April on the Isle of Skye

7 April 2012 . . . . Kinloch woods . . . . more spring flowers and also heard a Twite singing.
Anemone nemorosa (Wood Anemone)	Vaccinium myrtillus (Bilberry)

11 April 2012 . . . . Lousewort, Lady's Smock and Marsh Marigold are all in flower.

12 April 2012 . . . . Walking from Kilmarie to Elgol.
Prunus sp. (Cherry)	Oxalis acetosella (Wood Sorrel)

16 April 2012 . . . . Ben Tianavaig . . . . Out with the U3A Nature Group. The highlight of the day was watching a Sea Eagle being mobbed by a Golden Eagle.

17 April 2012 Near Torrin My first orchid of the year: Orchis mascula (Early Purple Orchid)

18 April 2012 . . . . Back to Kinloch this morning, and the Willow Warblers have arrived in force. Theirs is now the dominant voice in the woods.

Willow Warbler

18 April 2012 At Harrapool, by the main road. Phlogophora meticulosa (Angle Shades Moth) feeding on Geum rivale (Water Avens).

19 April 2012 . . . . A flower hunt on Blaven.
Saxifraga oppositifolia (Purple Saxifrage)	Sedum rosea (Roseroot)

20 April 2012 . . . . First visit of the year to Elgol.
Armeria maritima (Thrift)	Cochlearia officinalis (Common Scurvygrass)
Conochephalum conicum (Great Scented Liverwort)

21 April 2012 . . . . Walking the dog on the outskirts of Broadford this morning, I heard a Stonechat and a Grasshopper Warbler.

Stonechat

23 April 2012 . . . . Camas Malag . . . . a pair of Shelduck

Shelduck

25 April 2012 . . . . Harrapool

Swallow

27 April 2012 . . . . At the head of Loch Ainort

Sand Martin

27 April 2012 . . . . On the outskirts of Broadford

Arctia caja (caterpillar of the Garden Tiger moth, usually found in May and June)

28 April 2012 . . . . Kinloch . . . . We've lost the cold north wind today and the butterflies have responded. Saw a Green-veined White, an Orange Tip and several Speckled Woods.

Speckled Wood

29 April 2012 . . . . Heard my first Cuckoo of the year on the outskirts of Broadford and found a specimen of Bitter Vetch at Kinloch.

Lathyrus linifolius (Bitter Vetch)