Surprises at Shell Bay

 Examining the lichen on this rock at Shell Bay, I suddenly was aware of the 'crocodile' lying on top.

A little further along the beach another surprise.


The bright yellow patches are yellow splash lichen - Xanthoria parietina. I think that the grey patches are black shields - Tephromela atra.

Finally I picked up a horseshoe which I found on a path through the woods. It was covered in sand and mud and still had some nails attached but it's polished up quite well. Maybe it will be a lucky one for 2017.

Moss and Lichen at the Falls of Bruar

The damp conditions at the Falls of Bruar make an ideal habitat for mosses and lichen. Mosses cover much of the ground beneath the trees and species of lichen cover many of the tree trunks and hang from tree branches.

A foliose type of lichen almost covering a silver birch tree trunk,

The ground beneath the trees is covered in moss.

Many of the fallen branches are covered in fructicose lichens, probably species of the genus usnea.
Usnea is very sensitive to air pollution, especially sulphur dioxide. It tends to grow only in those regions where the air is clean, and of high quality.

Lichen on Ancient Stones

Lichen covers the Standing Stones which are situated on the Lundin Ladies Golf Course.

There are three stones and they form a scheduled Bronze Age monument said to date from 2000 to 1500BC. They are formed of red sandstone but the whole surface of the stones is covered in various lichens.

Several different species form a patchwork on the stones.

Little patches of snow mixed in with the lichen.

Christmas Day Walk at Shell Bay

Looking towards Largo Law with a cloud cap.
After so much rain Christmas Day showed a marked improvement in the weather, so set off for a morning walk at Shell Bay, before coming home to wrestle with the turkey. Parked in the Fife Coastal Path car park just before the entrance to the caravan park and walked through the woods to the side of the Cocklemill Burn and then followed the path to the beach.

Passed World War II tank traps which are now covered with moss and lichen.

Oystercatchers were on the rocks below

The tide was in so couldn't walk out to Ruddon's Point but had to keep to the top of the beach.

With the stormy weather there was a lot of wood washed on to the beach including this serpent-like branch.

Lichen covered rocks.
At least three species of lichen growing on these rocks. I think that the yellow patches are yellow splash lichen - Xanthoria parietina and that the pale green tufted lichen is sea ivory -Ramelina silquosa.

The sun just beginning to light up the beach.

Looking towards Kincraig Point.

Looking towards Ruddon's Point.

Pipit On Lichen Covered Sea Wall

A pipit on the sea wall at the western approach to the harbour at Lower Largo. Because of its proximity to the shore, I think that this is a rock pipit but I don't think I would be able to tell the difference between a rock, meadow or water pipit. The striking yellow lichen is likely to be Xanthoria parietina.

Hadrian's Wall III - Chesters Roman Fort

The barracks area at Chesters Fort.
Chesters Fort was built to guard the bridge which carried Hadrian's Wall over the North Tyne.

Part of the the hypocaust heating system.

The Bath House

The niches at the back may have been storage areas or held statues.

A view of the bath house from the trees.

The old Roman walls and stonework provide a habitat for lichen, moss, ferns and other plants.

A lichen covered stone.

Lichen and wall rue in this shady corner.

Tentsmuir Forest

I had been to Tentsmuir Forest near Leuchers before but not for some time. The barrel shaped ice house is a prominent building in a clearing in the forest and is a focal point for walkers. It was built in the 1880's to store salmon which had been netted from the beach.

A World War 2 pillbox and some anti-tank blocks. Polish Forces based in Scotland constructed these
defences.

 

In some parts of the forest the ground is covered by reindeer moss. It looks as if it woul be soft but it is wiry to the touch.

Some fungi growing on the branch which was overhanging a burn.

There were numerous clumps of heather.

Some Channel Island's Flora

Wall pennywort
As they are both coastal regions many of the wild flowers in Guernsey and Herm were the same as those which grow in Fife. However, this one wall pennywort or navelwort (Umbilicus rupestris), which was growing in profusion, occurs mainly in South West England and the Channel Islands.

Wall pennywort growing on fallen tree trunks on Herm.

A geranium species.

The purple geranium contrasts well with the orange marigold.

Scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis).

 A stunning wild flower carpet on Herm of thyme, viper's bugloss, birds foot trefoil and hawkweed.

 Sheeep's bit scabious (Jasiona montana). I think that the yellow flowers are hawkweed.

A colourful bank of sea-daisies (Erigeron glaucus) and mesembryanthemums.

St Peter Port daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus). Plants were introduced into Britain in the 1830s from Mexico, as garden plants. The first record of it becoming naturalised comes from St Peter Port in Guernsey in the 1860s. It has spread throughout the island ever since, although is probably seen at its best on the walls in the town. It is quite frequent in the south of England.

 Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Two small ferns growing in a wall. I think that the one above is wall-rue and the lower one hart's tongue fern.

 Lichen covered rocks together with  mesembryanthemums.