tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19009626195995465062024-02-21T12:25:44.160+00:00Fred and SarahMostly about natural history in Scotland, UKFred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-1950382719603083972018-08-30T14:34:00.000+01:002018-08-30T14:34:01.515+01:00Highlights of the summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's a while since I last posted anything here, so this is a brief summary of a few of the highlights of the summer. I'll hope to have some more posts to send out very soon.</div>
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We continue to have a selection of wild orchids in our garden, though the numbers of mosts species have dropped off considerably. We counted around 500 <i>Dactylorhiza fuchsii </i>a few years ago, but now we are getting less than 30, and only 3 <i>Platanthera chlorantha</i> made it into flower. In addition, the <i>D. fuchsii </i>have mostly been coming up in our drive, where they shrivelled away in the hot weather.</div>
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However, new arrivals were 3 <i>Dactylorhiza fuchsii x purpurella - </i>the hybrid between Common Spotted and Northern Marsh Orchids. Here is just one of them.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfN42nCA5xtDWaFJ9bqg5R8aKz2EXtJ9smejOhBbdv_wsFSnBA0vE1NUIz-yF-KlrI9IN_JZU4CmO6ffiTMCDxrAgYwuJcrT21_w9xHYDi316Hb9qVdUPx9KBcjl_k6Gspv3vGN0ayiKi/s1600/IMG_3141xs%257E01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfN42nCA5xtDWaFJ9bqg5R8aKz2EXtJ9smejOhBbdv_wsFSnBA0vE1NUIz-yF-KlrI9IN_JZU4CmO6ffiTMCDxrAgYwuJcrT21_w9xHYDi316Hb9qVdUPx9KBcjl_k6Gspv3vGN0ayiKi/s320/IMG_3141xs%257E01.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>D. purpurella</i> has been in the park by our house, so it's not surprising that this hybrid should have appeared.<br />
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An exciting discovery last year in the woods near our house was <i>Corallorhiza trifida</i>, Coralroot Orchid. This was not known to be present in the area and we found 2 small groups of them within walking distance of our house.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdfkU89iasUQrFL7kG3j2cCWS6Z9Np4F7weBxWqAL1TcoiZ9BJx8rp9GKnSYE9at8AoL3GN3k5uUD7vd1K5ulMlTPtr1g1LDKoSZpSDglTDdYKp47PSAYb7WRy-d-B6Wbso38JEnB6FCi/s1600/IMG_7978xecs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="479" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdfkU89iasUQrFL7kG3j2cCWS6Z9Np4F7weBxWqAL1TcoiZ9BJx8rp9GKnSYE9at8AoL3GN3k5uUD7vd1K5ulMlTPtr1g1LDKoSZpSDglTDdYKp47PSAYb7WRy-d-B6Wbso38JEnB6FCi/s320/IMG_7978xecs.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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This year we were pleased to find that the numbers at both sites had increased.<br />
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Nearby in the same woods, while searching for more <i>Corallorhiza</i>, I came across this dragonfly which had just emerged.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFtVOHlmht2OijxpZCFXO09V14jddofdUDF46q7aTJuiEaY3a9F_ySselQ9K1NfHhUGGNRvOVGhz1YlDuiaB7nPmDlItJouObqhwhmQFOOIOpaR2vuCoOd0A_9o2gWhmPUZA-OMsiVPDA/s1600/IMG_3154xs%257E01%257E01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="602" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFtVOHlmht2OijxpZCFXO09V14jddofdUDF46q7aTJuiEaY3a9F_ySselQ9K1NfHhUGGNRvOVGhz1YlDuiaB7nPmDlItJouObqhwhmQFOOIOpaR2vuCoOd0A_9o2gWhmPUZA-OMsiVPDA/s320/IMG_3154xs%257E01%257E01.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>
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I saw this Orange-tip butterfly while out with our natural history society.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAL7GndaSa2-kb8u1T7f6c2-nMGZ7X0VsXBk2GhOIwEo2qv-zdYT-AN9sZLAG_etapNNtfC7FP-P7EJml-Nvmu6wdV0UpFfQ1COBHFBgPPA726TugekjnIDAoAHUcioChpfDapVRdbwqI-/s1600/Img_3290ss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="406" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAL7GndaSa2-kb8u1T7f6c2-nMGZ7X0VsXBk2GhOIwEo2qv-zdYT-AN9sZLAG_etapNNtfC7FP-P7EJml-Nvmu6wdV0UpFfQ1COBHFBgPPA726TugekjnIDAoAHUcioChpfDapVRdbwqI-/s320/Img_3290ss.jpg" width="259" /></a></div>
