Portencross

Two weeks ago we decided to go to the coast and look for some of the coastal flowers now out. The rocks were covered in flowers, particularly Bloody Cranesbill, Bird's Foot Trefoil, Sea Campion and Thrift.

Bloody Cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum - below) is native along this part of the coast, though it also occurs as a garden escape.

This was the first Small Tortoiseshell butterfly we had seen this year.

Another Tortoiseshell butterfly had alighted on some Thrift (Armeria maritima). Although Thrift is most often a coastal plant, it can also be found growing on alpine ledges in the hills.

Sea Spurrey (Spergularia sp.) was growing along the edges of the shore.

Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) was exceptionally brightly coloured, with more orange flowers than usual.

Red Campion (Silene dioica)

This was only the second time I had seen Navelwort (Umbilicus rupestris) in Scotland. It grows mostly in the west of the UK, often near the coast.

The leathery pointed leaves of Sea Sandwort (Honckenya peploides) formed large patches near the top of the beach.

Wild orchids in May

Here in Scotland we think of the main orchid season as starting in mid-June, but after the recent hot weather I wondered which species I could find already in flower in May.

No surprise that the first was the Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula), near Aberfoyle on 22nd May.

More of a surprise, on the same day, was a number of Lesser Twayblades (Neottia cordata) on the Menteith Hills.

On 25th May we found some Northern Marsh Orchids (Dactylorhiza purpurella) coming into flower near Fintry.

By 26th May, large numbers of Heath Spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza maculata) were in flower on the lower slopes of Ben Lomond.

Just in time, this Common Twayblade (Neottia ovata) at Dumbrock near Milngavie managed to open one floret on 28th May.

Hungry birds

Our garden seems full of hungry birds just now, and some have become very tame. The most demanding for food are the starlings, jackdaws and blackbirds. One of the jackdaws appears almost as soon as I open the door, and the male blackbird has been hopping right up the steps to try and beat the other birds, occasionally even feeding from my hand. At first he was scared of the starlings, but then he discovered that he was able to scare them by being extremely aggressive. One of the starlings stood up to him, and there were some fights, both on the ground and in mid-air, that were so fierce that neither got any food.

Yesterday I decided to mow the front lawn, so I wasn't as attentive to their needs as usual. I was very surprised to turn around and find a female duck approaching the duck food trays, as most of the mallard ducks that now visit us are quite nervous and fly off if we open the front door, yet this one didn't seem much bothered about the mower. Just then, Fred shut the garage door, and that was too much for her. She flew off, and I went to find Fred. I was rather puzzled to hear noises coming from the house as I was sure he must be at the garage. Then I realised what had happened. I had left the front door open a few inches for the cable to the mower, and the male blackbird had taken advantage of my absence to find out where the food supply was. Unfortunately he went too far and ended up in our sitting room where he panicked. He must have been there for some time before I found him, because that end of the room was covered in black feathers as he continued to flutter against the window. I opened the window and out he went.

I didn't see much of him for the rest of the day. Today he is back and as demanding as ever, but his manners towards the starlings seem to have improved. I think he has lost just a bit of his confidence as a result of his adventure.