More photos from the wild west side

Dung Cap Fungus

Fox Moth caterpillar

Metellina segmentata (Stretch Orb Weaver)

Violet Ground Beetle (eating a worm!)

Galeruca taneceti - a type of leaf beetle - they were everywhere!

A yellow fungus

Walk to McArthur's Head

Lorna, Jim McNulty and I  had a fantastic walk on Saturday to Proaig and then on to McArthur's Head. The weather was brilliant and we saw lots of wildlife (except, surprisingly, otter). We also saw many types of sea-faring vessels including a newly built naval destroyer, the 0945 ferry, the 1530 ferry and the 1800 ferry (which tells you how long our walk was!) As well as sea-faring vessels we saw plenty of air activity too with it being the Airport Show Day. Our attention was on natural history, however and on enjoying the scenery. This was one of the first walks I did when I came to Islay in 2004 and I said then it was my favourite walk so far; I still say it's hard to beat!
Becky

BIRDS:Wheatear, Stonechat, Willow Warbler, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Snipe, Blackbird, Wren, Guillemot, Razorbill, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Gannet, Shag, Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Whitethroat, Hen Harrier, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Mallard, Hooded Crow, Swallow, Curlew, Greylag Goose, Common Sandpiper, Rock Dove, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Twite, Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting

INSECTS: Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Small Copper (1), Common Blue (3 or 4), Large Red Damselfly, Common Hawker (1), Small Tortoiseshell, Fox Moth larva, Galeruca tanaceti

OTHER: Adder, Bluefire Jellyfish, Lion's Mane Jellyfish, Hermit Crabs, Fallow Deer, Common Seal

Fox Moth Caterpillar - 1st instar

Galeruca tanaceti - a type of leaf beetle

Common Hawker (f)

Bluefire Jellyfish or Cyanea lamarckii (we think)

Reed Bunting (f) at Proaig

Common-spotted Orchid

Stonechat (m)

Fallow Deer with Sgarbh Breac in background

The 'Finlaggan' goes past McArthur's Head lighthouse.

Jura Hills

Small Isles Bay on Jura from above Keils.  We saw lots of Red deer up here, and even more when we were travelling to and from the ferry at Feolin after dark when herds appeared to be feeding on seaweeds on the shoreline.



There were, as ever, plenty of the ubiquitous Fox moth caterpillars



Dogfish and Fox Moth Caterpillar - Nyree Fearnley

Lesser Spotted Dogfish

Fox Moth Caterpillar

Thanks to Nyree Fearnley for these shots taken while on holiday to Islay recently...
Carl

Fox Moth

The hairy caterpillars of this species are still around, feeding up before they descend into the ground vegetation and leaf litter to hibernate through the winter. They feed on a variety of plants including heather, bramble, bilberry and willows. This one which I photographed just now was close to 70mm long, which is about as large as they get. In the spring, they will feed some more before pupating and emerging as the adult moth. It isn't a particularly spectacular moth - not as brightly coloured as the caterpillar, anyway - and has a wingspan which is also about 70mm.
Malcolm

Flora and Fauna at Sanaigmore, 2nd September 2011

Yesterday's ramble broke another record - the wettest yet, but all six of our ramblers refused to turn back, despite pressing from the leader! That's what I like to see! Botanising was more of a challenge as a lot of flowers were resolutely closed against the bad weather. Thanks eveyone for making it such an enjoyable ramble.
Becky

BIRDS
Chough, Swallow, Stonechat (family of 7), Ringed Plover, Curlew, Gannet, Rock Dove, Herring Gull

LICHENS AND FUNGI
Xanthoria parietina (foliose; bright yellow on rocks and wall), Parmelia saxatilis (foliose; grey), Anaptychia runcinata (foliose; brown/bronzey patches on wall), Porpidia sp., (crustose; black dots on wall); Ramalina sp., (fruitose; grey/green bushy patches on wall), Physcia adscendens (foliose; 'eyelash lichen'), plus other unknown species, waxcap sp., (also lots of unknown fungi spp). I intend to return and do a thorough lichen inventory of this wall. Any closet lichen experts/enthusiasts please get in touch!

FLORA
Forget-me-not sp., Chickweed sp., Hawkweed  sp., Monkey Flower, Yellow Rattle, Creeping Thistle, Spear Thistle, Meadow Buttercup, Red Bartsia, Daisy, Harebell, Self-heal, Redshank, Shepherd's Purse, Hogweed, Butterbur, Eyebright, Autumn Gentian, Field Gentian, Common Centaury, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Common Storksbill, Silverweed, White Cover, Red Clover, Groundsel, Pineapple Mayweed, Common Nettle, Lady's Bedstraw, Common Ragwort, Black Knapweed, Jointed Rush, Prickly Sow Thistle, Cleavers, Marsh Willowherb, Yorkshire Fog, Yarrow, Thrift, Marram Grass, Scarlet Pimpernel, Ribwort Plantain

OTHER
Common Toadlet, Fox Moth caterpillars, White-tailed Bumble Bee, Common Carder Bee

Rather wet Fox Moth Caterpillar