Nature Notes from Skye
(and occasionally other places)
Thu 20 May 2004
Just a quick late evening stroll. Two trees of the Rose family are coming into flower now, the Bird Cherry (below left) and the Rowan (right)
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Fri 21 May 2004
Saw a pair of Long-tailed Tits in Hazel and Willow scrub quite close to home - hope they're nesting there.
The unfolding ferns make interesting shapes. On the left, the Hard Fern (fertile frond) and on the right, the Scaly Male Fern.
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This lone Wood Horsetail (below left) was growing right in the middle of a burn, where the water flows fastest. In more sheltered damp areas, the Water Avens (below right) is beginning to flower
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Sat 22 May 2004
Tormentil flowers are opening everywhere now (below left). This plant is very common and grows in a wide range of habitats. It will continue flowering until autumn.
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Above right are buds of Birdsfoot Trefoil. The red disappears when they're fully open.
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The Green-ribbed Sedge, above left, is flowering nicely now. The top spike is male, the lower one female. On the right, the Heath Woodrush.
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This Heath Milkwort, above left, had 17 flowers or flower-buds. The books say if it has over 10 it's Common Milkwort, under 10 its Heath. This looks very much like a spike of Common Milkwort, but the boggy habitat, the opposite lower leaves, and other factors prove it's Heath. On the right, the Bog Pondweed flower-spikes are now emerging.
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This Garden Tiger caterpillar was on Birdsfoot Trefoil, though I didn't see it eating any.