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I have been monitoring a site in Perthshire which has large numbers of Bog Orchids (<i>Hammarbya paludosa</i>) since finding it a number of years ago. Despite the dry weather, this year I had the best count ever with a total of 141 flowering spikes. I think this is now the largest site in Scotland apart from one in Shetland. Here are just a few of them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QVB4PQNvtrNw10Q4RrEK_IjlKx7cKvGz-eCFBUbzg1EztWyZ6OPZInRiWzZaglJowu3dbTDKUvwjT30BcLnZLeml-gcDc-ZIEvGRt5sUVxoV0_JQaFajwvT4_QX3VrgOvX-9DTv-6hfj/s1600/Img_4184xe-s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QVB4PQNvtrNw10Q4RrEK_IjlKx7cKvGz-eCFBUbzg1EztWyZ6OPZInRiWzZaglJowu3dbTDKUvwjT30BcLnZLeml-gcDc-ZIEvGRt5sUVxoV0_JQaFajwvT4_QX3VrgOvX-9DTv-6hfj/s320/Img_4184xe-s.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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It's rather hard to count them when they are difficult to approach without risking trampling on them. I find the best method is to take numbered plastic plant tags with either a paper clip or a magnetic strip attached. I throw one to land beside each plant, so I know which ones I have already counted. Afterwards I pick up all the tags with a magnet on an extending pole.</div>
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The season is now almost at an end so I'm looking forward to having more time for arts and crafts. I'll also hope to create some more posts here.</div>
Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-52965723699073416662016-03-11T22:39:00.000+00:002016-03-11T22:39:03.719+00:00Scarlet Elf Cups<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHj7xWx_l8W4zOfKtm5kJMrBs0kI_VqdFwRnIX2Ic-JQ8zUi0Vry5SDMrzNDbrW0hAilSmc9yUhTBZCQUG0_Te9fpOaor5P35Z3a1pHDhw-IJgGL3D2Cafh06k5u_ida5ctYXs32zPWqbE/s1600/IMG_1755xese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHj7xWx_l8W4zOfKtm5kJMrBs0kI_VqdFwRnIX2Ic-JQ8zUi0Vry5SDMrzNDbrW0hAilSmc9yUhTBZCQUG0_Te9fpOaor5P35Z3a1pHDhw-IJgGL3D2Cafh06k5u_ida5ctYXs32zPWqbE/s320/IMG_1755xese.jpg" /></a></div>
Scarlet elf cups (<i>Sarcoscypha</i> sp.) are fungi which are occasionally found growing on moss-covered dead wood during the early months of the year and are notable for their brilliant colour. We have only found these twice before<br />
(see <a href="http://www.fredandsarah.plus.com/botany/sarcoscypha.html">http://www.fredandsarah.plus.com/botany/sarcoscypha.html</a> for the first time we found them), but this year they are appearing in large numbers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-drYx8gSxhGSVU72vwW9vrfa2uE4XZGUAmiXauwBCg6_aOfeEfV3naTApjdqK8jZb_15PdJs0gqCuQQRBs9KLkuuy8wVOkakxD7_W6etoMlqzqLOzuI3bfVO8JJdcd6P82tntsOHEZKW4/s1600/IMG_1749xese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-drYx8gSxhGSVU72vwW9vrfa2uE4XZGUAmiXauwBCg6_aOfeEfV3naTApjdqK8jZb_15PdJs0gqCuQQRBs9KLkuuy8wVOkakxD7_W6etoMlqzqLOzuI3bfVO8JJdcd6P82tntsOHEZKW4/s320/IMG_1749xese.jpg" /></a></div>
There are two species, <i>S. austriaca</i> and <i>S. coccinea</i>, which can only be separated by careful microscopic examination, particularly of the curliness of the hairs on the outer surface of the cup. <i>S. austriaca</i> seems to be the commoner species and we have failed to find any conclusive examples of <i>S. coccinea</i> in our area. For information on the differences between the two species, see<br />
<a href="http://www.first-nature.com/fungi/sarcoscypha-austriaca.php">http://www.first-nature.com/fungi/sarcoscypha-austriaca.php</a><br />
and<br />
<a href="http://www.first-nature.com/fungi/sarcoscypha-coccinea.php">http://www.first-nature.com/fungi/sarcoscypha-coccinea.php</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfc2amp8hKCQMf8q3jfSSkHJaclR1NAfVfqlgOwhtNjvIFilUqeYDMpmIbB_y3ezbQPHmrXJy0XKLTQJChoaZCYEQFUi-lwsfPmGiIuXsSmorn3D5KiLi_jXCpQq-M6fBr3h6lBq2d3UQ/s1600/IMG_1825xse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfc2amp8hKCQMf8q3jfSSkHJaclR1NAfVfqlgOwhtNjvIFilUqeYDMpmIbB_y3ezbQPHmrXJy0XKLTQJChoaZCYEQFUi-lwsfPmGiIuXsSmorn3D5KiLi_jXCpQq-M6fBr3h6lBq2d3UQ/s320/IMG_1825xse.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSe1wg0n0et9efNzktcHWY3Ba9xqkTilGQ9-sl3h6adG6NBTXFh9dyORtSqTbFiZkdjlDSKlT5BISzXMTIFGJu3HISZpXoFvVmPDgKqmauHilqKuuwIcbOsPBPcFW-ufDDTilQBZSTi_rM/s1600/IMG_1832xse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSe1wg0n0et9efNzktcHWY3Ba9xqkTilGQ9-sl3h6adG6NBTXFh9dyORtSqTbFiZkdjlDSKlT5BISzXMTIFGJu3HISZpXoFvVmPDgKqmauHilqKuuwIcbOsPBPcFW-ufDDTilQBZSTi_rM/s320/IMG_1832xse.JPG" /></a></div>
The ground under a local willow tree is covered with what must be 500 or more individuals, and we have also found several other sites of 50 or more nearby. The largest individual cups measured 7.5cm across, though most are much smaller than this.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4aEgUj8i-hWUmuVF5QYC_JzvJdQ-iiYLyAreQ7UxD1S9PEDRn1IXg66wbjQZ4aOmH90E-ZTK6zXex-ixaFl81VLmZepDJpxWGwDnTWTcw3w6hnJ8PQKc6WdDo0Y3jkZL0ROAtWeIRb9zs/s1600/IMG_2189se.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4aEgUj8i-hWUmuVF5QYC_JzvJdQ-iiYLyAreQ7UxD1S9PEDRn1IXg66wbjQZ4aOmH90E-ZTK6zXex-ixaFl81VLmZepDJpxWGwDnTWTcw3w6hnJ8PQKc6WdDo0Y3jkZL0ROAtWeIRb9zs/s320/IMG_2189se.JPG" /></a></div>
We wonder if this is due to the excessive rainfall we have had this winter. At one location they are even growing on deadwood floating on a pond, which certainly suggests that they like it wet.
Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-47500404585115306822016-02-20T21:12:00.000+00:002016-02-20T21:12:08.388+00:00The first daffodilThe first daffodil opened in our garden today. This probably doesn't seem that unusual if you live in the south of England, but here in central Scotland the crocuses have hardly begun to appear and I haven't seen any other daffodils anywhere near flowering yet this year.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREO7vYxbWAgarNJpgoHDMKMjlQpanyBNyXVo9ujVEQ3CJn8K2gB5QvqcKUAoFxHmMBNSFJ4jBIVve2TffVFML-25Ms3J-h4jtXP6f52JUJmv_45DjGTBGNd7ED7jgWVFoTAr-T8K5SmuS/s1600/Img_1704e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREO7vYxbWAgarNJpgoHDMKMjlQpanyBNyXVo9ujVEQ3CJn8K2gB5QvqcKUAoFxHmMBNSFJ4jBIVve2TffVFML-25Ms3J-h4jtXP6f52JUJmv_45DjGTBGNd7ED7jgWVFoTAr-T8K5SmuS/s320/Img_1704e.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
<br />Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-63482927637180751972016-01-23T21:48:00.001+00:002016-01-23T21:48:56.046+00:00New Year flower count 2016I've just heard back from the BSBI about their New Year plant hunt. The idea was to count wild plants in flower in a three-hour period over the New Year weekend. They have accepted my list of 21 species (from west central Scotland) found on 2nd January, so I'm rather belatedly listing them here. A few weeks later, after several days of frost and snow, many of these are no longer flowering. Most were either plants that can flower all year round or that normally flower into autumn and had survived the mild winter until New Year.
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Unfortunately it was a very dull day and many of the plants were in a patch of waste ground that I could only view at a distance through wire netting, so it was far from ideal for photography.<br />
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<i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> (Thale Cress) <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AS4_Ut_4MhbZWsjmak-Jr9tM8MbDwk7dDUHf1VAEj-ZlRRRdi7ZO6e0lBMfpqEfdY_4eJaIePTIQ8XaQGOQcZvv-jD0D7VF1zYIps4DY5Au9POuxmUoD9U-gICdsaNmYrPRncMPJTF3l/s1600/Bellis_perennis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AS4_Ut_4MhbZWsjmak-Jr9tM8MbDwk7dDUHf1VAEj-ZlRRRdi7ZO6e0lBMfpqEfdY_4eJaIePTIQ8XaQGOQcZvv-jD0D7VF1zYIps4DY5Au9POuxmUoD9U-gICdsaNmYrPRncMPJTF3l/s200/Bellis_perennis.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<i>Bellis perennis</i> (Daisy)<br />
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<i>Capsella bursa-pastoris</i> (Shepherd's-purse)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisV3Qa494nfDU7LOhaJjeUY9vAEcYaBI8nTtJxUpHzJtQ2SvvaguReamHVvxXby3nCkNZSKzz1gRymc26BdhdxYSUwqFcgeaThxIs1E71_x7Jtj2CBSlmQBL6H8WMPnDk_3hLAxQcTYaD/s1600/Cardamine_flexuosa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisV3Qa494nfDU7LOhaJjeUY9vAEcYaBI8nTtJxUpHzJtQ2SvvaguReamHVvxXby3nCkNZSKzz1gRymc26BdhdxYSUwqFcgeaThxIs1E71_x7Jtj2CBSlmQBL6H8WMPnDk_3hLAxQcTYaD/s200/Cardamine_flexuosa.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<i>Cardamine flexuosa</i> (Wavy Bitter-cress)<br />
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<i>Cerastium glomeratum</i> (Sticky Mouse-ear)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GhNT8JV2H0IWfWOFNdr-I27-uYFcm0X5if9JRJfhR7Mu5sxd-zajR60-ZxzChUtNpX2Mam7Ra3abmckaSb5-JBxsnEQIDrnz2s3BgXpm08Er2xc33PC4vO-t3yKmUWEB9rfr9XFhUOqG/s1600/Crepis+capillaris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GhNT8JV2H0IWfWOFNdr-I27-uYFcm0X5if9JRJfhR7Mu5sxd-zajR60-ZxzChUtNpX2Mam7Ra3abmckaSb5-JBxsnEQIDrnz2s3BgXpm08Er2xc33PC4vO-t3yKmUWEB9rfr9XFhUOqG/s200/Crepis+capillaris.jpg" width="125" /></a></div>
<i>Crepis capillaris</i> (Smooth Hawksbeard)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJdQdjFSu2sHaYZeLifv3rxVw1gv0NrvUFaF0gQ9c15LkFeph9yI0hat6ZVMhbZ5pe65ulx01mn8PE6xgYe83liTjCK-Pi71QuWsGD9xR8a8ranVFmEN3yzQtknSBm8w_-LuWtgs3CAmV/s1600/Cymbalaria_muralis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJdQdjFSu2sHaYZeLifv3rxVw1gv0NrvUFaF0gQ9c15LkFeph9yI0hat6ZVMhbZ5pe65ulx01mn8PE6xgYe83liTjCK-Pi71QuWsGD9xR8a8ranVFmEN3yzQtknSBm8w_-LuWtgs3CAmV/s200/Cymbalaria_muralis.jpg" width="178" /></a></div>
<i>Cymbalaria muralis</i> (Ivy-leaved Toadflax)<br />
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<i>Euphorbia peplus</i> (Petty Spurge)<br />
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<i>Fumaria officinalis</i> (Common Fumitory)<br />
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<i>Geum urbanum</i> (Wood Avens)<br />
