Ramble at Sanaigmore, 26th August 2013

Every ramble is special and unique with its own blend of personalities and sightings, none of which is really within anybody's control and it is this element of surprise which is so exciting about our nature rambles. Today's was so full of wonder and excitement that it has definitely made it into my own personal top five in the INHT ramble charts! Thanks to all who came. A special mention should be made of the inexhaustible Whitney who had asked me to make her a chart to tick off everything she saw. This I did, complete with a points system (which, it has to be said, was revised en route - the harebell obviously getting more points than anything else!) She managed to clock up 1333 points by the end of the ramble and hopefully learnt something as she went! Well done, Whitney! Thanks too to Ann who gave an impromptu geology lesson and pointed out the differences between phyllite ("a type of foliated metamorphic rock created from slate that is further metamorphosed so that very fine grained white mica achieves a preferred orientation." Wikipedia) and greywacke ("a variety of sandstone generally characterized by its hardness, dark color, and poorly sorted angular grains of quartz, feldspar and small rock fragments." Wikipedia) Other highlights were the otter (a first for 8 out of our 13 ramblers), a slime mould and a Painted Lady butterfly. Something for everyone then! (Except for the elusive Chough!)
Becky

BIRDS
Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Starling, Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Oystercatcher, Shag, Linnet

FLORA
Bird's-foot Trefoil, Meadow Buttercup, Silverweed (leaves),Common Storksbill, Monkey Flower, Water Forget-me-not, White Clover, Red Clover, Lady's Bedstraw, Daisy, Mouse-ear Chickweed, Common Hawkbit, Eyebright, Spear Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Lesser Burdock, Common Nettle, Common Ragwort, Autumn Gentian, Common Centaury, Self-heal, Wild Thyme, Pineapple Mayweed,  Red Bartsia, Marsh Willowherb, Yorkshire Fog, Fairy Flax, Harebell, Yarrow, Curled Dock, Cut-leaved Cranesbill, Water Mint, Harebell, Purple Loosestrife, Cat's-ear

INSECTS AND INVERTEBRAE
Painted Lady, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Green-veined White, Harvestman, Cranefly, Large Yellow Underwing

MAMMALS
Otter

LICHEN AND FUNGI
Xanthoria parietina, Red Waxcap, Yellow Waxcap, Slime Mould sp

Red Waxcap

Slime Mould

Ramble at Sanaigmore, 29th July 2013

All nine of us watched the grey cloud approach and I shook in my odd boots as it was the first time ever on a ramble that I hadn't brought a jacket. With everyone else prepared, however, we ventured forth into the heavy rain. Our ramble was curtailed but Ben spotted a Ringed Plover's nest just before we turned back and we were surprised that we hadn't been mobbed as a result. We quickly turned back round to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate at Outback Art and discuss our sightings in the warmth. Thanks to everyone for turning up and it was good to see Amory and Islay and their extended family back; they'd joined us for a ramble last year and decided to return for more rambling - even if it was in the rain!

Becky

BIRDS

Sand Martin, Swallow, Starling, Wren, Meadow Pipit, Redshank, Black Guillemot, Ringed Plover, Twite

INSECTS

Common Carder Bee, White-tailed Bumble Bee, Small Tortoiseshell

FLORA

Bird's-foot Trefoil, Meadow Buttercup, Silverweed, Monkey Flower, Water Forget-me-not, White Clover, Red Clover, Lady's Bedstraw, Daisy, Mouse-ear Chickweed, Common Hawkbit, Eyebright, Spear Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Lesser Burdock, Common Nettle, Common Ragwort, Field Gentian, Common Centaury, Self-heal, Wild Thyme, Pineapple Mayweed, Red Bartsia, Marsh Willowherb, Yorkshire Fog, Harebell, Yarrow, Thrift, Bog Pimpernel, Black Knapweed

