INHT at Show Day

We had a non-stop day yesterday at the Show - with over 40 children coming for face painting - and no rain this time to wash it off afterwards (unlike the Festival of the Sea!) We sold all the 'Find the Otter' squares - congratulations to Kevin Wiggins on winning a bottle of prized Private Casking Kilchoman Whisky.Many thanks to Neil and Fiona MacGillivray for the loan of the gazebo and once again to Niall Oliver and Lynda Cooper for their help on the day.
Becky

Centre closed on Show Day . . .

. . . but come and visit us at the Islay Show at Bridgend.

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.

Exploring Sandy Shores at Killinallan

Today's Family Activity Session was Exploring Sandy Shores at Killinallan. Surprisingly on such a lovely day and for what is usually such a popular activity, there were far fewer folk than usual. However we had such good fun that when I thought to ask the time it was 4 pm - half an hour later than we usually finish! We caught Shore Crabs, a 15 spined Stickleback, a Sea Squirt, a Father Lasher, a Butterfish, Opossum Shrimps, Prawns, Hermit Crabs, a Goby and a Shanny. We also saw various species of sponge. Thanks for coming everyone!
Becky

Exploring Sandy shores at Killinallan

Catriona comes to show me her catch

Butterfish Bonanza

Another weekend, another rockpooling adventure! The destination: Killinallan. Well, the rumour was true of the bountiful butterfish found there.We found about 5 under one patch of sea weed, including one tiny individual. I was also pleased to discover 5 bearded rockling, a fish that I have found can be scarce previously. There were egg bearing worm pipefish, and mum was delighted with her sponge encrusted spider crab. The tide was exceptionally low as a result of the full moon, which brings a spring tide. This is the best time for rockpool enthusiasts, such as us. We are pleased to say that there are now 3 new residents in the visitor centre touch tank. I wonder if you can guess what they are!

Worm pipefish with eggs. Like the seahorse, it is the male pipefish that carries the eggs.

Butterfish Phollis gunellus. This was one of the largest I have seen. They can grow up to 25cm long.

Shore crab. Mum insisted I clamber back over the sea weedy rocks to see this large male.

Common eel. We got excited about this one, as I have only found minute elvers before. Once mature, the adult will migrate to the Sargasso Sea to spawn, and die.

Worm pipefish peeping out from my hand.

5 bearded rockling. The slippy skin and flappiness of these fish make them a real challenge to catch!

Alcyonidium hirsutum. This bryozoan completely covered the Serrated wrack it lives on. Apparently, when submerged, zooids emerge, like tiny sea anemones, each with 16-20 tentacles.

Great spider crab. I have never seen one adorned with so much sponge!

Full Species List

Common prawn

Dahlia anemone

Beadlet anemone

Shore crab

Piecrust crab

Great spider crab

Hermit crab

15 spined stickleback

Worm pipefish

Father lasher

5 bearded rockling

Common eel

Butterfish

Goby sp. (probably sand)

Oppossum shrimp

Sand brittle star

Sea squirt

Chiton

Sand mason worm

Alcyonidium hirsutum (bryozoan)

Hymeniaciadon perleve (sponge)

Breadcrumb Sponge

Electra pilosa (sponge)

Sponge sp.

Hydractina echinata (hydrioid)

Lorna

Whooper Dooper Super Trooper

I was playing violin in the living room yesterday morning, as usual staring out of the window to the sea. You can imagine my surprise when I noticed the Mute swans had been joined by a Whooper swan, one of my favourite birds! I wonder if it has hidden undercover, spending all summer here? Another was spotted by Ian the same morning.  

Lorna

Becky puts her wellies on at Ardnave

Ramble at Ardnave today at 2pm. Phone 01496 850 288 or 07967 205229 to book.