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<i>Heracleum sphondylium</i> (Hogweed)<br /><i>Matricaria discoidea</i> (Pineappleweed)<br />
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<i>Myosotis arvensis</i> (Field Forget-me-not)<br />
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<i>Ornithopus perpusillus</i> (Bird's-foot)<br />
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<i>Poa annua</i> (Annual Meadow-grass)<br />
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<i>Ranunculus repens</i> (Creeping Buttercup)<br />
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<i>Senecio vulgaris</i> (Groundsel)<br /><i>Taraxacum officinale</i> agg. (Dandelion)<br />
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<i>Tripleurospermum inodorum</i> (Scentless Mayweed)<br />
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<i>Ulex europaeus</i> (Gorse)<br /><i>Veronica persica</i> (Common Field-speedwell)<br />
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The following day I also found <i>Erophila verna</i> agg. (Common Whitlow Grass), but it didn't count as it wasn't within the three-hour period - a pity as it would have been the only true spring flower although I have found it flowering in almost every month of the year.<br />
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<br />Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-87745932113818273842016-01-01T14:37:00.000+00:002016-01-01T14:37:55.843+00:00A Loch Lomond bestiary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last Sunday, the one day when it was not raining, I went to Loch Lomond to search for interesting pieces of driftwood. Among my Christmas presents I received some interesting paints for use on wood so I was looking for some suitable pieces to paint, but these ones will remain as they are.
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This one looks like a little fox to me, but maybe I should leave it to your imagination to decide.
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This is the first one I found and he was rather heavy. I think he is a water horse. I left him hidden under some rocks until I came back. By that time I was so laden with driftwood that I left two heavy pieces with him and made a separate journey afterwards to collect all three.
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I think maybe this bird is trying out a pirouette. His dancing looks a bit wooden to me though.
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A baby dragon perhaps?
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This smooth seal came from a previous trip, but the smiling crocodile-like creature in the picture below from Sunday's visit was perhaps safer left where he was.
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<span id="goog_606971313"></span><span id="goog_606971314"></span><br />Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-11475425805948203752015-03-20T21:12:00.002+00:002015-03-20T21:12:35.326+00:00Solar eclipse and ducksThis morning our ducks returned, and they came again this evening. We had seen them occasionally during the winter, but this looks like they may be back for the summer. Unusually last year they stayed until December instead of disappearing as normal in July or August.
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That was a promising beginning to the day, though we were doubtful of seeing the eclipse since cloud was forecast.
Five minutes before the maximum eclipse, the sun appeared through thin cloud and I was lucky enough to get this shot.
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I took a sequence of photos at 10 minute intervals - more often around maximum eclipse - all taken at exactly the same settings. This gives an idea as to how much darker it became (though the contrast in the photos is far greater than was actually apparent). The numbers on the pictures are minutes before/after maximum.
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I also took some automatic ones, and found that 1/125th sec at F4, ISO 80 at 25 minutes before maximum looked identical to 1/50th sec at F3.5, ISO 200 at maximum. That's equivalent to a difference of 3 stops, or 8 times the exposure.
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27 minutes after maximum, the still partially eclipsed sun managed to produce a rainbow.
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A few minutes later, the sun began to shine brightly, and I used a colander as recommended to get some rather fuzzy images of the sun by projecting the shadow onto a piece of white paper.