Ringed Plover nest

Nature Ramble at Sanaigmore, 1st July 2013

There were fewer of us for today's ramble, 4 visitors and Malcolm and I, but what we lacked in numbers, we made up for in enthusiasm. The highlight had to be the Corncrake calling obligingly at the beginning of the ramble. Unlike last week's otter, it was a first for a couple of our visitors and they were delighted! We identified a few new plants as well as revelling in the abundance of flora. I've been promised the list will be checked and omissions pointed out! I wait with bated breath!
Becky

BIRDS
Corncrake, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Arctic Tern, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Raven, Blackbird, Wren, Wheatear, Gannet, Skylark

FLORA
Cut-leaved Crane's-bill, Common Storksbill, Eyebright, Ragwort, Common Milkwort, Water Forget-me-not, Germander Speedwell, Field Speedwell, Thrift, Wild Thyme, Biting Stonecrop, Thyme-leaved Sandwort, Sea Rocket, Sea Milkwort, Marsh Marigold, Bulbous Buttercup, Meadow Buttercup, Ragged Robin, Lesser Spearwort, Watercress, Water Mint, Carnation Sedge, Oval Sedge, Black Sedge, Yorkshire Fog, Crested Dog's-tail, Daisy, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Silverweed, Monkey Flower, Water Forget-me-not, White Clover, Red Clover, Lady's Bedstraw, Daisy, Common Mouse-ear, Hawkbit, Spear Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Lesser Burdock, Common Nettle, Yellow Iris, Autumn Gentian, Common Centaury, Self-heal, Pineapple Mayweed, Fairy Flax, Yarrow, Broad-leaved Dock, Curled Dock, Field Gentian, Cuckoo Flower, Dog Violet, Northern Marsh Orchid, Hawkweed, Cat's-ear, Marram Grass, Hemlock Water-dropwort

INSECTS
Small Heath, Common Blue, Click Beetle, Bombus pascuorum (Common Carder Bee), Bombus lucorum (White-tailed Bumble Bee)

LICHEN
Xanthoria parietina (bright yellow foliose sp), Ramalina sp, (fruitose sp), Anaptychia runsinata (brown, but goes green when wet), Lecanora sp (crustose sp - has jam tart like apothecia), Physcia adscendens (has 'eyelashes')

Bombus pascourum (Common Carder Bee)

You sometimes need to be prepared to get down on all fours during our rambles!

With the late spring this year, the Thrift is out at the same time as the Wild Thyme, producing an even more colourful than usual floral carpet!

Sanaigmore nature ramble 3rd June 2013

What a great start to our season of rambles! I was delighted when 13 people turned up at Sanaigmore for our ramble today - each of them equipped with a pair of binoculars and oozing with enthusiasm. With the exception of Danny, none had been to Islay before. We stayed out in the warm sunshine for longer than usual, such was our reluctance to return to the cars. The highlight has got to be the ever present summer plumaged Great Norther Diver - and the Chough which flew over on cue just when we had resigned ourselves to a Choughless afternoon! Thanks everyone!
Becky

BIRDS
Dunnock, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Swallow, Chough, Arctic Tern, Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Common Gull, Ringed Plover, Twite, Pied Wagtail, Jackdaw, Starling, Black Guillemot, Great Northern Diver, Shelduck, Reed Bunting, Skylark

FLORA
Germander Speedwell, Brooklime, Marsh Marigold, Lesser Celandine, Common Milkwort, Bulbous Buttercup, Meadow Buttercup, Daisy, Heath Speedwell, Wall Speedwell, Common Scurvy Grass, Thrift, Silverweed (leaves only), Dove's-foot Cranesbill, Common Storksbill, Lesser Burdock, Common Nettle, Spear Thistle, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Biting Stonecrop (leaves only), English Stonecrop (leaves only), Mouse-ear Chickweed, Cuckoo Flower, Common Cottongrass, Dog Violet, Gorse, Willow sp, Bluebell

LICHEN
Anaptychia runcinata (brown foliose sp on wall), Ramalina siliquosa (grey-green fruitose species on wall)

INSECTS
Bumble bee sp, Green-veined White Butterflies (lots), Small Tortoiseshell

MAMMALS
Red Deer

Common Gull Chicks

Watching the Great Northern Diver

Bulbous Buttercup - Ranunculus bulbosus

Bulbous Buttercup - Ranunculus bulbosus - differentiated from Meadow Buttercup by its downturned sepals.

