A walk on the wild side

A great walk with lots of things to look at - both little and large, both manmade and natural, both old and young.
Becky

Young - Marsh Fritillary caterpillars

Old - ancient Gneiss rock

Small - Ruby Tiger Moth caterpillar

Large (to a caterpillar!) - Stonechat

Manmade - dun near Port Froige

Natural - natural arch near Port Froige

Walk to McArthur's Head

Lorna, Jim McNulty and I  had a fantastic walk on Saturday to Proaig and then on to McArthur's Head. The weather was brilliant and we saw lots of wildlife (except, surprisingly, otter). We also saw many types of sea-faring vessels including a newly built naval destroyer, the 0945 ferry, the 1530 ferry and the 1800 ferry (which tells you how long our walk was!) As well as sea-faring vessels we saw plenty of air activity too with it being the Airport Show Day. Our attention was on natural history, however and on enjoying the scenery. This was one of the first walks I did when I came to Islay in 2004 and I said then it was my favourite walk so far; I still say it's hard to beat!
Becky

BIRDS:Wheatear, Stonechat, Willow Warbler, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Snipe, Blackbird, Wren, Guillemot, Razorbill, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Gannet, Shag, Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Whitethroat, Hen Harrier, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Mallard, Hooded Crow, Swallow, Curlew, Greylag Goose, Common Sandpiper, Rock Dove, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Twite, Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting

INSECTS: Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Small Copper (1), Common Blue (3 or 4), Large Red Damselfly, Common Hawker (1), Small Tortoiseshell, Fox Moth larva, Galeruca tanaceti

OTHER: Adder, Bluefire Jellyfish, Lion's Mane Jellyfish, Hermit Crabs, Fallow Deer, Common Seal

Fox Moth Caterpillar - 1st instar

Galeruca tanaceti - a type of leaf beetle

Common Hawker (f)

Bluefire Jellyfish or Cyanea lamarckii (we think)

Reed Bunting (f) at Proaig

Common-spotted Orchid

Stonechat (m)

Fallow Deer with Sgarbh Breac in background

The 'Finlaggan' goes past McArthur's Head lighthouse.

A few birds from Sunday morning

 
 


Sunday morning was glorious and we set out for a walk along the coast from Port Charlotte in full sun, with little fluffy clouds and no wind.  The Blackbird and the Robin were catching a few rays while it lasted, which was sadly not all that long.  By the time we caught up with the Stonechat and the cloud of Redwings up above the old manse it had deteriorated substantially, the sky was indigo and the wind was sending the first white horses out across the the loch