Isle of man tour re#11602AE

The Travelling Naturalist
Isle of Man, June 2011, Trip Report
Isle of Man
Monday 20 – Friday 24 June 2011
Leader:
Liz Charter
Trip diary
Monday 20 June
Sunny, warm and calm with rain early evening.
Monday was a glorious sunny warm day and sea was calm. By 2.30 we had collected nearly everyone from
the airport and Douglas hotels and set forth to see what could be seen along Marine Drive. The roadside and
cliff flora was varied and included Smith’s pepperwort, sheep’s bit scabious and black spleenwort. We
looked down on a cliff with nesting Fulmar and Guillemot. Further on there was a noisy family of
Choughs feeding youngsters. We looked out over the smooth sea and saw Gannets feeding and then close
in to shore, several pairs of Black Guillemots showing their red feet. Small Heaths were in flight and we
spotted a Common Blue.
We headed off west to Peel and stopped at the Peel breakwater, in the hope of seeing Basking Sharks. We
were in luck, a shark swam south a good half mile out and we all saw its distinctive black dorsal fin before
it disappeared round Peel Castle.
Then we arrived at the Knockloe Beg farmhouse for tea and home baked cakes. We were glad to settle and
unpack before a delicious home-cooked evening meal. After supper we discussed what we had planned for
the week.
Tuesday 21 June
Misty, still and cool, sunny and breezy later
Early risers saw a Brown Hare on their morning walk in the mist.
We set off after breakfast to drive down the west coast over the high ground which was in the low cloud.
We came out of the mist to see the south of the island stretched out before us. Our first stop at Port Erin
Breakwater was notable for the smooth but empty sea and sighting of Rock Pipits and an Arctic Tern.
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The Travelling Naturalist
Isle of Man, June 2011, Trip Report
We set out from Port St Mary in the Gemini Charter, a little catamaran, with a local boatman, Bob Taylor,
who is very knowledgeable about the marine wildlife. Very soon we were at the foot of the spectacular
Sugarloaf sea bird colony. Rafts of Guillemots and Razorbills were sitting on the water while every
whitened ledge held lines of adults, incubating or sheltering very small chicks. There were many hundreds
of Guillemots, Razorbills and Kittiwakes. Groups of Choughs cruised over the cliff tops above.
We steamed on towards the Calf Sound where we approached groups of unperturbed Grey Seals, including
last year’s young, which were still very pale. As we passed down the west side of the Calf a Peregrine was
first heard and then seen on a ledge. A Puffin buzzed past, then we started to see Manx Shearwaters, first
in the distance but then one flew right past the boat. A couple of Porpoises rose by the boat as we changed
course offshore away from the island’s mantle of mist (the cloak of Manannin). Then a second pair of
Porpoises was spotted near the boat. It proved to be an excellent morning with perfect sea-state for seeing
sea life.
Looking up at the bird cliffs
After our boat trip we had lunch at Bradda Glen and saw a Kestrel being mobbed by a Carrion Crow. We
walked out along the cliff path towards Bradda Head, past a bank of trailing St John’s wort all golden and
in bud, getting a good view of a Chough. Later we walked over what looked like a natural rock garden on
the old copper mine waste, where the spring sandwort grows, with thyme and milkwort. We saw various
insects; Pill Woodlouse, Speckled Wood (a new arrival on the Isle of Man), Six-spot Burnet caterpillar
and one Tachina grossa (a big black fly). We didn’t walk up to Milner’s Tower which was still in the mist.
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The Travelling Naturalist
Isle of Man, June 2011, Trip Report
Tachina grossa
Our next stop at the Sloch gave wonderful views along the coast down to Bradda Head and up to Niabyl.
The heath there is about half western gorse (Ulex gallii). A Kestrel was seen high over the moorland road.
On the path a very coppery coloured Green Tiger Beetle was spotted. On a wall a male Stonechat was
admired.
The sun began to shine as we set off down Glen Maye, past the waterfall into the ferny green gorge. We
saw 8 different species of fern here including soft shield fern. Brown Trout wavered in the pools. In a
clearing a Speckled Wood was seen. The path went on down to the sea past the rare wood vetch and
patches of sheep’s bit scabious. Fulmars nest high on the gorge sides between occasional native oaks and
hazel bushes.