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I also took the temperature every 10 minutes, using two thermometers for greater sensitivity, but the eclipse only shows as a minor dip in the generally rising temperature. Maximum eclipse (93.73%) here in Glasgow was at 9:34am.
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I felt very pleased to have had such a successful morning, particularly as we had expected nothing but cloud.Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-57513905741139296412014-07-09T22:28:00.000+01:002014-07-09T22:28:16.161+01:00Unusual flowersLast Saturday I went on an outing with the Scottish Orchid Society. I have already covered most of the species which we saw, but we went to one interesting location, which was already known to me, where there are a large numbers of Lesser Twayblades (<i>Neottia cordata</i>) growing on sphagnum in woodland. At the same site Chickweed Wintergreen (<i>Trientalis europaea</i>) and Common Wintergreen (<i>Pyrola minor</i>) are also present. These last two are unrelated despite their names. Chickweed Wintergreen is mostly found in eastern Scotland and is not at all common in the west.<br />
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White form of Common Spotted Orchid</div>
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Chickweed Wintergreen</div>
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Common Wintergreen</div>
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Lesser Twayblade</div>
Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-47704951119452118212014-07-08T21:37:00.000+01:002014-07-08T21:37:09.460+01:00Flowers close to home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For the past month, having trapped a nerve in my arm and being unable to drive,
my botanical activities have been restricted to close to home. It's amazing what
you can find locally if you set your mind to it. Only a few hundred yards from
our house I found two plants which I had never seen before, growing in a grass
verge. Both are members of the pea family (Fabaceae), and both are species which thrive
on mown grass because they are very short in growth and can survive being mown
but cannot stand the competition of taller vegetation.</div>
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Birdsfoot (<i>Ornithopus perpusillus</i>) is a widespread but local annual which
is scattered throughout Great Britain, though in Scotland it is mostly
restricted to the central belt, the south-west and around Inverness. It get its
name from the shape of its seed pods.</div>
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Slender Trefoil (<i>Trifolium micranthum</i>) is common in south east England, but
has hitherto been regarded as absent from Western Scotland north of the Clyde and Scottish records are regarded as alien.
This is the first record for the species in Dunbartonshire. In the top picture the plant on the left is Lesser
Trefoil (<i>Trifolium dubium</i>) which is abundant throughout Great Britain.<br />
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<br />Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-73158805986357150092013-08-07T22:15:00.000+01:002013-08-07T22:15:16.300+01:00Loch TinkerYesterday we went for a walk to the remote Loch Tinker, high in the hills to the south of Loch Katrine. The aim was to look for plants, but we also found a number of interesting insects. <br />
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On the heather around the loch were large numbers of Vapourer Moth caterpillars. These must be one of the most exotic-looking among British caterpillars, with their bright colours and tufts of bristles. <br />
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In a boggy area crossed by streams, I noticed brightly coloured creatures skimming across the surface of the water. They were such a brilliant red that they looked like little lights. <br />
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It was only after looking at my photos later that I realised that these were ordinary pond skaters which were infested with tiny mites. As these were shiny, spherical and bright red, they were acting like little beads in a reflective surface, which gave the effect that they were alight. <br />
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We also saw a pair of fritillaries, probably Dark Green Fritillaries... <br />
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...but the most frequently seen butterfly was the Scotch Argus. These butterflies seem to have emerged in the last week and can be seen in large numbers on the lower slopes of the hills just now.<br />
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Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-69642158864069779672013-03-31T22:10:00.000+01:002013-03-31T22:10:08.464+01:00A thousand iciclesOn Friday I went back to the Carron Valley Reservoir again with a friend, this time on skis. As we wanted an easy day, we kept to the track that runs along just above the reservoir for much of the way, but with a few small hills to add a bit of interest to the skiing. <br />
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Sheltered corners of the reservoir were completely frozen, but there was enough movement in the water further out to break the ice and the middle of the reservoir was entirely free of ice. In the picture below, taken where the ice was breaking up, you can just see the open water beyond the ice. <br />
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After a couple of miles we decided to stop for lunch beside the reservoir. It was only then that we noticed what wind and water had done to the trees along the shoreline. The base of each one was completely covered in icicles of every possible description. <br />
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In the picture above, the pile of snow along the shoreline is in fact washed-up pieces of ice from the surface of the reservoir, covered in a thin layer of snow. <br />
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Some of the icicles were hardly thicker than pencils and pointing <strong>upwards</strong> instead of down. Others were curiously bent (some of these having formed around thin twigs which hardly show in the pictures). All the pictures below are the right way up. <br />
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Even each blade of grass was completely encased with ice. <br />
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On a different note, today, Easter Day, we stayed at home to watch the service broadcast from Paisley Abbey on BBC Scotland this morning. What a treat! ...and I'm not just saying that because I do the website for the director of music there. If you can access iplayer, it's available for the next week at <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01rp2sq" target="_blank">www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01rp2sq</a> and I strongly recommend it.Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-85100635804640138212013-03-22T19:54:00.001+00:002013-03-22T19:54:07.588+00:00Visitors to our gardenIt always surprises me how some birds in the garden become quite tame, flying down for food as soon as we appear outside, or even peering hopefully through the window, while others, such as the greenfinches, chaffinches and bramblings, never seem to become tame.<br />