Glen Astle to Kintra

Was it the hottest day of the year yesterday on Islay? Phew! It certainly felt like it as we struggled through long grass, bog, trees and midge and cleg infested landscape - and returned sunburnt, scratching, grazed and dirty - but smiling! It was a magnificent walk with Hen Harrier, Harebells and Heather - and lots more! The highlights were the Marsh Thistle (possibly tallest on Islay), the 4 spot Orb Weaver spider and the White Cross-leaved Heath.
Becky

BIRDS
Raven, Hen Harrier (f), Buzzard, Eider, Shag, Wheatear, Willow Warbler, Robin, Blackbird, Wren, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Hooded Crow, Grey Heron, Starling, Stonechat, Lesser Redpoll, Rock Dove, Herring Gull, Oystercatcher, Reed Bunting, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch

BUTTERFLIES AND INVERTEBRATES
Dor Beetle, 4-spot Orb Weaver, Ringlet, Small Heath, Green-veined White (about 40 in one spot), Common Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Dark Green Fritillary, Grasshoppers

MAMMALS
Feral Goat, Rabbit

FLORA
Self-heal, Hawkbit, Cross-leaved Heath, Bell Heather, Heather, Milkwort, Round-leaved Sundew, Harebell, Thrift, Marsh Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Spear Thistle, Heath-spotted Orchid, Meadowsweet, Wild Thyme, Bog Pimpernel, Grass of Parnassus, Marsh Willowherb, Bog Myrtle, Goat Willow, Ragged Robin, Bracken, Hard Fern, Devil's-bit Scabious, Tormentil, Butterwort (leaves), Marsh Lousewort, Eyebright, Daisy, White Clover, Red Clover, Bog Asphodel

Feral Goats near Kintra

Harebell

Hawkbits

Allan and the tallest Marsh Thistle on Islay? (Allan is 6' 1")

Mud and Wood near Kintra

Soldier's Rock

Araneus quadratus 4 Spot Orb Weaver

White Cross-leaved Heath

Vistors' Welcome Evening, Monday 6th August

The next in our very successful monthly visitors' welcome evenings will take place tomorrow (Monday 6th) at 6.30 pm at Bruichladdich Distillery. The usual eclectic mix of musicians (pipes, singing, dancing, etc.) together with a short natural history presentation will last about an hour and a half. There is a small entrance charge but everyone attending gets a goody bag complete with a miniature bottle of a special Bruichladdich whisky. Previous audiences have commented enthusiastically on the entertainment, so come along and see for yourselves.

Ramble at Killinallan, 3rd August 2012

We were joined by an extended family from Gloucestershire for our ramble today. Amory (aged 8) was in charge of photographs and Islay (aged 7) chatted happily away to Lorna, pointing out everything she saw en route. Everyone was asking questions about everything we saw and no-one seemed to want to return to the cars. I have rarely seen such knowledgeable and enthusiastic children. How many people of any age can chat away about raising dragonfly nymphs - let alone an 8 year old! We're looking forward to seeing Amory's photos! It really was a delightful ramble. Thank you for joining us and do come back next year!
Becky

BIRDS
Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Grey Heron, Curlew, Swallow, Sand Martin, Eider, Oystercatcher, Stonechat, Raven, Starling, Rock Dove

FLORA
Northern Marsh Orchid, Marsh Helleborine, Frog Orchid, Common Twayblade, Lady's Bedstraw, Forget-me-not sp., Speedwell sp., Skullcap, Water Mint, Marsh Marigold, Marram Grass, Black Bog-rush, Grass of Parnassus, Burnet Rose (leaves), Milkwort, Wild Thyme, Thrift, Lesser Spearwort, Purple Loosestrife, Marsh Pennywort, Marsh Lousewort, Eyebright, Marsh Willowherb, Marsh Thistle, Spear Thistle, Sea Plantain, Knotted Pearlwort, Daisy, Meadow Buttercup, Self-heal, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Cat's-ear, Mouse-ear sp., White Clover, Red Clover, Autumn Gentian, Lesser Meadow Rue, Ragged Robin, Iris (leaves), Meadowsweet, Yarrow, Tufted Vetch, Harebell, Devil's-bit Scabious, Silverweed (leaves), Sweet Vernal Grass, Yorkshire Fog, Bracken, Black Knapweed, Fairy Flax

INVERTEBRAE
Butterflies and Moths: - Common Blue, Dark Green Fritillary, Meadow Brown, Green-veined white, Ringlet, Six-spot Burnet, Fox Moth (larva), Micromoth sp., other moth sp
Other: - Weevil beetle, Orb Weaver Spider nest, Harvestman sp, Common Green Grasshopper, Meadow Grasshopper, Froghopper

