Killantringan 1/x/23

 

Killantringan lies on the west coast of the Rhins peninsula, Wigtownshire; the southern-most county of Scotland. This first day of October was warm and sunny with good visibility. From the cliffs of Black Head I could discern clearly the coastal hills of Antrim in Ireland across the North Channel. Decommissioned some years ago, the Killantringan lighthouse is now in private ownership and what glorious sea views the occupants have, although it must be a very exposed position when storms roll across. The public car-park is on the cliff-top facing north up the Scottish coast and I set out from there to explore scrubby slopes above a rocky shore. My attention was immediately drawn to the sound of cascading water where a burn plunged over the edge. 

   Following upstream, I disturbed a Grey Wagtail that flew off with a sharp call and a flash of rich yellow underparts. Further up I came to a swampy area where run-off from surrounding slopes accumulates. Clumps of Cross-leaved Heath displayed their clusters of pink blooms and I wondered what botanical delights might be discovered in flower there earlier in the year, although there were signs that sheep-grazing could be an issue. Craneflies were plentiful, blundering up from beneath my footsteps, no doubt providing a welcome food supply for the pair of Stonechats that flitted about the gorse bushes. A more direct style of movement from under my feet revealed a grasshopper as it leapt away. I whipped out my camera and managed to get a record shot when it paused momentarily on a rock. The creature remained silent and so, without its species-specific stridulation sound pattern to go by, I was relieved that my picture proved sufficient to pick out the key identification features of Common Green Grasshopper (Omocestus viridulus): unclubbed antennae, gently curved pronotal side keels, wings not projecting beyond abdomen, lack of costal bulge on forewing. It may be a common and widespread variety, but still nice to see late in the season.


   Yet another mode of locomotion, this time a rather clumsy waddle through the vegetation, brought an amphibian to my notice. A closer look showed the warty skin of a Common Toad. And quite a small individual it was, so perhaps only spawned this year in one of the nearby boggy pools. After posing briefly for a photo opportunity, I let it go about its business.


   On my way back up the access road to go home, I enjoyed good views of Goldfinch, Linnet and Reed Bunting in a mixed flock exploiting the seeds of thistle and other wildflowers in rough cattle pastures. All in all a very pleasant couple of hours in the autumnal sunshine and hopefully I can return next spring to explore the ecosystem further.


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