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Recently a robin has joined the company of the friendly birds. This one isn't as tame as <a href="http://www.fredandsarah.plus.com/birds/robin/" target="_blank">the robin we had a few years ago</a>, but it has fed from my hand and even perched on Fred's shoes.<br />
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The footprints in a fresh fall of snow this morning gave us some idea of the visitors we didn't see, so we could be fairly sure that these three were the only ducks to come for their breakfast this morning. <br />
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The ducks used to return at the very end of March, but since the two very cold winters they have been arriving much earlier. We suspect that they were spending the winter where they had access to open water and, when that froze over, they returned to us, and have kept up the habit of returning early since then. As they tend to visit at dawn and dusk, I have to get up very early to break the ice for them, especially until the clocks change to summertime.<br />
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This squirrel's fur coat was doing a good job of keeping the snow out. <br />
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Our blackbird is still calling several times a day, demanding currants. He is now less aggressive towards the female blackbird so perhaps they will soon be nesting.<br />
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Today he was joined by a very determined starling. <br />
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Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-38555488550039635062013-03-17T22:46:00.000+00:002013-03-17T22:49:46.543+00:00More iceLast Wednesday was a cold bright day. The night before, we had passed a frozen waterfall high up on the Campsie Fells on our way home from an unsuccessful attempt to try and view <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/asteroids/news/comet20130307.html" target="_blank">Comet Pan-STARRS</a>, so we decided to head out in that direction. <br />
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We were not disappointed, though the waterfall was in the shade, which is probably why the icicles had remained. <br />
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On our way home, later in the day, we were lucky to catch the few minutes when they were sunlit. <br />
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Our destination, however, was the <a href="http://fredandsarah.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/after-snow-2.html" target="_blank">Carron Valley Reservoir</a>, where we went for a walk. <br />
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Here we found some amazing ice formations, including these ice stalagmites. <br />
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Several streams were encrusted with ice crystals. I thought these looked like the skeleton of a reptile.<br />
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Cracked ice on a puddle<br />
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At the edge of the reservoir, where the ice was moving and clinking in the wind, it appeared as if <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_circle" target="_blank">ice pans</a> were beginning to form.<br />
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Curious short icicles in a stream<br />
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Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-71618737638840458682013-03-15T09:30:00.000+00:002013-03-16T08:33:43.063+00:00Ben Lomond - part wayOn 27th February there was thick mist, but the forecast said that it was to clear later. I love days like that, especially if I can catch that moment when the mist begins let the sunshine through. I wasn't feeling like a heavy day of walking but didn't know how high I would have to climb to get above the mist, so I decided to go part way up Ben Lomond. I wouldn't feel the need to go to the top, since I have done it many times before. <br />
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On the way there, blue sky was visible at the highest point on the road, and the mist was already beginning to clear by the time I reached Rowardenann, where the walk begins. In just a few minutes I was out of it and into bright sunshine. Ptarmigan - the west ridge of Ben Lomond - was just appearing when I left the trees. <br />
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Soon I had a view of the hills to the west. <br />
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Mist was still lying over the southern part of Loch Lomond. <br />
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By early afternoon, the islands were beginning to appear. <br />
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On the way down, Ptarmigan was no longer shrouded in mist. <br />
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The small island of Inchlonaig was also appearing. <br />
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Back at Rowardennan. <br />
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Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-63006714153939988222013-03-14T09:30:00.000+00:002013-03-14T21:54:49.058+00:00Ben VenueBen Venue has appeared several times before on this blog, when I found the <a href="http://fredandsarah.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/ophrydium.html" target="_blank">Ohprydium</a>, and when the group I was with experienced a <a href="http://fredandsarah.blogspot.co.uk/2009/04/mountain-rescue.html" target="_blank">mountain rescue</a>. Both of those were later in the year. Climbing it on 19th February meant that we came across some large snow patches, and the path was quite tricky in a few places as the snow had frozen like concrete and gave little grip.<br />
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Higher on the hill we had excellent views back in the direction in which we had come. <br />
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From the summit we could see Loch Achray to the east, with Loch Venachar beyond, and Ben Ledi to the north-east. <br />
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Soon after leaving the summit, we had views to Ben Lui, Ben Oss and Beinn Dhubchraig. <br />
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Here the path rose steeply and was covered with hard-packed snow, making it very treacherous. Fortunately we were able to find a way round it on soft grass, which was much less slippery. <br />
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The sun was getting low as we descended, with golden light on Stobinian to the north. <br />
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From the road at the bottom we had a good view of Ben Lomond in the setting sun. <br />
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Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-9299027928151664222013-03-12T21:46:00.000+00:002013-03-13T09:52:56.831+00:00Clyde coastOn 18th February we did one of our favourite nearby coastal walks - around Ardmore Point. I was looking for shells and found this pair of <em>Mya arenaria</em> shells. I'm not sure if these are recent or sub-fossils from the ice age as they can still be found alive in this area. <br />
