A woodlouse found on the recent SNG outing turns out to be Philoscia affinis, a cryptic species only recorded in the UK in 2017 but likely to have been here for many a year as an undiscovered native. For now, this is the most northerly record on the planet.
Philoscia affinis Image N. Roberts
You can read much more about this here.
Whilst checking the only known duckweed site on Raasay a couple of weeks ago, I noticed a plant in that small garden pond that I thought was Ranunculus subgenus Batrachium i.e. a Water-crowfoot. I sent a couple of pictures to Chris Preston, aquatic plants expert, who agreed. Sadly neither he nor I can get it to the species level without flowers and late November is not the time to find those. The only accepted records for linear-leaved water-crowfoots in the vice-county are of Ranunculus trichophyllus (Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot) from Storr Lochs on Skye. The Raasay one may have been introduced with purchased pond plants.
Batrachium
Today I spotted this little fungus on a twig in the garden:
Fungus on twig
I am hoping that someone will advise as to what it is….. Later: Looks like a Hymenoscyphus though the species would need more work. Thanks, Seth.
Plants of Skye, Raasay & The Small Isles 