The Saltings - Local Nature Reserve, West Dunbartonshire

This morning I visited the Saltings in Old Kilpatrick to take part in a bird survey. The Saltings is an area of marshy meadow and mixed woodland which lies between the River Clyde and the Forth & Clyde Canal, below the Erskine Bridge. It is West Dunbartonshire's only nature reserve and recieved that designation fairly recently.

In the brilliant sunshine Ringlet butterflies (Aphantopus hyperantus) fluttered above the multicoloured meadow flowers. Tall dense-flowering spikes of orchids were everywhere in vivid shades of magenta and pink. Closer inspection revealed these to be Common Spotted (Dactylorhiza fuchsii), Northern Marsh (Dactylorhiza purpurella) and many which looked suspiciously like fuchsii x purpurella hybrids.

Northern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella) 

Northern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella)

Nothing too unusual on the birding front - some Blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla) could be heard calling and there were some warblers flitting about which may have been Whitethroats. Standing, silently frozen, by the edge of the canal, was a very rufous-brown Roe buck (Capreolus capreolus) with a fine set of antlers. Further along we spotted a Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) which took off hastily. On the path we found a dead Common Shrew (Sorex araneus).

There were many Blue-tailed Damselflies (Ischnura elegans) along the canal.

Common Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)

Valerian root has sedative effects and has been used to treat insomnia, anxiety and as a pain-reliever. This plant is also a cat attractant (containing actinidine) with effects similar to catnip.

Kilpatrick Hills, West Dunbartonshire

I took another short after-work walk in the Kilpatrick Hills - around Little Round Top and the Test.

The marshy meadow at Little Round Top is full of Common Spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii), which are very photogenic!

Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii)

Marsh Stitchwort (Stellaria palustris) is also flowering at Little Round Top.

The slope below the Test is covered in Heath Speedwell (Veronica officinalis) and Eyebright (Euphrasia sp.). I had to take a detour to avoid a herd of cattle with their youngish calves (which was a bit of a drag but I'd rather not take any chances).

Heath Speedwell (Veronica officinalis)

Eyebright (Euphrasia arctica x nemorosa?)

This Eyebright (above) is possibly Euphrasia arctica x nemorosa, but only an expert could say for sure. This genus of tiny, near-identical semi-parasitical plants are named after their traditional use in the treatment of eye problems.

The Large Black Slug (Arion ater) is a very common species in the Kilpatrick Hills and is often found on damp grasses during the day. When disturbed, these slugs will contract and rock gently from side to side in a strange fashion. They also exude a thick sticky mucus which is very difficult to wash off. Although there exists a less common brick-red colour form, normally this species is jet black (as indicated by its scientific name: ater = coal-black).

Large Black Slug (Arion ater)

Large Black Slug (Arion ater)

Large Black Slug (Arion ater)

At the Test a quick search underneath stones revealed a Palmate Newt (Lissotriton helveticus) and a large Common Frog (Rana temporaria) with a distinct purplish tinge and beautiful gold flecked eyes.

Common Frog (Rana temporaria)

Palmate Newt (Lissotriton helveticus)

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)

Kilpatrick Hills, West Dunbartonshire

After work I went for a short walk on the Kilpatrick Hills, there has been a massive influx of Painted Lady (Cynthia cardui) this year and I spent at least an hour chasing through meadows after them. These butterflies are very flighty and not easy to approach and I was only able to photograph them when they landed to bask.

The Painted Lady is a migratory butterfly and many of the adults we see in the UK have travelled here from North Africa.

Painted Lady (Cynthia cardui)

Painted Lady (Cynthia cardui)

In the marsh at Little Round Top there were lots of delicate little blue damselflies: Coenagrion puella. This species can be easily distinguished from the other blue damselflies by the U-shaped black marking at the base of the male's abdomen.

Coenagrion puella male

Coenagrion puella male

Coenagrion puella male

Whilst photographing damselflies, I heard an insistent peeping coming from a hole in an Elder branch. On closer inspection I found the source of the noise - a nest full of nearly-fledged Blue Tits (Parus caeruleus)!

I waited a distance back and hid in the Yellow Flags (and nettles!). The parents duly returned and resumed the constant ferrying of caterpillars into, and white poop-sacs out of, the nest-hole. I very much wished I had brought my tripod with me in order to take a better picture, but it would just have added to the weight I was carrying.

Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus)

Around Little Round Top there are thick Rhododendron ponticum bushes - an extremely invasive introduced species (the large evergreen leaves block out sunlight and so nothing can grow underneath these shrubs). The whole plant is poisonous.

Rhododendron ponticum

Yellow Flag (Iris pseudacorus)

The root of Yellow Flag (Iris pseudacorus) is emetic, cathartic and can cause severe gastric disturbance if consumed.

The hawthorns are still lushly blanketed in gorgeous snowy blossoms:

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)

Pignut (Conopodium majus), Tall Ramping Fumitory (Fumaria bastardii), Wild Pansy (Viola tricolor) and Heath Speedwell (Veronica officinalis) are all flowering around Little Round Top.

I walked to the Test (a marshy area South West of the Greenside Reservoir) where you are almost guaranteed to see a flock of Reed Buntings (Emberiza schoeniclus), and today was no exception. Some Ravens (Corvus corax) could also be heard croaking and cawing hoarsely in the distance.

I found this caddis fly (Micropterna sequax) at the edge of the stream:

Caddis fly (Micropterna sequax)

Caddis fly (Micropterna sequax)

Caddis fly (Micropterna sequax)

Caddis flies (Trichoptera) are closely related to Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) and have aquatic larvae which build protective cases from riverbed debris.

At the Test I searched beneath stones and found a Common Lizard (Lacerta vivipara) and 2 Palmate Newts (Lissotriton helveticus).

Common Lizard (Lacerta vivipara) female

This lizard's pale yellow, unspotted belly indicates that it's a female.

Common Lizard (Lacerta vivipara) female

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And for comparison, the underside of a Palmate Newt:

Palmate Newt (Lissotriton helveticus)

Palmate Newt (Lissotriton helveticus)

Palmate Newt (Lissotriton helveticus)

The Palmate Newt (Lissotriton helveticus) is the smallest of the three newt species native to the UK and is very similar to the Smooth Newt (Lissotriton vulgaris). In its terrestrial, non-breeding stage the Palmate Newt can be distinguished by its pinkish-white, unspotted throat (Smooth Newts have white throats with black spots) and by the presence of two small tubercles on the soles of the feet (females only). During the breeding period (aquatic stage) the male Palmate Newt develops an unwavy ridge along his back, a long tail filament and black webbing on the hind feet. In contrast, the male Smooth Newt develops a wavy crest from head to tail and is heavily black spotted.

Also at the Test were a pair of Wheatears (Oenanthe oenanthe) and a female Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea).