Meeting report

With the Spring drought forecast to continue, this meeting was brought forward and switched to a location where bryophytes were likely to be easily identifiable, a raised bog. In fact Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve is the largest and least disturbed raised bog in the Lothians, and the circuit taken by the three participants took in less than a tenth of the area and covered only part of monad NS8868.

With permission to leave the boardwalk and to collect, our first confident records were Polytrichum commune, P strictum, and Aulacomnium palustre, all abundant on the site. However we were more hesitant in naming the Sphagna and await expert checking of at least one specimen from the provisional list of eight species.

The repetition of a small group of species was occasionally broken, such as when we found a bright green, frilly liverwort in a peaty hollow. After misidentifying it in the field both Lyn and I later recognised it as Schistochilopsis incisa (was Lophozia incisa), one of several new species for me. A linear hollow filled with Juncus effusus provided long strands of Calliergon cordifolium. We were later able to compare this with Straminergon stramineum, found in a wet Carex rostrata mire. The trees in the mire added epiphytic species to our list, and at lunchtime Lyn searched for, and found, Odontoschisma sphagni.

The meandering return to the boardwalk through Cranberry-covered hummocks of Sphagna did produce some liverworts on a damp stick in a hollow. When examined at home I found a Kurzia species, a Calypogeia which I hope is C. sphagnicola, and a tiny thallose liverwort which may be Riccardia latifons. On the other hand at least two of my identifications may prove to be wishful thinking.

After adding to our list the mosses growing on the stone plinth at the end of the boardwalk we left the raised bog and were able to re-find Colura calyptrifolia on a nearby tree. Lyn found several more plants on that tree.

There was a Cuckoo calling most of the time we were on the reserve, and we also saw Stonechats, Ravens, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. Finally, at the car park, Vladimir found a weevil, probably Polydrusus pilosus.

David Adamson, May 2025

Meeting details

The next meeting will be on 3 May 2025. Meet at Blawhorn Moss car park at 11:00 (see travel details below). The intention is to visit the National Nature Reserve and areas outside its south and west borders. We are allowed to collect samples and to leave the boardwalk. Please bring a hand lens, suitable clothing and footwear, and packed lunch. You may also wish to bring insect repellent. The meeting should end at 15:30-16:00.

From the M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow, take the A801 at junction 4. Head west for 5 kilometres on the A89 to Blackridge. Continue west out of the village and take the first minor road on the right to the car park. EH48 3AG is the nearest postcode.

The car park is at the end of an unmarked access road leading north from the A89, west of Blackridge village. The access track may be closed at night (6pm in winter and 9pm in summer). There is a barrier restricting access for high and wide vehicles. The grid reference is NS 878676.

Please email davidadamson32@gmail.com no later than Thursday 1 May if you wish to attend. If you can offer a lift from Blackridge Station please let David know.