Green Hairstreaks

Hurray! These tiny spring delights have emerged and are certainly enjoying this latest bout of sunshine. I truly feel that spring has finally arrived! I checked a regular Marsh Fritillary spot for progress there and found dozens of caterpillars not yet even in chrysalis so it will be a very late year for them. Thanks to John Cameron for this photo of Green Hairstreak and its location.
Becky

Green Hairstreak

Green Hairstreak Location off high road

Photos from Colonsay

I was on Colonsay last week for my brother's wedding and, apart from taking hundreds of wedding photos, managed to get out for some walks and photograph the beautiful scenery and wildlife there. Here's a few for starters.
Becky

Beautiful Balnahard Bay on the north-east of the island

Profusion of Dog Violets

Peacock Butterfly

After a week of searching I was rewarded by a brief view of my favourite butterfly - Green Hairstreak. There's no doubt there's fewer of them this year as a result of our poor spring.

Machir Bay to Saligo (Part 1)

What a wonderful walk David Formby, Lorna and I had today round Coul Point, from Machir Bay to Saligo. It's been difficult selecting photos from the many Lorna took, but here is part one:


Eider Family, north of Machir Bay

 

Frog, near Saligo



Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi - 'beautiful eyebrow')



Kestrel



Thrift on cliff

 Becky

Sanaig Rocks Walk

Jim and I set off from Sanaigmore today for a wonderful walk up Sanaig rocks, to Traigh Bhan and back to the road. Traigh Bhan is where 108 of the 241 victims of the Exmouth disaster were buried in 1847 so it is quite a poignant, as well as a tranquil spot.

Oh what joy to see my first Green Hairstreak of the year - at first I thought I'd mistaken it for a leaf, but no there it was, holding its own in the strongish wind near the summit of the rocks. Later Jim saw his first ever adder - a male, curled up basking in the sun right next to the road. By the time I'd recovered from the excitement of seeing the adder, he had slithered calmly away before I'd got my camera out! To top it all (literally), a Golden Eagle flew right over our heads.

We also saw this tiny green jumping beetle which I'm hoping Crystal can identify. It was difficult to take a good photo as it was so tiny and I put my hand deliberately there for scale.

How fortunate we are to live on this wonderful island where the mighty and the mites dwell in (relative) harmony.

Green Hairstreak

Oh dear, the picture's worse than I thought!

Birds: Raven, Lapwing, Golden Eagle, Starling, Sand Martin, Wren, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Oystercatcher, Chough, Ringed Plover, Shag, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Hooded Crow, Kestrel, Curlew, Pied Wagtail
Becky