False Oxlip

Still finding new plants as I walk around the woods around Morpeth. False Oxlip (Primula x polyantha) is a hybrid between Cowslip and Primrose and occurs occasionally where both plants grow. I found this small clump flowering in Postern woods near Morpeth castle. 

Highland Perthshire

Schiehallion from Loch Tummel

Carn Gorm summit in Glen Lyon

Ben Vrackie

Carn Liath from Ben Vrackie summit

Showers approaching Ben Vrackie

Loch Tummel on a misty morning

Trinafour

Loch Tay at Kenmore

Spent a few days in Perthshire. Weather not good for getting on to some of the mountain tops but plenty of walking and some wildlife to look at. On the summit of Ben Vrackie there were 4 Ring Ouzels and a Wheatear, plenty of Wheatears on some lower ground and Common Sandpiper at Kenmore. A fine Golden Eagle was viewed from the Schiehallion road and more surprising was a Green Woodpecker at Strath Tummel. A bit early for alpine flowers but the first flowers of Purple Saxifrage were out on the mountains of Glen Lyon, both Fir and Alpine Clubmoss were easy to find near summit of Carn Gorm.

Bumper crop

Yellow Star of Bethlehem and Creeping Comfrey

Last year the flowering of Yellow Star of Bethlehem at Scotch Gill woods Morpeth was 18th April with 26 flowering plants. The cold early spring meant they were a month late. This year on 18th March there was also 26 flowering plants but by 29th March there were 42 flowering plants the most I have seen so far at this site. Creeping Comfrey is also spreading through the woodland around Morpeth. The above flowers are growing in woods near the castle and there is another large clump growing in woodland near East Mill.