New Residents at the Centre

Thanks to Paul Rennie we now have a few more creatures resident in our aquaria, a lovely sea urchin, a large hermit crab, velvet swimming crabs, some Long-spined Seascorpion fish and a beautiful flat fish (Brill maybe).

We also now have a Lobster in its own tank, it is missing its right claw and a few legs, but they will grow back, and we can watch this regeneration process in action.  It now just needs to be given a name, any suggestions?, we will keep you posted with the best selection.

Last Sunday’s Sanaigmore rAmble

On a glorious afternoon our group of 19 set off for a meander through the dunes of Sanaigmore, eager to see what wildlife awaited us.

We weren’t disappointed as wildflowers, birds and butterflies revealed themselves to us. On the bird front, we saw hen harrier, buzzard, oystercatcher, common sandpiper, skylark, meadow pipit, common gull and linnet, with a few gannets and auks spotted out to sea. As for the wildflowers, we saw bird’s foot trefoil, germander speedwell, thrift, heath bedstraw, tormentil, English stonecrop, silverweed, stork’s bill, ragged robin, milkwort, lousewort, mouse ear (aren’t these names fantastic?), cuckoo flower, heath spotted orchid, scurvy grass and mountain everlasting. This last one was a new one for me and one I’ll be looking out for.

Lousewort

Mountain Everlasting

    

 Also seen and identified by their leaves as they’re not yet in flower, were meadowsweet and devil’s bit scabious, the latter being the food plant of the marsh fritillary caterpillar. And what should happen by but a marsh fritillary butterfly! Good to see these rare butterflies that are just on the wing. Thanks to Diana for the photo. Another butterfly out and about was the green-veined white. 

 We also set free one of our Cinnabar moths which had just emerged from its pupa having spent the winter hibernating at the centre.

So a very pleasant couple of hours was passed at this stunning location, so much so that after the ‘official’ walk I just had to spend another hour out walking there! Thanks to everyone who came along, it was fun! Our next rAmble will be at Bunnahabhain forestry, details to follow.

 Mandy

New orchid for Islay

It wasn't just a new moth for Islay which Mark, Sally and I looked at in the Killinallan Dunes the day before yesterday, but the Narrow-leaved Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza traunsteinerioides which is new for Islay (indeed, new for the vice-county). Mark and Sally had found it earlier and were pretty certain that this was what it was, but it needed confirmation so I went back with them and then sent photographs to an orchid expert, who was more than happy to say that the identification was correct. It grows on Mull, Tiree and Kintyre, so Islay fills a gap between them, and in a handful of sites in north-west Scotland, as well as up to 40 mostly coastal sites in England and Wales.
At Killinallan, there were a few tens of plants scattered thinly over quite a wide area of the flatter ground and in one wetter dune slack. It is the eleventh species of orchid found in this one area of the island: Pyramidal, Frog, Early Marsh, Northern Marsh, Fragrant, Marsh Helleborine, Early Purple, Common Spotted, Heath Spotted and Common Twayblade. Well done, Mark and Sally!

Malcolm

A new moth for Islay

Walking in the Killinallan dunes, yesterday, with Mark and Sally Johnson from Lincolnshire, this small (10-12mm) moth attracted our attention. It didn't like camera lenses too close and kept flitting from plant to plant, but never going far and, eventually, some images became possible. It is called the Small Purple-barred Moth and has not been recorded on Islay before. The only other records for this vice-county (Islay, Jura and Colonsay) are from Colonsay, one each in 1985, 2010 and 2012. It is one of the rather few moths that flies much more in the daytime than at night while its main foodplants, Common and Heath Milkwort, are abundant at Killinallan.

Malcolm

Join us for the next Sunday afternoon's rAmble at Sanaigmore!

This Sunday June 14th sees the next in our weekly wildlife rAmbles, this time meeting at Sanaigmore for 2pm. We'll mainly be looking for wildflowers in the dunes, and with that beautiful beach there we'll be looking at the flint too, and anything else that comes along! Our walks are taken at a relaxed pace so we can have a really good look at what's around. You can park at the Outback Gallery (and coffee shop!) so hopefully we'll see you there. The walk is just £4 per person or £10 per family (2 adults plus children), and if you're a member of the Islay Natural History Trust it's just £2! Don't forget to wear stout footwear and dress for the weather; sorry no dogs. Hope to see you on Sunday!

