Saturday, October 06, 2012

Mull of Galloway & Ardwell–29th September 2012

Doors Open Days in Dumfries and Galloway so we headed down to the Mull of Galloway to see the lighthouse and exhibition.

1-Lighthouse

The weather was changeable with some showers but I managed to get some blue sky in my photos!

2-lighthouse

 

3-lighthouse

 

4-lighthouse

The lighthouse and exhibition are well worth a visit, there is a small charge usually, but its great fun for kids…

5-stairs

…counting the steps, 115 in all I think!

6-carpark-from-lighthouse

The view from the top is amazing!

7-foghorn

The foghorn from the lantern room

8-RSPB-visitor-centre

The RSPB Visitor Centre

9-from-the-lighthouse

Looking north

10-from-the-lighthouse

Tiny people!

11-peacock-butterfly

Back down on the ground and a Peacock butterfly spotted trying to shelter from the wind by the lighthouse garden wall.

12-Mull

Not many seabirds about at the moment, mainly Gannets

13-ruby-tiger

Ruby Tiger caterillar I think

14-Sloe-Shieldbug

Sloe Shieldbug

15-Ruby-Tiger

Another Ruby Tiger racing across the path (my excuse for photo being blurred, but it was fast!)

16-rosa-rugosa-hips

Rosa Rugosa hips, loved by the birds.

Having been buffeted by the wind and rain at The Mull, we retreated to somewhere more sheltered-Ardwell Pond.

17-fish-ladder

Fish Ladder

18-Ardwell-panorama

Panoramic view (click to see larger)

19-tree-avenue

Avenue of trees

20-vipers-bugloss

Vipers Bugloss

21-vipers-bugloss

A stunning wild flower and great for bees!

22-himalayan-balsam

Himalayan Balsam, whilst the bees also love this, it is a non native invasive species, it spreads fast and the bees will pollinate this leaving the native plants, not good!

23-Nettletap

Lots of Nettle Tap Moths on the ragwort

24-ardwell-house

Ardwell House

24-naked-ladies

I shout-Naked Ladies! My husband and son get all excited…

25-naked-ladies

…until they realise I am talking about these pretty autumn bulbs, so called as they appear without their leaves!

26-ardwell-house-gardens

Autumnal looking pond

27-ardwell-house-gardens

 

28-gunnera

Sun through Gunnera leaves

29-bridge

Reflected bridge

30-autumn-colours

Reflected colours

31-bridge

 

32-ardwell-pond

 

33-ardwell-pond

Plenty of ducks, a few swans, moorhens and Little Grebes on the pond today

34-ducks

Mallards on the path

35 Bright-Line-Brown-Eye-Caterpillar

Back at the car I ventured on to the beach where I found this caterpillar, nowhere near any vegetation.

36 Bright-Line-Brown-Eye-Caterpillar-2

A bright-line Brown-eye moth caterpillar I think.

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