Kilpatrick Hills, East/West Dunbartonshire

Camping Trip!

Last year I got a bat detector for my christmas, but so far I haven't had many opportunities to use it. It enabled me to listen to Common Pipistrelles in the backgarden: these bats make a series of clicks which turn into 'wet slaps' at lower frequencies (the deepest slaps are at 45khz- the peak frequency).

I set off on a short camping trip, up to Burncrooks Reservoir, to do a bit of exploring with my bat detector, thinking that maybe I'd get a chance to hear Daubenton's or Natterer's Bats.

Duncolm to the left, looking towards the distant mountains surrounding Loch Lomond 

Dumgoyne in the distance

Hare's Tail Cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum)

Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) juvenile

Rowan tree (Sorbus aucuparia)

Small Heath butterfly (Coenonympha pamphilus)

Someone else had pitched their tent beside Burncrooks dam, so I had to find another spot - along the treeline of Burncrooks valley (near the old sheep shelter). Midges were biting me viciously, even as I was putting my tent up, and it wasn't even dusk yet. Exhausted, I crept into my sleeping bag and slept for a few hours, until the last red glow had vanished from the sky.

Strange animal noises filled the night. First, the qwavering 'HOooo HOoo' of a male Tawny Owl. Later, when I emerged from my tent, the terrifying (even when you know what it is!) 'old-man-coughing-turning-into-a-dog's-bark' of a male Roe Deer - very close. As I approached the sound, a pair of disembodied glowing eyes reflected the light from my head-torch.

I switched on the bat detector and made a short circuit, following the edge of the forest. I briefly managed to pick up the call of a pipistrelle - I kept having to seek refuge in my tent from the swarm of face-eating midges.

Midges were biting my eyes, my hands, my scalp...the air was so thick with them, I was breathing them in...It was unbearable :(

I was pretty glad my tent had a built-in mosquito net!

Twice during the night, a mystery animal passed close to my tent, purring loudly and deeply. I still have absolutely no idea what it could have been. A feral cat? It seems unlikely, given the remote location.

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)