Fungal Spore Print

Here is the fungal spore print from the fungus I took home yesterday. I looked through the powerful microscope and it is fascinating. The spores themselves actually look dark green. I still don't know what species it is. To do a spore print, carefully remove the cap of a fungus (preferably with disposable gloves). When at home or in the laboratory, place the cap right side up on a piece of glass or small sheet of paper and cover with a drinking glass. Leave overnight. The spore droppers (Basidiomycetes) will make a print below the cap you put out. The spore shooters (Ascomycetes) will make a halo around the cap. Sadly I'd thrown the cap out before I realised about the halo thing. ALWAYS BE CAREFUL WHEN HANDLING FUNGI AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ATTEMPT TO EAT. WASH HANDS THOROUGHLY AFTER HANDLING FUNGI.
Becky

Common Darter - Sympetrum striolatum

Thanks to Chrystal for this stunning photo of a female Common Darter.

Common Darter - Sympetrum striolatum

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



Water droplets on grass

The flowering head of Common Bent just after rain
Malcolm

Stephen Mithen talk - advance notice

Several folk expressed an interest in attending the talk by Prof. Stephen Mithen of Reading University on mesolithic archaeology and I promised to give as much notice as possible, so here it is. This talk will take place on Tuesday 30th August at 7.30 pm at the Islay Natural History Trust Visitor Centre, Port Charlotte. Title to be advised. We look forward to this event.
Becky

Show Day - Thursday 11th August

Please note the centre will be closed all day tomorrow as the annual Islay Show is taking place at Bridgend. Open as usual on Friday.

Dark Green Fritillary - Take 2

Walking back from the Co-op yesterday I found this dead Dark Green Fritillary on the pavement and took it home to examine more closely. Then I saw Malcolm's post on this blog and thought I'd add a photo of the underside of this fritillary. I still tend to think it's not very well-named, but you can see the green sheen on its hindwing which gives it its vernacular name.
We have a great book in the library which tells you all about the origin of the scientific names of butterflies, so here we go:
Argynnis aglaja
Argynnus was a lady beloved by Agammemnon who erected a temple in her honour where Aphrodite (Venus) was worshipped; thus Argynnis came to be used as an epithet of Aphrodite and Fabricius used the name as a family name for the larger fritillaries. Fond of word play, Fabricius is probably punning on 'arguros' (silver), with reference to the silvery underside markings of these butterflies.
Aglaja was one of the three Graces who personified elegance and beauty.
So, there you go!
Becky

Dark Green Fritillary - Argynnis aglaja

Dark-green Fritillary

This species is perhaps best identified by seeing a very strongly flying brown butterfly zipping past you and never settling close enough to look at! And when they do settle, they often close their wings. This one, though, settled with its wings mostly open, maybe something to do with the strong wind blowing at the time. For the same reason, I didn't dare move to get a more 'square-on' view because it could have been blown a long way before settling again.
Malcolm

Flora and Fauna at Bunnahabhain, 8th August 2011

"We'll not see many insects today," I foolishly began today's ramble, my words carried away instantly by the strong wind that blowed at Bunnahabhain. I say 'foolishly' because of course we did see lots of insects and now I'm thinking of beginning every ramble by saying, "We'll not see any Golden Eagles/Red Deer/Otters or Basking Sharks today," and see if that has the same effect!

These rambles really are great fun - at least I enjoy them. If you've not been on one yet, consider joining us before the end of the season. Today's highlight has to be the Oystercatcher because it was regarded with such enthusiasm by at least one member of the party who had never seen one before and was enthralled. It made me look at and appreciate this wader again.
Becky

BIRDS
Oystercatcher, Kittiwake, Gannet, Herring Gull, Meadow Pipit, Swallow, Great Tit, Common Gull

LICHEN

Usnea sp. (bushy, beard-like species hanging from trees), Ramalina sp. (Fruitose grey/green species on rocks), Cladonia floerkaena ('matchstick' lichen), Anaptychia runsinata (bronzey seaweed on rocks), Xanthoria parietina (yellow on rocks)

INSECTS
Dor Beetle, Bombus pascuorum (Common Carder Bee), Bombus lucorum (White-tailed Bumble Bee), Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Peacock Butterfly, Small Tortoiseshell, Grasshopper sp., Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Diving Beetle, Eristalis pertinax (hoverfly)

