Top two finds from a day exploring the countryside round Insch, North Aberdeenshire: black spleenwort on the ruins of Dunnydeer Castle; and thyme-leaved sandwort along a sandy track.

There can't be many on-site information boards that feature small adder's-tongue. Well done NatureScot & NatureScot_NE at Forvie NNR!

This magnificent Scots pine tree at Glen Tanar NNR is host to four higher plant species growing as epiphytes: broad buckler-fern; rowan; heather and bilberry. Multiple individuals of each, a joy to behold.

Here's an unexpected micro-habitat for dwarf cornel: growing under juniper at The Buck of Cabrach, North Aberdeenshire, today.

When out counting marsh saxifrage inflorescences in a flush below The Buck, North Aberdeenshire, yesterday it was alarming to find that red deer have created a wallow immediately adjacent to the main colony. Fingers crossed the wallow doesn't spread much further!

Spent the afternoon near Hare Moss exploring SUDS ponds built alongside the new dual carriageway round Aberdeen. The most surprising find was tubular water-dropwort, surely either a deliberate or accidental introduction so either a failure of planting design or biosecurity.

Green Hill of Strathdon SSSI has been on my 'to visit' list for decades. The serpentine rocks hold nany interesting species: green spleenwort; (inland) thrift; and alpine penny-cress, discovered there in 2023 as an unexpected addition to the flora of South Aberdeenshire

Visited Hill of Tillymorgan, North Aberdeenshire, today. Lots of parsley fern in disused quarries where recorded by David Welch in 1984. From afar the hill looks dry, so nice to find some wet flushes with smooth sedge (pics), flea sedge and fen bedstraw, all hectad firsts.

Marsh horsetail, refound in the Aberdeen hectad NJ90 after a break of over 50 years. In a not-very-marshy roadside verge, but the cones on the green, thick-branched stems are diagnostic.

So here's a curious thing: ribwort plantain sprouting a leaf rosette above its inflorescence. Near Torphins, South Aberdeenshire, yesterday.

Good to know Forestry and Land Scotland are looking after the trailing tormentil along one of the main tracks through Drumtochty Forest, its only known site in Kincardineshire.

Had to make a rapid change of plan when I discovered the moss at Dudwick, south of Mintlaw in North Aberdeenshire, is out of bounds. Phoned the MOD duty officer who said the site is unsafe so closed to visitors. Plenty else to discover nearby, including this corn marigold.

In recovery mode after a long day recording on Gartly Moor, North Aberdeenshire. Although heathland has reclaimed most of the former slate quarry workings, some pockets of bare rock remain, hosting fir clubmoss (new site) and parsley fern (recorded here by David Welch in 1990).

Enjoyed scrambling around the rocky shore at Portlethen Village today. Two nice discoveries: western eyebright and northern knotgrass (pics). Also found few-flowered spike-rush after an absence of over 100 years.

Had a long and arduous day recording at Cabrach up to Creag an Sgor. Surprised to find dwarf cudweed on the track, new to North Aberdeenshire, both sides of the 10 km square boundary. Also of interest the two forms of Crowberry growing side by side near the summit.

Had another epic adventure exploring Cabrach today. Highlight western gorse, new to North Aberdeenshire. In full bloom and conveniently interspersed with (common) gorse. The key in Stace's flora only mentions the bracteoles (ringed on pic) but there are many other differences.

There's quite an avenue of pampas grass developing here on the outskirts of Aberdeen!

Some good annuals today near Auchterless. Bird's-foot forestry track, last North Aberdeenshire record 1901); small toadflax (wind turbine base, 1998); corncockle (phacelia crop, perhaps a seed impurity, pre 1970). Field pennycress nice to see too, by field drainage works.

Common centaury is growing in some abundance by the balancing ponds next to the A90 at Maryculter. 2nd Kincardineshire record and doubtless introduced during construction. Thanks to Aberdeenshire Council Council staff for the tip-off.

Every autumn I keep my eyes open for crab apple Malus sylvestris. Found my most likely candidate yet near New Deer, North Aberdeenshire today: small fruit, mature leaves pretty much hairless. The tree looks planted though.