Kirkcudbrightshire Botany Group at Knockbrex and Barlocco, 8th June 2024
As we gathered, a Lesser Whitethroat Curruca curruca was rattling in the scrub nearby, the first of the year for most of us and a great start to the day. Our aim was to record the single monad NX5849 which comprises a good mix of habitats including shore, grassland, wetland, open water, woodland and scrub.
From our parking place, we walked a few yards to reach the edge of the monad and our first find was Sweet Cicely Myrrhis odorata, the flowers now over but showing its distinctive fruits. Val pointed out that the leaves usually have patches of a cream colouration which is a good way to confirm the plant. We then followed the footpath into a scrubby cattle-grazed pasture and immediately came across two pink brambles, Rubus polyanthemus and R. nemoralis (both confirmed by Angus Hannah).
Further into the pasture is an extensive wet depression with an excellent range of species. The wettest area was dominated by Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus and there were a good number of sedge species including False Fox-sedge Carex otrubae, Brown Sedge C. disticha, Common Sedge C. nigra and Carnation Sedge C. panicea. The slightly calcareous influence was indicated by the presence of Quaking-grass Briza media and Tawny Sedge Carex hostiana. Other notable associates were Whorled Caraway Trocdaris verticillata, Brookweed Samolus valerandi, Bog Pimpernel Lysimachia tenella, Common Spike-rush Eleocharis palustris, and, closer to the shore, Slender Spike-rush E. uniglumis, Distant Sedge Carex distans and Saltmarsh Flat-sedge Blysmus rufus. Upslope, some drier rocky knolls had the beautiful Crested Hair-grass Koeleria cristata and Silver Hair-grass Aira caryophyllea.
Our plan to walk south, contouring Bar Hill, to check for Pyramidal Orchids Anacamptis pyramidalis beyond, was initially thwarted by a herd of cattle including calves and a bull, which had spread themselves across the shore and the pasture, blocking our route. We therefore decided to have lunch on the shore out of sight of the cattle in the hope that they might move on meanwhile. As a bonus, when we walked through the gate to the shore, David spotted a single huge flowering plant of Yellow Horned-poppy Glaucium flavum , last recorded here in 2014. This is a locally scarce plant in VC73 and it was an excellent find. Thankfully the cattle had left this single plant alone – it apparently has a yellow/orange latex and all parts of the plant are poisonous.
Other shore plants found here were Long-bracted Sedge Carex extensa, Lax-flowered Sea-lavender Limonium humile, Sea-milkwort Lysimachia maritima, Sea Arrow-grass Triglochin maritima, Thrift Armeria maritima, Greater Sea-spurrey Spergularia media and Sea Campion Silene uniflora.
By the time we had finished lunch, the cattle had wandered off over the skyline out of sight and we felt safe enough to walk as planned. On the way, however, we stopped to inspect the freshwater outflow from the pool into Knockbrex Bay. David recalled the presence here of both Curled Pondweed Potamogeton crispus and Water Whorl-grass Catabrosa aquatica, both of which we re-found easily. Indeed the Water Whorl-grass was present in some quantity, with clumps scattered down the shallow stream all the way to the tideline.
We then walked briskly, without recording the woodland, in order to reach the orchid site. When we got there, the grassland was looking rather long and rank, but we nevertheless counted 50+ spikes of Pyramidal Orchids just coming into flower.
Nearby, a rich short turf area among the rocks had Common Rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium, Bloody Crane’s-bill Geranium sanguineum, Burnet-saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga, Black Spleenwort Asplenium adiantum-nigrum and Orpine Sedum telephium.
It was time to return to the cars, avoiding the cattle again as we did so. In our absence, Ken had found a patch of Spindle Euonymus europaeus in the adjacent monad as he walked towards Carrick Bay. Spindle is rare in Kirkcudbrightshire and confined to the coastal strip. Here it was low-growing and wind pruned among Gorse Ulex europaeus, Blackthorn Prunus spinosa and Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna. Perhaps these prickly neighbours had helped to protect it from cattle grazing.
The Lesser Whitethroat was still singing by the cars and the last bird of the day was a Cuckoo Cuculus canorus flying low over the scrub in the near distance.
We recorded 185 species in the single monad NX5849. This is an incredibly rich place with a wonderful mix of habitats.
My thanks as ever to the group for their observations and their company. It was an excellent day.
Sarah White
