Well aware of my inadequate indigenous floral and ornithological knowledge (ie, what’s that called? I dunno), I was recommended these two books. Once purchased, they arrived today:-
Shetland Flowers
And
Discover Shetland’s Birds
I highly recommend and they should fill a huge hole in my knowledge, hopefully.
Ribwort Plantain, anyone?
Common Butterwort, I think.
Common Bird’s-Foot-Trefoil
Bogbean
Spring Squill
Northern Marsh Orchid.
Common Milkwort (I think).
Not sure what this one is. Isn’t it too early for heather? Help, please.
Common Spotted Orchid
Marsh Marigold
Common Mouse-Ear.
Red Campion (more pink, if you ask me).
And bluebells, which aren’t indigenous to Shetland. I did not know this.
And Tiddles, who is!
Heath Spotted Orchid
And Mr Blackbird who “is a common breeding resident, migrant and wintor visitor.”
So here is all this knowledge for me to learn from my two new books. I shall enjoy this. It is interesting to see what is growing where too. Each field is very different and now the Minions are living in Leradale all year round, I am seeing new-to-me plants because I never used to visit Leradale in Spring or Summer. Everyone lived elsewhere.
