Dingwall Field Club flags AGM and invite to new members after latest successful outings
Our August evening walk was around the Campus of the University at Inverness. From the Visitors’ Car Park we went anticlockwise along the old road over the railway – first to be seen was a roe deer. Then, some colourful goldfinches feeding on the many thistle heads.
Above us sand martins were swooping for insects – ample mud for their nests could have been got from the land being prepared for the new Prison. On buildings, time was spent admiring Stoneyfield House, first built in 1790. Next buildings were the much more modern ones of the University – light brown for the Student accommodation and a bright blue roof on the main college. An interesting area to visit.
Our Saturday walk took us to Dornoch beach and sand dunes. Brilliant sun with just a light breeze to cool us and none of the forecast heavy rain. Starting from the airfield we headed for the beach along a path lined with the delicate, white veined Grass of Parnassus and many other sand loving flowers. Once on the beach it was shell identification time – from tiny top shells to the sturdier razor shell. They probably survived the journey home but I suspect most fragile sea potatoes became crumbs before then.
We braved the Marram grass and ate lunch among the high dunes sheltering from the west wind before going ’over the top’ into the salt marsh. Not too marshy this year but full of marsh plants – most of them pink – centaury, thrift, sea spurrey and ragged robin for example, but the most spectacular was the huge spread of the unusual yellow Buttonweed.
Our new autumn programme will soon be out and our AGM is on Thursday, September 8.
Please join us – we have a website or call 01349 864661.
