Keepers Cottage Wildlife Garden Diary

August Garden Birds, Bugs and Animals

2011-09-09T18:56:00.001Z

Creatures in and around our garden during August.

Starting with a garden ringing session, over 30 birds were ringed in our garden on this day.

Including a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker

They nest in the woods behind our house

It was the first time we had managed to ring one though and boy did it make a noise, especially in the net, its a good job we don’t have neighbours!

Kirsty giving it a pep talk before letting it go, I think it was shouting back!

Goldfinch

Young Willow Warbler

Young Goldfinch without the red colouring on its head

Young Greenfinch

Young Robin, an adult was also ringed

Our feral bee colony that we have been monitoring for the Scottish Bee Keepers Association died out during the winter but made a brief visit before disappearing again

Beetle-nicrophorus-vespiloides

Beetle-nicrophorus-humator

We get quite a lot of beetles in our moth trap

Brown Chafer (Serica brunnea)

Caddis Fly, also common in the moth trap

Marsh Damselbug (Nabus limbatus)

Unusual foxgloves I grew for the first time this year

Harvestman-Leiobunum-rotundum-female

Hoverfly-Scaeva pyrastri

Hoverfly-Scaeva pyrastri on my Night Scented Phlox

White Lily

Meadow Pipit on the wire

Pheasant family on the lawn

This is the same family two weeks later!

Potato Capsid Bug (Closterotomus norwegicus)

Beautiful Roe Deer Buck in the field opposite in the evening light

Song Thrush

Hopefully eating all my snails!

Spider Xysticus cristatus

This young Wren was found in our conservatory, on the freezer

A bit worn out by the time we managed to catch it but after a short rest it flew off none the worse for its ordeal!

August Butterflies

2011-09-07T07:15:00.001Z

After a bad summer for butterflies in SW Scotland, its good to see that there were a few more about this month.

A Grayling, actually seen on 30th July at a new site where they haven’t been recorded before.

Peacock

Small tortoiseshell, numbers very low here this year.

Small Copper

Peacock

Tatty Meadow Brown

Red Admiral

Green Veined White

Red Admiral

Peacock

Common Blue

Small Copper

Wall Brown

Peacock

Red Admiral

Peacock

Red Admiral

Small Copper

Small Tortoiseshell

Glenluce to St Helena 27th August 2011

2011-09-06T20:27:00.002Z

Decided on an easy walk from Glenluce to St Helena along the Luce River.

Himalayan Balsam taking over a bit here, it seemed much worse than last time we visited.

Reflected reeds

Moth Udea lutealis

Lots of Peacock butterflies about

Small Copper on Knapweed, an important plant this time of year for many invertebrates.

Although a foreign invader, the bees do love the Himalayan Balsam, although I understand it produces very pale honey.

Himalayan Balsam reflected in the river, you can see just how invasive it is along the riverbanks

Another Peacock showing its curly tongue

Sea Aster

Large mushroonm on the edge of the golf course

St Helena shore

Looking out to Luce Bay

Sparkling sea

Gulls and Mute Swans in the distance

Large fish breaking the surface in the shallow water where the river meets the sea

Shore Crab shell

Sea Lavender, I havn’t seen any for some time, when I was a child my Mum used to collect big bunches of it along the south coast and dry for dried flower arrangements.

Cinnabar caterpillar looking for somewhere to hide on an old log

Beetle-Broscus-cephalotes

7 Spot ladybird

Large toad by the path

More 7 Spots

Very sad and it is still happening, we had a bit of an altercation with a woman with three boisterous dogs, she had no control over them, nor did she attempt to!

Whitefield Loch & Craigenveoch 20th August 2011

2011-08-30T07:58:00.001Z

We had been to Whitefield Loch several times before but decided to take the track to Craigenveoch this time as we hadn’t tried that way before. We were out to spot lots of butterflies and dragonflies and weren’t disappointed. Sadly I didn’t manage photos of the Emperor or Golden Ringed Dragonflies that we saw.