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The <em>Chlamys islandica</em> shell below is certainly a sub-fossil, as it no longer lives here. As its name suggests, it is found in more northern places, such as Iceland. <br />
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My best find of the day was this <em>Panomya norvegica</em>. The book "Seashells. Bivalves of the British and Northern European seas" by Christensen/Dance states [referring to the synonym <em>Panomya spengleri</em>] that "this undistinguished bivalve used to be highly prized by British shell collectors because of its rarity in British waters." Despite this, I had found at least one other a mile or two away. This one measured about 8cm across. <br />
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Many of the rocks are red sandstone, including this large pebble. <br />
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Some are covered with brightly coloured lichens. <br />
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Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-7158757388128858262013-03-11T21:23:00.000+00:002013-03-17T22:48:52.336+00:00SnowingFebruary was the most amazing month for good weather here in Scotland. We had day after day of bright sunshine, and I was even able to mow the lawn for the first time since last summer. I was so busy going out in the good weather that I had no time to write about it, so expect several blog posts in the next few days while I catch up. <br />
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But on the 13th we had a snowy day, so it was on with the skis and multiple layers of warm clothes and waterproofs while the snow fell steadily.<br />
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It was very sticky snow, lying thickly on the branches of the trees and forming lumps on the undersides of our skis whenever we stopped,<br />
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but fortunately someone had some magic teflon non-wax which prevented the problem, so we applied it liberally to our skis. (I must remember to remove it again before we have fresh snow, or I'll be hurtling down even the gentlest slopes at 90mph.) <br />
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Views were limited, but we caught a glimpse of the Kilpatrick Hills to the west. <br />
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Then home for some hot soup.Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-2297230758854451982013-02-07T21:10:00.000+00:002013-02-07T21:10:47.209+00:00Ben GullipenYesterday we went up Ben Gullipen, which is a hill 414m high near Callander. This is a very short hill walk, taking only an hour each way. It was such a cold day that we wouldn't have wanted to spend much longer, especially with a strong wind blowing. <br />
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From the summit we had magnificent views north to Ben Ledi. <br />
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Tucked in behind Ben Ledi, the white spike is Stobinian. <br />
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To the west we looked along the ridge to Beinn Dearg. <br />
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To the right were Ben Lomond and Ben Venue above the Menteith Hills and Lochan Balloch. <br />
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Further to the right was Loch Venachar. <br />
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Snow had fallen on the surface of an icy pool. This snow crystal has undergone a transformation into ice crystals. <br />
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You can see <a href="http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm?wpt=0&gpx=http%3A//www.fredandsarah.plus.com/tracks/20130206.gpx">our route</a>, but this may be slow to load.Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-51504193950974944232013-02-05T20:26:00.001+00:002013-02-05T20:26:22.658+00:00Cruach TairbeirtCruach Tairbeirt is a hill 415m high, lying to the east of Arrochar and to the west of Loch Lomond.<br />
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Last Saturday was a beautiful day to climb this hill, and as we left Arrochar we had beautiful views across Loch Long to the Cobbler.<br />
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The first part of the walk was through forestry, but as we emerged from the trees we had spectacular views to the east across Loch Lomond to Ben Lomond.<br />
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Nearing the summit, we also had views to the west and south, looking down the length of Loch Long.<br />
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We were surrounded by snowy peaks, including the Cobbler.<br />
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At the summit our hill was dwarfed by A'Chrois,<br />
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Beinn Narnain </div>
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and Ben Lomond.</div>
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On the descent, we passed a small waterfall, which had splashed nearby grasses and coated them with ice.<br />
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Back down in the forestry, the sun was streaming through the trees.<br />
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Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-36047826469394697782013-01-22T23:16:00.000+00:002013-01-22T23:16:13.839+00:00An old railway line - 2On Sunday we completed the walk we had started in November along <a href="http://fredandsarah.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/an-old-railway-line.html">an old railway line</a>. Starting from the road by Gartmore Station, we took a look at the road bridge over the River Forth. To the left, the road also passes over the route of the old railway line.<br />
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Passing an old gun emplacement <a href="http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/100833/details/cobleland+pillbox/" target="_blank">pillbox</a> dating from World War II...<br />
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...the route continued along a tarmac path, which would normally have been unpleasant to walk on, but was fortunately covered in snow.<br />
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The path runs between the road and the river for the rest of the way to Aberfoyle.<br />
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Approaching Aberfoyle, we passed these old railway cottages, which can clearly be seen in an <a href="http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete.php?id=7732" target="_blank">old photo</a> of the line.<br />
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Shortly after, a small bridge crosses a stream. On either side of the bridge are the remains of the old railway bridge.<br />
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A signpost in the form of an old railway signal marks our arrival at the end of the path, approaching the site of the old Aberfoyle Station.<br />
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More pictures of this route can be seen at <a href="http://www.railbrit.co.uk/location.php?loc=Strathendrick%20and%20Aberfoyle%20Railway" target="_blank">Railscot</a> and <a href="http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/search_item/index.php?service=RCAHMS&id=131473" target="_blank">Scotland's Places</a><br />