Our final stop was Peel breakwater to see Black Guillemots, Kittiwakes and an Arctic Tern. Returning
with a considerable appetite after a long day we enjoyed home-made soup and newly baked rolls, just the
one course of another excellent evening meal.
Each evening after supper there were meg lambs to feed, including two Manx loaghtan lambs. These were
a distinctive shade of brown and already showing their four little horns.
Manx loaghtan sheep
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The Travelling Naturalist
Wednesday 22 June
Isle of Man, June 2011, Trip Report
Overcast, sunny periods, warm with light rain later
Our early morning walk was notable for the calling Ravens both on Corrin’s folly, the tower on Peel hill,
and in the plantation.
When we arrived on the Ayres we met Erica, the warden of the National Nature Reserve. She took us over
the dunes where there were flowering spurges, pyramidal orchids and sheep’s bit scabious. From the
sand ridge we looked over the Little Tern nesting area, where terns were flying and settling on their nests.
Many Ringed Plovers were also nesting among the terns, for protection, we heard. We saw diving
Gannets, fishing Shags and Grey Seals watching us from just offshore.
Further along the Ayes at Ballaghennie we admired sea holly and sea bindweed in the dunes. We took a
circular route around the reserve, seeing butterflies, including several Dark Green Fritillaries. We also
found Usnea articulata as well as many Cladonia lichens on the lichen heath, in the pine plantation we
found Ravens feathers from their communal roost and there was a Kestrel was hovering behind the
plantation. We searched out a patch of adder’s tongue ferns in a dune slack and some tiny moonwort
plants outside the plantation. Spring beauty (Montia perfoliata) and elder grow within it. Later we saw
northern marsh orchids and creeping willow in one of the bigger dune slacks.
After we had completed our walk on the Ayres we drove to Close Sartfield. We walked the trail to the bird
hide where we had our picnic lunch sitting on the viewing platform in the sun. A Reed Bunting visited a
nearby bush briefly. Another visitor reported seeing 2 young hedgehogs which we missed. Oyster
mushrooms were spotted on a tree trunk. Later Tricia, the MWT reserves warden took us on a guided tour
of the reserve. She showed us the differences between common spotted and heath spotted orchids, early
marsh and northern marsh orchid and explained the grassland management. We saw a couple of
Speckled Wood butterflies.
Tricia explaining orchid field management
After this we visited the central Ballaugh Curragh, Ramsar site. Here we dived down a narrow walk among
lush royal fern, bog myrtle, with a mixed flock of tits overhead, including Long Tailed Tits. There were
many marsh plant species in this mysterious mossy wetland. Signs of Red Necked Wallaby and feral
Greylag Geese were seen – neither native! On the way out of the curragh we passed a garden with many
bird feeders which provided us with excellent views of finches, tits, sparrows, (including Tree Sparrow)
and a Lesser Redpoll.
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The Travelling Naturalist
Isle of Man, June 2011, Trip Report
We left the curragh (the local name for willow carr) and drove up Ballaugh Glen onto the moorland along
the Druidale road. We soon spotted a male Hen Harrier flying away over the heather. And then an eagleeyed member of the party spotted a big brown bird on a tussock in the distance. With the telescope we were
able to see it was a female Hen Harrier. We watched this one for some time, following her when she took
off, before returning very satisfied to Knockaloe Beg.
After supper most of us went off with the bat detector and torches to see if we could locate some bats down
on the Raggatt (a section of river, woodland and disused railway). Daubentons were seen and heard over
the water by Glenfaba bridge and both Pipistrelles (45 and 55 frequency) were picked up over the trees and
along the old railwayline.
Thursday 23 June
Overcast then sunny, warm and breezy
After another hearty Manx breakfast we went to see if we could get a better view of the Hen Harriers. We
were rewarded with a long, and relatively close view of the handsome grey male bird below the Beinn y
Phott road. There were 2 warblers which we eventually decided might be Garden Warblers in the beech
trees by the Druidale road. We drove across the mountain to the main road (TT Mountain Course) and
dropped down to Creg na Baa before following the lanes into Baldrine and then on to Laxey. We had a
brew looking at the Lady Isabella, a massive waterwheel which pumped water from the Laxey mines.