MAMMALS
Common Seal

FLORA
Rowan, Meadow Buttercup, Creeping Buttercup, Silverweed, White Clover, Lesser Trefoil, Daisy, Mouse-ear sp., Eyebright, Marsh Thistle, Spear Thistle, Foxtail, Common Nettle, Bracken, Hawkweed sp., Common Milkwort, Common Cottongrass, Tormentil, Meadowsweet, Self-heal, Yellow Rattle, Honeysuckle, Round-leaved Sundew, Cross-leaved Heath, Bell Heather, Gorse, Black Knapweed, Marsh Willowherb, Foxglove, Thrift, Sheep Sorrel, Bog Asphodel, Yorkshire Fog, Sweet Vernal Grass, Rhododendron, Marsh Bedstraw, Bramble, Rosa rugosa, English Stonecrop, Small Red Goosefoot, Bilberry, Prickly Sow Thistle, Redshank, Red Clover, Heather, Jointed Rush, Common Spiked Rush, Yarrow, Sneezewort, Angelica, Devil's-bit Scabious, Ragwort, Hard Fern, Marsh Woundwort, Spaghnum sp., Polytrichum juniperinum

Marsh Woundwort - Stachys palustris

Eristalis pertinax - hoverfly

Polytrichum juniperinum - Juniper Haircap Moss

Beetle pics from Crystal

These beetle pics from Crystal are whetting my appetite for a beetle talk some time later in the year. Thanks Crystal. Keep them coming!
Becky

Carabus glabratus - a type of ground beetle

Chrysolina polita

Cetonia aurata - Rose Chafer

Green Tiger Beetle larvae

Crystal Maw (RSPB) sent me this message, together with some fascinating photos:

Mary McGregor found a tiger beetle on some clay not far from Stremnishmore on the Oa. I noticed some burrows where she had seen it and later saw the monstrous looking beetle larvae with their beady eyes poking out of the burrows. They're amazing the way they wait in ambush for some unsuspecting ant or caterpillar to come along. I was fascinated for ages. Thought you might like to see the photos.

I'm amazed by these creatures. I've also read that the larvae have a spine on their back that anchors their prey to the side of the burrow. The larvae go through three larval instars (stages) and before each moult they need to enlarge their burrow because they get so FAT!

Thanks, Crystal.
Becky

The beetle's burrow



Green Tiger Beetle - Cicindela campestris



The monster larvae!

Harebells

I am reliably informed that this is Becky's favourite flower. I photographed these at Killinallan this afternoon.
Malcolm

Common Twayblade

This orchid is easily identified by the one pair of leaves near the base of the flowering stem.
Malcolm

Flora and Fauna at Kintra 5th August 2011

It was an energetic ramble today with one family with three children and two others joining us. The river was crossable this time and the highlights were the Red-throated Divers and Merlin. The Wild Thyme was also a favourite, reminding us of the stuffing we eat with chicken!
Becky

BIRDS
Pied Wagtail, Starling, Swallow, Hooded Crow, Meadow Pipit, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Sand Martin, Twite, Oystercatcher, Common Gull, Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Eider, Chough, Shag, Black Guillemot, Red-throated Diver, Raven, Greenfinch, Wheatear, Chaffinch, Merlin, Linnet, Great-black-backed Gull, Reed Bunting, Redpoll, Mistle Thrush, Gannet

FUNGI
Trichoglossum hirsutum (in spaghnum), Panaeolus semiovatus (in cow dung)

INSECTS
Dor Beetle, Leaf Hopper, Meadow Brown, Small Tortoiseshell, Small Copper, Green-veined White, Bombus muscorum, Small Heath, Golden-ringed Dragonfly, grasshopper sp., Soldier Beetle

