Skunk Cabbage

I think this is Skunk cabbage ! Its a non native species to the UK and is very invasive and kills all plants around it. Some volunteers have been cleaning this from the Allander - this one was seen at the Allander at Tesco in Milngavie. Not sure if it is found in the Allander going through Mugdock but hopefully the volunteers will have some success in getting rid of it. It looks very alien and triffid-like to me !

Some of the Moorland Flowers etc seen recently at Mugdock

Rubbish left by campers at Mugdock

Last weekend saw an excessive amount of vandalism and rubbish left at Mugdock. The gate to Drumclog Moor has been badly damaged and the hinges have been put on a fire. A new gate can cost a lot to replace and this gate is there to keep livestock in. In addition, dog walkers have not been picking up their dogs dirt even though notices on Drumclog Moor explain that last year they lost 6 calves as a result of neosporosis which is carried in Dog faeces. I do wonder sometimes about the number of dog walkers using the moor - some with 8 dogs ! The dogs seem reasonably well behaved but I do wonder if the walkers are picking up all the dog mess. Drumclog Moor is adjacent to Mugdock Country Park and not strictly part of it.

A Bumper Fruit Harvest this Autumn

There should be a bumper crop of brambles and other berries this year. Have a look at this article to see why. www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11380925 Its all been to do with the weather, starting off with the very cold winter we had at the start of this year. So why not go and pick some brambles, make some jam and lets hope this winter is not quite so extreme !

September Walk 2010

Signs of autumn were appearing at Mugdock on my September walk. However we'll start with the most interesting specimen - this is I think a Pine Marten (Pine Martin?) dropping. You can see the berries in among. One of the Mugdock Rangers had pointed one of these out to us on one of the walks. We found this one on the path going towards the Visitor Centre.
On this tree you can see some of the swallow or house martin type birds having a rest. This tree is near Mugdock Castle on the road towards the gun emplacements.

In the next three photos you can see some of the swallow like birds flying around :

Below is a lovely dark coloured beech tree :

Blue bonnets :

Horse chestnuts or conkers - nearly ready !

A retriever enjoying a swim on Mugdock Loch !

Bramble flowers : (Black-currant)

Brambles :

A spaniel having a rest :

Monday Morning May 24th and the Sun is Shining !

Heron at Visitor Centre Pond

Chaffinch at Cafe

Horse Chestnut Flower

Sycamore Flower

Bluebells

Things spotted last year on Mugdock Country Park Ranger led walks

Orange Peel Fungus

Here are some of the interesting things we spotted while on Mugdock Country Park Ranger-led walks last year. The programme is out for this year so check the Mugdock website to see if you would like to go on one.

Dogs Mercury - a plant species which indicates that you are in an ancient woodland.

Horseshoe Fungus

A Shield Bug

A frog or toad

A spiders web photographed while on the "Up With the Lizards Walk" very early in the morning!