Next we stopped by the Dhoon halt, on the electric tram route. We took our packed lunches down into
Dhoon glen following the steep fern-lined steps. Almost immediately Liz sniffed and said “I smell stink
horn”. Five of these mysterious fungi were located under the trees across the burn, now almost completely
free of brown slimy spore after being visited by many fly’s feet.
Stink horn (Phallus impudicus)
We walked on down past planted beechs, and native hazels, downy birches and oaks, past water-smoothed
rocks to the dramatic waterfall (known as “big girl”). Beside the path we recorded wood sanicle, wood
horsetail, yellow pimpernel and the rare hay-scented buckler fern. At the bottom of the glen we had our
picnic on the beach, watching Dark Green Fritillaries on sheep’s bit scabious and 4 shaggy feral goats
on high rock ledges above us. We counted 13 pairs of Fulmars on nests on ledges over the cove. We
shared the shingle beach with two very well-behaved Irish school groups. On the more gentle path back up
the hillside some of us saw a Common Lizard, a couple of Tachina grossa (large black parasitic flies) and
a wonderful view of a Peregrine circling above us. At the top we enjoyed some Manx ice cream watching
the Edwardian tram pass.
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The Travelling Naturalist
Isle of Man, June 2011, Trip Report
Next we stopped at Corrony Beg to see if the greater butterfly orchids were out and found an abundance
of heath spotted orchids and a scattering of greater butterfly orchids to photograph. We drove on down
to Maughold to look at the beautifully carved Celtic stone crosses and a field of barley with corn
marigolds. As we drove through Ramsay we spotted a Manx cat –a “stumpy” (with a short tail).
On the way back we called again at Peel Breakwater to see if there were any Basking Sharks. There were
several swimming out between the end of the breakwater and coast to the north of Peel. The volunteer
whale watchers explained they had seen 8 and that there were another 12 further along the coast. We could
clearly see at least 6 sharks circling and feeding, including one with a massive rounded dorsal fin (this shark
was estimated to be 5-6 metres long). It was difficult to leave to go back for supper.
Basking Shark
The evening meal was memorable for the elderflower jelly made with local flowers, served with
homemade shortbread. We had bought wine to celebrate our last evening meal together and pink peonies for
our wonderful hostesses (Fiona and her mother Mary, and all their children who helped too). After supper
we looked at pictures of the Crete tour 2007, including the remarkable little bittern which tried to hide in a
green fig tree!
Friday 24 June
Sunny at first then overcast and cool
It was a sunny start to the day. Once we were all packed we said our farewells to our hostess, Fiona, then
squeezed our cases and ourselves into the bus. We stopped briefly in St John’s to walk up through the
Mullen y Cloie arboretum (which included a flowering Castanea indica) by the river.
We then went on through Castletown and out along the shore to Scarlett, past a patch of sea kale, lines of
yellow sea raddish and patch of tall flowering hemlock. At the flooded quarry we saw an assortment of
Mallard type ducks, with small chicks. There was also a Moorhen, a Heron and a Pied Wagtail. The
quarry had patches of white water lilies, bogbean and yellow flag iris. On along the path we encountered a
flock of twittering Linnets, and down on the seaweed we saw a pair of Ringed Plovers and a Shag. On the
flowery slopes we photographed colourful sheets of kidney vetch, birds foot trefoil, thyme and small
patches of purple milk vetch. The pods of spring squill were still visible. By the pools we saw Bluetailed Damselflies, Six-spot Burnet Moth caterpillar and many of their yellow pupal cases. It was cooler
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The Travelling Naturalist
Isle of Man, June 2011, Trip Report
and getting cloudy as we walked back and most of us opted to eat our packed lunch of lovely home bakes
and fresh fruit in the vehicle.
After lunch we said goodbye to everyone as they left for their planes, ferry and hotel, after an excellent tour.
Everyone was very happy with the generally good weather and we had seen beautiful orchid fields, lots of
Basking Sharks and had good views of Hen Harriers. Overall it was a very successful tour and everyone
took home happy memories of a great holiday with this very sociable party.