FLORA

Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Meadow Buttercup, Forget-me-not sp., Lady’s Bedstraw, Silverweed, White Clover, Mouse-ear sp., Eyebright, Marsh Thistle, Spear Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Lousewort, Lesser Spearwort, Ragged Robin, Cat’s-ear, Common Cottongrass, Tormentil, Wild Thyme, Self-heal, Yellow Rattle, Red Bartsia, English Stonecrop, Ivy-leaved Crowfoot, Marsh Pennywort, Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Daisy, Hard Fern, Common Sorrel, Bog Asphodel, Angelica, Yarrow, Sea Plantain, Heather, Water Cress, Goat Willow, Bog Myrtle, Round-leaved Sundew, Redshank, Bracken, Common Nettle, Harebell, Common Scurvy Grass, Lesser Burdock, Red Clover, Milkwort sp., Yorkshire Fog, Fox-tail, Perennial Rye Grass, Marsh Willowherb, Marsh Bedstraw, Devil's-bit Scabious, Thrift, Reed, Black Knapweed, Jointed Rush, Carnation Sedge, Marsh Speedwell

Yarrow - Achillea millefolium- pink variety



Yarrow - Achillea millefolium - white variety

Small Copper - Lycaena phlaeas

Trichoglossum hirsutum

 

We managed to herd our ramblers together for the photo!

 

 

 

 

 
 

Toads and Water Buffaloes from George

Thanks to George for these shots of a rather splendid toad and one of the Shorefield Highlanders pretending to be a Water Buffalo up behind his house.

Early Thorn - Selenia dentari

I was very excited this morning to discover my first ever Thorn moth in the trap. The Early Thorn is unique amongst thorns (and maybe all other moths) in the way it rests - with its wings pressed closed together above its body like a  butterfly.
Becky

Early Thorn - Selenia dentari

Springtails - Anurida maritima

Thanks to Ali Bosman form Belgium who sent us this photo of a mass of Springtails (Anurida maritima) which covered the surface of a rockpool at Claggain Bay. This is quite a common sighting, but an interesting one nevertheless, so thanks for the photo Ali!
Becky

Springtails - Anurida maritima

Flora and Fauna at Ardnave, 1st August 2011

Our best bird list yet - thanks to Bob with his telescope and wader watching. Undoubtedly the highlight today was three Little Stint on the Loch, but we also accrued a great floral list and this beauty of a slug! Thanks to all again.
Becky

BIRDS
Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Redshank, Little Stint (3), Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Snipe, Mallard, Dunlin, Ringed Plover (and nest of four eggs), Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Hooded Crow, Chough, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Willow Warbler, Blackbird, Starling, Wheatear, Skylark, Linnet, Grey Heron, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Rock Dove

LICHEN
Xanthoria parietina (yellow), Physcia adscendens

MAMMALS
Rabbit

INVERTEBRATES
Ancylus or Physa sp. (water snail), Arion ater (Black Slug - Brown/Orange form)

INSECTS
Blue-tailed Damselfly, Ringlet, Small Tortoiseshell, Green-veined White

FLORA
Purple Loosestrife, Mouse-ear sp., Forget-me-not sp., Common Milkwort, Water Cress, Marsh Lousewort, Wild Thyme, Self-heal, Meadow Buttercup, Lesser Spearwort, Lesser Burdock, Creeping Thistle, Spear Thistle, Marsh Marigold, Silverweed, White Clover, Red Clover, Daisy, Eyebright, Ragged Robin, Bog Pimpernel, Meadowsweet, Curled Dock, Yorkshire Fog, Perennial Rye Grass, Crested Dog's-tail, Foxtail, Common Spiked Rush, Jointed Rush, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Dove's-foot Cranesbill, Common Storksbill, Marsh Willowherb, Marsh Bedstraw, Lady's Bedstraw, Water Mint, Common Nettle, Bracken, Common Hawkbit, Marsh Horsetail, Grass of Parnassus, Fairy Flax, Yellow Rattle, Square-stalked St John's Wort, Sweet Vernal Grass, Knotted Pearlwort, Pignut, Tufted Vetch, Marsh Pennywort, Red Bartsia, Prickly Sow Thistle, Lesser Water-plantain, Harebell

Ringed Plover's Nest

Water Snail (Ancylus or Physa sp.)

Arion ater - Brown/Orange Form

While Bob is birdwatching, Sandra is closely examining a lichen!

Design a Butterfly Competition

These are just a few of the entries for our 'Design a Butterfly' Competition which we are running for under 16s at the Centre this year. The competition will be judged at the end of September by Fiona MacGillivray of Green Bug Productions and the lucky winner will receive one of her excellent Discovery Packs.
Becky

Blenny

This Blenny is the latest addition to our big marine tank at the Centre. It is holding its own against the greedy Ballan Wrasse and Scorpion Fish.
Becky