Pasque Flower

Pulsatilla vulgaris rubra

Pulsatilla is known as the Pasque flower because it blooms around Eastertime. This one was obtained from a garden centre but it is one of our most beautiful native species and does grow in the wild but is now vey rare indeed because of the loss of its habitat. It has been used medicinally as a herb, although it is toxic and should only be used by qualified herbalists. It is also widely used in homeopathy.

Black-headed Gulls, Birnie Loch

Black-headed Gull, Birnie Loch

Birnie Loch is a nature reserve in North East Fife. It was created from an old quarry workings.

Black-headed gulls, now in Summer plumage with chocolate brown head.

Goldfinches and Niger Seed

I had heard that niger seeds attracted goldfinches and I bought some seed and a specially designed feeder. At first although goldfinches occasionally visited the garden, they seemed to be ignoring te niger seed. However, in the last couple of days have seen them on the feeder several times.