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!

Ramble at Ardnave, 16th July 2012

It's about time I was out on another ramble and Lorna joined me this time, making 7 of us rambling even more slowly than usual at Ardnave this afternoon. Lorna was keen to explore under stones by the shore so our species list was extended to include shore creatures (but no lichens noted today!) Gregor also had great fun chasing butterflies. Many thanks to everyone for a most enjoyable ramble. Here's our list. If I've left anything out (excluding all those skeletons!), please let me know.
Becky

BIRDS
Linnet, Stonechat, Oystercatcher, Chough, Hooded Crow, Whimbrel, Ringed Plover, Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Sand Martin, Mallard, Mute Swan, Lapwing, Pied Wagtail, Sedge Warbler, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Starling, Grey Heron, Raven, Rock Pipit, Pheasant

FLORA
Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Meadow Buttercup, Dove’s-foot Cranesbill, Water Cress, Water Mint, Brooklime
Forget-me-not sp., Lady’s Bedstraw, Marsh Marigold, Silverweed, Germander Speedwell, White Clover
Lesser Trefoil, Daisy, Mouse-ear sp., Eyebright, Marsh Thistle, Spear Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Marsh Lousewort, Thrift, Lesser Spearwort, Ragged Robin, Sweet Vernal Grass, Common Nettle, Yellow Iris
Common Storksbill, Ribwort Plantain, Bracken, Cat’s-ear sp., Chalk Milkwort, Marsh Horsetail, Curled Dock, Cotton Grass Multiflora, Hare’s-tail Cottongrass, Wall Speedwell, Red Clover, Harebell, Grass of Parnassus, Bog Pimpernel, Pineapple Mayweed, Self-heal, Wild Thyme, Tormentil, Marsh Bedstraw, Marsh Willowherb, Yorkshire Fog, Purple Loosestrife, Square Stalked St. John's Wort, Sweet Vernal Grass, Lesser Water Plantain, Star Sedge, Tufted Vetch, Blue Water Speedwell, Knotted Pearlwort

INSECTS
(Butterflies) Ringlet, Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Green-veined White
(Other) Cranefly, Beautiful China Mark, Dung Fly (and larvae), Dung Beetle, Blue-tailed Damselfly

SHORE CREATURES
Shore Crab, Acorn Barnacles, Common Whelk shell, Common Cockle, Carpet Shell, Crab sp.,

MAMMALS
Rabbit, Grey Seal

Acorn Barnacles




Crab sp.

 

Green-veined White



Beautiful China Mark



Ramblers at Ardnave

Common Limpet (Patella vulgata) and Common Acorn Barnacle (Balanus balanoides)

These crustaceans are able to cling to a living on the rocks that emerge from the sand on the southern end of machir Bay, but only on the seaward side.  They don't seem able to survive on the leeward side, probably because it is often covered by sand.

Acorn Barnacles

As a change from geese - Balanus balanoides - but I haven't bothered to count them! And they're even growing over a limpet. The rock is about 30 cm across.
Malcolm