Islay and Jura Youth Action at Killinallan

It was Islay and Jura Youth Action's day at the beach and we had great fun at Killinallan, using all our senses to spot wildlife. We looked at Shore Crabs, Sticklebacks and Six-spot Burnet Moths; listened to Grey Seals, grasshoppers and Oystercatchers, touched the Sea Anemones and smelt Ladies' Bedstraw and Wild Thyme. We thought about pollination, insects and the magic of flowers in all their rainbow array of colours. To safely demonstrate the sense of taste in the natural world and purely for educational purposes (of course!) we each had a chocolate Minstrel. Thanks to Mairi and her crew and to Jim for driving the minibus. It was a great afternoon.

Catching sticklebacks

An unusual grasshopper

A good way to get transported across the beach!

Just a big boy really!

Learning about pollination

Using binoculars

Heiko's Birthday Walk

This was a very special and joyous occasion and it was a privilege to be a part of it. Heiko and Antonella, from Germany, had chosen to celebrate a special birthday here on Islay, inviting friends from all over the world to join them for the weekend. One of the choices for guests on Saturday was a 'walking tour' of the island. After a lot of thought, I decided this should take place on The Oa as Heiko was keen that his guests got a feel for the drama of this wonderful island and the cliffs on The Oa are certainly dramatic and spectacular. They were even more atmospheric than usual on Saturday as one minibus and two cars wound their way cautiously through mist and rain to the car park at Upper Killeyan. After giving out pairs of wellies and walking boots to most of the 14 walkers, we set off just as the rain stopped, walking to the American Monument and then down to Lower Killeyan and back to the cars. We managed most of it in the dry and were very glad for a hot bowl of soup at the Taste of Islay later where we descended for a late lunch. Thankyou everyone for being such an appreciative audience. I really enjoyed it! Thanks also to Jim who took up the rearguard.

BIRDS
Wheatear, Stonechat, Fulmar, Gannet, Sedge Warbler, Wren, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Oystercatcher, Shag, Black Guillemot, Rock Dove

FLORA:
Self-heal, Bell Heather, Heather, Harebell, Thrift, Marsh Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Spear Thistle, Heath-spotted Orchid, Wild Thyme, Grass of Parnassus, Tormentil, Eyebright, Daisy, White Clover, Red Clover, Bog Asphodel, Common Cottongrass, Hare's-tail

OTHER:
Grey Seal, Rabbit, Feral goat, Meadow Brown butterfly

Gannet

Sedge Warbler

Wild Thyme and Bird's-foot Trefoil

Soldier's Rock

It was another beautiful day for our welly walk to Soldier's Rock and Nina was full of admiration for the sheep (amongst other things), which accompanied us some of the way. Once again the flora was outstanding and I was delighted to see my favourite flower - the Harebell - and was reminded of my favourite novel, Wuthering Heights, whose last, irony-filled line reads:

I lingered round them  [the graves], under that benign sky; watched the moths fluttering among the heath and hare-bells, listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass and wondered how any one could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers in that quiet earth.

The colours were truly amazing today and it was a joy to take such an appreciative audience to one of my favourite spots on Islay, to exchange stories and share the same natural world for a short season. Thanks Nina!

BIRDS:

Whinchat, Fulmar, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Oystercatcher, Red-breasted Merganser, Buzzard, Shag, Twite, Redpoll

FLORA:
Self-heal, 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,  Bog Myrtle, Goat Willow, Bracken, Hard Fern, Devil's-bit Scabious, Tormentil, Butterwort (leaves), Marsh Lousewort, Eyebright, Daisy, White Clover, Red Clover, Bog Asphodel, Yellow Rattle, Red Bartsia, Lady's Bedstraw, Common Cottongrass, Hare's-tail, Marsh Bedstraw

INSECTS:
Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Small Heath, Small Tortoiseshell, Green-veined White, Magpie Moth

Bog Cotton

Crowberry

Daisies at Soldier's Rock

Frachdale - one of the many deserted villages on The Oa

Harebell

Whinchat

'A Constant Stream of Beauty' at Killinallan

It was a wonderful day for a walk at Killinallan. This is decidedly my favourite place in the summer and my enthusiasm, which is usually overflowing, was well and truly spilling over today as we walked over scented carpets of yellow, pink and purple, gasping as each new vision of orchid groups came into view. It was probably the best display I have seen here - or maybe I say that every year and forget just how amazing it is. Anyway, our visitor from Wisconsin was in awe of the botanical beauty and rivalled me with her enthusiasm. She described the walk across the dunes as being in 'a constant stream of beauty' and I could not disagree with her.

