Red Deer on Jura

Two snapped last Friday - a glorious sunny day,.
Malcolm

An Carn, lost village on Jura

On my last day on Jura we visited the ruined village of An Carn. It's a long way from anywhere - 4 miles from Barnhill and about 20 from Craighouse. Park at the road end and head across tussocks, scrubby woodland and bog to the coast. You will be rewarded for your exertion, as we were, with fine views of the Sound of Jura and a poignant reminder of life gone by in the form of several ruined houses and some excellent cup marked rocks. It was a day full of both social and natural history. What a wonderful place Jura is!
Becky

An Carn village, Jura

Cup-marked Rock, An Carn

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, An Carn

Pregnant Lizard

Reed Bunting

Scaly Male Fern  (Dryopteris affinis) at An Carn

Forester Moth (Adscita statices)

More photos from Jura

Some more photos from my recent trip to Barnhill, Jura.
Becky

Carabus arvensis - a beautiful bronzey-coloured ground beetle

Cow Wheat (Melampyrum pratense)

Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)

Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra)

Bay of Pigs - Jura

The 'Bay of Pigs' as it is known in some circles, is an anchorage at the western end of the Gulf of Corrievreckan, between Jura and Scarba.  There were two large Canada geese here looking extremely domestic, which is a bit worrying...   Carl

Jura

Jura was snow capped yesterday, with the evening light illuminating the Paps for a few brief minutes.  All very attractive.  Carl

Photos from Paul Hadley

Purple lichen



Common seals




Spotted orchid



Wild goats

Thanks to Paul for these photos taken while backpacking on Jura...

Adders

We've had several reports of adder sightings within the past week. Thanks to Paul Hadley for this photo of a female adder taken on his west coast of Jura backpack.
Becky

Alien invasion!

Over on Jura a week ago to check on the very small (13 birds) Greenland White-fronted Goose flock north of Craighhouse, we found pairs of large Canada Geese in several places, including in the same field as the Whitefronts. Also present there were two pairs of Greylags. The latter have been steadily colonising Jura in recent years just as they have Islay. Canada Geese (introduced to Britain from North America in the 17th century and now widespread and numerous - over 200,000) have been breeding along the coast of mainland Argyll for several years (and on Colonsay), so perhaps it was only a matter of time before they crossed over to Jura. It was though a surprise to find them scattered from Ardfin to Knockrome as if there had been a small influx perhaps in the earlier hard weather. If they stay and breed, which seems very likely, it will only be a matter of time before they do the same on Islay and the farmers here will have to cope with a second resident goose which instead of migrating away in April stays to feed on the crops throughout the summer!

The photograph shows the Canadas and the Greylags in the foreground, while the five birds behind them are Greenland Whitefronts. The photograph isn't, I acknowledge, of top quality, but you should note the numerous small diagonal white streaks - it was snowing quite hard at the time!
Malcolm

Deer beach

On the shore on the Jura side of the Sound where they were browsing the seaweed.
Malcolm

Buzzard on Jura - James Deane

Another lovely raptor shot from James...

Jura - Cath Fotheringham

Thanks to Cath for sending us this collection of photos from her time on Jura

The fields of yesterday - More photographs from Walter Rintoul

 This is a croft at Glenegedale, I believe it belonged to Peter Reid.

 These are fields on the Mull of Oa, with what I believe are haystacks (rather than cornstacks).

 Walking on the Mull of Oa

The village of Keills on Jura.  I would suggest that they are cornstacks, but could be wrong...

Extra Protection for Golden Eagles on Jura

The Scotsman

White Tailed Eagle on Jura

James Deane has been out and about with his camera again and sent us these shots of a White Tailed Eagle over on Jura. Many thanks to him. The yellow wing tags you can see indicate that this bird was a 2006 chick from Mull.