MAMMALS, AMPHIBIANS AND SHORE CREATURES
Grey Seal, Common Frog, Shore Crab

FUNGI
Shaggy Ink Cap, Dung Roundcap, Yellow Waxcap

Looking at flora

Common Green Grasshopper

Islay does some birdwatching

Mating Six-spot Burnet Moths on Devil's-bit Scabious

Meadow Grasshopper

Shore Crab

Ramble at Killinallan tomorrow

Becky puts her wellies on again tomorrow for our nature ramble at Killinallan at 2pm:

Sea tank update

Tucking into yummy mussels

Enormous Snakelocks anemone

Mr grumpy!

I can't resist that sea tank of ours, so took the opportunity at feeding time for some closeups!

All the inhabitants are faring well. We have recently added a huge Snakelocks anemone which finds a new spot to suck onto every time we go into the lab! The Bloody henry starfish have dazzled and entertained as they delicately feel their way round the glass, while the Common starfish have been shyly hiding away in the 'cave' recently.

Lorna

Bedstraw Hawkmoth

This very attractive moth was seen and photographed by Bob Davison in his garden outside Port Charlotte on Monday. It is only the second record for Islay of this migrant which comes to Britain every year, but in very varying numbers, probably from eastern Europe. The first was a caterpillar found by Fiona MacGillivray just outside the Natural History Centre in Port Charlotte in September 2003, which neatly proved that these migrants sometimes stay and breed. Indeed, following a large arrival in the 1980s, permanent colonies were established in East Anglia. And the reason for its name is that the caterpillar food plant includes members of the bedstraw family, as well as rosebay willowherb and fuschias. The photograph of the very distinctive caterpillars is by Dave Green and comes from the Butterfly Conservation website: www.butterfly-conservation.org. So now you know what to look out for in a few weeks' time!
Malcolm

Illustrated Talk from RSPB Tomorrow!!

The 'Basking Shark' Rope

I was delighted when three persevering youngsters measured out our new Basking Shark rope to discover the three 'trick' animals. They then measured themselves out along the rope to see what they most closely resembled in size.
Becky

James is a little bigger than a Harbour Porpoise

Becky is a little bigger than an Otter

Gareth is a little smaller than a Harbour Porpoise

Big Butterfly Count and 'Flower Power' at Killinallan

Twenty enthusiastic youngsters and about twelve adults met at Killinallan yesterday to take part in our Big Butterfly Count. This was for Butterfly Conservation which encourages people to count butterflies anywhere on a sunny day for fifteen minutes at a time and submit their results online. We spent two blocks of fifteen minutes counting butterflies as we walked through the long grass to the dunes. Niall Oliver was in charge of records and reported that the Common Blue was the winner. Other species were Green-veined White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Dark Green Fritillary.

Fiona MacGillivray of Green Bug Productions then explained 'flower power' to us and we had great fun matching leaves and petals to the colours on her rainbow charts. Michael spotted an adder (much to my surprise as the noise level was phenomenal!) and frogs and grasshoppers were regularly hopping from beneath our feet, resulting in squeals of either delight or horror from the children! We finished off the afternoon by counting the number of species of flower seen in a 3 foot square of ground. It was a most enjoyable way to spend an afternoon and a grand finale to our successful butterfly fun day. Thanks to Fiona and to all who helped or turned up to support us throughout the day.

Becky

Dark Green Fritillary - Argynnis aglaja - it came bottom of our count

Counting flowers in a square

A beautiful Frog Orchid - Coeloglossum viride

John demonstrates the height of a Marsh Thistle

Fragrant Orchid - Gymnadenia conopsea

Rainbow Colours

One of many frogs

Bird Group Meet at Laggan Point

In a diversion from their usual 'indoor' meet, the 'Islay Bird Nerds' met at Laggan on Monday night and Bob led a short walk around the point. It was a beautiful evening with the midges not bothering us until the wind dropped just as we were leaving. We watched Shags on the cliffs there and Gannets out to sea, but the highlight was definitely the Peregrine Falcons we watched soaring around the cliffs. Thanks to Ian and Margaret Brooke and Bob Davison for organising this event.

Shag on the cliffs

Some of the group sea watching

Becky