On 11th June four U3A travellers met on the Greshornish Peninsula and proceeded north, very soon encountering the first natural phenemenon near the Greshornish Hotel.
Tree lungwort (Lobaria pulmonaria), a lichen (i.e., a fungus containing algal cells).
As we proceeded into a more boggy area, made relatively dry by the unusual lack of rain on Skye, the following appeared:
Identified by Bruce as milkwort - later identified more specifically by Steve as almost certainly heath milkwort (Polygala serpyllifolia).
Triffids? Now identified by Steve as round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia), presumably an insectivore.
Common butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris), an insectivore.
The following were living in the vicinity of the shoreline.
Silverweed (Potentilla anserina)
A Chenopodium species
Another Chenopodium
And back towards the bog.
Identified by Steve as heath speedwell (Veronica officinalis).
A common shrew (Sorex araneus) having a nap.
Awaiting ID.
More Veronica.
A common eider (Somateria mollissima) with her chicks on Loch Greshornish. There were 3 eiders with a total of 11 chicks.
A meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis).
Bog asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum)
Wikipaedia - "The Latin name means "weak bone", and refers to a traditional belief that eating the plant caused sheep to develop brittle bones. The probable origin of this story is that sheep eating a calcium-poor diet are likely to develop bone weakness, and N. ossifragum favours acidic, low calcium soils."
"The plant causes a disease in sheep called alveld, "elf fire", in Norway", though not all plants are toxic; the toxicity could be caused by a fungus.
A black guillemot (Cepphus grylle) on Loch Greshornish.
Looking across Loch Snizort to Ru Idrigill, with a ferry from the Outer Hebrides entering Uig harbour and the settlement of Totescore in the background. Note the long volcanic dyke running down the hill.
Heath spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata)
English stonecrop (Sedum anglicum)
Bufo metallicum
Razorbill (Alca torda)
Sea arrowgrass (Triglochin maritimum)
Thrift among the boulders.
Identified by Steve as roseroot (Sedum rosea).
Volcanic dyke on Greshornish Point.
Volcanic dyke (localized vertical dolerite intrusion); one can see the ends of horizontal cooling joints?
Sea anemones - Crimson anemone (Cribrinopsis fernaldi)?
Oyster catcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
Looking east over Greshornish Point.
Looking down the western side of the Greshornish Peninsula. The eastern edge is near to sea level.
A solitary, singing twite (Carduelis flavirostris).
A tiny glimpse of a red rump, indicating a male twite.
Sea campion (Silene maritima)
David and Tony about to tackle a rather dodgy path on the cliff side.
A grinning sea stack.
Willow warbler ((Phylloscopus trochilus)
Identified by Steve as small heath butterfly (Coenonympha pamphilus).
Greshornish is well worth a visit, with the widest variety of flora and fauna that I've so far encountered on Skye. The sort of place where one could enjoyably spend an entire day.