The loch looked very calm and there were a lot of fish jumping.

We walked to the garden first, it is looking very neglected.

Toadstool

Common Darter (I think)

No plans to go through here!

What bull?

Peacock Butterfly

Early instar shieldbug, probably a Spiked

7 Spot Ladybirds

Marsh Woundwort

Araneus-diadematus

Spiked Shieldbug (Picromerus bidens)

Sneezewort

A very tatty Meadow Brown

Red Admiral

Peacock

Hoverfly Sericomyia silentis

Red Admiral

Hoverfly Arctophila superbiens a bee mimic

Knock Fell

Common Darter female

Peacock on Ragwort

Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus)

Cinnabar Moth caterpillar

Perennial Sow-Thistle (Sonchus arvensis)

Young Stonechat

Small Copper

Red Squirrels dining table

Hoverfly Sericomyia silentis

Black Darter

Dark Arches moth feeding on Ragwort

Forest burn

Track through the felled forest

Puffballs

Common Darter female

Common Darter male

Dead trees

Wall butterfly

Peacock

Common Darter

Back to the loch

Southern Upland Way from New Luce 13th August 2011

2011-08-26T21:14:00.001Z

We decided to walk a section of the Southern Upland Way from New Luce, back towards Glenwhan Moor.

Mulicoloured insects on a hogweed flower head.

Common Carpet

Udea Lutealis moth on thistle

Footbridge over the Luce

Looking for Kingfishers, you’ll be lucky!

July Highflyer moth

Another different July Highflyer, lots about today. Always carry a bug pot!

Sexton Beetle- Nicrophorus Vespiloides

Tawny Grisette (Amanita fulva) I think!

Waterfall in the woods

Unusual Red Elderberries

Not a very good photo ut hundreds of flies on a Stinkhorn

Waymerk sign and kist, still some merks left so we collected ours.

Sculpture next to it

Golden Ringed Dragonfly

Best to photograph them when they are eating as they settle for a while

Munching on the abundant heather flies I think!

Green Veined White butterfly on Marsh Thistle

Fox & Cubs

Antler Moth

Heather Flies above the Rosebay Willowherb

Fox Moth caterpillar

Peacock butterfly

Hoverfly Sericomyia silentis

Common Blue butterfly…

…and its underwing

Leccinum sp

Dor Beetle

Large Boulders covered in moss

Aslan turned to stone!

Southern Upland Way sign

Back through the meadow

Grasshopper not sure if its eating an egg or blowing bubbles!

Back over the bridge

River Luce

Warning sign

Large Yellow Underwing moth

Small Copper butterfly

Bumblebee on knapweed

Ripe Elderberries

July 2011 Moths

2011-08-25T16:18:00.001Z

All these moths were seen here in Dumfries and Galloway during July 2011. Most were caught in a moth trap in our garden. some were just attracted to the window light and others in the garden or surrounding countryside.

I have named them the best I can, if anyone spots a mistake or can name any of the unidentified, please let me know.

Garden Tiger Arctia caja

Garden Tiger Arctia caja

Agriphila straminella

Agriphila-tristella

Antler Moth Cerapteryx graminis

Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana

Barred Straw Eulithis pyraliata

Blastobasis-lacticolella

Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea

Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata

Brown China-mark Elophila nymphaeata

Buff Ermine Spilosoma luteum

Burnished Brass Diachrysia chrysitis

Burnished Brass Diachrysia chrysitis

Celypha-lacunana

The Clay Mythimna ferrago

Clouded Border Lomaspilis marginata

Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata

Common Heath Ematurga atomaria

Common/Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis/didyma

Common Wainscot Mythimna pallens

Common White Wave Cabera pusaria

Coxcomb Prominent Ptilodon capucina

Coxcomb Prominent Ptilodon capucina

Crescent Dart Agrotis trux lunigera (Mull of Galloway)

Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha

Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata

Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana

Dotted Clay Xestia baja

Double Square-spot Xestia triangulum

Elachista-argentella

Eucosma campoliliana

Eucosma cana pos

Flame Carpet Xanthorhoe designata

Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta

Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana

Garden-grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella

Ghost Moth Hepialus humuli (female)

Green Carpet Colostygia pectinataria

Grey/Dark Dagger Acronicta sp

Ingrailed Clay Diarsia mendica

July Highflyer Hydriomena furcata

July Belle Scotopteryx luridata

Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba

Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba

Common/Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis/didyma

Light Emerald Campaea margaritata

The Lychnis Hadena bicruris

The Magpie Abraxas grossulariata

unidentified

Mottled Beauty Alcis repandata (with fairy circled-see below!)

Baby Fairy!

Muslin Footman Nudaria mundana

Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana

Northern Spinach Eulithis populata

Peppered Moth Biston betularia

Peppered Moth Biston betularia

Pine Beauty Caterpillar Panolis flammea

Plain Golden Y Autographa jota

Plain Golden Y Autographa jota

Platyptilia pallidactyla

Platyptilia pallidactyla

Prays fraxinella

unidentified pug

Purple Bar Cosmorhoe ocellata

Purple Clay Diarsia brunnea

Rhigognostis incarnatella

Riband Wave Idaea aversata

Sandy Carpet Perizoma flavofasciata

Scoparinae sp

Silver-ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata

Silver Y Autographa gamma

Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata

Six-striped Rustic Xestia sexstrigata

Small Clouded Brindle Apamea unanimis

Small Fan-foot Herminia grisealis

Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata

Small Magpie Eurrhypara hortulata

Small Rivulet Perizoma alchemillata

Small Square-spot Diarsia rubi

Smoky Wainscot Mythimna impura

The Snout Hypena proboscidalis

The Spectacle Abrostola tripartita

The Spectacle Abrostola tripartita

Straw Dot Rivula sericealis

The Flame Axylia putris

True Lover's Knot Lycophotia porphyrea (Mull of Galloway)

Udea lutealis

Udea olivalis

The V-Pug Chloroclystis v-ata

White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda

unidentified caterpillar

Garden Animals July 2011

2011-08-21T19:06:00.001Z

All these animals were photographed in our garden during July 2011.

Our young hare seen almost daily in our garden, on the lawn, in the orchard or even on the patio.

Welcome as long as he doesn’t eat my plants!

He mostly eats just grass

and dandelions

Although is guilty of nibbling the runner beans!

On 16th July our young hare encountered our young rabbit….

…and we watched from the window to see what would happen

It was quite touching

I wonder how often this happens!

Keep still and she won’t notice me!

A brief visit from a hedgehog

Common Lizard on wall

Smile!

Something you dont see very often, a mole out on the surface

Spent quite a while watching him!

Ou resident bunny

Love the wonky ear tufts!

Red Squirrel in the holly tree

I just love the way it holds a sunflower seed so carefully

This ones got a nasty tick by its eye

This is Tiny and he rally is tiny!

Can’t be good for digestion!

Roe Deer-Ok not in our garden but the field opposite. They do come through the garden though.

Bugs, Butterflies & Blooms July 2011

2011-08-21T14:13:00.003Z

Taken in our garden or the surrounding countryside during July 2011.

Cicadella-Viridis in our garden

Common Blue Butterfly Torrs Warren

Cuckoo-Spit Insect Philaenus spumarius

Dance fly Empis tessellata

Dew on rose petal

Foxglove

Beautiful foxgloves along field margin next to our house. Sadly they were sprayed with weedkiller by the farmer a couple of days later.

Green Dock Beetle Gastrophysa-viridula

Dark Green Fritillary butterfly Torrs Warren

Hogweed flowers…

…beautiful close-up

Holes in thistles stems-any idea what may have made them?

Hoverfly Arctophila superbiens

Marmalade Fly Episyrphus-balteatus

Great Grey slug

Meadow Plant Bug Leptopterna dolabrata

Meadow Brown Butterfly

Meadow Brown

Meadow Grasshopper

Metellina species spider

Mining Bee

Mirid Bug

Nicrophorus-vespilloides

Nicrophorus-vespilloides and mites!

