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!

Drinker Moth caterpillar

Emperor Moth chrysalis

Cladonia floerkeana

Cladonia sp

Fuscidea cyathoides

Downy moss?

Chasing the Dipper

We saw more Dippers than I've ever seen in one day on Islay today - and unexpectantly so! A rather hopeful single bird on the Allt nan Gamhna (near Kyngarry) and a definite pair on the Kilennan River further south. How delightful! The single bird kept flying ahead of us upstream and we must have encountered it half a dozen times.

What a gorgeous day. It's not often we can say on Islay after six hours of blazing sunshine, "I wish there was a cloud for the sun to go behind!" Jane chided me for saying so!
Becky

My favourite lichen - Cladonia floerkeana

An interesting stone in the burn

Small waterfall on the Allt nan Gamhna

Shakehole and shadows near Kynagarry