Isle of Skye U3A Walking and Nature Groups

Greater Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera chlorantha or Platanthera bifolia, respectively); identified by Steve. I can't remember which; need to check with David or Steve - can be differentiated by the angle of the stamens or some such mega-pokey observation.

Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) - I like plants that are honest and upfront about what they are and don't mess with your mind.
I've since been told by Steve that "this is not one species but actually a

complex of many separate but somewhat similar species"; I imagine he was just trying to wind me up.

Looking across Loch Carron to the Applecross region.

I felt obliged to include this despite being an arachnophobe. What is it about spiders!

I presume this is Dog Rose (Rosa canina).

Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata) - identified by Steve.

Ditto

Cross-Leaved Heath (Erica tetralix) - identified by Steve.

Common Sundew (Drosera rotundifolila)

Greater Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera chlorantha) - photo by David.

Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum)

Looking towards Loch Kishorn in the distance.

Yellow Hammer (Emberiza citrinella)

Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) - photo by David.

Common Blue - photo by David

Common Blue

One of those umbellifers that no one seems interested in identifying. According to Steve, it could be Valerian (Valeriana) but one would need to check the leaves before assigning a species.

English Stonecrop (Sedum anglicum)

Six-Spot Burnet (Zygaena filipendulae) - photo by David.

Monkey Flower (Mimulus guttatus) - identified by Steve.

Northern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella) - identified by Steve.

Broad-Leaved Willowherb (Epilobium montanum) - identified by Steve.

Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) - identified by Steve.

Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor) - identified by Steve. The flowers look like tiny aliens wearing dark goggles, possibly waiting for a suitable abductee on whom they can carry out sinister, invasive procedures.

Lesser Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera bifolia) - photo by David.

Probably as above.

Northern Marsh Orchid - identified by Steve.

Steve says he's fairly sure it's a Dark Green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja) but the Google images of the latter do not seem to fully match this image which has distinct white ovals and no white edging on the wings. Having checked out images of this on iSpot, I agree with Steve. The trouble with identifying wild life is that individuals of the same species sometimes look more unlike than those of different species. One would think that god of all people might have made a neater job.

Probably a willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus).

Sea plantain (Plantago maritima)

Sea Arrow-Grass (Triglochin maritima)

Nuclear submarine

Wee sandy cove.

Quaint Highland train.

Common Blue

Silver Hook (Deltote uncula)

Dead butterfly

Is this a Harbour Seal (Common Seal; Phoca vitulina) or a Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus)? Phil confirmed it was a common seal.

This wee entity triggered a certain amount of discussion on iSpot where it was finally agreed that it was likely to be a Pug Moth but that identification of the actual species was problematic.