Ramble at Sanaigmore, 30th July 2012

What a glorious afternoon for a ramble! Nine of us set out at Sanaigmore today and what a treat was in store for us in the form of the spectacular floral carpet that surpassed any such displays that we saw here last year. What our list lacked in birds or insects, it more than made up for in flora today. The highlights were definitely Sanaigmore's first recorded Frog and Pyramidal Orchids. After finding the Frog Orchid I joked that all that now remained was for someone to find a Pyramidal Orchid - and lo and behold - minutes later Anne called us over to examine an orchid she'd found - none other than the Pyramidal Orchid itself. I was delighted! Thanks Anne and to everyone for a most enjoyable ramble.
Becky

BIRDS
Gannet, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, Swallow, Starling, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Wheatear, Chough, Raven, Jackdaw, Pied Wagtail

FLORA
Bird's-foot Trefoil, Meadow Buttercup, Marsh Marigold (leaves), Silverweed (leaves),Common Storksbill, Monkey Flower, Water Cress, Water Forget-me-not, White Clover, Red Clover, Lady's Bedstraw, Daisy, Mouse-ear Chickweed, Common Hawkbit, Eyebright, Spear Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Lesser Burdock, Common Nettle, Yellow Iris (leaves), Common Ragwort, Autumn Gentian, Common Centaury, Self-heal, Wild Thyme, Pineapple Mayweed, Prickly Sow Thistle, Yellow Rattle, Red Bartsia, Marsh Willowherb, Yorkshire Fog, Fairy Flax, Harebell, Yarrow, Common Sorrel, Frog Orchid, Pyramidal Orchid, Sea Milkwort, Thrift, Broad-leaved Dock, Curled Dock, Brooklime, Wall Speedwell, Germander Speedwell, Carnation Sedge, Ragwort, Field Gentian, Common Milkwort, Sea Plantain, Buck's-horn Plantain

INSECTS
Common Blue Butterfly, Ringlet, Small White

MAMMALS
Rabbit

LICHEN
Xanthoria parietina (foliose; bright yellow on rocks and wall), Parmelia saxatilis (foliose; grey), Anaptychia runcinata (foliose; brown/bronzey patches on wall), Ramalina sp., (fruitose; grey/green bushy patches on wall), Physcia adscendens (whitish with 'eyelashes')

Carpet of Eyebright



Dunlin




Frog Orchid - Coeloglossum viride




Examining flora




Pyramidal Orchid - Anacamptis pyramidalis




Common Centaury - Centauruim erythraea




Examining a Mermaid's Purse



Dotterel and Dunlin

It's been a busy day at the Centre today with lots of enthusiastic visitors with photos. A visiting couple from Stirling had been excited to see the Dotterel at Saligo on Sunday. They kindly let us use their photo for the blog, together with a lovely photo of a Dunlin at the shores of Loch Indaal.

Dotterel

Dunlin

Becky

The island of Jura

Corran Sands on the island of Jura yesterday

Large amounts of kelp had been thwon up onto the beach at Corran Sands, which was full of flies and other small invertebrates.  These were being fed on by small parties of waders such as these Ringed plover and Dunlin, but also large numbers of Rock pipits.

Turnstones (Arenaria interpres) and Dunlin (Calidris alpina)

One should never dally on Islay - it was the most glorious morning here with a startlingly blue sky, a bright yellow sun and little fluffy clouds, but we stupidly did a few chores before climbing on the bikes and pedalling up the loch to the Strand, by which time it had all gone pear-shaped.  Never mind, there is always something to see - here a flock of Turnstones and Dunlin are flying along the shoreline with Bruichladdich pier and Loch Indaal lighthouse in the background.

We were stalked all the way up by a big black cloud, which duly dumped its load of snow and sleet on us as we headed back towards Port Charlotte.

Here a Turnstone, in its relatively drab winter plumage, is crossing a bit of beach covered with frozen hailstones.
Carl

Five waders

Ringed plover, Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Dunlin and Purple sandpiper face down the north wind at Bruichladdich yesterday.  Outside the distillery really is a top spot for wader watching at the moment.
Carl