I met Carl Farmer at the Tigh an Truish car park at 08:30 hours to complete a Bird Atlas TTV survey for NM71U. From here we took one car and parked on the road leading down to Ardencaple. As we reached the bridge and the estuary leading to Loch Caithlim, several Wigeon could be heard whistling and a group of four Teal were skulking in the background.
After speaking to Carl Bonner the gamekeeper about our route we set off through the black gates on the left just below the lodge and made our way to Ardfad Castle. We climbed the hill at the side of the house and took in the views across to Mull. We then dropped back down behind the house to see the small lake with two resident Mute Swans. It was good to see the edges of the lake well endowed with Reed Mace and Soft Rush. It was also good to see the overflow planted with Phragmites, the first I had seen here on the island.
Continuing on we came to a sheltered bay to the north-west of the castle, and enjoyed a few minutes taking in the Little Grebes, Red-breasted Mergansers, Oystercatchers and the total peace and quiet.
All that remains of the castle is a flattened mound with a single tree to one side, but close by are some old cottages which remain in good condition, with glass still in the windows. On inspecting the mortar filled walls surrounding the cottages we discovered Maidenhair Spleenwort, Black Spleenwort, Wall Rue and Hart’s Tongue Fern, all new species to be recorded by myself.
We returned keeping close to the house this time, with the lake to our right but never entering the private grounds of the house, which is of course out of bounds.