SPECIES CHECKLIST
BIRDS
9 Common pheasant
Phasianus colchicus
seen and heard most days
12 Greylag goose
Anser anser
signs of these birds seen in Ballaugh Curraghs
18 Mute swan
Cygnus olor
pair seen at Scarlett on shore and many in
Castletown harbour on 24th
26 Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Frequently seen in Peel harbour and feral
versions on Scarlett quarry
36 Common eider
Somateria mollissima
7 seen on 21st from boat and at Bradda head.
48 Northern fulmar
Fulmarus galcialis
seen in pairs nesting on cliffs at Marine drive on
20th, at Dhoon on 23rd and a flock of 30 at Peel
harbour entrance on 20th, 21st and 23rd
49 Manx Shearwater
Puffinus puffinus
around 8 seen from boat at back of Calf on 21st
63 Grey heron
Ardea cinerea
3 seen on Scarlett beach on 24th
66 Northern gannet
Morus bassanus
Seen daily fishing off coast
67 Great cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo
3 seen from boat on 21st and from Peel on 23rd
68 European shag
Leucocarbo aristotelis
regularly seen flying along coast including up to
50 along the Calf coast
69 Common kestrel
Falco tinnunculus
seen at the Sloch, the Ayres and from the
Mountain Road
73 Peregrine
Falco peregrinus
1 young bird seen on Calf cliff on 21st and adult
overhead on 23rd at Dhoon.
81 Hen harrier
Circus cyaneus
in Druidale, one male and 1 female seen on 22nd
and below Beinn y Phott road 1 male on 23rd
94 Eursian oystercatcher
Haemotopus ostralegus
seen daily, largest numbers on Ayres coast on
22nd
96 Lapwing
Vanellus vanellus
heard on 22nd on Ayres
100 Common ringed plover
Charadrius hiaticula
6 pairs seen on Ayres beach, on 22nd and 1 pair
seen on Scarlett shore on 24th
110 Eurasian curlew
Numenius arquata
3 seen and heard on Ayres on 22nd
133 Great black backed gull
Larus marinus
seen daily especially on sea at back of the Calf on
21st
136 Herring gull
Larus argentatus
10-100 seen daily including young
138 Lesser black backed gull
Larus fuscus
one seen on 20th from Marine Drive
143 Kittiwake
Rissa tridactyla
dozens nesting on Sugarloaf on 21st and 4-5 on
Peel breakwater on 23rd
148 Arctic tern
Sterna paradisaea
1 seen from Port Erin breakwater on 21st and
heard in Peel on 23rd
149 Little tern
Stern albifrons
15 or so feeding and nesting on Ayres beach,
young present but not seen
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The Travelling Naturalist
Isle of Man, June 2011, Trip Report
157 Common Guillemot
Uria aalge
30 + seen nesting below Marine Drive on 20th
but hundreds seeen around Sugarloaf, on cliffs
and on sea, on 21st
158 Razorbill
Alca torda
one seen from Marine Drive on 20th and
hundreds nesting and sitting on water at
Sugarloaf on 21st
159 Black Guillemot
Cepphus grille
1 seen by Peel breakwater on 15th and 17th, 2
seen from boat on 16th
160 Puffin
Fratercula arctica
One seen flying fast at back of Calf on 21st
161 Rock dove
Columba livia
feral pigeons seen on 20th on Marine Drive and
on Bradda head on 21st
163 Wood pigeon
Columba palumbus
1-10 seen most days
165 Collared dove
Streptopelia decaocto
1-6 seen most days
187 Eurasian magpie
Pica pica
between 1-10 seen most days
188 Red-billed chough
Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
10 plus seen on 20th at Marine Drive, 15 seen aat
Chasms above Sugarloaf and at Bradda Head on
21st. Scarlett and up to 80 seen from Sound over
Spanish Head on 16th
189 Jackdaw
Corvus monedula
seen daily in flocks and pairs
190 Rook
Corvus frugilegus
seen daily in flocks including on farmer's barley
191 Carrion Crow
Corvus corone
seen most days, including one mobbing a kestrel.
