Stuart Milligan
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stuartmilligan.bsky.social
Stuart Milligan
@stuartmilligan.bsky.social
210 followers 170 following 230 posts
Making natural connections in west central Scotland - and sometimes elsewhere
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stuartmilligan.bsky.social
A rather late #TheWinter10 (only nine Im afraid) for #WildFlowerHour tonight. All photographed in south central Scotland this week.
A collage of photographs of nine flowers: Cherry Plum; Oxford Ragwort; White Dead-nettle; Hazel (male catkins); Primrose; Winter Aconite; Golden Crocus; Herb Bennet; Hazel (female catkins).
February 2, 2026 at 12:38 AM
stuartmilligan.bsky.social
Mistletoe growing near Port Seton, East Lothian today. Not an easy plant to catch up with in Scotland.
A tall bare tree (a Poplar) with at least eight clumps of Mistletoe of various sizes distributed amongst it's branches. A clump of Mistletoe silhouetted against a grey sky showing the wishbone-shaped pairs of leaflets characteristic of this species. A clump of Mistletoe against a background provided by the trunk of the host tree. The green colour of the Mistleoe is in stark contrast to the relatively colourless branches and twigs of the tree itself. A view across fields towards a row of tall Poplars, four of which are bearing Mistletoe.
January 31, 2026 at 1:12 AM
stuartmilligan.bsky.social
Winter Aconite flowering today in Darnley Woods, Glasgow. I have been checking on this patch for about ten years. As adjacent trees have died or suffered storm damage, the canopy has opened and grasses have moved in, potentially making the site less suitable for this locally scarce species.
A small group of bright yellow flowers, each with a "collar" of lime green leaves, growing on a damp, leaf-covered woodland floor. A single plant unfurling from the woodland floor, with the yellow flower peeking out from its covering of leaves. More plants unfurling as they emerge from the soil on the woodland floor. A small patch of Winter Aconite flowers showing the encroachment of grasses.
January 29, 2026 at 9:49 PM
stuartmilligan.bsky.social
Some ferns growing on an old wall in Troon, Ayrshire today ... and the view over South Bay.
Rustyback fern fronds with "leaflets" in a zig-zag arrangement rather than the more typical opposite arrangement of other ferns. Haphazard tufts of Wall-rue sprouting from the gap between dark grey bricks. Green fronds of Maidenhair Spleenwort made up of a dark brown central stalk and numerous small, oval "leaflets" in oppositely-arranged pairs. A cloudy, orange and light blue sunset over a flat sea with a dark beach in the foreground.
January 29, 2026 at 12:53 AM
stuartmilligan.bsky.social
Jelly Ear and Snowdrops in Pollok Park @friendsofpollok.bsky.social today ... and the sunset from Shaw Hill.
A couple of slightly furry, dusky-mauve Jelly Ear fungi on the bark of a tree. Snowdrops in flower with pure white "drops" suspended from thin green stems by pea-green calyxs. The watery, orange glow of the setting sun viewed through a small group of black, leafless trees.
January 15, 2026 at 4:54 PM
stuartmilligan.bsky.social
A few botanical highlights from Broadwood Loch, Cumbernauld today:
A tiny female flower of Hazel looking like a bright pink spider or sea anemone at the junction of two sections of a twig. Velvety domes of Jelly Ear fungus glowing dusky orange in the winter sunshine. Deep mauve-brown coloured growths of Jelly Ear fungus on a dead tree. Small, hand-shaped projections of Candlesnuff fungus growing out of a tuft of moss. Normally white, these examples are stained pale green, possibly due to algal growth.
January 14, 2026 at 12:55 AM
stuartmilligan.bsky.social
Some highlights from the White Cart Walkway in Langside/Battlefield, Glasgow today. IDs in ALT text.
Bright yellow growths of Yellow Brain fungus protruding from a dead branch. Tiny, intensely-pink female flower of Hazel with long, curled waving "petals". Slightly furry, dusky pink domes of Jelly Ear fungus growing from twisted bark of tree. Multiple small, circular orange and pink growths of Coral Spot fungus covering a fallen branch.
January 12, 2026 at 2:47 PM
stuartmilligan.bsky.social
As the Christmas lights are being packed away for another year, I'm just reflecting on how much I've enjoyed the three wonderful #NewNaturalist books I was given.
The spines of the three books: The World of Spiders by W. S. Bristoe, The Common Lands of England & Wales by L. Dudley Stamp & W. G. Hoskins and Grass & Grasslands by Ian Moore. The slightly faded but still colourful covers of the three books showing, respectively, a spider's web, a grazing horse and a pasture field. The cover art is an integral part of the joy of this wonderful series.
January 4, 2026 at 10:01 PM
stuartmilligan.bsky.social
I enjoyed taking part in the #NewYearPlantHunt organised by @bsbibotany.bsky.social over the past two days. Here are the results of my wanderings in south Glasgow - although half of these had to be disregarded because they had been deliberately planted.
A montage of photographs of winter flowering plants in southwest Glasgow. Mostly greens, yellows and whites, with the blue flowers of Greater Periwinkle being the exception.