Ox-eye Daisy in our orchard

Ox-eye Daisy

Ragged Robin in a boggy area of our garden

Red Admiral, looks like a bird has taken a bite!

Red Lilies

Ringlet butterfly on Feverfew

Ringlet

Small Tortoiseshell

Thistle

July 2011 Birds and Bird Ringing

2011-08-21T13:11:00.001Z

All these photos were taken in and around our garden during July 2011, some from the window.

Young male Sparrowhawk on the front gate.

A regular visitor lately

Keeping a sharp eye on the other birds…

…and the swallows above!

I think he’s seen me!

Young Dunnock

Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker-you can tell by the red cap.

Jay eyeing up the nuts in the feeder

We haven’t seen a Jay here for some time, but this one has recently become a regular visitor.

On the feeding station.

Balancing on the feeder

On one of our fence posts

Male Siskin

Warbler

Buzzard on the post across the road

Whitethroat in the hedgerow

Ringing a blackbird

A bit feisty, decided to take a bite of Jeans finger!

Better behaved now!

Juvenile Dunnock

Ouch that hurt, such sweet little birds Bluetits, but not the easiest to get out of a mist net!

Male Lesser Redpoll

Whitethroat

Behaving nicely!

Our local Sand Martin bank

Lovely to see a sandmartin closeup

Kirsty holding a Juvenile…

…and I got to hold one too!

Cairn Pat & Sandhead 30th July 2011

2011-08-17T09:29:00.001Z

Out doing a BTO bird survey at Cairn Pat.

Took this photo of a butterfly right at the top of the hill, when I got home I realised it was a Grayling. This is a coastal butterfly so I was surprised to find it here, although you are never far from the sea on the Rhins.

Our local wind farm

Trig point on the top of Cairn Pat, the highest point on the Rhins of Galloway and there are great views of Loch Ryan, Ailsa Craig, Ireland etc on a clear day

Small tortoiseshells about too

Thistledown caught in flight

Lots more to take flight

Harebell

We met a couple that had cycled from their yacht moored at Portpatrick, they were looking for this sign. Aparently these are on all old landmarks such as this bridge and show the height above sea level.

Back down to Sandhead for a picnic.

Cinnabar Moth caterpillar on ragwort

Dunlin

Juvenile I think

Dunskey Glen to Port Mora & Kale 23rd July 2011

2011-08-16T09:18:00.001Z

A warm but blustery day so we decided on a short trip to Dunskey Glen as we hadnt done this walk for a while.

Lots of fungi in the glen including this large bracket fungus

Dryads Saddle…

…lots of them!

Russula sp.

Down at Port Mora, a big splash, not some sea creature, just a brave man having a quick dip!

Port Mora Bay

A lovely isolated bay, reached on foot either through the glen or from Portpatrick.

Pete resting on the rocks

After walking back up the hill, Pete & Mike rested on the bench waiting for me, last as usual!

A short walk and we reached Port Kale

The old Coastal Interpretation Centre, I wonder when it was last used.

Port Kale Bay

Wild Thyme

Linnet on the rocks

A large seal was waiting to come ashore, not sure if he was waving or gesturing!

Ringed Plover amongst the pebbles

Where the burn runs to the shore

Bright crab shell

We stood on this bridge over the burn for some time watching swallows and martins go under and over it, coming very close.

Snail shell

Sea campions

Sheeps Bit

Bloody Cranesbill

Yacht offshore

Mermaids Purse (dogfish egg case)

Common Blue Butterfly

Red Bartsia

Self Heal

Back up the glen and lots of Horsetails

Bridge and waterfall

Moth Udea Lutealis

A Robin came quite close

Bell Tower on Dunskey Home Farm, looks like it may have been struck by lightening at some time.

Glennap and Ballantrae 18th July 2011

2011-08-13T07:30:00.001Z

We parked by the cemetery, just outside Ballantrae and walked up to the bridge.

