Partnered with Argyll Biological Records Centre (ABReC)
We parked on the sea-front road towards Ganavan just before the War Memorial at (NM852309). Waiting for other members to arrive, we looked over the railings and apart from two Mute Swans and an Oystercatcher found three Turnstone searching for invertebrates amongst the rocks and seaweed Indeed, that is how this industrious wader gets its Read More …
For once we were greeted by glorious clear sunny skies, albeit a little cold. There was a good turn out of fifteen as we headed north along the mainland side of Clachan Sound. Within four hundred yards we turned right up through a deciduous woodland on a rather steep track, to reach a small burn. Read More …
We caught the 10:00 hours ferry from Port Appin and we were soon walking around the coast by ‘The Point’ of Lismore. Looking north-west across to the mainland, mist was hanging low above the water allowing the hills to show themselves. Several Common Seals were close by in the sea inquisitively checking us out. We Read More …
This month’s Seil Natural History Group midweek recording walk took us to Glencruitten House Woods, an area of mostly coniferous plantation of which there are plans to manage in a more nature-friendly way. Thanks to the wet weather the mushroom season has started early, and we spent much our time foraging among the fungi. Read More …
Our field trip today took us to the solitude and beautiful landscape of the intriguingly titled “Black Lochs” near North Connel. Leaving the A85 main road we followed a track towards Achaleven Farm and on past Cuil-uaine to the lochs. They are renowned for their variety of dragonflies and damselflies, but we did not expect Read More …
We had good weather once again and a record turnout of sixteen for our midweek recording walk to Eilean Buidhe. I’ve put some pictures in the album and there are already some great ones in there by others who were on the walk – more to come, I hope. The island was very flowery Read More …
We had fine weather for our midweek recording walk at Kilmartin on Tuesday, and guided by Alan who lives nearby, we walked around the hill Barr Mor, recording in squares NR8399 and NR8499. This route gave us great views of the surrounding countryside and of the Kilmartin valley down to Moine Mhor and the Crinan Read More …
This weeks midweek recording walk to Loch nan Ceardach was affected by the rain which, as forecast, got worse as the morning progressed, but we managed to reach the pub before the really heavy stuff came down. It was too wet to take many photos, however the first one is a bit of a cheat Read More …
Thanks to everyone who came on yesterday’s midweek recording walk in Scammadale. There was a good turnout of nine, and the weather was kind once again. We walked along the River Euchar where there were some fine ash trees with an endless supply of interesting lichens, in fact we were in danger of spending all Read More …
Thanks to everyone who came on yesterday’s midweek recording walk in Scammadale. There was a good turnout of nine, and the weather was kind once again. We walked along the River Euchar where there were some fine ash trees with an endless supply of interesting lichens, in fact we were in danger of spending all Read More …
We had a record turnout of nine people today for the midweek recording walk, despite the off-putting weather forecast. We enjoyed a bit of a weather window as the rain wasn’t too bad at all, compared to how it was immediately before and after the walk. The wind was pretty strong on the tops, but Read More …
Another Seil Natural History Group visit to this Atlantic hazelwood, accompanied by lichenologists Andy Acton and Anna Griffith, who showed us some of the species that make this such a special habitat. One reason these humid western hazelwoods are so good for lichens is the high rainfall. This was in evidence during our visit, so Read More …
As we walked down the road to Kilbrandon House and the entrance to Ballachuan Nature Reserve the roadside verges were full of wild flowers. Some of the more common species identified included Red Campion, Common Sorrel, Pignut, Catsear, Bird’s Foot Trefoil, Tormentil, Silverweed, Wild Thyme and Foxgloves. In the ditches we also found rarer species Read More …
This morning we had a Seil Natural History Group midweek walk to the Toad of Lorn, which is the hill in the picture above. If you can’t see the resemblance to a toad there’s no hope for you… It was a very calm day with the sun more in than out. There were a lot Read More …
A Seil Natural History Group visit to the reserve at Ballachuan to look at, and photograph, moths caught in a light trap by Pete Hardy, who had camped there all night. The previous Tuesday, Pete had given a talk on digital photography to the group. He is a professional wildlife photographer and his work Read More …