Ramble at Kilchiaran, 19th August 2013

We had a great turn out for today's ramble, with all ages and interests represented. It was a welcome challenge to keep being asked about Islay's geology and to have various types of rock pointed out to us by our younger ramblers who repeatedly showed up my lack of knowledge on the subject! Thanks to all for such enthusiasm!
Becky

BIRDS
Herring Gull, Common Gull, Hooded Crow, Buzzard, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Rock Dove, Sand Martin

FLORA
Marsh Woundwort, Lady's Bedstraw, Harebell, Tormentil, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Dove's-foot Cranesbill, Water Mint, Meadow Buttercup, Lesser Spearwort, White Clover, Red Clover, Common Milkwort, Self-heal, Pineapple Mayweed, Mayweed, Eyebright, Red Bartsia, Common Nettle, Marsh Thistle, Spear Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Hawkweed, Daisy, Forget-me-not sp, Foxglove, Marram Grass, Curled Dock, Thrift, Mouse-ear Chickweed, Meadow Vetchling, Butterwort, Common Centaury

INSECTS
Green-veined White, Small Copper, Small Tortoiseshell, Bombus pascourum (Common Carder Bee), Bombus lucorum (White-tailed Bumble-bee), hoverfly spp, 

LICHENS
Xanthoria sp, Anaptychia runsinata, Ramalina sp, Ochrolechia parella

Marsh Woundwort

Malcolm tells us about geese and their droppings

We listen avidly

Nature ramble at Kilchiaran, 22nd July 2013

There were just two takers for today's ramble - another sunny one as well and full of butterfly life - perhaps the most ever species seen on any of our rambles. Despite 'Nettle City' we found very few caterpillars - why, I wonder, when this is the best bunch of nettles I can recall seeing on Islay? The highlight for today's couple though was the beautiful male Linnet which posed for quite a while. It was our Leicestershire's couple first ever Linnet and they were delighted.
Becky

BIRDS
Common Gull, Fulmar, Black Guillemot, Hooded Crow, Raven, Starling, Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Sand Martin, Common Sandpiper, Buzzard, Ringed Plover, Pied Wagtail, Oystercatcher, Rock Dove

FLORA
Bog Pimpernel, Water Mint, Marsh Bedstraw, Marsh Willowherb, Marsh Marigold (leaves), Flag Iris, Eyebright, Germander Speedwell, Water Forget-me-not, Mouse-ear Chickweed, Meadow Vetchling, Kidney Vetch, Wild Thyme, Thrift, Bracken, Common Nettle, Spear Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Lesser Spearwort, Red Bartsia, Harebell, Ragged Robin, Red Campion, White Clover, Red Clover, Lady's Bedstraw, Burdock, Hawkbit, Selfheal, Marsh Thistle, Yorkshire Fog, Tormentil, Daisy

INSECTS and INVERTEBRATES
Harvestman sp, micro moth sp, Red Admiral, Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Common Blue, Green-veined White, Small Tortoiseshell, Dark Green Fritillary

Harebells - my favourite flower

Harvestman sp - possibly Phalangium opilio male.

Nettle City - hunting for caterpillars

Mating Meadow Browns

Ramble at Kilchiaran, 24th June 2013

Well, the highlight of today's ramble has to be the otter, spotted by Malcolm and seen very well by everyone present, the first ever on a ramble! The sun came out more and more and we stayed out longer and longer - all 12 of us! Another great ramble - thanks everyone!
Becky

Watching the Otter at Kilchiaran Bay

BIRDS
Herring Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Hooded Crow, Buzzard, Oystercatcher, Rock Pipit, Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Sand Martin, Common Sandpiper, Eider Duck (with 3 ducklings), Fulmar, Ringed Plover, Wheatear, Meadow Pipit