Looking over this heron hadn’t heard us.

We then followed the footpath into Glennap which was a little overgrown in places.

Monks Hood was growing by the burn.

Rosebay Willowherb

Giant Bellflower

Waterfall

Forest Bug

Mirid Bug

Dappled light

Another waterfall

Giant Redwood

Dipper, got lots of fuzzy photos, sadly this was the best I managed

Meadowsweet

Some sort of trap? Any ideas?

Ichneumon wasp

Valerian

Huge bracket fungi

After Glennap, we headed for Ballantrae Harbour to eat our lunch

Headland and A77 heading north

Knockdolian

Harbour Wall with Ailsa Craig in the distance

Ballantrae

Daisies in the sand

Wall and Ailsa

Torrs Warren 9th July 2011

2011-07-31T14:52:00.001Z

A warm day but quite windy so decided on a walk at Torrs Warren. One of our first sightings of the day was a Red Squirrel although didnt get a photo.

Dog Rose

A very tatty Ringlet Butterfly, lots about.

Honeysuckle

Clouded Border moth

Scoparia species moth

Pine Beauty moth caterpillar

Strange trail markers in this woods, including bones on twigs!

Slime mould

Green Tiger beetle

Common Heath moth

Reindeer Moss

Green Fritillary butterfly

Silver Y moth

Common Speedwell

Small Heath Butterfly

Common Blue butterfly

Dogs Vomit Slime Mould (lovely name!)

Bell Heather

After our walk we drove to Soulseat Loch for our picnic.

Not much about other than some Mallards!

June Moths and Butterflies

2011-07-10T10:28:00.002Z

A selection of the butterflies and moths we have found during June. Some in our garden, in the moth trap or just on our walks in Dumfries and Galloway.

The Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae

Aethes cnicana

Bactra lancealana

unknown bird dropping moth

Blastobasis lacticolella

Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata

Buff Ermine Spilosoma luteum

Caloptilia syringella

Celypha lacunana

Chimney Sweeper Odezia atrata

Clouded Border Lomaspilis marginata

Clouded-bordered Brindle Apamea crenata

Common Wave Cabera exanthemata

Common Blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus)

Common Heath Ematurga atomaria

Common White Wave Cabera pusaria

Bactra lancealana

Grey Dagger Acronicta psi

Double Square-spot Xestia triangulum

Double Square-spot Xestia triangulum face

Dusky Brocade Apamea remissa

Epiblema cynosbatella

Flame Carpet Xanthorhoe designata

Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta

Garden Grass Veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella

Garden Grass Veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella

This wing found under the moth trap, baffled us first but then we identified it as a Ghost Moth Hepialus humuli humuli but had not had a live one, until…

…the next day Male Ghost Moth Hepialus humuli humuli

Male Ghost Moth Hepialus humuli humuli

… and later in the month - female Ghost Moth Hepialus humuli humuli

Female Ghost Moth Hepialus humuli humuli

Green Arches Anaplectoides prasina

Green caterpillar

Grey Pug Eupithecia subfuscata

Gypsonoma sp pos sociana

Hairy caterpillar prob Ruby Tiger

Ingrailed Clay Diarsia mendica mendica

July Belle Scotopteryx luridata

Knot Grass Acronicta rumicis

Large Skipper ( Ochlodes venatus )

Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba

Large Yellow Underwing face Noctua pronuba

The Lychnis Hadena bicruris

The Magpie Abraxas grossulariata caterpillar

Any ideas?

Mottled Beauty Alcis repandata

pos Eucosma cana

Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis

Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)

The Rivulet Perizoma affinitata

Sandy Carpet Perizoma flavofasciata

Scarce Footman Eilema complana caterpillar

Scoparia ambigualis

Silver-ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata – tons of these around!

Silver Hook Deltote uncula

Six-Spot Burnet Zygaena filipendulae caterpillar

Six-Spot Burnet Zygaena filipendulae

Mating frenzy!