Bulbous Buttercup - Ranunculus bulbosus.  I was asked why it was called bulbous buttercup and I found this photo of its bulbous root on wikipedia

Photos from Paul Kirkland

Paul was here recently, working for Butterfly Conservation Scotland and he sent us these photos from his trip. On his previous trip he had been working on leeches and returned to the site on this occasion to see if he could find any leech cocoons. Hey presto! He did! He's kindly donated one to the Trust and (arguably) ugly though the adults are, the cocoon looks so intricate and beautiful through the microscope. Thanks, Paul! I had no idea such things existed!
Becky

Horse Leech 'cocoon'

Medicinal Leech 'cocoon'

Marsh Fritillary Web

Marsh Fritillary Web at Claddach

Sanaigmore

Grey Seals at Claddach

Ramble at Sanaigmore, 30th July 2012

What a glorious afternoon for a ramble! Nine of us set out at Sanaigmore today and what a treat was in store for us in the form of the spectacular floral carpet that surpassed any such displays that we saw here last year. What our list lacked in birds or insects, it more than made up for in flora today. The highlights were definitely Sanaigmore's first recorded Frog and Pyramidal Orchids. After finding the Frog Orchid I joked that all that now remained was for someone to find a Pyramidal Orchid - and lo and behold - minutes later Anne called us over to examine an orchid she'd found - none other than the Pyramidal Orchid itself. I was delighted! Thanks Anne and to everyone for a most enjoyable ramble.
Becky

BIRDS
Gannet, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, Swallow, Starling, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Wheatear, Chough, Raven, Jackdaw, Pied Wagtail

FLORA
Bird's-foot Trefoil, Meadow Buttercup, Marsh Marigold (leaves), Silverweed (leaves),Common Storksbill, Monkey Flower, Water Cress, Water Forget-me-not, White Clover, Red Clover, Lady's Bedstraw, Daisy, Mouse-ear Chickweed, Common Hawkbit, Eyebright, Spear Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Lesser Burdock, Common Nettle, Yellow Iris (leaves), Common Ragwort, Autumn Gentian, Common Centaury, Self-heal, Wild Thyme, Pineapple Mayweed, Prickly Sow Thistle, Yellow Rattle, Red Bartsia, Marsh Willowherb, Yorkshire Fog, Fairy Flax, Harebell, Yarrow, Common Sorrel, Frog Orchid, Pyramidal Orchid, Sea Milkwort, Thrift, Broad-leaved Dock, Curled Dock, Brooklime, Wall Speedwell, Germander Speedwell, Carnation Sedge, Ragwort, Field Gentian, Common Milkwort, Sea Plantain, Buck's-horn Plantain

INSECTS
Common Blue Butterfly, Ringlet, Small White

MAMMALS
Rabbit

LICHEN
Xanthoria parietina (foliose; bright yellow on rocks and wall), Parmelia saxatilis (foliose; grey), Anaptychia runcinata (foliose; brown/bronzey patches on wall), Ramalina sp., (fruitose; grey/green bushy patches on wall), Physcia adscendens (whitish with 'eyelashes')

Carpet of Eyebright



Dunlin




Frog Orchid - Coeloglossum viride




Examining flora




Pyramidal Orchid - Anacamptis pyramidalis




Common Centaury - Centauruim erythraea




Examining a Mermaid's Purse



Sanaigmore ramble

SAeA cool but dry afternoon, after light rain in the morning, saw six of us rambling at Sanaigmore. The cool northerly wind meant we didn't see a single butterfly - but then it seems to be a very poor summer for them so far. However, the flowers were good, while the birds were rather scarce.

