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Waxcap Wander - Wed 14 October 2009 - Glen Lonan

37 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

60 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 ...

Field Trip to Lismore - Saturday 12th September 2009

40 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

86 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, ...

Survey walk at Glen Feochan (Balinoe) NM8723 on 21 July 2009

110 days ago

The July midweek recording walk began in the layby at the head of Loch Feochan and followed the initial stages of the Coffin Route that goes from Balinoe to Scammadale. Our target square was NM8723 but we also wandered into NM8823, both squares with no existing botanical records. From the layby which is always a good viewpoint to stop and look for birds there was a variety of species including Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Grey Heron, Oystercatcher and this female Common Eider in the picture below, As we turned onto the footpath at Balinoe we had good views of two Spotted Flycatchers swooping out to snaffle prey from a vantage point on a fence, and another pair doing the same thing from a branch. Our route took us up a farm track to a muddy cattle feeding area. There were typical farmyard ruderals such as Corn Spurrey, Persicaria, Pale Persicaria, Pineapple Mayweed, Water-pepper and Marsh Cudweed. An unexpected member of this assemblage was Heath Groundsel, below left. ...

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