Kilpatrick Hills, West Dunbartonshire

I started my walk just below Overton House and climbed the Lang Craigs, walked over the top of Rigangower, via Glenarbuck to Haw Craig valley and then Duntocher.

Overton Glen was full of woodland flowers including Water Avens (Geum rivale), Sanicle (Sanicula europaea) and Woodruff (Galium odoratum).

I saw a pair of Wheaters feeding a juvenile on the rough grassland below the Lang Craigs. Amongst the loose scree at the base of the Lang Craigs I heard a Stonechat: there seem to be fewer around this year, normally they outnumber the Whinchats.

As I struggled up the Lang Craigs cliffside, a noisy family group of Ravens flew overhead.

Some bluebells are still flowering, unusually late, at the top of the Lang Craigs.

Dung Roundhead (Stropharia semiglobata), on grassland East of Lang Craigs 

Brooklime grows in the burn that runs alongside Rigangower quarry (South East of Greenland Reservoir number 3). 

Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa)

For whatever reason, Ruby Tiger moths become brighter red in colour as you travel further south, the most ruby-red specimens are found in England. In much of Scotland we have a dark brown version (with just a hint of red): the subspecies borealis. The specimen photographed above is not a 'borealis' but it is still a very dull red.

This is the copper colour-morph of the click beetle Ctenicera cuprea:

click beetle (Ctenicera cuprea) male

At the Triangle Reservoir (between Auchentorlie Glen and Haw Craig) I added a new bird species to my local list: Sand Martins! I sat and watched them skim the water: they were too fast and unpredictable to capture on camera.

Sand Martins (Riparia riparia) normally nest on sandy banks of slow-flowing rivers, I think the birds I saw are probably nesting at Rigangower quarry.

The first of the Common Blue Damselflies (Enallagma cyathigerum) have emerged.

Wild Thyme (Thymus praecox brittanicus)

Wild Thyme (Thymus praecox brittanicus)

Drinker moth (Euthrix potatoria) cocoon

This enormous woolly cocoon belongs to the Drinker moth, it was about 4cm in length and was attached to a reed in a marshy field.

There are still a few Coenagrion puella Damselflies remaining at Little Round Top.

Kilpatrick Hills, West Dunbartonshire

Today was like two days rolled into one: I left early (4am), as I was getting a lift up to the Black Linn/Craigarestie for one of this year's Black Grouse counts.

No Black Grouse seen or heard by me, though my Dad was lucky enough to witness a lek of 6 males on Cochno Hill - a new lek site for the area!

Mostly, we just sat in the dark with our feet turning to blocks of ice and the cold wind slicing through us :(

All that could be heard were cuckoos, the twittering and warbling of small birds from the conifers, a pair of alarmed Mallards and the chortling, rattling "go-back go-back" of Red Grouse. Briefly, a Buzzard soared overhead and some Herdwick sheep (more about those later!) in the distance unwittingly mimicked Black Grouse. I had to keep stretching my legs to keep my feet from getting too painfully numb: it's amazing how the temperature drops at night...so much for my notions of going camping...

In the fields below Overton, East of Bowling, there was a small flock of grazing Shelduck.

After I'd been dropped off back in Duntocher (thanks Gillian & Gordon!), I had a few cups of tea and the weather (which had looked certain to be heavy rain) began to brighten up. Since it was only 10am, I decided to go back into the hills for a bit.

On this walk I followed the Humphrey Road to Haw Craig, past the quarry to the Auchentorlie Glen woods, onto the top of the Lang Craigs, then down the Overton Glen (following the river). On the way home I walked to the Humphrey via the Black Linn and Greenland Reservoirs and back down the Humphrey Road.

Swallows (Hirundo rustica) were perched on the barbed wire fence by the side of the Humphrey Road. The sunshine revealed the metallic blue-black of their backs.

I found a large Garden Tiger (Arctia caja) larva or 'wooly bear', at Haw Craig:

Garden Tiger (Arctia caja) larva

Garden Tiger (Arctia caja) larva

Garden Tiger (Arctia caja) larva

Sitting on the crest of the cliff, I could see into the wooded gully below: a Roe Deer buck (unawares of my presence), charged through the undergrowth, barking loudly.

Mystery warblers flitted about tantalizingly close. Orange-tips (only males), Small Whites and Peacock butterflies are on the wing.

Greater Stitchwort (Stellaria holostea) is flowering at Haw Craig:

Greater Stitchwort (Stellaria holostea)

Greater Stitchwort (Stellaria holostea)

Greater Stitchwort (Stellaria holostea)

Greater Stitchwort (Stellaria holostea)

Broom (Cytisus scoparius)

Broom (Cytisus scoparius)

Broom (Cytisus scoparius)

Whilst crossing the short clumps of Broom at the North Western edge of the Haw Craig valley, a Common Lizard scuttled away under my feet.