Wild flowers
Creeping Buttercup, Meadow Buttercup, Marsh Marigold, Water-cress, Hairy Bitter-cress, Cuckoo-flower, Common Milkwort, Ragged Robin, Procumbent Pearlwort, Dove's-foot Cranesbill, Red Clover, White Clover, Marsh Pennywort, Parsley Water-dropwort, Lady's Bedstraw, Marsh Bedstraw, Wild Thyme, Daisy, Common Burdock, Ragwort, Creeping Thistle, Spear Thistle, Hawkbit, Common Centaury, Field Felwort, Water Forget-me-not, Field Speedwell, Sea Plantain, Northern Marsh Orchid, Yellow Flag, Marram Grass, Sea Milkwort, Bog Pimpernel, Monkeyflower, Common Cottongrass

Birds
Herring Gull, Common Gull, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Hooded Crow, Wheatear, Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Swallow

Mammals
Rabbit


Inverts
Bumblebee (probably Bombus lucorum)

Malcolm

Bumblebee (probably Bombus lucorum)

Common Cottongrass

Common Milkwort

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

Flora and Fauna at Sanaigmore, 2nd September 2011

Yesterday's ramble broke another record - the wettest yet, but all six of our ramblers refused to turn back, despite pressing from the leader! That's what I like to see! Botanising was more of a challenge as a lot of flowers were resolutely closed against the bad weather. Thanks eveyone for making it such an enjoyable ramble.
Becky

BIRDS
Chough, Swallow, Stonechat (family of 7), Ringed Plover, Curlew, Gannet, Rock Dove, Herring Gull

LICHENS AND FUNGI
Xanthoria parietina (foliose; bright yellow on rocks and wall), Parmelia saxatilis (foliose; grey), Anaptychia runcinata (foliose; brown/bronzey patches on wall), Porpidia sp., (crustose; black dots on wall); Ramalina sp., (fruitose; grey/green bushy patches on wall), Physcia adscendens (foliose; 'eyelash lichen'), plus other unknown species, waxcap sp., (also lots of unknown fungi spp). I intend to return and do a thorough lichen inventory of this wall. Any closet lichen experts/enthusiasts please get in touch!

FLORA
Forget-me-not sp., Chickweed sp., Hawkweed  sp., Monkey Flower, Yellow Rattle, Creeping Thistle, Spear Thistle, Meadow Buttercup, Red Bartsia, Daisy, Harebell, Self-heal, Redshank, Shepherd's Purse, Hogweed, Butterbur, Eyebright, Autumn Gentian, Field Gentian, Common Centaury, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Common Storksbill, Silverweed, White Cover, Red Clover, Groundsel, Pineapple Mayweed, Common Nettle, Lady's Bedstraw, Common Ragwort, Black Knapweed, Jointed Rush, Prickly Sow Thistle, Cleavers, Marsh Willowherb, Yorkshire Fog, Yarrow, Thrift, Marram Grass, Scarlet Pimpernel, Ribwort Plantain

OTHER
Common Toadlet, Fox Moth caterpillars, White-tailed Bumble Bee, Common Carder Bee

Rather wet Fox Moth Caterpillar

Flora and Fauna at Sanaigmore, 15th August 2011

There was a total of 16 of us for today's ramble at Sanaigmore - the most yet and we were blessed with beautiful sunshine throughout the ramble. New for our rambles list was an Ear Moth sp. (of which there are four species, all very difficult to tell apart). Other highlights included baby toads and shore crabs. Thanks to everyone for attending and I hope we'll see you all on another ramble. Please let me know any ommissions.
Becky

BIRDS
Ringed Plover, Starling, Blackbird, Gannet, Herring Gull, Chough, Swallow, Pied Wagtail, Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Oystercatcher, Rock Dove

INSECTS
Common Blue Butterfly, Meadow Brown, Small Copper, Peacock, Dark Green Fritillary, Green-veined White, Bombus pascourum (Common Carder Bee), Ear Moth sp, Agriphilia tristella

LICHEN AND FUNGHI
Parmelia saxatalis, Xanthoria parietina, Ramalina sp., funghi (awaiting id - spore print being done)

MAMMALS
Rabbit (plus a jigsaw of a skeleton collected and identified by Jasmine), Grey Seal

AMPHIBIANS
Common Toad

SHORE CREATURES AND SEAWEED
Sea Lettuce, Enteromorpha intestinalis, Acorn Barnacles, Common Limpet, Beadlet Anemone, Shore Crab, tiny fish

