Cream-Spot Ladybird

This tiny cream-spot ladybird (Calvia 14-guttata) landed on the rim of my mug of tea. It's slightly smaller than the more common seven-spot. After taking the photo I released it into the garden.

On a St Andrews Pavement

Sometimes you can find wild life in the most surprising places. Walking out of the car park in St Andrews I almost stumbled into a mallard with nine ducklings. After a perilous crossing of Argyll Street, managed to shepherd them onto a garden path off the pavement, with the help of a group of students on their way to lectures. Hopefully they will find their way into the Lade Braes.

Hazel Catkins in the Serpentine Walk

Hazel (Corylus avellana ) catkins, the lambs tails, in the Serpentine Walk. These are the male catkins which produce the  pollen.

These are the female flowers with the red styles and stigmas.The stigmas catch the pollen and eventually form the hazel nuts in the Autumn, however, the pollen has to be from another hazel tree.

There was a lot of lichen on the branches of the tree. The greenish yellow lichen is I think Xanthoria parietina but there are also some other species present.

Snowdrops at Cambo

Took advantage of the warm weather last week to visit the Snowdrop Festival at Cambo.

Snowdrops lined both sides of the path that leads to the beach.

A solitary clump of daffodils amongst the snowdrops.

The burn that flows down to the sea.

Frost!

 Ice crystals round the little waterfall between the two paths in the Serpentine Walk.

Frost at the side of the Kiel Burn in Lundin Links.

Oystercatchers at Shell Bay

Christmas Day walk to Shell Bay. Slightly misty but fairly mild. There was a large group of oystercatchers standing at the east end of the bay. We tried not to disturb them but as we approached they all took off.

Sunlight on the Forth

The sun shining through, between dark clouds, illuminates ships in the Forth.

One Hundred Years On

One hundred years on from the Armistice that marked the end of the First World War, the War Memorial in Largo after the wreaths had been laid at mid-day.

The Largo Parish War Memorial stands at the crossroads that links Upper Largo to the east, Lower Largo to the south and Lundin Links to the west, thus representing all parts of the Parish. It is in the form of a Celtic cross and was designed by Sir Robert Lorimer who was also the architect of the mightily impressive Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle. There are 53 names inscribed from the First and 16 from the Second World War. Amongst those from the First World War there are four brothers. As with so many at that time one family's future generations lost.

The information about  the memorial was obtained from the book of photographs of the Sea Toun of Largo compiled by Ivy Jardine. It is out of print but I was able to borrow a copy from the library.

At the shore, it seemed in keeping with the day that there was a peaceful end to the afternoon. The rain had stopped and the light was shining through the clouds.

Plastic Pellets on the Beach

Sad to see a lot of plastic pellets amongst the seaweed that had been washed up onto the beach near the car park at the Temple at Lower Largo. Too big for nurdles, I think they were the squishy expanded polystyrene beads. Picked up quite a lot but just another example of plastic pollution.

Amazing Sky

 The sky over Lundin Links tonight

From Lundin Ladies Golf Course.

October Butterfly

A red admiral butterfly making the most of the valerian flowers in the October sunshine. After a cold spring there seemed to be few butterflies about in the summer. However, in the last few weeks there have been a few peacock, red admiral and painted lady butterflies in the garden.

A Tangle of Creels

A tangled jumble of ropes and several creels, presumably washed up on the beach at Lundin Links by the recent storm.

Sunday was a beautiful day for a walk and Largo Bay looked stunning.

Foxgloves and Lupins on display.

 Foxgloves at the top of the Massney Braes.

 Lupins just to the south of the wooded area between the two paths in the Serpentine Walk. I always associate lupins with railway banks and these were not far from the old railway track that ran through Largo.

Sad Sight on Lower Largo Beach

Sad sight today of a minke whale stranded on Lower Largo beach.

Heron at the Bridge

Heron perched on a branch of a willow tree at the bridge over the Keil Burn in Lundin Links. It seemed quite unfazed  by the constant stream of traffic just feet away on the road.

Bluebells amongst the Trees

 Bluebells in the trees at the top of the Massney Braes in Lundin Links.

Bluebells line the path in the Serpentine Walk.

In the Serpentine Walk in Largo an orange-tip butterfly lands on a blue or in this case pink bell flower.

Vixen with Foxcubs

Looking over the fence to the old railway track while walking down the steps leading to the Massney Braes in Lundin  Links, spotted a vixen feeding her cubs.

The vixen eventually wandered off into the undergrowth, but the cubs stayed around playing in the sunshine. I think there were 6 or 7 altogether.

Maybe the foxhole. Used to be a lot of rabbits in this area. Haven't seen any in recent weeks. Perhaps, the foxes are the reason.