Keith Broomfield’s Nature Notes to Walk 5

MAMMALS

Red Squirrel
Look out for red squirrels in the high branches of trees in Dollar Glen. They are active all year round and often have prominent ear tufts in winter. This part of Dollar is on the front line where competitor grey squirrels also occur, and they too may occasionally be seen.

Badger
Badgers occur in Dollar Glen, although they are nocturnal and seldom seen. Look out for signs where they may have been digging for earthworms (their favourite food). They also dig latrines, leaving behind shallow depressions in the soil.

Fox
Although widespread, foxes are not often seen, although their distinctive, pointed and twisted droppings are often encountered by track and path edges. Occasionally also encountered on the open hill.

Pine Marten
Pine martens are increasing in Clackmannanshire, but are elusive and seldom encountered. It is thought they may benefit red squirrel populations by predating upon grey squirrels. Their droppings are similar to those of foxes and may be found in prominent places, such as on top of rocks or tree stumps.

Roe Deer
Found throughout the area, and especially active at dawn and dusk. Often solitary, but also frequently seen in family units, and in winter, in larger groups. Sometimes makes a loud, dog-like bark. Although most often found in woodland, they are sometimes seen on open ground in the Glen of Sorrow.

Bats
As well as common and soprano pipistrelle bats, brown long-eared bats occur in Dollar Glen. This species has a slow, fluttering flight, usually very close to foliage.

BUTTERFLIES

Speckled Wood
A new arrival to Clackmannanshire in recent years, speckled woods are widespread and often seen in woodland clearings and other sun dappled places. On the wing from April to early October. The scarce Purple Hairstreak butterfly also occurs in Dollar Glen, but is hard to see, because it lives high in the oak canopy.

Small Heath
A diminutive butterfly found on the open ground around Bank Hill, King’s Seat Hill and the Glen of Sorrow. On the wing from mid-June to mid-August.

Meadow Brown
May be encountered in the Glen of Sorrow and the lower reaches of Bank Hill.

Ringlet
A common butterfly found in the lower reaches of the Glen of Sorrow and around Castle Campbell. The flight period is from mid-June to mid-August.

Common Blue
A scarce species that is occasionally encountered in the Glen of Sorrow, especially where its food plant, bird’s-foot trefoil occurs. Flies from June to mid-August.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
A scarce butterfly that is on the wing from early June to mid-July. Look out for them in the open areas of hill near Castle Campbell. From early July onwards, the larger, but very similar looking Dark Green Fritillary may be glimpsed.

WILDFLOWERS

Tormentil
A small yellow flowering plant that grows abundantly on the open hill.

Birds-foot Trefoil
A member of the pea family, the sprawling yellow flowers can be seen by the track edges of Hillfoot Hill. Its flowers are a good nectar source for bees.

Wild Thyme
Purple drifts of Wild Thyme grow in cracks on small rock faces and by well-drained, grassy hummocks.

Bog Asphodel
Look out for these beautiful plants in damp flushes below Bank Hill.  In July its striking golden-yellow flowers adorn boggy margins, and by early autumn this has transformed into an orange veneer that perfectly complements the lilac blooms of surrounding heather.

Mountain Pansy
Beautiful little purple hill flowers that occur sparingly. Their petals are delicate with the bottom-most one having the gentlest dab of yellow-orange, set upon which are subtle dark lines that invitingly lead to the centre of the flower, thus beckoning insects to alight and pollinate.

Harebell
The sky-blue nodding flowerheads of harebell appear from August onwards on open areas of hill ground