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Waxcap Wander - Wed 14 October 2009 - Glen Lonan

32 days ago

A group of us went to look for waxcaps, earth-tongues and club fungi - the indicator species of unimproved grasslands. Within an area of about 300 x 100 metres we found 9 kinds of waxcap, which signifies that the site is of "regional importance" according to the scale normally used. These two are the Snowy Waxcap, one of only two all-white waxcap species, and the Golden Waxcap, which is very sticky on top. The very slimy Heath Waxcap, recognisable by its glutinous gill edges, and the Scarlet Waxcap, which also has a slimy cap, sometimes, but not always, yellow-edged as here. The Honey Waxcap, which smells of honey, and the Meadow Waxcap, one of the larger species, easily recognised by its whitish stem contrasting with the pastry-coloured cap. The Parrot Waxcap is the only species with any green colouring. The amount of green varies and is greater on young specimens. Both cap and stem are very slimy; you can see the glutinous layer on the edge of the ...

Field Trip to Lismore - Saturday 12th September 2009

36 days ago

We caught the 10:00 hours ferry from Port Appin and we were soon walking around the coast by 'The Point' of Lismore. Looking north-west across to the mainland, mist was hanging low above the water allowing the hills to show themselves. Several Common Seals were close by in the sea inquisitively checking us out. We passed a small pebbly beach at Port Aineainn where a Rowan Tree was full of berries and a Blackthorn bush was growing prostrate over some large rocks of limestone. We came to Park, a small farm, where we joined a good track heading towards Port Ramsay. After stopping to look at a pair of Lime Kilns we discovered some Red Bartsia at the side of the track. We stopped for a drink and a snack, sitting on some upturned boats looking over to Eilean Ramsay an idyllic spot. As we sat taking in the view, a group of about 30 Ringed Plover landed on a spit extending from the island. There were also several Grey Herons about, giving away the fact that this was also the home for a ...

Survey Walk at Glencruitten House Woods - Tuesday 25th August 2009

40 days ago

This month's Seil Natural History Group midweek recording walk took us to Glencruitten House Woods, an area of mostly coniferous plantation of which there are plans to manage in a more nature-friendly way. Thanks to the wet weather the mushroom season has started early, and we spent much our time foraging among the fungi. These two are Russula species. The red one may well be Russula emetica. The purple one is past its best and probably not possible to identify. This handsome brown mushroom the colour of polished furniture is Tricholoma fulvum, growing under Birch and known as the Birch Knight. Thanks to Geoffrey Kibby for the ID. The young one on the right is also associated with Birch; it's the Brown Birch Bolete, Leccinum scabrum. The mosses at its base are Polytrichum formosum (probably) and Thuidium tamariscinum. This Bolete was one of the commonest mushrooms in the woods; we found it in several places. Tricholomopsis rutilans, or Plums and Custard, ...

Field Trip to the Black Lochs - Saturday 18th July 2009

41 days ago

Our field trip today took us to the solitude and beautiful landscape of the intriguingly titled "Black Lochs" near North Connel. Leaving the A85 main road we followed a track towards Achaleven Farm and on past Cuil-uaine to the lochs. They are renowned for their variety of dragonflies and damselflies, but we did not expect to see too much as the weather forecast was poor. Luckily it remained dry, and there was a lot of damselfly activity despite the lack of sunshine. Most numerous were the Common Blues. This is a pair in tandem. The female is of the usual green form; occasionally they are blue like the males but they always have much more black than the males. Female Emerald Damselflies were fairly numerous. They are said to rest with their wings half-open. In practice they seem to do this half the time and rest with wings closed (like other damselflies) half the time. The pictures show both positions. Blue-tailed Damselflies were also present; the ...

Survey walk at Eilean Buidhe (NM7720) - Tuesday 30th June 2009

132 days ago

We had good weather once again and a record turnout of sixteen for our midweek recording walk to Eilean Buidhe. I've put some pictures in the album and there are already some great ones in there by others who were on the walk - more to come, I hope. The island was very flowery with lots of Thyme, Yellow Iris, Catsear, Thrift, Ragged Robin, Bell Heather and many other colourful plants. Heath Spotted Orchid was plentiful, and Common Spotted, Northern Marsh and Northern Fragrant Orchids were also seen. The latter (Gymnadenia borealis) used to be regarded as a subspecies of "Fragrant Orchid" but has been made a full species following DNA analysis. Most Fragrant Orchids found in Argyll will be this species. The other two new species of Fragrant Orchid are unlikely in Argyll but not impossible. Any Fragrant Orchid with the lowest petal clearly broader than long, or with the two side flaps more than 5 mm long and only 1 mm wide, should be investigated carefully. ...