Alpine Plants of Ben Lawers, Scotland Naturetrek Tour Report 3 - 6 August 2012 Saxifraga nivalis Epilobium alsinifolium 2012 Naturetrek Group admiring Carex Microglochin Carex microglochin Report and images compiled by Paul Harmes Naturetrek Cheriton Mill Cheriton Alresford Hampshire SO24 0NG England T: +44 (0)1962 733051 F: +44 (0)1962 736426 E: info@naturetrek.co.uk W: www.naturetrek.co.uk Tour Report Alpine Plants of Ben Lawers, Scotland Tour Leaders: Paul Harmes Naturetrek Leader & Botanist Participants: Jenny Bell Linda Eggins Pat Joyce Jim Joyce Geoff Joyce Day 1 Friday 3rd August Weather: Bright with high cloud The group assembled at the Killin Hotel during the course of the afternoon. Pat and Jim, and Linda had made their own way, and Jenny and Geoff met with Paul at Perth railway station at 17-00hrs. Boarding the minibus, we made our way west through Methven, Crieff, Comrie, St. Fillans and along the northern shore of Loch Earn, to Lochearnhead. Along the way we saw Common Buzzard and Barn Swallow. At Lochearnhead we turned north, and drove five miles up Glen Ogle, before turning east to Killin. It was not too long before the imposing peak of Ben Lawers (1214m) was glimpsed through the trees. As we entered the village of Killin, we passed over the picturesque Falls of Dochart, before arriving at the hotel at 18-30hrs. After checking into our rooms, we met in the lounge before going to dinner. After the meal Paul outlined the proposed itinerary (and potential weather-defined alternatives), before we retired for the night. Day 2 Saturday 4th August Weather: A sunny morning becoming cloudy with light rain in the afternoon After breakfast, we boarded the minibus for the short drive to the Ben Lawers car park, overlooking Loch Tay, where we set off up the path towards the three Munro (Scottish Mountains over 3,000ft) peaks of Beinn Ghlas (1103m or 3619ft), Ben Lawers (1214m or 3983ft) and Meall Garbh (1118m or 3667ft). The first three-quarters of a mile took us through the Ben Lawers Nature Reserve, a fenced area located along the Burn of Edramucky. As we approached the gate of the reserve, Redpoll flew over. In the reserve we found Lycopodium clavatum (Stag’s-horn Clubmoss), Salix aurita (Eared Willow), Narthecium ossifragum (Bog Asphodel) and Oreopteris limbosperma (Lemon-scented Fern), and Paul demonstrated the Scottish form of Betula pubescens, namely subsp. tortuosa (Downy Birch). As we progressed, we recorded Meadow Pipit. The ascent was on the shepherd’s path, which affords a relatively gentle ascent, and has a number of interesting species along the way: Saxifraga stellaris (Starry Saxifrage), Parnassia palustris (Grass of Parnassus) and Tofieldia pusilla (Scottish Asphodel) among them. A little further on, among rocks, we added Polystichum lonchitis (Holly Fern), Botrychium lunaria (Moonwort) and Saussurea alpina (Alpine Saw-wort), together with Silene acaulis (Moss Campion) and Salix herbacea (Dwarf Willow). 2 © Naturetrek September 12 Alpine Plants of Ben Lawers, Scotland Tour Report We now began to circle around the Coire Liath to the north of the ridge from Beinn Ghlas to Ben Lawers, and make our way steadily up to the ridge path. Here we spotted Gnaphalium supinum (Dwarf Cudweed), before making our way along the ‘Hanging Gardens’, where we stopped to have lunch. This area of the mountain is where the Dalradian calcareous schist begins to push through the acid rocks. It is these ‘schists’, together with late lying snow, that are responsible for the occurrence of many of the special plants for which this mountain is renowned. After eating, it was time to explore, and it was not too long before Jim found a small tuft of Gentiana nivalis (Snow Gentian). On the ledges we recorded Draba incana (Hoary Whitlow-grass), Saxifraga hypnoides (Mossy Saxifrage), Viola lutea (Mountain Pansy), Myosotis alpestris (Alpine Forget-me-not) and Sagina saginoides (Alpine Pearlwort). Linda also found more of the Gentian. We now set out to climb up to the summit, the steepest part of the route. As we approached the summit, a small flock of Rock Ptarmigan were disturbed. Have regained our breath, we walked the short distance from the trig point, to an area of rocky outcrops, where we found Saxifraga cernua (Drooping Saxifrage), Cochlearia pyrenaica subsp. alpina (Alpine Scurvy-grass), Draba norvegica (Rock Whitlow-grass) and Saxifraga nivalis (Arctic Saxifrage). A pair of Northern Ravens were seen circling, as we made our way back down to the car park, and Geoff found a single plant of Meum athamanticum (Spignel). It was now time to make our way back to the hotel for dinner. Day 3 Sunday 5th August Weather: Cloudy and dry Today’s itinerary had to be altered on last year’s tour, due to inclement weather conditions, but this year, the weather was with us, and we left hotel and made our way to the Lawers Hotel, about ten miles east of Killin, where we parked. We had to make a short hop to the beginning of the Lawers Burn footpath, along the road. The verges and adjacent fields and ditches produced Valeriana officinalis (Common Valerian), Stachys palustris (Marsh Woundwort), Geranium pratense (Meadow Crane’s-bill) and Athyrium filix- femina (Lady Fern). We now turned up through the farm and on through some scrubby woodland, passing Platanthera chlorantha (Greater Butterfly Orchid), surprisingly still flowering, and a delightful flush with Carex echinata (Star Sedge), Saxifraga aizoides (Yellow Mountain Saxifrage), Carex nigra (Common Sedge) and Epilobium palustre (Marsh Willowherb). We emerged from the woodland onto open upland rough grassland, and began to follow the track northwards to the river bridge and eventually, the dam below Lochan nan Cat, where we had lunch. Along the way we saw family parties of Meadow Pipits, Epilobium alsinifolium (Chickweed Willowherb), Knautia arvensis (Field Scabious), Epilobium brunnescens (New Zealand Willowherb), Isolepis setacea (Bristle Club-rush) and Eleocharis quinqueflora (Few-flowered Spike-rush). With our picnic completed, we left the marked path and made our way up towards the eastern slope of Meall Garbh, where we set out to find some of the UK’s rarer mountain species, and we were not disappointed. The going here is steep, but the regular appearance of flushes as we climbed gave us plenty of opportunities to catch our breath. © Naturetrek September 12 3 Tour Report Alpine Plants of Ben Lawers, Scotland It was not too long before we found Carex microglochin (Bristle Sedge), in good numbers and, a little further on, Carex saxatilis (Russet Sedge) and Juncus triglumis (Three-flowered Rush). It was now time to retrace our steps back down the mountain. Our descent was considerably quicker that our ascent, and we got back to the vehicle in good time, so we took some well-earned refreshments in the Lawers Hotel, before returning to Killin for dinner. Day 4 Monday 6th August Weather: Cloudy and dry After another superb breakfast, we boarded the minibus and made our way up past the Ben Lawers car park, and parked at the dam at the southern end of Lochan na Lairige, on the road to Bridge of Balgie and Glen Lyon. We now crossed the dam over to the southern end of the Tarmachan cliffs; as we reached the grassland and rocky outcrops on the other side, we found Cirsium palustre (Marsh Thistle), Carex hostiana (Tawny Sedge), Polypodium cambricum (Southern Polypody) Dryopteris dilitata (Broad Buckler- fern) and the diminutive Woodsia alpina (Alpine Woodsia). Making our way back over the dam, we set out to explore the road verge. Among the large quantities of Saxifraga aizoides (Yellow Saxifrage), Thymus polytrichus (Wild Thyme) and Rhinanthus minor subsp. borealis (Yellow rattle), we found a solitary flower of Silene alpina (Alpine Campion). We now continued on to The Bridge of Balgie, Glen Lyon. As we went Paul pointed out several specimens of Pinus sylvatica subsp. scotica (Scots Pine). We stopped at the Glen Lyon tea rooms for late morning refreshments, and here we also bid farewell to Jenny, who had to leave to make her train connection at Perth. Whilst enjoying our lunch, Pat drew our attention to a Spotted Flycatcher, seeking out insects from his vantage point in a nearby tree. On the return journey to Killin, we saw a large stand of Myrica gale (Bog Myrtle), and a solitary Common Buzzard was seen sitting on a rock. Upon our arrival back at the Killin Hotel, we all bid farewell to each other and began our various journeys home. Receive our e-newsletter Join the Naturetrek e-mailing list and be the first to hear about new tours, additional departures and new dates, tour reports and special offers. Visit www.naturetrek.co.uk to sign up. Naturetrek Facebook We are delighted to launch the Naturetrek Facebook page so that participants of Naturetrek tours can remain in touch after the holiday and share photos, comments and future travel plans. Setting up a personal profile at www.facebook.com is quick, free and easy. The Naturetrek Facebook page is now live; do please pay us a visit 4 © Naturetrek September 12 Alpine Plants of Ben Lawers, Scotland Tour Report Species Lists Plants Group/Species English Name (if any) Location PTERIDOPSIDA FERNS & ALLIES Lycopodiaceae Clubmoss Family Diphasiastrum alpinum Alpine Clubmoss Ben Lawers Huperzia selago Fir Clubmoss Ben Lawers Lycodium clavatum Stag's-horn Clubmoss Ben Lawers Selaginellaceae Lesser Clubmoss Family Selaginella selaginoides Lesser Clubmoss Ben Lawers Equisetaceae Horsetail Family Equisetum arvense Field Horsetail Near Lawers Hotel Equisetum palustre Marsh Horsetail Ben Lawers Equisetum sylvaticum Wood Horsetail Ben Lawers Aspleniaceae Spleenwort Family Asplenium ruta-muraria Wall Rue Near Lawers Hotel Asplenium trichomanes Maidenhair Spleenwort Lawers Burn Asplenium viride Green Spleenwort Ben Lawers Blechnaceae Hard-fern Family Blechnum spicant Hard-fern Ben Lawers Dennstaeditiaceae Bracken Family Pteridium aquilinum Bracken Near Lawers Hotel Dryopteridaceae Buckler-fern Family Dryopteris affinis agg.
Details
-
File Typepdf
-
Upload Time-
-
Content LanguagesEnglish
-
Upload UserAnonymous/Not logged-in
-
File Pages14 Page
-
File Size-