192 Hooded crow
Corvus cornix
seen daily often in pairs
193 Northern raven
Corvus corax
5 seen on 21st above farm, and 5 seen on 22nd on
Ayres
197 Coal Tit
Periparus ater
2-3 seen on 22nd on bird feeder in Curragh
garden and 2 seen on 23rd in Dhoon glen
199 Great tit
Parus major
seen with other tits in Curraghs on 22nd and at
Corrony Beg on 23rd
200 Blue tit
Cyanistes caerulens
10 seen on 22nd in Curraghs
202 Barn swallow
Hirundo rustica
seen daily especially around Knockaloe Beg
203 Common house martin
Delichon urbicum
seen in small numbers on 21st and 22nd
205 Long tailed tit
Aegithalos caudatus
a flock flew past in Close Sartfield on 22nd
208 Skylark
Alauda arvensis
heard on at Bradda on 21st and seen over Ayres
on 22nd
218 Willow warbler
Phylloscopus trochilus
heard on Bradda head on 21st and in Close
Sartfield and Curraghs on 22nd
219 Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybita
one heard on 22nd
222 Blackcap
Sylvia atricapilla
3 seen on 21st at Bradda head and heard on 22nd
223 Garden warbler
Sylvia borin
3 in beech tree in Druidale on 23rd
226 Common whitethroat
Sylvia communis
seen on 20th on Marine Drive and on 22nd on
Ayres
232 Wren
Troglodytes troglodytes
heard and occassionally seen
234 Treecreeper
Certhia familiaris
one seen in Curraghs on 22nd
236 Common Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
seen daily, including flocks of young on beaches
238 Common Blackbird
Turdus merula
seen daily in small numbers
241 Song thrush
Turdus philomelos
regularly seen around farm and on roadsides.
242 Mistle thrush
Turdus viscivorus
2 seen by Druidale road on 22nd
243 European Robin
Erithacus rubecula
singles seen most days
249 European Stonechat
Saxicola rubicola
one seen at the Sloch on wall on 21st
255 House sparrow
Passer domesticus
seen in groups each day
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The Travelling Naturalist
Isle of Man, June 2011, Trip Report
256 Tree Sparrow
Passer montanus
3-4 seen on bird feeder in Curraghs garden on
22nd
261 Pied wagtail
Motacilla alba yarrelli
1-2 seen most days, including by farmhouse
264 Meadow pipit
Anthus pratensis
up to 6 seen each day over grassland
268 Rock pipit
Anthus petrosus
small numbers seen on 20th at Marine Drive, on
21st at Port Erin Breakwater and 24th at Scarlett
269 Common chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
flock seen in Curraghs on 22nd and heard in
Dhoon glen on 23rd
272 European greenfinch
Carduelis chloris
1 seen on 21st and 3 seen on 22nd
274 European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelis
up to 10 seen and heard most days
276 Lesser Redpoll
Carduelis cabaret
2 seen on Curraghs garden bird feeder 22nd
279 Common Linnet
Carduelis cannabina
flock of 10 on 21st at Bradda and 20 seen at
Scarlett on 24th
288 Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclus
one seen from bird hide in Close Sartfield on
22nd
7 Daubenton's bat
Myotis daubentoni
9 Common Pipistrelle (45 kHz)
Pipistrellus pipistrellus
10 Soprano pipistrelle (55 kHz)
13 Brown long-eared bat
Pipistrellus pygmaeus
Plecotis auritus
21 Atlantic grey seal
Halichoerus grypus
28 Harbour porpoise
45 Brown hare
Phocoena phocoena
Lepus europeaus
47 Rabbit
Oryctoalus cuniculus
Polecat ferret
Feral goats
Manx cat
Faeries
Mustela putorius
Capra hircus
Felis domesticus
2-3 seen and picked up on bat detector on 22nd
over river Neb at the Raggatt
