Jura Otters

It is rare that you have time to sit and watch three Otters, that are totally unaware of you.

Whilst sat having lunch....

There was activity in the bay...

And then they came out onto the rocks.

They then disappeared briefly...enabling us to move closer...

And off they went...

Jura's Coral Beaches

A trip over to Jura and a long walk along the coast. Despite Rocky's attempts to avoid the ferry as a foot passenger, we made land and headed along the coast to Inver Lodge. This 19th Century Hunting Lodge has been substantially restored and looks fabulous. Then we made our way inland along the track and headed out to the beaches. These are splendid and lie between a series of dykes - igneous intrusions. The beaches are made of Maerl, which is a hard coralline algae, that is sensitive to sediment and climate change (it is decreasing in its distribution) as well as sand and shell. The beaches are white and we always enjoy our traditional Cowrie hunt there! While looking for Cowries we were lucky enough to spend a good length of time watching three Otters, swimming and hunting in the bay before they came onto land - that's the next blog! Then a rough walk back down the coast across beaches, dykes and cliff tops before dropping down to another glorious beach, backed by a stunning raised beach and then back to the ferry. A long but superb day.

On the Jura ferry.

Pale Butterwort.

Skullcap.

Inver.

The Paps.

Great Sundew (Drosera anglica)

The coral beaches....

Spot the Cowries!

A spectacular wall of dyke.

Black Guillemots.

Caves at the beach back.

Unbranched Bur-reed in one of the cliff top lochans.

Heading back.

Raised beach - a vast expanse!

Sea Urchin.

Looking inland over the raised beach.

Lichens on the raised beach cobbles.

Ardnave Orchids

As promised some orchid news ....thanks to Tom we are now more confident at identifying orchids but it was really good to have an expert on hand to spot the Pugsley's Marsh Orchid and various hybrid forms. 

Early Marsh Orchids.

Heath Spotted-orchid and to the right - its white form (var. leucantha or anthocyanin-deficient)

Northern Marsh Orchids.

Northern Marsh Orchid x Heath Spotted-orchids.

Left: Pugsley's Marsh x Heath Spotted and right a pure Pugsley's 

And then there were the Pugsley's hybrids...thanks for theses images and explanations Tom! 

Northern Marsh x Pugsley's. Left: a typical Northern Marsh-orchid in the seep showing clear diamond shaped lips and not too much contrast in the lip markings.
Middle: a potential Northern Marsh X Pugsley's Marsh hybrid. Stronger markings on the lip, respectable lobing and intermediate leaves.
Right: another interesting plant with large (but surprisingly sturdy) strap like leaves. Another candidate but with paler and loopier lip markings than the middle individual, maybe not the best.

Heath Spotted x Pugsley's. Left: a darker and well-marked Heath Spotted-orchid with gone over Pugsley's in the background. Directly in between a colony of clear Heaths and gone over Pugsley's all of these individuals showed some degree of hybridity.
Middle: A striking pale individual showing a nice intermediate lip.
Right: Another nice intermediate individual. Surely a strong candidate for the hybrid Pugsley's Marsh-orchid X Heath Spotted-orchid.

Early Marsh x Pugsley's Left: a typical Early Marsh-orchid for the site (incarnata).
Middle: a tall cylindrical plant with thick stem and intermediate leaves. The lip was strongly marked and strongly lobed- I think a good candidate for Pusgley's X Early Marsh-orchid.
Right: another somewhat intermediate plant with the strongest colour of any of the plants. Dark loops and lobing once again suggest the hybrid.

Ardnave Point revisited

I know: I take the same photos each time we do this walk, but it really is so good! 

Heath Spotted-orchids.

A Frog Orchid (next to the daisy) - well spotted! 

Common Gull eggs about to hatch.

Choughs. 

Buttercup machair.

A quick paddle.

Otter prints.

Hebridean colours.

And there were plenty of rabbits, of varying colours, to keep Rocky on tenterhooks.

White-tailed Eagle.

Golden Eagle.

And a hare.