Near the Lang Craig, I saw my first Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) of the year:

Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) male

Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) male

Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) male

The Wheatear's scientific name 'Oenanthe oenanthe' is latin for 'The-grape-of-the-wild-vine'...not really sure why!

On the top of the Lang Craig I saw a male Emperor Moth. Here also, there was a flock of Herdwick sheep:

Herdwick sheep (1 year old)

Herdwick sheep (1 year old)

The ancient Herdwick sheep is native to the Lake District fells of Cumbria (North West England) and is one of the hardiest sheep breeds: capable of coping with the harsh weather and poor-quality grazing on Cumbrian mountains in winter.

Lambs are born black and gradually lighten in colour - at one year old they are dark brown with white face and legs (at this stage they are known as hoggs or hoggets). Eventually they become 'hoar-frosted' slate grey with white head and legs. Only the rams have horns. The legs are chunky, strong-boned and have large knees. Herdwicks have dense, coarse wool with a high kemp and lanoline (oil) content, which makes it waterproof, quick-drying and highly insulative.

Bred to be territorial, they will not wander far from where they were born: a trait known as 'heafing'. They are kept mainly for their strongly flavoured meat. The coarse grey wool is not easily dyed and has little commercial value - it is mostly used for carpets, loft insulation and knitware.

For comparision, the usual sheep kept on the Kilpatrick Hills is the Scottish Blackface:

Scottish Blackface sheep

Drinker moth (Euthrix potatoria) larva

Drinker moth (Euthrix potatoria) larva

In the Overton Glen (banks of river) I found my second Common Lizard of the day! More Herdwick sheep also. Mossy Saxifrage was growing on the rocks at the edge of the stream.

On the way back home I passed the Black Linn - 3 Greylag Geese and a Mistle Thrush on the grassy bank.

The pair of Ravens from Haw Craig cronked at me as I walked back down the Humphrey path.

Raven (Corvus corax)

Further down the Humphrey Road I found Chicken of the Woods fungus growing on a rotten tree at the side of the road.

Chicken of the Woods fungus (Laetiporus sulphureus)

Chicken of the Woods fungus (Laetiporus sulphureus)

The Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) is said to be one of the best edible mushrooms (I have no doubt it tastes better than the flavourless 'shop mushrooms'!). The scientific name means 'Pleasing-pores sulphury' (Laeti = pleasing/joyful + porus = pores, sulphureus = like sulphur).

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinalis)

Dandelion's scientific name means 'Of-disturbance used-to-treat' : Taraxacum = of disturbance (Greek), and officinalis = which translates roughly as 'used to treat/of medicinal use'(Latin). This refers to both the Dandelion's preference for disturbed ground/wasteland and its past medicinal uses.

Dandelion is one of the best edible wild flowers: the entire plant is edible and completely safe to eat! The only warning I would give is that Dandelion is strongly diuretic: don't eat large amounts if this bothers you (I am a chain-tea-drinker anyway!).

Eating Dandelions:
Leaves & Flowers:
The slightly bitter but very nutritious leaves can be eaten raw in salads or cooked. If you have pet rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, chinchillas or degus, they will appreciate dandelion (from a herbicide-free source!).

Roots:
When cooked these are said to have a 'turnip-like' flavour. They can also be dried, roasted and ground to make a coffee substitute (caffeine-free!).

Recipe Ideas:

Dandelion Coffee - http://www.eatweeds.co.uk/dandelion-root-coffee-recipe.

Dandelion Pasta - http://www.occasionalomnivore.com/2009/12/09/homemade-dandelion-pasta

Dandelion & Goat Cheese Empanadas - http://www.latimes.com/features/la-fo-lunchboxrec7a-2009jan07,0,1192399.story

Pickled Dandelion Buds (and other wild-food pickles) - http://www.wildmanwildfood.com/pages/ck09junepickofthepickles.pdf

Kilpatrick Hills, West Dunbartonshire

Just a short walk today: from Duntocher to Little Round Top and then the Slacks. The increase in birdsong is becoming very evident!

The recently revamped RSPB website has sound clips for most species, very handy!
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/r/robin/index.aspx

Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

At Little Round Top I found a dead Roe Deer, everything but the legs had been picked clean:

The snow has almost completely melted in the Kilpatrick Hills but the higher Campsie fells, to the East, are still very white:

Campsie fells from the Slacks

Stag's Horn Clubmoss (Lycopodium clavatum)

Stag's Horn Clubmoss (Lycopodium clavatum) is purported to have various medicinal properties such as being analgesic (pain-relieving) and antirheumatic. However, this plant is known to contain the toxic compounds lycopodine (which paralyses motor nerves) and clavatine.

Its scientific name means 'Wolf-foot club-shaped'(Lyco = wolf + podium = foot, clavatum = club-shaped).

Drinker moth (Euthrix potatoria) larva