picked up on bat detector on 22nd and seen by
Glenfaba bridge
picked up on bat detector at Raggatt on 22nd
possibly picked up on bat detector in woodland
by Raggatt on 22nd
7 seen at Peel outer harbour and 2 on Ayres
coast on 15th, and up to 25 seen at Sound and
from boat on 16th. 2 seen at Peel and 2 seen at St
Michael's Isle seen on 18th
2 pairs seen off Calf on 21st
on seen on 21st on field near Knockaloe Beg
farm
up to 20 or more seen daily including black one
at Mullen y Cloie in St Johns
one seen running by road in Andreas on 22nd
4 seen above Dhoon cove on 23rd
one seen in Ramsey on 23rd
none under Fairy Bridge
MAMMALS
AMPHIBIANS
54 Common frog
Rana temporaria
seen in Curraghs and on Ayres on 22nd
Lacerta vivipara
one seen on path up from Dhoon on 23rd
71 Basking shark
Cetorhinus maximus
73. Brown trout
Pollack (Calig in Manx)
Salmo trutta
Pollachius pollachius
Salmon
Salmo salar
one seen on 20th and at least 6 seen on 23rd in
Peel Bay
at least 12 seen in river in Glen Maye on 21st
on 24th a bag-full caught by local fisherman at
Scarlett, 2 later seen in Liz's frying pan
large fish jumped in Dhoon bay which looked
like a salmon, on 23rd
REPTILES
59 Common Lizard
FISH
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The Travelling Naturalist
Isle of Man, June 2011, Trip Report
BUTTERFLIES
78 Large White
79 Small white
94 Common blue
Pieris brassicae
Artogeia rapae
Polyommatus icarus
104 Dark green fritillary
Mesoacidalia aglaja
109 Meadow brown
Maniola jurtina
113 Small heath
Coenonympha pamphilius
114 Speckled wood
Pararge aegeria
one seen on 24th at Scarlett
one seen at Marine Drive on 20th
one seen at Marine Drive on 20th, and one on
Bradda Head on 21st, 20 + on Ayres and in
Curraghs on 22nd
2 seen at Marine Drive on 20th, 6 seen on Ayres
on 22nd and 8 counted in Dhoon Glen
one seen on Marine Drive on 20th, 1 seen on
22nd on Close Sartfield and 2-3 seen on 23rd at
Dhoon.
at least 10 on Marine Drive on 20th, 20 plus on
Ayres on 22nd and 2-3 at Dhoon on 23rd
2 seen at Bradda head on 21st , 5-6 seen in Close
Sartfield on 22nd and 2-3 seen on 23rd at Dhoon
MOTHS
126 Six-spot burnet
Zygaena filipendulae
Wormward Shark caterpillar
Green carpet
Colostygia pectinataria
2 seen on Marine Drive on 20th, 2 larvae seen on
Bradda head on 21st and 4-5 adults seen on
Ayres on 22nd. 1 larva at scarlett on 24th
Mystery caterpillar - on path at scarlett on 24th
one seen at Close Sartfield
DRAGONFLIES
183. Common blue-tail
Ischnura elegans
6-7 seen by pools at Scarlett on 24th (including 2
pairs in tandem)
195 Common green grasshopper
196 Field grasshopper
Omocestus viridulis
Chorthippus brunneus
208 Green tiger beetle
Ruby tailed wasp
Cicindela campestris
Chrysis ignita
7 spot ladybird
Bumble bee
Big black fly!
Bombus distinguendus
Tachina grossa
lots on Ayres on 22nd and at Dhoon on 23rd
1 at marien Drive on 20th and also seen at Ayres
and Dhoon
2 seen at Sound on 16th
one seen on Marine Drive on 20th and one seen
on Dhoon beach on 23rd
1 seen on Marine Drive on 20th
1 seen on Marine Drive on 20th
one seen at Bradda on 21st and 2 seen at Dhoon
upper path on 23rd
OTHER INSECTS
OTHER TAXA
216 Shore Crab
218 Great black slug
222 Moon jellyfish
Carcinus maenas
Arion ater
Aurelia aurita
223 Lion's mane jellyfish
Banded snail
Cyanea capillata
Cepaea nemoralis
Garden cross spider
Limpet
Sand hopper
Pill woodlouse
Araneus diadematus.