FLORA
Bird's-foot Trefoil, Meadow Buttercup, Marsh Marigold (leaves), Silverweed (leaves), Dove's-foot Cranesbill, Common Storksbill, Monkey Flower, Water Cress, Water Mint, Water Forget-me-not, White Clover, Red Clover, Lady's Bedstraw, Daisy, Mouse-ear Chickweed, Common Hawkbit, Eyebright, Spear Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Lesser Burdock, Common Nettle, Yellow Iris (leaves), Common Ragwort, Field Gentian, Autumn Gentian, Common Centaury, Self-heal, Wild Thyme, Jointed Rush, Pineapple Mayweed, Scentless Mayweed, Sea Rocket, Butterbur, Prickly Sow Thistle, Cleavers, Yellow Rattle, Red Bartsia, Redshank, Marsh Willowherb, Yorkshire Fog, Perennial Rye Grass, Foxtail, Fairy Flax, Harebell, Yarrow, Common Sorrel

Common Blue butterfly in flight

Agriphilia tristella

Daniel with Common Toad

Baby Shore Crab



Watching the Choughs



Flora and fauna at Sanaigmore, 29th July 2011

We had a record total of 15 people on today's ramble and it was fantastic. Thanks everyone for coming and for your enthusiasm, questions and observations. I think the highlight today was the gentian spp. We saw both Field Gentian and Autumn Gentian, growing in separate areas but restricted to a couple of patches, both on tiny hillocks. Interesting. The scent emanating from the throng of Creeping Thistles was amazing - like honey, someone commented.  Any omissions or corrections, please let me know. The lists are getting longer so it's getting more difficult to remember everything!
Becky

BIRDS
Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Twite, Chough, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Gannet, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Wheatear, Linnet, Pied Wagtail, Swallow, Sand Martin

INSECTS
Aphodius fimetarius - Dung Beetle, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Meadow Grasshopper, Common Blue

LICHENS, FUNGI AND SEAWEED
Dung Round Cap, Xanthoria parietina (bright yellow), Ramalina sp. (tufty green), Anaptychia runsinata (foliose bronzey brown like seaweed), Parmelia saxatalis (grey foliose species), Enteromorpha intestinalis

MAMMALS
Rabbit

FLORA
Thrift, Water Forget-me-not, Carnation Sedge, Birds-foot Trefoil, Yellow Flag, Monkey Flower, Silverweed, Marsh Marigold, Meadow Buttercup, Daisy, Watercress, Sea Rocket, Ragwort, Butterbur, Marram Grass, Lady's Bedstraw, Bell Heather, Deer Grass, White Clover, Red Clover, Common Sorrel, Common Storksbill, Dog Violet, Germander Speedwell, Eyebright, Ragged Robin, Cuckoo Flower, Water Mint, Marsh Pennywort, Wild Thyme, Tormentil, Marsh Bedstraw, Sea Sandwort, Sea Purslane, English Stonecrop, Dove's-foot Cranesbill, Common Hawksbit, Heather, Spear Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Lesser Spearwort, Common Nettle, Curled Dock, Autumn Gentian, Field Gentian, Common Centaury, Lesser Burdock, Cleavers, Jointed Rush, Common Rush, Self-heal, Common Milkwort, Bog Pimpernel, Cat's-ear, Red Bartsia, Yellow Rattle, Marsh Pennywort, Redshank, Marsh Willowherb, Common Cottongrass, Cow Parsley, Mouse-ear Chickweed, Gorse, Yorkshire Fog, Thyme-leaved Sandwort, Fairy Flax, Harebell, Yarrow, Devil's-bit Scabious, Pineapple Mayweed, Black Knapweed, Prickly Sow Thistle

Abbi shows how tall Spear Thistle can grow

To show the beautiful location

Absorbed ramblers

Someone managed to catch a grasshopper

Aphodius fimetarius - a type of Dung Beetle

Cinnabar Moth - Tyria jacobaeae

Probably newly emerged - and looking here like a character from Doctor Who...

