"Scottish Snippets"

"Colour Supplement"

13 May 2006

Each week the Rampant Scotland Newsletter includes a number of photographs which illustrate the weather, flora and fauna of the current week around Scotland. There are so many such graphics worth including that a separate "colour supplement" is created so as not to totally overload the Newsletter. Here is this week's crop!

Culzean Castle

Culzean castle in Ayrshire sits over a cliff, looking out to the Firth of Clyde and Arran, but the side seen by most visitors faces to the east. So, depending on the time of day or year, it can present a variety of different pictures. But one aspect is always the same - it always looks magnificent!

Orange Tip Butterfly

There have been a few Orange Tip butterflies flitting around non-stop in the last couple of weeks. At last, this week one or two remained long enough to refuel and so get their pictures taken. Normally they prefer wild flowers such as Mustard Garlic or Cuckoo-flowers, but this one got a bit confused by this more cultivated flower in the walled garden of Colzium Estate in North Lanarkshire.

Orange Tip Butterfly

The Orange Tip butterfly is described in the reference books as "one of the prettiest British butterflies" - and who can argue with that? However, the bright colours on the upper wing and the camouflage pattern and orange tip on the underside are only seen on the male butterfly - female Orange Tips look more like the Small White butterfly. This one was enjoying the nectar from a Dandelion wild flower in the countryside north of Glasgow. Out of many butterflies seen that sunny afternoon (Thursday of this week) this was the only one that stopped long enough for a photo.

Apple Blossom

It's always difficult to know whether trees in bloom at this time of year are cherry, apple, pear or even almond - many people just use the generic name "prunus". But I seem to recall this one having apples last year.

Fox

Foxes are largely nocturnal animals - I often hear them barking at night in the field behind my house. But this one seems to have developed a liking for daylight and just before this photo was taken he was snoozing peacefully in the sunshine. After I knocked on the window, he slowly and leisurely got up and wandered off.

Trollius

The golden colours of this Trollius (also known as Globe Flower) seem to be trying to outshine the sun.

Grey Wagtail

Although often seen flitting along the water's edge on lochs or rivers, Grey Wagtails are extremely shy birds and usually disappear as soon as my camera points in their direction. For once, this one was too busy looking for food and I was able to get close enough.

If you want to look back at earlier editions of this Colour Supplement, there is an Index Page



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