On my approach, the carrion crows were yelling. It always pays to stop and find out what they are yelling about. Above the crows, in a higher tree, a buzzard was perched. The crows had warned a flock of wood pigeons to the buzzard’s presence and had taken flight. The buzzard seemed to be in two minds as to chase the pigeons or not. I decided to leave them all be, and continue on my walk.

View over the Brucehill Cliff, towards the grassland below.

A close-up of the Cliff's face, with new growth visible.

In a few months time, this area will be full of sunbathing Peacock Butterflies.

Although it was a beautiful day, Winter is still here and will be for some time yet.

One of the trees had been blown over during the Winter storms,

The Willow trees are starting to bud. It shouldn't be too long before they are lush again.

This little oak tree still has last year's foliage but is showing this year's buds.

At this point in my walk, the crows were calling again. Looking skywards I was privileged to see the buzzard soaring above the grasslands. He circled around us all, and time stood still. Realising the crows would not let him be, he flew East towards Cardross.

The focal point of the Cliff's personhood. I always stop here to offer thanks to him,

It may not look like much, but in summer there is an explosion of wild flowers, butterflies and swifts.

I climbed into a nearby willow, and settled myself into her centre. I rocked with the branches as they danced in the breeze, and smiled as the sun kissed my skin. I could feel the willow’s buds pushing outwards towards the light. The local birds became used to my presence, and I was able to sit quietly and listen to their songs. A perfect moment. It was soon shattered by the underlying sound of traffic being carried across the Clyde, punctuated by the occasional train. I had taken this walk to find healing, and discovered that there was no escape from the things that make me ill. I thanked the willow for her hospitality. and began my journey home.

If only I had wings, I would be rejoicing in that sky.

The Broom have started to flower, a reminder that Winter will give way to Spring.

I have not set foot in the grasslands for many months, and it has been even longer since I blogged about the Brucehill Cliffs.

When I last visited, the Cliffs were buzzing with activity. Literally! The songs of birds and grasshoppers breezed across the sky, and you couldn’t help but trip over the rabbits – there were so many!

At this time of year you would be forgiven for thinking that the Cliffs were silent. They aren’t, but you do have to listen carefully.

The birds are still singing, but not as frequently. And you can hear the animals rushing about in the undergrowth, even if you can’t see them.

It’s good to be back.

Image sourced from wikipedia, taken by http://foto.andreas-trepte.de/

The Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) can be spotted on occasion flying over the Brucehill Cliffs.  The site is an ideal place for hunting small mammals and birds, and for scavenging carrion.

They are most easily identified by their silhouette against the sky. They are stocky birds, short in neck and tail, pale on the underside and darker on top. Although Buzzards are the most common bird of prey in the United Kingdom, it is still a delight to spot one.

RSPB page on the Buzzard (complete with audio)

Image sourced from wikipedia, taken by http://foto.andreas-trepte.de/

The Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) is found on the shores of the Clyde, and is very distinctive due to it’s beautiful black feathers which shimmer green, and its visible head crest.

I have been told that they prefer to nest up in the hills around Dumbarton, but come to feed by the Clyde when the tide is out.

RSPB page on the Lapwing (complete with audio)

Spotted: 13/10/10

The Hoverfly (Syrphus) is a genus of hoverfly, and I have been told by the good people on iSpot that it cannot be identified by species without dissection. I’m quite happy just to settle for knowing the genus. They feed mainly in nectar and pollen, so are great for pollinating the wildflowers found at the cliffs. They are often mistaken for wasps due to their use of Batesian mimicry – they have evolved in such a way that they have copied the warning colours of wasps, which helps them ward of predators.

Wikipedia article on Hoverflies

The UK Hoverfly recording scheme

Photo taken: 25th August 2010

The Common Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris) is one of our native plant species, and due to the shape of its flowers it requires strong insects (such as bees) to pollinate it. However, it does provide a food source for moths such as the Silver Y and the Brown Rustic.

Wikipedia article on the Common Toadflax

Photographed on 25th August 2010

This is one identification I am not certain about. I believe it *might* be a Meadow Vetchling.

The Bird’s-Foot-Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) is a member of the pea family. The Trefoil is a wonderful plant for wildlife – it is the food plant for the larvae of many butterflies and moths, and it attractive to bees.

About wildflowers: Bird’s-Foot-Trefoil

The Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus (Bombus) terrestris) is what I imagine when I am asked to visualise a bee. It is one of the most common species found around Europe, and whenever I see one, I always smile. These bees make their first appearance at the Cliffs in early spring, when the queens awake from their hibernation, and can be found throughout the summer and early autumn.It is a delight to hear their industrious hum as they dance through the grassland.

Although these bees (and other species) may seem common, bumblebee numbers are in decline. You can learn about the theories explaining why this may be happening, and what you can do to help by visiting the Save the WeeBees website.

A simple guide to UK bee species

Photographed on 25th and 29th August 2010.

The Ragwort (Senecio) is a member of the daisy family, and it is unpopular with gardeners. It is considered a “weed”, and if eaten it can be poisonous – like the Hemp-Agrimony, the Ragwort contains alkaloids. I have been told by professional gardeners that touching the plant can cause skin to blister, though I currently have no intention of finding this out for myself.

I have a soft spot for undervalued species. If you ignore the weed-loathing gardeners, the Ragwort is a valuable part of the UK’s flora. Across the world, the Ragwort provided food for the larvae of many moth and butterfly species. In the UK it feeds the Cinnabar moth, one of the more colourful species.

Ragwort – Is it as bad as you think?

Wikipedia article on Ragwort

Photographed on 25th August 2010

The Hemp-agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinym) is a species native to Eurasia. The individual flowers are small, and a beautiful mauve colour. The plant itself can grow to be 1.5 metres tall or more, and be as wide as 1.2 metres. I found this individual on the northern boundary of the grasslands. The plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are toxic to the liver.

Wikipedia page on Hemp-agrimony

Photographed on 25th August 2010.