Saligo burn

Pictured on Sunday

Blonde Ray Egg Case

Back in June we posted a photo of a Blonde Ray eggcase which Mary McGregor had found. It is one of the largest 'mermaids' purses' (or eggcases of Rays, sharks and skates) to be found on British shores. On my recent walk at Saligo whilst I was collecting driftwood, Lynda and Brier were finding yet more mermaids' purses. They found two Blonde Ray cases. I think they were a little smaller than the one Mary found, but sizable nevertheless.
Becky

Blonde Ray Eggcase

Where have you gone sunshine?

In case (like me) you've forgotten what our beautiful island is like in the sunshine, here's a few photos from last weekend when, contrary to this one, the sun came out for the first time in ages. I went a walk at Saligo to Loch Corr and Cnoc an Tighe, one of many poignant ruins on our island.
Becky

Loch Corr

Detail of Saligo rocks

Cnoc an Tighe

Grave slab - Saligo

Loch Gorm - Kirsty Wither

Thanks to Kirsty for this phone shot out across Loch Gorm towards Saligo taken yesterday in the late afternoon.

Concrete water cistern overlooking Saligo

Thistle - Saligo

Skeins of Barnacle geese - Saligo

Ruined house overlooking Saligo

World War Two radar installation - Ballinaby

Saligo on a Smartphone

Three shots of Saligo taken on Sunday afternoon on an Android Smartphone.  No processing.

Cockchafer Beetle

On Tuesday, someone presented me with an unidentified beetle that appeared to be washed up at Saligo Bay. I'm sorry, I didn't get any pictures (it was very smelly and upon identificaction, was dealt with quickly!), but if that someone sees this entry, then thanks for bringing it in. As I thought at the time, it was a cockchafer beetle.

Lorna

Machir Bay to Saligo (Part 2) (Diamond Jubilee)

This weekend has been one long wildlife fiesta for Lorna and me. To honour the Queen's Diamond Jubilee here is 60 species of fauna and flora we've seen this weekend:

Blackbird, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Arctic Tern, Shag, Fulmar, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Gannet, Black Guillemot, Shelduck, Eider, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Grey Heron, Kestrel, Buzzard, Ringed Plover, Jackdaw, Chough, Wheatear, Starling, Corncrake, Rock Dove, Lapwing, Greylag Goose, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Wood Warbler, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Dunnock, Robin, Great Tit, Song Thrush, Wren, Redpoll, Linnet, Goldfinch, Treecreeper, Chaffinch, Mute Swan, Four-spotted Chaser, Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Large Red Damselfly, Green Hairstreak, Marsh Fritillary, Small Heath, Red Admiral, Green-veined White, Small White, Hare, Rabbit, Common Frog, Roach, Round-leaved Sundew, Heath-spotted Orchid, Lousewort

Part 3 coming soon!

Becky



Marsh Fritillary



Round-leaved Sundew

Redshank



Ringed Plover



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

Bright pinks

Sea thrift, Saligo

'Opera Rocks' and coastline at Smaull

The well-kent landmark rocks north of Saligo have been steadily changing their name from 'Braigo Rocks', which I have never heard anyone use, to 'Opera Rocks' because of their resemblance to the famous building in Sydney Harbour, which was of course only finally completed in 1973.  I am sure they have a Gaelic name too, though I do not recall seeing one.  It is a spectacular section of Islay's coastline.  Carl

Common Gull nest

Saligo yesterday

Sea Pinks - Saligo

Scottish Black-faced Ewes

Scottish Black-faced ewes with lambs near Saligo.

Common Scurvy Grass - Saligo

Common Scurvy Grass (Cochlearia officinalis) is abundant on the wet Machair south of Saligo at the moment.  It is a member of the cabbage family.  Captain Cook carried it on his ship, correctly believing that eating it would provide protection from scurvy.  Sadly, nobody else in authority believed him and thousands continued to die from vitamin C deficiencies caused by poor diet on long voyages.