January 4, 2026 at 9:46 PM
stuartmilligan.bsky.social
Hazel trees have burst into life in Pollokshaws, Glasgow with both male catkins and female flowers showing well today (also a Harlequin Ladybird). An old fence near Langside railway station had a good growth of (probable) Common Jelly Spot and two Fieldfares (no photo) were in Auldhouse Park.
January 1, 2026 at 11:19 PM
stuartmilligan.bsky.social
Found my first female Hazel flowers of the "spring" in scrubby woodland along the edge of the M77 motorway in Glasgow yesterday. A few other finds also attached.
Tiny, shocking pink flower on bare twig with associated, light green catkins. Round, woody protuberance (possibly Cola Nut Gall on Oak) growing from bare, olive green twig bearing small brown buds. Light bluish-grey catkins emerging from brown buds along otherwise bare stem. Probably Goat Willow. Bright yellow flowers of Gorse, surrounded by green "needles"
December 23, 2025 at 1:04 AM
stuartmilligan.bsky.social
A rather tatty looking Apple tree on a motorway verge in Craigton, Glasgow today nevertheless seemed to have produced a good crop.
December 21, 2025 at 11:54 PM
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Some scenes from a walk in Glasgow today. Birds encountered included Kingfisher, Cormorant and Goosander.
Looking down a tree-lined avenue to a road stretching into the distance with sunlit buildings at its end. A distant view of the Glasgow skyline with bare trees in the foreground and several prominent buildings (including two church steeples) turned golden-yellow by the winter sunshine. A view across a dead calm river (Clyde) to modern apartment buildings framed by blue sky, all reflected in the still water.
December 20, 2025 at 11:07 PM
stuartmilligan.bsky.social
Some finds from a visit to Pollok Country Park, Glasgow today (details in alt text). Good birds included three Jays, three Nuthatches, five Stock Doves and single Buzzard and Sparrowhawk.
Orange, cap-forming fungi growing along fissures in tree bark. Probably of genus Flammulina. Creamy-brown "toadstools" growing through leaf litter and a wire fence. Probably Common Inkcap. Two-tone (dark and pale green) plant shoots emerging from the soil. Probably Common Snowdrop. Pink flowers surrounded by dark green leaves. Probably an early-flowering Rhododendron variety.
December 19, 2025 at 11:49 PM
stuartmilligan.bsky.social
A rainy walk around the Priesthill area of Glasgow this morning produced 22 bird species including four in song (Robin. Starling, Wren and Song Thrush). Non-birds encountered consisted of Jelly Ear fungus and epiphytic Polypody.
December 18, 2025 at 11:09 PM
stuartmilligan.bsky.social
A nice drake Ring-necked Duck cheered up a damp walk through Queen's Park, Glasgow today.
December 9, 2025 at 3:13 PM
stuartmilligan.bsky.social
More local colour in south Glasgow this week...
November 7, 2025 at 9:44 AM
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A midweek trip up to Aviemore produced some colourful botanical finds... (1/2)
A gallery of late-flowering herbaceous plants and a few colourful fungi.
November 7, 2025 at 9:29 AM
stuartmilligan.bsky.social
Sunset on the first day of Samhain, the Gaelic winter, Irvine, Ayrshire.
A cloudy sunset over a strip of land (actually the island of Arran) on the horizon beyond a wide sweep of steely-blue sea.
November 2, 2025 at 12:00 AM
stuartmilligan.bsky.social
Some grassland fungi from Haggs Castle, Glasgow today... (1/2).
Two canary-yellow mushrooms/toadstools pushing up through short grass - possibly Butter Waxcaps. Two creamy-white mushrooms/toadstools pushing up through short grass - possibly discoloured Snowy Waxcaps. A tiny mushroom/toadstool with a globule-shaped, orange cap and a rough, orange shaft - possibly Bolbitius titubans. A cluster of fine, white-tipped, black shoots of Candlesnuff fungus pushing up through short grass.
October 31, 2025 at 12:27 AM
stuartmilligan.bsky.social
Some autumn colour in and around Shawlands, south Glasgow...
A montage of photographs of trees bearing different colours of autumn leaves including pink, salmon, scarlet, dark red, purple, yellow, peach and orange.
October 30, 2025 at 10:29 PM
stuartmilligan.bsky.social
Some scenery from today's walk in Devilla Forest, West Fife.
October 23, 2025 at 11:47 PM
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I found plenty of fungi and lichens in Devilla Forest today, as well as a Palmate Newt and a possible Pine Marten scat. Plenty of birds but none were close enough for phone photos (1/3).
October 23, 2025 at 11:36 PM
stuartmilligan.bsky.social
Some interesting fungi in Pollok Park today...
October 21, 2025 at 11:22 PM
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I was delighted to re-find a troop of Ballerina Waxcaps growing on a front lawn in Woodfarm, East Renfrewshire today.
Various stages of the pale pink mushroom (plus one white individual) pushing up through short grass. At least seventeen Pink (aka Ballerina) Waxcaps scattered across a small front lawn.
October 16, 2025 at 2:28 PM