Small Copper ( Lycaena phaleas )

Small Fan-foot Herminia grisealis

Small Heath butterfly

Micro Cydia sp

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary ( Boloria selene )

Small Tortoiseshell butterfly ( Nymphalis urticae )

Straw Dot Rivula sericealis

Wall butterfly (Lasiommata megera)

White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda

White Ermine underside

June Bugs in the Garden

2011-07-09T20:43:00.001Z

A selection of creatures found in our garden during June

Leaf Beetle Chrysolina-fastuosa

Beetle aphodius rufipes

…caught in the moth trap

Click Beetle ctenicera-cuprea

…and its underside

Early Bumble Bee Bombus pratorum on buttercup

Enoplognatha sp pos ovata

…you can see it spinning its silk

Gooseberry Sawfly larvae (Nematus ribesii)

Large Red Damselfly

Mirid Bug Leptopterna dolabrata

Harvestman mitopus-morio

Ground Beetle Pterostichus niger

Early instar Shieldbug Picromerus bidens

Early instar Shieldbug Picromerus bidens, I came back to take more photos of this one and it had turned the same colour as the others!

Sloe Shield Bug (Dolycoris baccarum)

Soldier-Beetle Cantharis nigricans

Tiny Snail

…and another

Vine Weevil (Otiorhynchus (Dorymerus) sulcatus)

June Garden Animals

2011-07-09T19:57:00.001Z

We now have at least four Red Squirrels that visit our garden most days.

This one is on the roof of the seed hopper that Pete put out for them.

Feeding from the feeding station

All four of our squirrels are quite small and this one goes right inside the feeder.

Looking a bit bedraggled in the rain!

Vole and Squirrel under the bird feeders

Large frog

Frog & Toad being unsociable

Frog eye

Toad

Lizard on the front wall

This one is missing its tail.

June 2011 Garden Birds & Blooms

2011-07-09T19:37:00.001Z

Young male Sparrowhawk on the garden gate.

Tatty tail

On the fence

Just caught a bird from the feeder

Behind you!

Astrantia

This male pheasant wakes us most mornings-the joys of living in the country! He has a bit of a limp because of his swollen leg.

Follow that tail!

With dad

Staying close to mum

Our single baby pheasant dissapeared shortly after this was taken, never to be seen agan!

Our poppies have been beautiful this year until the wind and rain!

Shaggy Poppy

House Martin

Red Hot Poker

Baby Bluetit almost ready to fledge

Baby Coaltit

Baby Redpoll

Baby Greattit

Stinkhorn

The swallows had a bit of a spat in the garage and managed to break one of the eggs

Cotton grass by the pond

Recently fledged Jackdaw

Stripy Geranium

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Pluteus sp

Willow Warbler with food

Lily

Jay

Ox-eye Daisy in the orchard

Willow Warbler sunbathing on garage roof

Glistening Ink-Cap (Coprinellus micaceus)

Primula Vialii

Willow Warbler on roof

Rock cranesbill Geranium macrorrhizum

Garden Bird Ringing 28th June 2011

2011-07-08T21:16:00.001Z

An afternoon of bird ringing in our garden, over 50 birds caught in the mist net and ringed in just a few hours. 10 different species.

Dunnock

Goldfinch

Great tit

Greenfinch

A screamer!

One of the brood of Swallows that nest in our garage

Kisty holding juvenile Great tit

Juvenile Swallow

Male Siskin

Juvenile Redpoll

Mike measuring Swallows wing

Juvenile Redpoll nipping Kirstys finger

Male House Sparrow

Adult Swallow looking cross!

Coast Path from Stairhaven 25th June 2011

2011-07-08T19:50:00.002Z

Bit of a blustery day but decided on a walk from Stairhaven towards Aulchenmalg. Plenty of wildlife about and wild flowers and only met two other people, just the kind of walk I like!

