Day 5 Loch of Trondavoe and Burn of Valayre

We recorded around 90 species in our first coastal monad which included a variety of habitats; roadside, lochen, ditch, heath and beach. 

       Lousewort (Pedicularis sylvatica )

We had an interesting monad in the afternoon in which we found Autumn Gentian (Gentianella amarella) on a roadside verge, New Zealand Willowherb (Epilobium brunnescens) and  Brooklime (Veronica beccabunga) in a quarry.  We also found the rare Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) and a good candidate for S. x ostenfeldii, the hybrid between Senecio jacobaea and Senecio aquaticus.  Further interest as we followed  the Burn of Valayre, a Site of Special Scientific Interest featuring native trees: alder, aspen, downy birch, rowan and willow. A total of around 130 species.

Jay scrambles down the hill and is rewarded
 by finding Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis)
A rarity in Shetland but this one is probably planted

Botanical highlights: Gentianella amarella and Epilobium brunnescens