FLORA
Field Forget-me-not, Germander Speedwell, Marsh Marigold, Heath Bedstraw, Water-cress, Water Mint, Ragged Robin, Early Marsh Orchid, Marsh Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Common Nettle, Spear Thistle, Meadow Buttercup, Daisy, Cat's-ear, Kidney Vetch, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Dove's-foot Cranesbill, Wild Thyme, Foxglove, Star Sedge, Black Sedge, Common Spike-rush, Yorkshire Fog, Crested Dog's Tail, Lesser Spearwort, White Clover, Bracken, Greater Burdock, Sea Plantain, Ribwort Plantain, Broad-leaved Dock, Thrift, Tormentil, Cuckoo Flower, Yellow Flag, Common Milkwort, Marsh Pennywort, Meadowsweet, Common  Sorrel, Chickweed, Common Mouse-ear, Meadow Vetchling, Lesser Trefoil, Tufted Forget-me-not, Water Avens, Sea Arrowgrass, Marram Grass, Soft Rush, Field Speedwell, Hemlock Water-dropwort

MAMMALS
Otter, Rabbit

INSECTS
Click Beetle, Dung Flies, Small Tortoiseshell, Small Heath, Green-veined White

Ramble at Kilchiaran - 14th September 2012

A very small group of three of us set off on a very stormy afternoon for a very quick ramble at Kilchiaran. The camera didn't come out often so I only have one decent photo to show for it. The wind had died down considerably before the end of the walk. Despite the conditions we saw more raptors than on any other ramble, but little else. An enjoyable afternoon nonetheless.
Becky

BIRDS
Raven, Chough, Rock Dove, Buzzard, Kestrel, Hen Harrier (f), Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Eider, Shag, Gannet, Common Gull, Great Black-backed gull, Herring Gull, Linnet, Ringed Plover, Starling, Pied Wagtail

FUNGI
Dead men's Fingers

MAMMALS
Grey Seal

INSECTS
Silver Y Moth

FLORA
Nothing unusual noted

Stormy sea at Kilchiaran

Ramble at Kilchiaran, 24th August 2012

There were only three of us for today's ramble, but what a glorious day for it! Ann and Olivia are two of our newest members and they spent a lot of time with us last week, both in the Centre and out. It was a pleasure to have them on the ramble today, not least because they kept spotting things. No Oystercatchers today - I think that's a record! We collected some more caterpillars for our pavilion though, which  I was very pleased about. I'm later than usual in writing this post because of difficulties with uploading photos from my computer so I may well have forgotten something! I'll add photos later. Thanks for all your enthusiasm you two!
Becky

BIRDS
Raven, Chough, Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Twite, Goldfinch, Wheatear, Linnet, Gannet, Common Sandpiper

FLORA
Meadow Buttercup, Marsh Thistle, Spear Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Common Centaury, Eyebright, Thrift, Wild Thyme, Lesser Spearwort, Common Milkwort, White Clover, Red Clover, Bird's Foot Trefoil, Lady's Bedstraw, Common Nettle, Selfheal, Tormentil, Kidney Vetch, Harebell, Hawkbit, Black Knapweed

INSECTS AND INVERTEBRAE

Spider sp., Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Small Copper, Green-veined White, Bombus lucorum, hoverfly sp., Bombus pascuorum

Harebells

Garden Bumble Bee - Bombus horturum

Small Copper

Nature Ramble at Kilchiaran

Yesterday we had our first ramble of the season and the first one ever at Kilchiaran. What a spot and what a day! We've made a great start to the season's list of flora and fauna. The place was alive with birdsong and alarm calls. There are at least two pairs of Ringed Plover nesting on this beach so we didn't venture onto the beach itself and would ask walkers to take great care on this site for the same reason. Here's our list (I so love doing this!):
Birds
Meadow Pipit (obviously feeding young), Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail (family), Ringed Plover (nesting), Gannet, Fulmar, Chough, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wheatear (family), Snipe, Common Sandpiper (pair), Oystercatcher, Rock Dove, Sand Martin (nesting), Swallow, Eider (nursery of 15 young)
Flora
Butterwort, Lesser Celandine, Primrose, Foxglove, Scaly Male Fern, Water Mint, Common Scurvy Grass, Forget-me-not sp., Germander Speedwell, Yellow Pimpernel, Knotted Pearlwort, Marsh Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Spear Thistle, Tormentil, Thrift, Silverweed, Common Nettle, Broad-leaved Dock, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Kidney Vetch, Yellow Flag, Marsh Marigold, Meadow Buttercup, Daisy, White Clover, Dog Violet, Ragged Robin, Cuckoo Flower
Mammals and Insects
Grey Seal, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Small Heath Butterfly, Small Copper Butterfly, Small White Butterfly
Lichens
Xanthoria sp, Anaptychia runsinata, ramalina sp, Ochrolechia parella