Patella vulgata
Talitrus sp
Armadillidium sp
10
3 on Dhoon beach under large stone on 23rd
one on path near farm on 21st
many around boat in Port St Mary harbour on
21st
1 below Marine drive on 20th
2 on Marine Drive on 20th and lots on Ayres on
23rd
one on Bradda head on 21st
many on rocks at Dhoon beach on 23rd
many under stone on Dhoon beach on 23rd
one by path at Bradda head on 21st
The Travelling Naturalist
Isle of Man, June 2011, Trip Report
PLANTS
Alexanders
Bell heather
Bird's foot trefoil
Biting stonecrop
Bog bean
Bog myrtle
Bog pimpernel
Branched bur-reed
Brookweed
Burdock
Burnet rose
Common century
Common figwort
Common sea lavender
Common spotted orchid
Common twayblade
Common valerian
Corn marigold
Crested hairgrass
Early marsh orchid
Enchanter's nightshade
English stonecrop
Eyebright
Foxgloves
Greater butterfly orchid
Greater sea spurrey
Greater woodrush
Gypsywort
Hay or yellow rattle
Heath spotted orchid
Hedge woundwort
Hemlock
Hemlock water dropwort
Ivy leaved toadflax
Kidney vetch
Ling heather
Long headed poppy
Marsh cinquefoil
Marsh pennywort
Marsh woundwort
Meadow vetchling
Meadowsweet
Milkwort
Mousear hawkweed
Northern marsh orchid
Ox eye daisy
Parsley-leaved water dropwort
Portland spurge
Purple milk vetch
Pyramidal orchid
Red valerian
Rock samphire
Sand spurrey
Scurvy grass
Sea beet
Smyrnium olusatrum
Erica cinerea
Lotus corniculatus
Sedum acre
Menyanthes trifoliata
Myrica gale
Anagallis tenella
Sparganium erectum
Samolus valerandi
Arctium minus
Rosa pimpinellifolia
Centaurium erythraea
common at Scarlett
Common on coast
common
on Ayres and Bradda
in Curraghs
in Curraghs
At Bradda and in Ayres dune slack
in Curraghs ditch
by Scarlett pools
at Bradda Head
on Ayres
Common at Scarlett and on Sound grassy
slope
Scrophularia nodosa
in Curraghs
Limonium vulgare
1 clump on St Michael's Isle
Dactylorhiza maculata ssp ericetorum common at Close Sartfield
Listera cordata
common at Close Sartfield
Valeriana officinalis
in Glen Maye
Chrysanthemum segetum
in field near Maughold church
Koeleria cristata
widespread on Langness
Dactylorhiza incarnata
small number at Close Sartfield
Circaea lutetiana
Common in Dhoon Glen
Sedum anglicum
seen on Ayres
Eurphrasia agg
Ayres, Bradda and Curraghs
Digitalis purpurea
in flower by roads especially in Maughold
Plantanthera chlorantha
about 15 at Corrony Beg
Spergularia media
found at Scarlett
Luzula sylvatica
In Dhoon Glen
Lycopus europaeus
In Curraghs ditch
Rhinanthus minor
Common at Close Sartfield
Dactylorhiza maculata ssp ericetorum very abundant at Close Sartfield and
Corrony Beg
Stachys sylvatica
near gate in Curraghs
Conium maculatum
At Langness and Scarlett
Oenanthe crocata
in Curraghs ditch
Columbaria muralis
on Scarlett wall
Anthyllis vulneraria
lots on Scarlett slopes
Calluna vulgaris
On moorland -eg Druidale
Papaver dubium
seen at Scarlett
Potentilla palustris
in Ballaugh Curragh
Hydrocotyle vulgaris
in Ayres dune slack with adder's tongue
fern
Stachys palustris
near gate in Curraghs
Lathyrus pratensis
in Glen Maye
Filipendula ulmaria
in Glen Maye
Polygala vulgaris
at Scarlett and Bradda
Pilosella officinarum
by path on Bradda head
Dactylorihiza purpurella
small number at Close Sartfield and on
Ayres
Leucanthemum vulgare
in Close Sartfield meadow
Oenanthe lachenalii
By Scarlett pools
Euphorbia portlandica
on Ayres sand dunes
Astragalus danicus
common at Scarlett
Anacamptis pyramidalis
many in sand dunes at Ayres
Centranthus ruber
Widespread
Crithmum maritimum
on wall at Scarlett
Spergularia rubra
on sand in Ayres car park
Cochlearia sp
by path at Scarlett
Beta vulgaris
seen at Scarlett
11
The Travelling Naturalist
Isle of Man, June 2011, Trip Report
Sea bindweed
Sea campion
Sea holly
Sea plantain
Sea raddish
Sea sandwort
Sea spurge
Sheep's bit scabious
Calystegia soldanella
Silene uniflora
Eryngium maritimum
Plantago maritima
Raphanus maritimus
Glaux maritima
Euphorbia paralias
Jasione montana
Silverweed
Smith's pepperwort
Spring beauty
Spring sandwort
Spring squill (seed heads)
Sweetbriar
Thyme
Trailing st John's wort
Potentilla anserina
Lepidium heterophyllum
Montia perfoliata
Minuartia verna
Scilla verna
Rosa rubiginosa
Thymus praecox
Hypericum humifusum
Tufted vetch
Tutsan
Wall pennywort
Vicia cracca
Hypericum androsaemum
Umbilicus rupestris
Water mint
Water plantain
Western gorse
White waterlily
Wild carrot
Wood avens
Wood sage
Mentha aquatica
Alisma plantago-aquatica
Ulex gallii
Nymphaea alba
Daucus carrota
Geum urbanum
Teucrium scorodonia
Wood vetch
Yellow flag iris
Yellow pimpernel
Vicia sylvatica
Iris pseudacorus
Lysimachia nemorum
Ferns
Adder's tongue fern
Black spleenwort
Ophioglossum vulgatum
Asplenium adiantum-nigrum
Bracken
Broad buckler fern
Pteridium aquilinum
Dryopteris dilatata
Common Polypody
Golden scaly male fern
Hard fern
Hart's tongue fern
Hay scented buckler fern
Lady fern
Polpodium vulgare
Dryopteris affinis
Blechnum spicant
Asplenium scolopendrium
Dryopteris aemula
Athyrium filix-femina
Lemon scented or mountain fern
Maidenhair spleenwort
Male fern
Moonwort
Royal fern
Sea spleenwort
Oreopteris limbosperma
Asplenium trichomanes
Botrychium lunaria
Osmunda regalis
Asplenium marinum
Soft shield fern
Wall rue
Water horsetail
Wood horsetail
Polystichum setiferum
Asplenium ruta-muraria
Equisetim fluviatile
Equisetum sylvaticum
12
on Ayres
On marine Drive
on Ayres
On Marine Drive
on St Michael's isle
at the Ayres
in dunes at Ayres
on Ayres, Dhoon, Glen Maye and at
Bradda
in dune slack at Ayres
found on Langness
in Ayres plantation
on mine waste at Bradda
At Scarlett, Bradda and St Michael's isle
near Knockaloe Beg
at Scarlett, Ayres and Bradda
found in abundance at start of Bradda path
and some on rock by Dhoon beach
Marine Drive and Ayres
seen in Dhoon Glen and Glen Maye
near Knockaloe Beg farmhouse and on
other walls or rock faces
in Curraghs
in ditch at Curraghs
seen at the Sloch
in Scarlett quarry
on pathside at Scarlett
In Dhoon Glen
at Bradda Head, Marine Drive and Dhoon
Glen
local in Glen Maye
by Curraghs drain and Scarlett quarry
in Dhoon Glen
in dune slack on Ayres
on old sod hedge at Bradda, at Dhoon and
on Marine Drive
common, incl Bradda and Dhoon Glen
common incl by Knocklaoe Beg
farmhouse road
at Bradda and Glen maye
In Close Sartfield and Curraghs
in Dhoon Glen
In Dhoon Glen and Glen Maye
in Dhoon Glen
common incl by Knocklaoe Beg
farmhouse
in Dhoon Glen
on rockface in Dhoon Glen
first seen Knocklaoe Beg farmhouse road
on Ayres
in Ballaugh Curragh and Close Sartfield
in building by Peel castle and chapel on St
Michael's Isle
in Dhoon Glen and Glen Maye
on wall at Scarlett
in Curraghs
In Dhoon Glen
The Travelling Naturalist
Isle of Man, June 2011, Trip Report
FUNGI
Stinkhorn
Oyster mushrooms
Phallus impudicus
Pleurotus ostreatus
5 in Dhoon Glen
a group on a low trunk at Close Sartfield
Liz Charter, June 2011
© The Travelling Naturalist, 2011
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