Duntocher, West Dunbartonshire

This morning there were a pair of Collared Doves (Streptopelia decaocta) and a lone Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) perched in the trees in my parent's garden.

One interesting feature of the pigeon family (Columbidae), which is unusual amongst birds, and is shared only by Flamingos and some Penguins, is the method by which they feed their young. Pigeons produce crop-milk: a secretion from the lining of the crop which is composed mostly of sloughed cells and is very rich in fat and protein. Both males and females secrete and regurgitate crop milk on which the young squabs are fed entirely until they are at least a week old (after which the parents feed them increasing porportions of mashed adult food).

Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)

The Woodpigeon is by far the largest European pigeon species, weighing up to 520g. It can easily be distinguished by size, the white bands on its wings and by the white neck patches. The bill is pinkish-yellow and the eyes have pale yellow irises.

The Woodpigeon's scientific is latin for 'Collared-dove pigeon' (Columba = from Columbar = collar + palumbus = pigeon).

Collared Doves (Streptopelia decaocta)

Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocta)

Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocta)

The Collared Dove is small, slender pigeon with pale brownish-grey plumage and a black neck band. The bill is grey and the eyes are dark red. Weighing around 200g, it is considerably smaller and slimmer than the portly Woodpigeon.

The Collared Dove's scientific name mixes both Latin and Greek, meaning 'Collared-dove eighteen' (Strepto = wearing a collar/torque (Greek), peleia = wild dove (Greek) + decaocto = eighteen (Latin), literally ten-eight). 'Strepto/streptos' literally means 'twisted' in Latin, referring to the twisted strands of metal which make up a torque or neck collar.

The Collared Dove has expanded its range Westwards from Turkey and the Middle East over the last 40-50 years. In 1955 it nested in the UK for the first time and since then the population has rapidly increased: around 568,000 birds now breed here.

Kilpatrick Hills, West Dunbartonshire

I got up early this morning (4:30am!) to help out with a Black Grouse survey to the West of the Kilpatrick Hills. We didn't see/hear any Black Grouse but we heard plenty of Cuckoos (Cuculus canorus). It was extremely cold before day-break and the ground was damp with a dew-frost.

I walked to Burncrooks Reservoir, briefly investigated Burn Crooks valley and then walked over to the Whangie and onwards to Stockiemuir. By 10am the thick blanket of mist had lifted, giving rise to a sunny, cloudless day.

As I approached Burncrooks Reservoir I found lots of Drinker Moth (Euthrix potatoria) caterpillars on the grasses. The drinker is a common moorland species and gets its name from the old belief that the caterpillars drink dew (they are often found on dew-covered grasses in the mornings). Its scientific name means 'good-hairy drinker' (Eu = good, thrix = animal hair and potatoria = drinker). This caterpillar may look gorgeously fluffy and adorable but if handled the irritant hairs embed themselves into your skin and the affected area swells up and becomes incredibly itchy, so it's best not to handle these cuties!

Drinker (Euthrix potatoria) larva

Drinker (Euthrix potatoria) larva

I spent some time searching amongst the boulder piles and loose scree around Burncrooks Reservoir for Adders/Common Lizards/Slowworms, without any luck. I did see some Curlews (Numenius arquata), Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus) and a male Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba).

I wandered a short way down Burn Crooks valley and disturbed a Sparrowhawk (Acccipiter nisus) which had been sitting in a tree. On a river-side rock I found a fresh Otter spraint: a good sign!

At the Southern end of Burn Crooks valley (near the dam) was a patch of flowering Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara). The young leaves and flowers can be eaten raw/cooked and can also be dried to make an aromatic tea with a licorice-like flavour. The whole plant is rich in mucilage which has a demulcent effect which is why it has long been used as a treatment for coughs and sore throats. However, Coltsfoot contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids which can damage the liver in large doses (but are largely destroyed by boiling) and it shouldn't be consumed in large quantities.

Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)

All around Burncrooks Reservoir, the fungoid sporing stems (strobili) of Common Horsetail (Equisteum arvense), were emerging from the ground. Horsetails are very rich in silica (10%)and can be used to scour/polish metals. Horsetails are also astringent and can be used externally to staunch bleeding. This is another plant that shouldn't be consumed in large quantities: it contains both thiaminase (which breaks down vitamin B) and equisetic acid (heart and nerve sedative: dangerous in large doses).

Common Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) strobilum 

Common Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) strobilum 

Common Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) strobilum 

Below the Whangie was a very placid herd of black Galloway cattle. The fresh cowpats were swarming with Golden Dung Flies (Scathophaga stercoraria). Males are thickly covered with plush golden hairs and are especially photogenic! The females are smaller, greyer and less thickly furred.

Despite its striking shimmery golden fur, this fly is not blessed with the most appealing (or imaginative) of scientific names: 'Dung-eater of-dung' (Scatho = dung, phaga, from phagein = to eat, and stercoraria = of-dung). Although the larvae feed on cow/horse dung, the adults are predatory: hunting the smaller flies attracted to dung.

Golden dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria) male

Golden dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria) male

Golden dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria) male

Golden Dung Flies (Scathophaga stercoraria) mating pair

Golden Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria) male

Golden Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria) male

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) flowers

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) flowers

Unable to find Black Grouse on Stockiemuir, I spent the rest of the day exploring the interesting, steep-sided rivers which criss-cross the moor. They look to be good Otter habitat and have trees (birch, willow, rowan) growing up their rocky sides.

When I got back to my flat in Glasgow (West End), there was a plump, slightly nervous-looking Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus), sitting on the roof.

Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)

There are plenty of Woodpigeons in Glasgow's West End due to the proximity of the Botanic Gardens and the many large trees dotted about the avenues and gardens. Woodpigeons are the largest of our native pigeons with distinctive, noisy wing-claps in flight (usually alerting all other species to your presence!).