Everyone had been busy collecting specimens and these were passed round and discussed and where possible identified.* Why do Philip and Janet and Diane find hundreds of sandhoppers in their houses? One possible explanation is that as the sea comes over near their houses the eggs are possibly thrown up by the tide. Or could it be that they’re evolving into land creatures who favour a nice warm house??
Vera took lovely photos of flowers on her patch. Catherine spotted wild primroses. Pauline showed us various topshells and asked that we looked out for monodonta lineata. Witch’s butter was found on the Low Road and an earthstar was found under trees in Shore Street. Two very large sea urchins were found on Portlogan shore as was a fishing float literally ‘dripping’ with sponges. Sue had a host of unusual finds from Sandhead shore. Pauline helped to identify the hairy seaweed as hydroid amphisbeta operculata. No wonder the cone shell looked almost fossilised – it is usually only found in the South Pacific! If only it could talk and tell us of its journey.
Lorna has offered to be our librarian so if you’d like to lend or borrow books she is in charge.
Names were taken for the Wildlife walk to West Freugh on Wednesday 8th April. If you haven’t put your name down and would like to go please let me know ASAP. Also names of those wanting to go on the community bus. Jeff, for one, has offered lifts in his car.
Next meeting is 20th April (because 2nd Monday is Easter Monday).
*If I’ve missed anything please let me know. I was busy copying down talitrus saltator (sandhopper) when tremella mesenterica (witch’s butter) went past. By the time I’d found echinus esculentus (edible sea urchin) my head was birlin’! So we will discuss Pauline’s idea of separate recorders at the next meeting.
Happy Foraging,
Rena
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The chairman welcomed everybody and intimated that unfortunately Tommy Donnelly could not be with us. We’ll pin him down to a date in the future.
It was over to the members and what a lively and interesting 90 minutes it turned out to be. First Paul showed us a collection of rocks, gave their names and possible origins – eg a granite ‘bubble’ on Inshanks Fell. There was laughter when he proved Rena’s ‘rare green sandstone’ was in fact green dyed concrete!
Paul Tarling told us that the red kite seen in the area is possibly one the RSPB knows of and has come from either Wales or the East coast of Scotland. He reminded us of the wildlife walks at the Mull of Galloway lighthouse on Sunday 19th April, 10am, 11.30am, 1pm, and 2.30pm. If weather seems iffy, ring 840539 on the morning to check if walk is on.
Following Mark Pollitt’s appeal for information on stoats and weasels, Ann and Nigel passed round photos taken in their garden of a weasel or is it a stoat? No one could decide so a copy has been sent to Mark for identification.