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<a href="http://maps.nls.uk/os/one-inch-popular-nat-grid/view/?jp2=91527233#jp2=91527233&zoom=5&lat=7606&lon=7578&layers=BT" target="_blank">Old map</a> of the route<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_hardened_field_defences_of_World_War_II#Type_22" target="_blank">More information about pillboxes</a>Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-72306196092212930962013-01-21T20:46:00.000+00:002013-01-21T20:46:57.045+00:00A Walk beside the canalOn Saturday we went for a short walk along the Forth and Clyde Canal. Although little snow was lying, the canal was frozen for most of its length. <br />
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We saw footprints in the snowy surface of the ice on the canal, leading a to a patch of water where it appeared that the animal had fallen in and swum for quite a distance before emerging and continuing over the ice. They were probably the tracks of an otter. <br />
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During the course of the morning we noticed increasing numbers of circular patches where the ice was melting. Each one was centered on a submerged plant, usually a waterlily leaf. Somehow these must have been causing just enough heat to melt the ice.<br />
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Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-19476161626650813472013-01-15T09:08:00.000+00:002013-01-15T09:08:12.368+00:00A Beautiful dayOn Thursday we went for a walk on the Lang Craigs above Overton, near Dumbarton. It was a beautiful misty day.<br />
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The next morning one of the trays had three ice spikes in it. As these spikes form due to pressure of expanding ice forcing water up through the last point in the surface of the ice to freeze, I was surprised that such a small amount of water could support three spikes.<br />
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Two of the spikes were still open at the top when I took the above photo at 9:15am. The temperature continued to be below freezing point, and by lunchtime the spikes had grown further and then closed at the top, as can be seen in the photo below which was taken at 1:00pm.<br />
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Below is the central spike, 33mm high...<br />
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...and the left-hand spike.<br />
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Several ice spikes had also formed in an ice cube tray. The tallest can be seen in the photo below and was 44mm high.<br />
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More pictures can be seen in the <a href="http://www.fredandsarah.plus.com/ice/index.html" target="_blank">ice spikes</a> section of our main site. Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-63352759967408996072012-11-24T20:31:00.000+00:002012-11-24T20:31:32.185+00:00That ash tree againThis afternoon we just happened to pass that ash tree again (see <a href="http://fredandsarah.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-rise-and-fall-of-trees.html" target="_blank">The rise and fall of trees</a>) at the perfect moment. <br />
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Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-35548414150563457682012-11-21T21:22:00.000+00:002012-11-21T21:22:10.655+00:00Waxwings again?This morning I had to go to the west end of Glasgow, which is quite close to the Clyde. Waxwings tend to follow the Clyde, so on my way back I thought I would choose a route that would take me past some possible waxwing sites. Last week they were reported from a street that we passed just half an hour later, so I was optimistic when I saw a flock of birds flying backwards and forwards between the trees ahead of me. Just before I got close enough, they all flew away behind some houses. I managed to find a way through between the houses and found that every tree was crowded with... fieldfares.<br />
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I should have been satisfied with that, but of course that wasn't what I had hoped to see. Continuing on my way, about a mile further on, I could see ahead of me some trees where I had seen waxwings about 4 years ago. They were covered in brown leaves...<br />
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...but as I drew closer I realised that the waxwings were just sitting very still. <br />
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I counted a total of 184 birds. A very satisfactory conclusion to the morning.<br />
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Unfortunately the weather was dull and I didn't have my best camera with me, but for pictures of waxwings in our garden in 2001, see our <a href="http://www.fredandsarah.plus.com/birds/waxwings.html" target="_blank">waxwing pages</a>.<br />
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For some excellent pictures of waxwings on Fair Isle, see<br />
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<a href="http://fair-isle.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/waxwings-oct-25th-2010-day-well-always.html" target="_blank">October 25th 2010. A day we'll always remember</a><br />
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<a href="http://fair-isle.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/hey-dad-this-is-like-fishing-for-birds.html" target="_blank">Hey Dad... this is like fishing for birds</a><br />
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<a href="http://fair-isle.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/henry-waxwings-hand-feeding-again.html" target="_blank">Henry and the waxwings - hand-feeding again</a><br />
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<a href="http://fair-isle.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/waxwing-waxwings-in-my-hand-video.html" target="_blank">Waxwings in my hand - video</a><br />
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<a href="http://fair-isle.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/bohemian-waxwing-feathers.html" target="_blank">Bohemian waxwing feathers</a>Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900962619599546506.post-66056948365482293952012-11-10T18:12:00.001+00:002012-11-10T18:12:57.147+00:00The rise and fall of treesBack in February I posted a page in memory of the <a href="http://fredandsarah.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/in-memory-of-tree.html" target="_blank">Chilean Firebush</a> on Eigg, which blew down in the January gales. Nothing but a stump remained.<br />
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But when we returned in October, we were delighted to see new shoots appearing straight out of the bark of the tree.<br />
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We hope that this tree may eventually grow back to its former size and splendour. <br />
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Meanwhile, I now fear for another of my favourite trees - this ash tree which grows close to the main road a few miles north from where we live.<br />
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Let's hope this new ash disease can be controlled before it reaches mature trees like this, which are part of our treasured landscape and would take many years to replace. Fred and Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01759941862421180656noreply@blogger.com0