Labrador tea

Labrador Tea (Ledum) is widespread in Greenland where I have seen it (Ledum palustre) growing in great quantities, so I was intrigued when I heard that it also grows at a site in central Scotland.

Two years ago I was taken to visit this site, and I returned in May this year as part of a botanical project to monitor its spread. The species here is a different one - Ledum groenlandicum (or L. palustre ssp. groenlandicum) - which also grows in Greenland although I had not seen it there. The chief difference is that L. groenlandicum has broader leaves.

Also L. groenlandicum usually has 6-8 stamens while L. palustre has 10.

It is generally considered that it was introduced at this site, though this is difficult to verify and it has been present in the area for at least 150 years.

The plant is closely related to the Rhododendrons and is now frequently included in the genus Rhododendron rather than Ledum. The leaves are used to make tea in some parts of north America, though they contain toxins.

The site is rich in other interesting species, and one of the most abundant is Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos).

These tiny flowers grow on thread-like stems with narrow leaves, and often carpet the ground.

The berries form later in the year, and are disproportionately large compared to the size of the plant.

A rarer species found at the site is Bog Rosemary (Andromeda polifolia), and this year we found it in flower.

In addition, we saw large numbers of Green Hairstreak butterflies, though trying to take photos proved difficult.

Painted ladies

During the past few weeks there has been a huge influx of Painted ladies arriving in the UK. These butterflies migrate here from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco - a journey of around 1000 miles.

They were first seen in Britain in large numbers on 21st May, but the first time we saw any here in Scotland was 29th May. That evening we went for a walk along a country path near our home and saw at least half a dozen of these beautiful butterflies.

Since then we have seen fewer, and most have been flying past at such a speed that it was hard to be sure of the species, but this one conveniently perched on a bluebell flower.

Another was feeding on buttercup flowers close to the canal.

Usually we would expect to see only one or two of these butterflies all summer.

You are asked to submit any sightings to Butterfly Conservation at

http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/migrantwatch

where you can also find out more about them.

Garden birds

We are under siege!

Two weeks ago we got a special offer of 1kg of mealworms for the price of 500g. Now they are almost all gone, and they have only gone to birds that begged them when I went outside. Every time I dare to go into the garden there are immediately up to 4 starlings and 10 jackdaws all begging for mealworms.

Starling

Monday was the worst. Three starlings each demanded at least 6 mealworms before flying off with them to their nests - a round trip of only about 20 seconds before they were back, clamouring for more. Meanwhile the 10 jackdaws tried to steal any mealworms they could get, and catching any that were thrown to them. I had to stand between them and the starlings so that the starlings and occasional blackbird got a chance, but one jackdaw managed to dash past me and ate all the starlings' mealworms. Meanwhile, 3 ducks arrived - a pair and a lone female. The single female objected strongly to the presence of the others, and there was also no corn left in the duck trays, so I was trying to throw them some wet bread to keep them happy until the jackdaws and starlings gave me a chance to get more corn. Any bird that didn't get fed immediately tried to steal food from one of the others. Then two crows and two lesser black-backed gulls arrived and the female duck turned to vent her anger on these. There's no peace and quiet in our garden.

On Sunday a neighbour called round to tell us some news, but it was almost impossible to carry out a conversation because of the persistent shrieks coming from a starling sitting in a bush about a yard away and wanting food.


Another popular item with the birds at this time of year is Jenny's hair. Jenny, our cat, loves being brushed, and all year I save up the hair. In the spring I put it in a fat feeder and it disappears in no time. Most of it this year went to jackdaws.

In our back garden the birds are more shy. I am afraid of disturbing them. The niger is popular with siskins, redpolls and goldfinches, the jackdaws and tits go for the peanuts, and the greenfinches and chaffinches prefer sunflower seeds, while the woodpigeons wander round beneath the feeders, eating up whatever falls from the feeders above.

Goldfinch

Redpolls

You can see more about our garden birds at http://www.fredandsarah.plus.com/birds/