lichen

Argyll has plenty of rain and a mild winter climate, which makes it one of the best places in Europe for lichens. I've photographed a lot of lichens this week - on trees, stones, fenceposts - an amazing variety. You can see from my second extra today how the trees are hung with Usnea species which look quite ghostly. In Achnabreck some of the birch trunks have been colonised by tree lungwort (Lobaria Pulmonaria) which is my blip for today.

This morning I walked the remainder of the canal, from our cottage down to Ardrishaig, finishing just as the rain started. We had a cup of tea and then went back to the cottage to read (and I even fell asleep for a bit in the chair - must be all the fresh air!).

In the afternoon, after a walk at Achnabreck, we visited the site of more rock art at Kilmichael Glassary. Look what I found there! (extra)