News

There was good news today about the bird colonies at Cape Wrath.  There are more birds this year than there have been over the last few years.  Ledges that last year had empty places, have been full. Razorbill and Guillemot chicks are almost ready to go to sea.  They leave their nest sites and sort of glide or fall onto the sea.  It is only later that they learn to fly.  On Wednesday the team ringed over 950 Guillemots - one of the best days ever.  Yesterday they heard from the team of RSPB bird ringers who are busy fitting GPS trackers to Kittiwakes.  They have found that they fly a round trip of 150 miles, NW from Cape Wrath in order to collect food.

The team start their long journey south tomorrow.  Have a safe hassle free journey.

Meawhile back at Foxglove, volunteers continue to strim paths and edges of paths.  No Bramble dare show its face over the path - if it does it is chopped! The first count of cows and sheep this morning failed miserably, however this afternoon volunteers counted them all!   Thank you so much for all your hard work.  It is really appreciated.

Yesterday Peter came and give us some information that will help us ID the grasses on the reserve.  Firstly we looked at some we had picked previously.

Then we headed out to the middle moor.  Some of the very small grasses that are not fully in flower yet, were identified.

We were shown hairy knees and striped pyjamas as an aid to identifying some grasses!  Some had hairy leaves, some smooth and some had hairs along their stems.  When we head out at the end of July on the flower walk, hopefully we will be able to record some of the grasses.  Thank you very much for all your help Peter.

Ringlet butterflies are flying all over the reserve in the sunshine but they do not sit still long enough for a photograph. This Speckled Wood was much more co-operative.