Juvenile Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)

Smith's Pepperwort ( Lepidium heterophyllum )

English Stonecrop (Sedum anglicum)

Garden Grass-Veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)

Zigzag Clover (Trifolium medium)

Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus)

Six Spot Burnet cocoon

Grasshopper

Common Green Grasshopper (Omocestus viridulus)

Loved up bugs!

Weevils pos Phyllobius pomaceus

Horrible sight of a gull hanging dead from fishing line, probably a long lingering death….

……and above it, its eggs have perished too!

Hairy Caterpillar, probably Ruby Tiger moth

Meadow Vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis)

Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)

Bell Heather (Erica cinerea)

Bloody Crane's-bill (Geranium sanguineum)

I think this could be wild thyme which is affected by thyme gall mite Aceria thomasi

Wild Thyme (Thymus polytrichus)

Common Rock-rose (Helianthemum nummularium)

Sheep's-bit (Jasione montana)

Common Catsear (Hypochaeris radicata)

Scarce Footman caterpillar (Eilema complana)

Chimney Sweeper (Odezia atrata)

Six-spot Burnet (Zygaena filipendulae)

Six-spot Burnet (Zygaena filipendulae) mating frenzy!

Mottled Grasshopper (Myrmeleotettix maculatus)

Six-spot Burnet caterpillar (Zygaena filipendulae)

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)

Juvenile Dunnock (Prunella modularis)

July Belle (Scotopteryx luridata)

Bird Dropping moth

Common Toad (Bufo bufo)

Scoparia sp

Northern Marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella)

Heath Spotted-orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata)

Straw Dot Moth

Magpie Moth Caterpillar

Honeysuckle

Garden Grass-Veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)

Whitethroat

Burnt Gorse

Roe Deer Fawn

Large Skipper Butterfly

Not sure I can identify this starfish!

View towards Stairhaven

Micro moth Blastobasis lacticolella

Burnet Rose

Common Bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)

Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca)

Sea Thrift (Armeria maritima)

Common Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)

Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus)

Knockquhassen Southern Upland Way 18th June 2011

2011-06-27T08:27:00.002Z

Another BTO Bird Atlas walk along the Southern Upland Way towards Knockquhassen Reservervoir.

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

Heath Bedstraw (Galium saxatile)

Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis)

Nettle Rust (Puccinia urticata)

Meadow Vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis)

Dog Rose (Rosa canina)

Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum)

Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris)

Marsh Woundwort (Stachys palustris)

Adder (Vipera berus)

Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)

Tormentil (Potentilla erecta)

Prickly Sow-thistle (Sonchus asper)

Toadstools (unidentified)

Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata)

Small Fan-foot (Herminia grisealis)

Elder (Sambucus nigra)

Plantlife & BTO Surveys 11th June 2011

2011-06-24T20:22:00.001Z

Our first stop was very local, recording the wild flowers locally for a Plantlife survey.

Yellow Rattle, these are great plants to have if you have a wild flower meadow. By sprinkling these seeds your wildflowers are more likely to grow as it helps suppress the grass as it is semi parasitic.

Lesser Stitchwort.

Marsh Thistle.

Heath Bedstraw.

Fern possibly Lemon Scented.

Bush Vetch.

Cow Parsley.

Cow Parsley

Hogweed

Leaf Beetle Chrysolina fastuosa

Germander Speedwell.

Next stop was Stranraer Harbour for lunch. Watched a tern diving in the entrance to the harbour. There were about seven large Thick Lipped Mullet close to the harbour wall.

On to Stranraer Community Woodland to do a BTO Bird Atlas Survey.

Golden Raspberry, perhaps a garden escapee.

Dog Rose.

Meadow Pipit carrying food to nest.

Beautiful colours in the meadows.

Roe Deer down by the burn….

…and another!

Watercress.

Buttercups and grasses.

Small Heath Butterfly.

Scarlet Pimpernel.

Small Copper Butterfly.

Field of Buttercups.

This small blue farm cottage is where we lived for 5 months when we first moved to Scotland in 2006

A beautiful male Yellowhammer on the wire. This is a great place to see them and many other birds including Swifts!