapillus (pictured next to edible periwinkle.)




My favourite - the Breadcrumb sponge! There is something about its little craters and squidgy texture I find endearing.



Complete Species List

Common starfish, 15 spined stickleback, paddle worm, ragworm, lugworm, chiton, common limpet, periwinkle, flat winkle, rough winkle, dog whelk, common mussel, sandhopper, common acorn barnacle, butterfish, common goby, worm pipefish, flatfish, sprat, shore crab, snakeslock anemone, beadlet anemone, breadcrumb sponge, common prawn, common shrimp, oppossum shrimp, common hermit crab, common jellyfish, coiled tube worm, keel worm, star ascidian, nucella lapillus (eggs), corella paralellogramma, ascidiella aspersa, common saddle oyster (empty).

Lorna

English stonecrop

Ragged Robin

Two Orchids

Heath Spotted Orchid

Northern Marsh Orchid

Shorefield Bullocks

James Brown of Octomore Farm working with the Shorefield bullocks near Bruichladdich at the weekend.

Primroses - Bruichladdich

Shorefield

Shorefield Bullocks between Port Ban and Bruichladdich this morning

Barnacle Geese - Loch Indaal

The village of Bruichladdich is in the background

Deer at Dawn over Loch Indaal - Les Wilson

Thanks to Les for this shot taken on his phone early in the morning as he was walking back to Port Charlotte from Bruichladdich. 

Getting the image off the phone at a decent resolution has proved beyond our combined technological expertise thus far, so I thought it best to post this blown up postage-stamp sized version just in case it never happens.  It is a great shot.  Les said that he could see the deer moving along the coastline, and hoped that they would move into the perfect position if he waited a while - which they duly did.  Nice one.  I will re-post at a decent resolution if we ever get it sorted....
Carl

'Welcome to Islay'

The second 'Welcome to Islay' evening hosted by the INHT will be held tomorrow at Bruichladdich Distillery starting at 6.30.  We hope to see you there...