Killard Point Geology

The geology at Killard was really interesting. The cliffs at the back of the beach were cemented glacial deposits and in places you could see glacially striated bedrock. This is the only site in the Irish Sea where sub-glacial sediments were discharged straight into the sea. 

Here, a rapidly flowing icesheet entered into a tidal sea while inland the ice was shaping the debris into drumlin swarms as it melted and swept into the sea. A far better summary and more information is provided in the  ESCR site summary

The back of the beach.

Caves. 

Layers of pebbles/cobbles and what was basically a sandstone.

Nice layers...

Something was obviously going on here...with cobbles having a different orientation.

Metamorphic bedrock.

With glacial striations.

Killard Point Flowers

 The flowers at Killard Point were stunning....

Pyramidal Orchids ..

Of slightly varying colours...

And intensities...

A properly white Common Spotted-orchid.

Bee Orchids - with the one on the right being a var Chlorantha ie pale!

Frog Orchids...

And a Frog Orchid x Common Spotted-orchid...rather special! 

Killard Point walk : Northern Ireland

After a brief period at home to 'play catch up' a visit to see family in northern Ireland. Day 1: an absolutely stunning walk: fabulous flowers, plentiful orchids, great geology, good marine life and views to boot. Hence having to do a three way split of blogs! 

Walking along the coast.

Field Scabious.

Common Spotted-orchids.

An abundance of flowers ....Yellow Rattle, Field Scabious, Ladies Bedstraw, Common Rest Harrow, Common Centaury, Mountain Pansies, Red Clover, White Clover, Spring Squill (seeded) Cat's Ears and Hawkbits, Eyebright, Self Heal and of course the orchids.

It was nice to see so much Rest Harrow. 

Pyramidal Orchids.

Harbour/Common Seal. 

Looking across to the Mournes.

Snoozing.

Rock-pooling.

Light Bulb Sea Squirts.

A red Sea Squirt sp.

A Solar-powered Sea Slug.

The Mournes.

Harbour/Common Seal.

Frog Orchids in North Cumbria

A quick trip out to see our local  Orchids.

As you go onto the site, the first bank is home to Chalk Fragrant Orchids.

Chalk Fragrants with their long spurs.

Further in, Frog Orchids ....good to see they are still there!

This Frog promises to be an interesting colour....

And while my Twayblade picture was out of focus - the detail pics of a Ladybird and Chimney Sweeper Moth weren't.

A classic view over Skiddaw.

Wedholme

Back from Islay and time to catch up with life again ....with the odd trip out - obviously! 

A threatening sky.

Cotton Grass.

A calling Redshank up a tree - in lieu of a post to stand on. 

White-beaked Sedge and Great Sundew.

Bog Asphodel.

Black Darter.

Large Heath - and below.

Large Skipper.

Lamonby verges

After we had been to Eycott, back home via Lamonby verges (and the Old Crown pub at Hesket Newmarket).

The verges with Quaking Grass, Red Clover, Twayblade, Yellow Rattle, Common Spotted-orchid and various Hawkbits obvious in the picture above.

Plenty of Common Spotted.

Betony.

Common Spotted.

Common Spotted x Northern Marsh.

Northern Marsh.

Twayblade.