The Search for the Spring Squill

With a bunch of helpers and sunshine and enthusiasm and a spring in our step, I thought we were on a winning streak when we set out early this morning on my annual search for the diminutive Spring Squill. I had everyone almost on their hands and knees at various points, dangling over cliffs, poised with hand lenses and all but hanging on the end of a rope into a gully - and almost all totally in vain. The paltry specimen we saw was barely worth the effort (I say it in a whisper!) Another nearby specimen had been grazed and therein lay the answer for our futile search!

Still, no-one but I was bothered! We saw Fulmars glide within inches of us, Razorbills, Guillemots, Black Guillemots, Gannets and a host of flora and had the most glorious sunshiney day on one of Islay's most colourful corners. I could wax lyrical about this walk, but will restrict myself. The Sea Pinks adorning the rocks were resplendent, as were the smiley-faced Marsh Marigolds and the cerise Early Marsh Orchids. Everything was peaceful and even the Oystercatchers did not seem to mind our presence too much. There, I did not overly wax lyrical!

Becky

Black Guillemot

Common Frog

Daisies Galore!

Early Marsh Orchid

Garden Tiger Moth caterpillar - rescued from the tide!

Green-veined White

Watching the Fulmars

Marsh Cinquefoil

Gannet, Fulmar, Rock Pipit, Linnet, Skylark, Black Guillemot, Guillemot, Razorbill, Rock Dove, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Meadow Pipit, Arctic Tern, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover (10), Redshank, Corncrake, Shelduck (and 8 young), Eider, Wheatear, Rock Dove, Sand Martin, Pied Wagtail, Raven, Hooded Crow, Chough, Starling

Early Marsh Orchid, Marsh Cinquefoil, Marsh Marigold, Bogbean, Thrift, Daisy, Meadow Buttercup, Heath-spotted Orchid, White Clover, Eyebright, Wild Thyme, Water Mint, Common Scurvy Grass, Lousewort, Milkwort, Spring Squill, Bluebells, Roseroot, Flag Iris, Wild Pansy, Dog Violet, Cuckoo Flower, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Tormentil, Bog Cotton, Dove’s-foot Crane’s-bill, Sea Campion, Marsh Pennywort, Silverweed,  Speedwell sp, Forget-me-not sp, Marsh Thistle, Mouse-ear Chickweed, English Stonecrop

Common Frog, Grey Seal, Hare, Rabbit

Green-veined White, Green Tiger Beetle, Garden Tiger Moth caterpillar

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

Photos from Josephine

Josephine is volunteering at the RSPB and writing a dissertation on the Marsh Fritiallary. She  helped Paul with the medicinal leech survey and sent us this photo of the toadlets, together with this email and photo of a wonderfully relaxed frog at Smaull. Thanks Josephine!
Becky

The frog was found on Smaull Reserve and seemed pretty chilled out. I started to take some photographs, as a fly landed on his head. He didn´t seem to be bothered. Looks like an unusual friendship. . .

Another very exiting sighting around the loch were thousands of extremely fresh common toads. The whole ground was moving and we´ve had very carefully to decide where to put your feet on next.

Caption please?

Toadlets

Bolsa Trek

Yesterday, Lorna, Mark and I had a fantastic trek to Bolsa from Bunnahabhain, via one of the glens. It wasn't fantastic photography weather for landscapes but we saw soooooooo much wildlife - a lot of insect copulation too! I've still to identify a few spiders and insects, and I'll post those photos in due course, along with our complete list for the day (I think we beat the jubilee list!)  Meanwhile, here's a few favourites of the day.
Becky

Dung Beetle
(Photo: Mark Nelson)

Common Frog
 (Photo: MN)

Herd of Red Deer
(Photo: MN)

Marsh Thistle
 (Photo: MN)

Chimney Sweep Moth
(Photo: MN)

Yellowhammer
(Photo: Lorna Williamson)

Water Avens
(Photo: LW)

Four-spotted Chaser
(Photo: LW)

Machir Bay to Saligo (Part 1)

What a wonderful walk David Formby, Lorna and I had today round Coul Point, from Machir Bay to Saligo. It's been difficult selecting photos from the many Lorna took, but here is part one:


Eider Family, north of Machir Bay

 

Frog, near Saligo



Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi - 'beautiful eyebrow')



Kestrel



Thrift on cliff

 Becky

Frogs in the Garden

It's been simply ages since my last post and I'm back from Cape Clear, Sanday (Orkney) and Dunkeld. The most exciting wildlife-wise was Dunkeld with Red Squirrels and Salmon leaping (both were in fact leaping). I was amazed to see Chough on Cape Clear (SW Ireland - home from home), but disappointed not to see anything different. Same with Sanday.

Anyway, Richard Russell sent us this photo of one of his garden residents. Thanks Richard!

Becky

Froglets at the Centre

Lots of tadpoles are metamorphosing at the moment...  Common frog (Rana temporaria).  Some are being released in the ponds behing George and megan's house at Shorefield, others near to the Distillery pond in Port Charlotte.