BIRDS
Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Pied Wagtail, Grey Heron, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Arctic Tern, Wheatear

FLORA
Lesser Meadow Rue, Meadow Buttercup, Marsh Lousewort, Ragged Robin, Grass of Parnassus, Fairy Flax, Wild Thyme, Self-heal, Tufted Vetch, Lady's Bedstraw, Marsh Helleborine, Northern Marsh Orchid, Fragrant Orchid, Common Twayblade, Pyramidal Orchid, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Harebell, Daisy, Meadow Black Bog Rush, Common Milkwort, Eyebright, Spear Thistle, Marsh Thistle, White Clover, Red Clover, Bracken,  Field Gentian,   Iris, Meadowsweet, Thrift (only just),  Devil's-bit Scabious,  Burnet Rose, Common Valerian, Sea Rocket

INSECTS AND OTHER INVERTEBRATES
Six-spot Burnet Moth, Small Heath, Small Tortoiseshell, Dark Green Fritillary, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Common Blue, Golden-ringed Dragonfly, moth sp, spider sp

OTHER
Grey Seal, Comb Jellyfish

Albino Pyramidal Orchid

Comb Jellyfish

Six spot Burnet Moth on Pyramidal Orchid

Grey Seals

Walking at Killinallan

Marsh Helleborine

Lily's birthday and sandcastle competition

What a great day for a birthday party and what a great location and activity! Thank you Lily for letting us share your 6th birthday (belated birthday :)) There were 6 sandcastles (one ended up as a 'work in progress' sandcastle kingdom) and lots of children and adults - all eager to participate. We had very creative artists at work; most sculptures had functional moats and the obligatory drawbridge and optional extras included beautiful 'gardens' and cannons and a blacksmith's 'gazebo', complete with anvil.

A wonderful morning which was rounded off with sandwiches and muffins on the sand, courtesy of Lily's parents, Andrew and Alison of Bowmore House. Many thanks to all for coming.

My record butterfly count at Solam

What a glorious day for a welly walk! I was very nearly tempted to eschew the wellies in favour of, well, flip-flops. I discussed the pros and cons of such flimsy footwear with my India-residing walkers, Julie and Dan, who, perhaps by the end of the walk had the upper edge on me with their sturdy walking boots. But such dry conditions are rare on Islay and I'd still rate it a welly factor 2, maybe 3!

I'm not sure if I've ever seen as many species of butterfly in one day before; I don't think so. They were everywhere - heralding the arrival, perhaps of a scorching summer. When I asked Julie if she'd taken enough photographs of a butterfly dance between Marsh Fritillaries, Small Heaths and Dark Green Fritillaries,she said 'Well, I could probably sit here and photograph the butterflies all day!' It was a lovely response.It was a joy to be able to take this couple (who are missing Scotland just ever so slightly) on such a nature-filled to overflowing walk on what must be the hottest day of the year so far!

BIRDS
Raven, Willow Warbler, Wren, Robin, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Sedge Warbler, Blackbird

FLORA
Round-leaved Sundew, Butterwort, Tormentil, Yellow Pimpernel, Heath Speedwell, Heath Bedstraw, Lousewort, Marsh Lousewort, Oak, Willow, Cross-leaved Heath, Bell Heather, Cow Wheat, Burnet Rose, Bog Myrtle, Milkwort, Spear Thistle, Marsh Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Daisy, Lesser Spearwort, Eyebright, Meadow Buttercup, Flag Iris, Heath-spotted Orchid, Ragged Robin, Bracken, White Clover, Common Cottongrass, Hare's-tail, Cuckoo Flower

BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS
Small Heath, Large Heath, Ringlet, Small Copper, Marsh Fritillary, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Dark Green Fritillary, Common Blue, Chimney Sweeper

DRAGONFLIES
Large Red Damselfly, Keeled Skimmer, Four-spotted Chaser, Golden-ringed Dragonfly

Burnet Rose

The carved face at Solam

Cow Wheat

Dark Green and Marsh Fritillaries share a Marsh Thistle

Keeled Skimmer

Ringlet

Jane's story of a wee' sma' hours' encounter with nature

Thanks to Jane for sending us this story of an early morning stroll:

I'm not sure whether we are able to use the phrase "simmer dim" so far south here on Islay (!) but that's certainly what it felt like when I finally managed to make myself get up and go for a short walk, ostensibly to hear the dawn chorus at about 3.30 am last Saturday! Catching a glimpse of a shooting star in a cloudless sky,  I set off for a wander down the road in that slightly eerie but very special light. Several bats were flitting around the trees, the first strains of birdsong were beginning and the cuckoo was already in full flight. Given how constantly we have been hearing it recently I was wondering whether it had actually stopped calling that night at all. As the light increased it was possible to make out the  pale globes of the burnet rose flowering in the hedges but I startled a few roe deer at  the roadside.  Round the corner the Paps were a silvery outline  against the dawn sky as the colours deepened. Various rustlings and squeakings in the ditches accompanied my return journey and the birdsong began to swell, although the cuckoo was still taking the lead.
It was all over within an hour, but a memorable way to start the day!