Its All Go On Kintyre

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 Flowers have come and gone, Daffodils, Coltsfoot and Primrose have been replaced by an invasion of Bluebells or Wild Hyacinths, Cuckooflower and Common Horsetail.

Cuckooflower

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.

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.