Some flowers from our ramble at Sanaigmore yesterday

Bell Heather

Bird's foot trefoil

Water forget-me-not

Sea purslane

Sea sandwort

Nature Ramble at Sanaigmore

Just four of us enjoyed a leisurely ramble down to the beach and then over the burn to the east and onto the area of flat wet ground over the burn.  We were hoping to find a Marsh Fritillary, but no luck today, the Lepidoptera were confined to a number of Small Heath butterflies and a newly emerged Cinnabar moth.

The list of flora was:  Thrift, Forget-me-not, Carnation sedge, Birds-foot trefoil, Yellow flag, Monkey flower, Silverweed, Marsh marigold, Meadow buttercup, Daisy, Hemlock water dropwort, Watercress, Sea Rocket, Sea dock, Sea mouse ear, Ragwort, Butterbur, Sea purslane, Marram grass, Lady's bedstraw, Bell heather, Bog asphodel, Deer grass, White clover, Common sorrell, Shepherd's purse, Small-leaved cranesbill, Dog violet, Common speedwell, Eyebright sp., Ragged robin, Lady's smock, Water mint, Star sedge, Pennywort, Meadowsweet, Water stitchwort, Wild thyme, Foxglove, marsh thistle, Heath spotted orchid, Lousewort, Tormentil, Heath bedstraw, Sea sandwort.

We also found Hard fern, Lady fern and Royal fern, plus at least three lichens that we would need Becky to identify....

Our only mammals were rabbits, and birds were hard work but we did see Sand martin, Wheatear, Meadow pipit, Oystercatcher, Pied wagtail, Skylark, Ringed plover, Common sandpiper, Linnet, Jackdaw, Herring gull, Common gull, Great black backed gull, Lapwing, Dunnock, Rock dove, Shag, Swallow and Raven.

We also found this snail which I would suggest is Trichia striolata - the Strawberry snail

A ventral view - just to be good...  :-)

Flora and Fauna at Sanaigmore 6th June 2011

The weather wasn't brilliant, but we came up with the longest list yet. Thanks to all who attended, including members of the Wharfedale Botanist Group. Please notify me of any ommissions/corrections.
BIRDS
Chough
Raven
Curlew
Skylark
Meadow Pipit
Ringed Plover
Redshank
Starling
Linnet
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Common Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Black Guillemot
Rock Dove
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Pied Wagtail (with young)
Arctic Tern
Gannet
Lapwing
Great Northern Diver
Oystercatcher
Sedge Warbler
Common Sandpiper
Eider Duck
Wren
Hooded Crow
Swallow
Sand Martin

INSECTS
6-spot ladybird
Green-veined White
Bombus cryptarum
LICHEN
Ramalina (pale green tufty species)
Ochrolechia parella (‘Fish-eye’ lichen - white crustose species)
Xanthoria parietina (bright yellow)
Verrucaria maura (black lichen covering rocks)

FLORA
Tormentil
Greater Bird’s-foot Trefoil
Meadow Buttercup
Bulbous Buttercup
English Stonecrop
Biting Stonecrop
Dove’s-foot Cranesbill
Monkeyflower
Water Cress
Water Mint
Brooklime
Forget-me-not sp.
Heath Speedwell
Heath Bedstraw
Marsh Marigold
Silverweed
Germander Speedwell
White Clover
Lesser Trefoil
Daisy
Sticky Mouse-ear
Early Marsh Orchid
Heather
Eyebright
Marsh Thistle
Spear Thistle
Creeping Thistle
Lousewort
Hard Fern
Thrift
Sorrel
Cuckoo Flower
Lesser Spearwort
Ragged Robin
Sea Sandwort
Sweet Vernal Grass
Common Nettle
Curled Dock
Common Ragwort
Dandelion
Yellow Iris

MAMMALS
Rabbit



Early Marsh Orchid

Becky

INHT "Nature Rambles" programme announced

Feeding the cattle

Another grey misearable and wet day.  A couple of cow pictures from the archives...  The top one was taken up at Sanaig, the second behind Carn.
Carl