Kintyre is a unique
place for wildlife, surrounded by the sea it provides the perfect place for
coastal plant communities as well as a wide range of animals. At the same time
it has fantastic woodlands which provide shelter for different wildlife and the
exposed moor where the more hardy plants and animals inhabit.
Over the past few
weeks the warm weather has certainly done the wildlife good, as well as
everyone else. Flowers have come and gone, Daffodils, Coltsfoot and Primrose
have been replaced by an invasion of Bluebells or Wild Hyacinths, Cuckooflower
and Common Horsetail.
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| Cuckooflower |
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| Wild Hyacinth (Bluebell) |
I have been talking
quite a bit about plants. I think it’s time to mention the animals that have
been spotted recently. Quite often Black Grouse are observed above Tarbert on
the open moor. On more than one occasion they have given us a fright as they
jump out of the heather on high alert and fly off into the distance.
One of the more
exciting finds was at Ballacroy. We came across 2 Adders. I quote the moment we
saw them ‘It’s a snake! A real snake!’ As if I was expecting it not to be real.
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| Adder |
The hot weather has
brought out the butterflies with the Peacock with its beautifully designed
wings, colourful eye shapes staring at the sky and the Small Tortoise-Shell being the most commonly sighted.
The Swallows have
arrived in town, performing the most amazing acrobatics just a few metres off
the ground. This is a sure sign that the season of spring is in full swing.