The Botanist Gin - 22 of Islays plants ~ New Display

Bruichladdich Distillery, our sponsor for the last two years have this very nice tipple - The Botanist Gin

There are 22 plant elements sourced on Islay which make up the botanical flavour that gives it its unique appeal. We have pulled together a fabulous new display providing tips on identification and outlining the qualities these plants had in the past for our ancestors who knew their qualities well, far beyond just flavouring for Gin.

Thanks to Bruichladdich for producing and printing it so well for us.  Please do come and visit and find out more about these wonderful and useful plants.

All ashore – 1st Sunday rAmble (7th June) of the summer

There were lots of amazing creatures to be seen along the shore on yesterday’s walk from Bowmore towards Gartbreck. Aided by a perfectly timed low tide, blue sky and our walk-leader Fiona’s wealth of knowledge, we uncovered shore crabs, tortoiseshell limpets, a chiton, a small flatfish, sandhoppers scooting through the water, a common shrimp, and lots of golden carpet shells to name but a few. 





There was even a Squat Lobster that must have been the victim of stormy weather and sadly it was full of roe, as these photos show. 

Possibly the most beautiful slug I’ve ever seen was the sea-slug we found, Facelina bostoniensis. An amazing sight as its sluggy fronds waved gently in the water.

And scattered all over the shore were glistening jelly-like blobs of algae, Leathesia difformis, known variously as sea balls, or sea cauliflower.

We also found a piece of kelp with a sea-mat on it that made it look a bit like a snake skin! Apparently it’s a bryozoan called Membranipora membranacea…but I think I’ll just call it Bryan.
Or maybe this one should be called Bryan!

Breadcrumb sponge with a tuft of red seaweed

A fantastic way to spend a few hours – looking forward to the next walk!

Sunday 14th June - 2pm: Sanaigmore -Dunes and Coastal Treasures.

Orange Tip spotted on Islay!

Yesterday afternoon around 15:15, Alistair was about to go up into the woodland at Port Askaig Brae when he spotted what he first assumed to be the ubiquitous Green-veined White butterfly. However, as luck would have it the small white butterfly landed on a Bramble which gave Alistair the chance of a closer look - and a photo opp - and it turned out to be a male Orange Tip butterfly! Now you might not think this is very exciting, if you're from a place where these lovely butterflies abound, but here on Islay, it is a rarity indeed. Since the first sighting (before 1970), there have been only 15 sightings on Islay, plus 12 on Colonsay and 3 on Jura, but they are slowly getting more regular, with annual sightings since 2010. One was seen on Colonsay on 15th May this year. Here's a photo of the little beauty, and please let us know of any other sightings !

This Sunday's rAmble - Seashore, Seals and Waders

This sunday afternoon will see the next in our series of weekly rAmbles, and this time we'll be looking out for seals and waders along the seashore between Bowmore and Gartbreck. We'll be meeting for 2pm at the playing fields car park down Flora Street, Bowmore, near the high school. Led by Fiona, we'll head down the lane to the seashore and along to Gartbreck to see what we can find! So if you fancy finding out more about the wildlife of Islay's seashore or just fancy an amble in the fresh air to somewhere you might not have been yet, why not come along? It's just £4 per person or £10 per family (2 adults plus children), and if you're a member of the Islay Natural History Trust it's just £2! Don't forget to wear stout footwear and dress for the weather; sorry no dogs so pooch will have to miss this one. Hope to see you on Sunday!

Now open for the season

The Islay Natural History Centre is now open for the season. It is a wet and somewhat cold week, especially today, can someone remind the weather it is nearly summer! The island is very busy for the Islay Feis and Whisky Festival. So if you are not currently enjoying the music and locally distilled beverages call in and see us, new displays and the first residents of the aquaria have moved in.

  

 

This is the cast carapace of the now bigger crab in the tank which went from 5cm across to 7 cm across, pulling itself out of the old shell in front of our eyes - very cool!

  

Talk and Book Launch. 

Thursday 19th March 2015 @ 7.30 in the INHT Centre Port Charlotte.

The Geology of Islay

Ever wondered about what Islay is made of, how it got here and why it's the shape it is? A new book on the Geology of Islay has just been published which attempts to answer these questions. It also contains 12 illustrative walking excursions and is suitable for all levels of experience.
The book will be launched at the  Islay Natural History Trust in Port Charlotte on Thursday 19th March at 7:30. All three authors, David Webster, Roger Anderton and Alasdair Skelton will be there and will be giving short talks on their recent research on the Islay area as well as introducing the book and signing copies.

