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Botany Group - 12th August 2025
by Kathryn Sutton - 12:14 on 16 August 2025
Eight U3A botany members arrived at Tingwall pier, and we had a flat calm crossing to Egilsay. On the island, the weather was sunny all day, with the exception of a quick shower in the middle of the day. The group was slightly apprehensive as to the state of the flowers there after Storm Floris trashing so much of the vegetation a week earlier, but Egilsay proved to be the existing joy it always is to visit.
We took the road south to Whitelett farm, taking two and a half hours to explore the overflowing verges, full of different species of plants attracting bees and other invertebrates. Along the way, big discussions took part on various species…the usual one on Eyebrights which was resolved as Euphrasia Artica and Euphrasia Confusa, and another on the differing appearances of the creeping willow which was ever present. A fern was identified by John Crossley as being Borrer’s Scaly Male-fern, not uncommon on Orkney. He also identified 5 species of bumblebees..Moss Carder, Common Carder, Garden, White-tailed, Heath bumblebee. Other species found along the road were large areas of Hybrid Woundwort (covered with bumblebees and other insects), Common Dog-violet, Water Mint, Marsh Cinquefoil, and Tormentil. Another area found was that of the less common Greater Bird’s-foot-trefoil, Hedge Bindweed, and Woody Nightshade. The Ling Heather was in full bloom, with Bell Heather still just in flower, and one plant of Cross-leaved Heath was spotted. Scattered along the road throughout the verges were the flowering Devil’s-bit Scabious, Sneezewort and Wild Angelica.
When we reached the highest point of the island (trig point, all of 35 metres high and providing us with great views of many of Orkney’s smaller islands) we had our lunch break. This area coincided with stoney ground with little soil cover, always interesting to botanists, and some time was spent looking for Moonwort (previously recorded there…but none was found). But amongst a few other species, Kidney Vetch, Crowberry, Butterwort, we did find two patches of the Orkney native Alchemilla Glabra. (Reassuringly there was no sighting on the day of the garden Lady’s Mantle, Alchemilla Vulgaris.) Also recorded there on the damper side of the road was a large swathe of Bog Asphodel.
At this point of the walk, 3 of the group left to catch the midday ferry, and one arrived on the ferry. Also during the day, various visits were made to St Magnus church.
The rest of the group continued down the road to Whitelett farm. Here we entered fields managed by the RSPB, and immediately the word “swathes” came to mind, with large standings of Reed Canary Grass and the field was one big carpet of yellow Autumn Hawkbit and the seed heads of Yellow Rattle. We tried to return by way of the shore, but were deterred by cattle, electric fences and barbed wire, so returned the way we came, stopping off at a damp drainage ditch, where we found leaves of Bog Pimpernel and a Water Forget-me-not plant, (possibly “tuffed”). In the same field, we spotted Marsh Cudweed, Yarrow, Red Bartsia, and Marsh Willowherb.
On our return we visited the St Magnus memorial stone for a stop off tea break, but were driven indoors to the excellent Community Centre by the midges.
Egilsay continues to be a joy to visit. The RSPB management of the island is to be applauded. I’m unsure how the birds are doing (we did see a female hen harrier, heron, and snipe and heard lapwings) but the flowers and invertebrates are flourishing and wonderful to see. Thank you to everyone who came and help identify many of the species that we found, and also to Bill for the use of his photos.
Hopefully a memorable day was had by all.
Kate
01 Woody Nightshade aka Bittersweet 
02 Greater Birds Foot Trefoil, Hedge Bindweed 
03 Watermint in flower. 
04 Sneezewort in flower 
05 Common Dog Violet 
06 Ling and Bell Heather. 
07 Alchemilla Gabra. 
08 Bog Asphodel. 
09 John getting up close. 
10 Swathes ofReed Canary Grass. 
11 Carpets of Autumn Hawkbit and seedheads of Yellow Rattle
12 Marsh Cudweed. 
13 Looking out towards Eday, showing Bog Ashodel around the bog scrapes 
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