What a week!

This has probably been one of the wettest weeks of the summer. There have been several absolutely torrential downpours - one of the which sent the cows in the neighbouring field stampeding down to shelter under the trees at the furthest corner. It has been impossible to miss the showers when out walking Rosie and we have observed that the loch level has risen several feet and the beaches have now disappeared.

The woods are beginning to change with far fewer wild flowers in evidence and bracken and grasses turning brown. Even though it is still August there is a faint tinge of Autumn about, as colours change and berries begin to ripen. The storm-struck oak has now been felled and lies full length on the ground. It was considered too much of a risk to leave it to age and fall naturally, possibly across the path or destroying the nearby fence. The size of the split shows how much damage was done by the lightening. It will now be left to decay naturally and provide a micro-habitat for wildlife and fungi. From the number of rings on the trunk this oak had already lived to a good age - at least 60 years if not longer.

A sure sign that Autumn is coming is the number of mushrooms and other fungi springing up throughout the reserve - and in the garden. Here are a couple from the garden - a giant puffball measuring at least 10 inches in diameter and some that I think are common earth balls.

Summer sights

It's been a rather hectic month with some time away and also a steady stream of visitors. This has meant lots of walks to share the beauty of the loch but not much time to write up the blog.

The fields up to the village have remained a delight throughout the summer with amazing numbers of butterflies. Here are pictures of a few that I have managed to get close enough to photograph.

Small copper on a hawkweed

Small white.

Painted Lady.

These were all taken on the same morning in the fields below the Millennium Hall. There are clouds of small whites and on one patch of rosebay willowherb I counted over 30 of them moving restlessly amongst the bright purple flowers.

It may not have been a great summer but it hasn't been a bad one either. I've enjoyed the mixture of sunshine and showers and the flowers and hedgerows have certainly flourished. I picked my first few blackberries today and there are lots more to come. There are the first hints of autumn now with the rowan berries ripening and some plump rosehips beginning to ripen near the bench at net bay.

A Unique Opportunity.

If you get the chance, take the first part of the Aber path from the Hall down to the Dam of Aber bridge in the next few days. These fields are like no other this year. Since the farmer died earlier this year there have been no cattle grazing; nor have the fields been mown for hay or silage, apart from a track about a metre wide that forms the path. This means that there is an opportunity to see the field in its natural state and it is beautiful!

The grasses are almost waist high and as you walk through them clouds of butterflies rise up ahead of you. It is so unusual to find such an untouched meadow and it has been a real haven for butterflies and other insects. As well as butterflies there was the hum of bees in the clover which was welcome to hear as there are so many reports of bees being under threat.

We did get caught in a very heavy shower yesterday but it didn't spoil the sheer delight of being there. The farm has now been sold and the new owner may well wish to cut these fields and get some income from the land. That's why these meadows provide such a unique opportunity to experience an untouched landscape - for this summer at least.

Treats and terrors

Today's walk was back to Ross Priory and the walk past the old Buchanan family graveyard and on through to the loch behind the golf course. It was a real jungle today. Lots of meadowsweet, burdock, brambles, columbine and the willow herb just beginning to appear above everything else. There are also lots of wild raspberries that were sweet and delicious - a real treat. In one place they formed an arch of raspberry canes which we needed to go under.

There was one terror we noticed as well - a specimen of giant hogweed. This is a spectacular plant but one that is very nasty and can cause severe burns to the skin - to be avoided at all costs. It spreads along rivers and watercourses and can be clearly seen spreading along burns in the Carse on the road to Stirling. Although attempts are being made to get rid of it, it is very strong and persistent. Ecoscope have produced a very useful leaflet describing Giant Hogweed and eradication methods.

By the time we reached the shore in front of Ross Priory it had started to rain quite heavily but we were not deterred as one of the reasons for the walk was to see the orchids in the meadow nearest to the Portnellan boundary. We were not disappointed. There were one or two along the path but the field was covered with them. There appeared to be several varieties but I haven't been able to identify them all. See today's picture for the one I can identify. We were pretty wet by now but spent several minutes admiring and photographing the profusion of orchids there.

Lightning strike

If you've been on the shore path walk this weekend you might have noticed the tree that was hit by lightning in the storm last Thursday. It really is quite dramatic. Sheets of bark have been stripped from the lower trunk of this relatively young oak tree but it appears to be untouched in the higher branches. The exposed trunk is a rich orange tan colour and the force of the strike can be seen in the splits that were made.

The height of this tree made it a natural lightning conductor. The charge follows the sap (phloem) between the bark and the trunk and its rapid vapourisation blasts the bark from the trunk. It must have been quite powerful as some of the strips of bark are several feet away from the tree.

It will be interesting to see if it can recover or whether the damage will ultimately kill the tree. Without its protective bark it is vulnerable to insect and fungal damage.

A proper summer

After some time away I'm back home and am amazed by the changes that have taken place in the few days I have been away.  It really is a proper summer this year.  Warm weather, some rain to keep everything green and growing and the school holidays have begun.  There have been a number of changes on the walk.  The grasses have grown above waist height in the fields below the hall as there have been no cattle grazing there all summer. 

 Just along the hedge in the top field the ragged robin is prolific and the purple vetch climbs through the hedge occasionally interspersed with the yellow variety.  Everything is abundant this year; the sweetness of the honeysuckle scent is almost overpowering in places.  Sometimes the plant itself is not always obvious and you have to look up and scan the trees to see how high it has clambered.  The brambles are also doing very well and if the flowers set then there will be a bumper crop of blackberries this year.  Great as I love bramble jelly!

On the nature reserve it is almost impossible to see the loch now that the bracken is almost 5 foot high in places.  Walking through on a hot day there is the unmistakeable smell that reminds me of holidays abroad rather than a Scottish summer.  Here the purple vetch and bramble flowers are flowing over the fence at the viewpoint.

The hot weather has brought a number of swimmers to the shore and it is ideal for a quick dip as the waters are shallow and warm up quickly.  Lookout for orchids under the bracken and along the lane, the creamy froth of the meadowsweet.

Home and Away

The gap in blogs is because I have been away for a couple of weeks exchanging one national park for another as I spent some time in Snowdonia. It was noticeable how much further on the flora was in Wales although on coming home it was clear that June was busting out all over. First task was to get the grass cut. We are enjoying spending time in the new summer house come barbecue. It was put up during Christmas week last year and we have spent the Spring painting it and getting it ready for use. There have been lots of comments from passers by. We bought it from a firm called Logspan based at Inverkip who were able to adapt an existing design to suit our particular site. It is now coming into its own as it is situated in the warmest and most sheltered part of the garden. Yesterday evening after having our tea in it we listened to the birdsong. A robin was singing its heart out loud and clear and very tunefully.

The walk had also changed considerably. The bluebells have finished flowering and are now hidden beneath the lush bright green bracken. There are still lots of wild flowers though and the pink campions are doing very well. It was good to be home and to feel that summer really has come at last - even if we do still light a fire on chilly evenings.

Some of you may have come to this blog from the article in the Dumpling Times - even if an incomplete url was given. I hope you wont be disappointed and share with me some of the sights and sounds you see when out and about in the area.

This is just a quick catch up as I will be away again all next week - this time to the south of France.