Terminal fragments from 2014

November 2014

To restart this blog, which has not been updated for many months I thought I'd just put in a few odds and odds from the end of 2014. These are not particularly naturey in nature but at least it will get things going.

 Joy's image from near the top of the descent to Rhubha Hunish, looking out to Lord McDonald's Table (Am Bord), Gearran Island, The Cleats, and Fladaigh Chuain, with the Outer Hebrides in the distance.

Rubha Hunish, the nothernmost point on Skye. 

 A Little Grebe on Loch Portree (Tachybaptus ruficollis) in winter plumage.

 Buzzard (Buteo buteo) departs the garden fence.

 The settlement of Borve and the southern Trotternish Hills bathed in the red glow of the setting sun.

 Looking down on Portree (the "capital city" of Skye), with the Northern slopes of Ben Tianavaig on the right and the island of Raasay in the eastern distance. Just south east of centre is Portree Hospital, which is schedule for closure, much to the consternation of the people of northern Skye.

 The Lump, Portree (sight of the local highland games).

 Looking north to Storr.

Spectrum at Lealt.

We weren't sure whether this was a volcanic dyke or a dry stone wall on the Trotternish Hills at Lealt.

December 2014

 Christmas Day

 Looking out on a planet in the outer suburbs of the Milky Way.

 I'd like to think this was a Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus) spending its winter vacation in the garden but someone's bound to say its ears aren't big enough so it's "just a Rabbit" (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

It's feet look quite large though.

Getting soaked at Ardtrek Point

23rd August 2014

 Is this an albino Suzi Quatro (Devilsbit Scabious, Succisa pratensis) or maybe a Small Teasel (Dipsacus pilosus)?

 Red Hemp Nettle (Galeopsis angustifolia)?

 Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

 Peacock Butterfly (Inachis io)

 Near and right is the southern edge of the island of Wiay, in the middle of Loch Bracadale; slightly left of this and further away is Idrigill Point on the far side of Loch Bracadale; just to the left of that area are the sea stacks Macleod's Maidens, and in the distance Hoe Point.

 Difficult to say what this is.

 Identified by Steve as Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis). It doesn't look anything like the eyebright I know but Steve says it comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

 Another Peacock.

 Fox Moth caterpillar (Macrothylacia rubi). Thanks to iSpot.

 Tentatively identified as Sneezewort (Achillea ptarmica) (iSpot).

 As yet unidentified gall thing. This was spotted by Steve. A comment on iSpot was "It would be nice if you can say the tree - might it be apple I wonder? I see you live on Skye so it won't be difficult to track down again and watch it through a season next July. Many of these tissue galls are caused by Sawflies (........) and they usually stick to one species of plant or tree.

There are people who come here and may well give you an answer. Good photo and potentially a valuable record".
 Another comment: "Given the location and your description John, it sounds like it might be a dwarf or creeping willow (Salix repens). They have petiole galls similar to this caused by the larvae of flies such as Rabdophaga salicis. I'm afraid down here in Sussex I'm not familiar with either creeping willows or these fly species so I'm not going to take a punt on it, but it might be something to investigate".

 Flower thing on a grass thing,

 Common Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)

 Big grey clouds approach from the west and soon we are scurrying for non-existent shelter and then getting very wet and retreating back to the car with dampened spirits.

Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glanulifera). Exploding the seed pods when they become ripe is great fun.

 Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) at Uigshader, 9th August.