2nd David Boyd Event - Discovering the Scottish Machair

[Chris Johnson]

A question from the Western Isles ..... Vallay is a tidal island off the north coast of North Uist in a very wide, shallow lagoon. The green algae was fixed and familiar. The pink ‘stuff’ was flocculent, ever-moving into different formations in a few centimetres of water at low tide.

Can anybody  identify /explain the pink "stuff", please ?

(Attachment Link)

I think it's a red algal bloom, Maggi. We see it in shallow coastal margins in prolonged hot weather.

[Maggi Young]

That's what we thought, Chris - but do you think it is   harmful?  ( to children, dogs etc?)

[Maggi Young]

A question from the Western Isles ..... Vallay is a tidal island off the north coast of North Uist in a very wide, shallow lagoon. The green algae was fixed and familiar. The pink ‘stuff’ was flocculent, ever-moving into different formations in a few centimetres of water at low tide.

Can anybody  identify /explain the pink "stuff", please ?

Found a link to a similar query  from the State Veterinary Officer of  Guernsey, some  time ago . ... contacted him and  got a response!

 "We have the answer, Chromatiaceae, purple sulphur bacteria that are proliferating on the leachate from degrading seaweed layers under the sand. Harmless and may help reduce the rotten egg smell by fixing the sulphur!"

[Chris Johnson]

Well done, that fits nicely. I had good intentions of putting some under the microscope a couple of years back but too busy at the time.

I would also like to add that it's encouraging that the event went so well. Matt's a great organiser and the weather was on his side. It would have been nice to meet up with some of the visitors but we had quite an influx of our own. A group of Dutch botanists were here for 11 days and then a wildlife photographer came to stay and give a talk. Next time perhaps ...

[Maggi Young]

The 2018 David Boyd  SRGC Event - The Machair of the Uists and Benbecula

Sandy Leven attended the event with his wife Anne and one of their sons, Andrew - they has  such a great time on the trip  Sandy has  compiled these  reports of their  exploits in the hope of encouraging others to visit the islands.

Part 1  Our Road to the Isles

http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/Part1-Our-Road-to-the-Isles.pdf

Part 2  Kyle to Uig, across Skye

http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/Part2-Kyle-to-Uig-across-Skye.pdf

Third part of Sandy's report    http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/Part3-Benbecula-machair.pdf

[Maggi Young]

Fourth part of  Sandy's reports from the  Isles.....  http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/Part4-NorthUist-Machair.pdf

[Maggi Young]

Final two parts of Sandy Leven's  tales of the Western Isles - the story of the 2018  SRGC David Boyd Event ....

Part 5 South Uist machair :  http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/Part5-SouthUist-machair.pdf

Part 6 South to Eriskay :          http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/Part6-South-to-Eriskay.pdf

[Sally]

Thanks to everyone, most especially Sandy Leven, for all of the photos and commentary re the shows and tours. I'm traveling vicariously to places I most likely will never see in person and what a delight it is.

Sally