AGM and talk - Circumnavigation of Islay

Don't forget our AGM and talk, is TOMORROW night, commencing at 7pm. Please support it if you can. The talk is on 'The Circumnavigation if Islay' and promises wonderful photographs of Islay's magnificent coastline.

Islay Natural History Trust 24th AGM

Islay Natural History Trust 24th AGM
Please note a change in date to that previously stated on earlier posts
NOW Friday 27th February 7pm start

The official business will hopefully take half and hour after which we have Racheal Searle-Mbulla of Foundation Scotland along to introduce the FOURTEEN funding initiative to benefit the communities of Islay and Jura.

And on top of that, I am most looking forward to Becky Williamsons illustrated talk of her 'Circumnavigation of Islay' her boat trip around the coast of Islay and her finally fulfilled quest to step foot on Knave Island and visit the last trig-point that has lain across the water unreachable until the trip last summer.

Everyone is welcome, there will be tea and cake somewhere during the proceedings and a silver collection on the door. 

If anyone is interested in joining the management committee please do get in touch as new members would be most welcome. 
Fiona

Arctic Gulls

After all these gales, it is a time to be on the look out for white winged gulls.  I passed this bedraggled looking youngster beside the road near Black Rock yesterday (20th) feeding on the remains of a dead rabbit that I had seen on the road earlier in the day.  From the its features and consultation with the book a faded spring 1st winter Glaucous Gull.

Fiona

INHT - Winter programme of talks

Winter programme of talks for the next few months has been scheduled - aren't we organised!
Next talk Thursday 29th January

Our AGM will be in February 26th, followed by a photographic tour of Islay's coastline with Becky Williamson, from the sea this time, and her finally fulfilled ten year quest to step foot on Knave Island!

March 19th we will be an introduction to the Geology of Islay with David Webster.

So hopefully many of you will be able to make it to some or all, we look forward to seeing you.

Snowdrops amongst the snow showers

There are some good tufts of snowdrops at Gruinart, they are a little more sparse at Bridgend so far.  Pictured amongst the hail and thinly scattered snow over the weekend.

After the Storms - 16th January 2015

Just the day before the sea was up to the road with waves and spray blasting the cars as they drove by at Black Rock, no ferries for much of the week with most folk finding indoor jobs and huddling by their fires.  But its not so easy for the wildlife.  I took a stroll along the beach at Black Rock where 24hours previously it had been churning waves, to see what had been washed up.  Broken shellfish, numerous sea squirts, starfish, crabs and a poor young coal fish.  It is always interesting, if a little sad, to find species that live offshore and know that out there, there is a whole other world we hardly appreciate.


many washed up worm carcasses

What I think to be a Sipuncula worm - Golfinga vulgaris

Sea squirt

Blunt Capper, buries itself in the sand

Ragworm, starfish and many Philinidea washed up

Philine aperta, it has a small insignificant shell, where its body grows from but not fully protected.  It lives in the sand in deeper water feeding on polychaetes, bivalves and on the small Green Sea urchin.

A ladybird and a moth!

Alistair Hutchison, out and about around Christmas seeking fungi (he being the island's undoubted expert) also found two interesting insects, both in Bridgend Woods. The first was the Orange Ladybird (a group of four hibernating), of which there is only one previous record for Islay (found by Bob Paget in Port Charlotte in 2011), and the other was the well-named Winter Moth, for which there are no previous Islay records, though two from Colonsay, one in 1976 and the other (on Oronsay) in 2011.
Malcolm - wishing all our readers a very happy and successful 2015.

Christmas strandline casualties

A lovely Christmas present, calm quiet weather, a couple of beach walks, but some seafaring casualties of interest.
A Common Porpoise on Kilchoman beach fresh in on the tide.

A Trigger Fish at the top of the beach.

Boxing day at Black Rock had many washed up sea squirts and a small flock of c.60 Scaup close in shore.

Fiona

Walk at Killinallan

Lorna and I sadly resigned ourselves to a non-boggy walk yesterday - yes,  the amount of rain we've had over the past month or so has even defeated the Islay Welly Walker! So we enjoyed a windy walk along Traigh Baile Aonghais and enjoyed the ever changing clouds and lighting.
Becky

Acorn barnacles and pink algae/seaweed

A freshly deceased Spider Crab

Freshly deceased Goose Barnacles

Afternoon sun over Traigh Baile Aonghais

Looking towards Gortantoid Point from low in the dunes!