Our next ramble is on Friday, at Bunnahabhain at 2 pm. Phone 01496 850 288 or 07967 205229 to book.
Becky

Eider Nursery

Xanthoria aureola (used to be Xanthoria ectaneoides)

Ringed Plover on watch

Small Copper

Small Copper (underside)

Blue-tailed Damselfly

INHT Wildlife Centre is now open in Port Charlotte

Our Natural History Centre in Port Charlotte is now open from 10.30am-4.30pm Monday - Friday.  A warm welcome to Lorna Williamson who is joining our Centre manager Becky Williamson for the season.  They will be busy getting the displays and tanks up and running this week.

Our program of natural history rambles starts on June 1st.  These are short and very informal and easy going 'Rambles' (as opposed to 'Walks') led by Becky at a series of different locations around the island.  As the name suggests, they involve a great deal of stopping to peer at and identify all sorts of plants, birds, bugs, beetles, lichens and liverworts.  They are very easy going, a perfect day out for all ages, abilities and levels of natural history knowledge.  One of the fun things that Becky hopes that you will help her with is to create lists of all the different species that you find - which is actually great fun.

The rambles must be booked in advance, by phoning either the Centre (01496 850288) or mobile (07967 205229) at any time up to 1.00pm on the day.  Each ramble starts at 2.00pm and lasts for around two hours.  There is nothing strenuous involved, but please come prepared with waterproof footwear and clothing to suit the weather.

At Bunnahabhain: we meet beside the road before it turns down to the distillery.
At Kilchiaran: we meet by the chapel.  There is plenty of parking in the laybys.
At Sanaigmore: there's plenty of parking at the end of the road.
At Killinallan: meet where the road ends in a (usually) locked gate.
At Ardnave: beside the loch where the track turns left towards the farm.
At Kintra: in the signposted car park through the gate out of the farm yard.

Prices for the Rambles are the same as admission to the Centre - Adult £3, Concession £2, Child £1.50, Family £7.50

Kilchiaran Bay



Kilchiaran Bay earlier today.  Now squeaky clean following a quality beach clean this morning by a team led by Briar Maxwell

Kilchiaran Chapel

The remains of Kilchiaran Chapel.  Fourteenth Century.  Kilchiaran is traditionally considered to be one of the many places that Columba called in at on his way from Ireland to Iona.  His journey was made in the sixth century however - so pre-dates the existing building by around eight hundred years....

Cup and Ring Marks - Kilchiaran

These strange marks on a stone slab situated close to the chapel at Kilchiaran are man-made.  Usually called 'cup and ring' marks, they are quite widespread in Argyll and other, broadly similar marks are found in many other places around the world.  They are usually given a Neolithic date, whiich would make them anything up to five thousand years old.  Precise dating is however, impossible.  Theories as to their purpose are entirely speculative.

Kilchiaran

A series of snaps taken this morning during a walk up the coast from Kilchiaran.  A very dramatic landscape made even more so by the brisk south easterly wind. - Carl

Kilchiaran earlier this evening

A couple of snaps taken down at Kilchiaran earlier this evening.  I had gone over hoping to get some shots of deer around the Gearach or at Octomore, but the place was crawling with men dressed in combat trousers and carrying guns.  Unsurprisingly I didnae see a thing, so I headed down to the beach as the light was disappearing.  The top shot was taken by resting the wee Canon point and shoot on a stone in the middle of the burn, and then using a very long exposure with a delayed shutter.  For the second shot the camera was resting on a rock at the side of the beach, on manual, with a delayed shutter and the aperture set at minimum, which in the case of the SX200IS is f8.  The exposure time was 8 seconds...
Carl