Ardnave Ramble 8th July

A small but keen group of five enjoyed a ramble at Ardnave in warm (even hot) sunny conditions on a day when the temperature at the airport met station reached a massive 22 degrees C! Ardnave Loch held the family of Mute Swans (4 cygnets) and Tufted Duck (c.9 ducklings) and after finding a few plants growing round the edge we walked over the grassy ridge and down to the shore of Loch Gruinart, finding Becky's favourite plant (the Harebell) on the way, except that she wasn't there to enjoy it! Several Six-spot Burnet moths showed off their red spots and red underwing and gave rise to a discussion about the difference between moths and butterflies, the clubbed antennae of the latter being a main distinguishing feature, except for those species which don't have them, not forgetting that the burnet moths have clubbed antennae! And, of course, butterflies fly during the day, and moths at night, except for those, like the burnets, which fly during the day. Hmm, perhaps the burnets are really butterflies! Passing the rocky islet on the shore brought three or four Arctic Terns into the air which from their angry calls must have had young to protect. A Redshank similarly showed its displeasure at our (brief) proximity to where it, too, must have had its young. Bog Pimpernel was admired by all on the edge of the marshy ground, but despite quite extensive searching no orchids could be found.

Mammals
Hare, Grey Seal

Birds
Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Eider Duck, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Arctic Tern, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Wheatear, Swallow

Flowers
Lesser Spearwort, Marsh Marigold, Meadow Buttercup, Bulbous Buttercup, Lady's Smock, Water-cress, Common Milkwort, Ragged Robin, Common Mouse-ear, Sea Spurrey, Yellow Meadow Vetchling, Black Medick, White Clover, Red Clover, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Lady's Bedstraw, Spear Thistle, Marsh Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Thyme, Daisy, Thrift, Cat's-ear, Hawkbit, Harebell, Bog Pimpernel, Water Forget-me-not, Germander Speedwell, Eyebright, Water Mint, Sheep's Sorrel, Yellow Flag, Common Reed, Common Butterwort, Common Nettle, Bracken, Soft Rush, Black Bog-rush, Star Sedge, Common Cotton-grass, Common Spike-rush

Butterfly and moth
Small Heath, Six-spot Burnet

Malcolm

Bog Pimpernel

Six-spot Burnet

Post script on Killinallan Ramble

The Falconer Family have inspired us through their enthusiasm and encouragement during their Islay holiday. On the Killinallan Nature ramble last Friday,  Amory (8) and Islay (7) were delighted to act as INHT's very own temporary photographer and journalist. Here are some examples of their work. Thanks guys! Lorna

"Thank you for a lovely write up on your blog. We really enjoyed the nature ramble, as I think you could tell!"

Ben and Liz Falconer

All the wildlife I saw on Islay.

On Islay I saw Grey seals and common seals which were very fat and lazy!

I also caught jellyfish and crabs which were a mixture of velvet crabs and shore crabs. In a field I saw brown rabbits hopping to their holes because Amory (my brother) might of distracted them.

The next day we saw Buzzards. Buzzards are big birds with a brown body, a yellow and black beak, yellow legs and a black line around its eye. I did see lots of Swallows, thay swooped around trying to look for food. On the last day of the holiday I saw a Flatfish, a frog, a weevil and other beautiful things.

By Islay, aged 7

Islay's Oyster shell.

Killinallan beach

Certain  participants got a bit distracted en route (the clue as to whom is in the sleeve!). Here is a shore crab we picked up  on one such diversion. There were tiny baby crabs scuttling around everywhere to be seen!

Devil's bit scabious - food plant of the rare Marsh fritillary

All photos by Amory Falconer.