Eric & Lesley's Wildlife Blog - Wildscotphotos

A Butterfly Success

6/8/2017

The news about UK butterflies is, in the main, depressing with general decline throughout. The Comma, is however, a success story. It used to be confined to southern parts of the UK but is now found widely, if sparsely, across a good part of Scotland. This fresh individual was photographed in North Perthshire earlier this month. The reason for the increase is twofold. Firstly is is responding to climate change allowing it to benefit from a warmer Scotland (doesn't feel it today). The other reason is more intriguing. that it has been able to switch food plant. Previously it preferred hop but this is no longer widespread so it has switch to nettle. Any Scottish little boy could tell you how abundant nettle is.
Could other Butterflies switch foodplant. I think the answer is yes. I think that Northern Brown Argus uses Cranesbills in Scotland but this will remain our secret for the present.

Got The Blues

10/6/2017

Well, this week has been one of the worst ever. We expected to be in Alaska but it hasn't happened. The cause may affect future travel. Back home it has been almost continuous rain. Today, there seemed to be a window in the weather late afternoon so we visited a Butterfly site that we had a recent tip-off for.
It looked unpromising but the clouds largely parted as we arrived. Before we set out walking we spotted a Red Admiral.
Then along the way the first Common Blue Butterfly of the year. Lesley spotted the Kidney Vetch so we knew we were at the right place. Despite the wind we must have seen close to 20 Small Blue Butterflies. We were surprised to find some of them a bit worn but still it was a thrill to see such a thriving colony. Life re-affirmed.

Butterfly Thyme

18/7/2015

It's summer so the butterflies should be out flying, but they seem hard to find this year. Up on the moors it was rather cool and cloudy the day we went, so only a few Small Heaths and a Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary were spotted. But Eric returned a week later and found this Mountain Ringlet enjoying the Thyme. We have also enjoyed Northern Brown Argus in a few sheltered glens near us, but never big numbers. At last the Ringlets are up flying though whenever there is a sunny spell.

Peacocks

19/8/2014

Visited Scone Palace today and enjoyed the Peacocks. The feathered ones were around but it was the butterflies we were after! The butterfly garden lived up to it's name despite the cloudy weather with a few Peacocks, ten or so Red Admirals, at least two Commas and some Green-veined Whites flying too. The ponds were disappointing for water-life, but again the butterflies were on show with more Red Admirals and Peacocks posing like this one.

Purple Patch

1/8/2014

Its high summer now so birds are taking a back seat although there are waders on the move. At the coast, I had a nice session with Wood Sandpiper the star, just beating Snipe to that honour.

Close to home, the later butterflies are emerging and we have been looking for Purple Hairstreaks in our local wood. Since we found it them ten years ago it has been an annual pilgrimage to re-acquaint ourselves with these beauties. Nearly all the sightings have been of the underside like here, but the dream of getting a photographable view of the topside is still on.

Spring has Sprung

18/4/2014

At last we have had some sunny days - even some warmth out the wind!
A trip up the Angus Glens brought our first views of Ring Ouzels, Redstart and Golden Eagle for the year with (rather frustratingly distant) Woodcock on the way.
Chiffchaffs are now in good voice with the first Blackcaps and Willow Warblers joining in the singing and Swallows joining the Sand Martins in aerobatics over the river. Its an early Spring!

Today we headed west and enjoyed a cacophony of Nuthatch song, with a privileged view of nest construction by one pair. Butterflies were well in evidence there too with Comma, Peacocks and Orange-tips all enjoying a sunny glade.

Wildflower Meadow

26/8/2013

Visiting the Scottish Borders last week we found this wonderful photogenic area of wildflowers planted in a park at Tweedbank. It looked really colourful and was alive with Bees and other insects collecting nectar. We enjoyed a Nuthatch feeding on a nearby tree trunk as well as family groups of tits and Greenfinches.

The river had Goosanders and Mallard ducks and shoals of tiddlers in the shallows which attracted Grey Herons, Dippers and Grey Wagtails to feed.

Closer to home, we have done well for Butterflies this summer with two sightings of Comma and Speckled Wood in Perthshire, as well as good numbers of Purple Hairstreaks and Peacocks.

Malham

7/8/2013

Summer is always a difficult time for bird enthusiasts but if you have a wide range of interests there's always something to see and do.

For the past week we have been based at Malham Tarn a Field Studies Centre in Yorkshire for the purposes of studying Moths and Butterflies. Like our previous courses around the UK it has been a satisfying week with new things to see and plenty of exercise in pleasant surrounds.

The moth highlight was the pretty one in the picture. It is a Vestal which does not breed in Britain. It has come from the Mediterranean or further afield in North Africa. Flying high, it fortunately avoided Swifts to fall to earth close to Malham FSC before finding John's light trap. Lucky us.

Summer Activity

18/7/2013

Summer is here with a vengeance - more heat and sunshine than we're used to!
The butterflies seem to be enjoying the sunshine and having a good year with Ringlets and Common Blues in abundance and the first Grayling out.
We've had an unexpected evening treat lately, by way of local Beavers near home.
After a short walk we can sit on the river bank and enjoy them swimming by on foraging trips, then taking food to the lodge.

Our Spotted Flycatchers have now fledged their four young, so that's probably the nest activity over for this year there.

Last of the Summer Insects

27/8/2012

Just back from a week of studying Moths and Butterflies in the Highlands at Kindrogan Field Studies Centre. About 20 new species for me. Mostly the ones flying at this time of the year are fairly cryptic but close examination reveals the fantastic designs.

The one on the left is Golden-rod Brindle a local species that can be found by cold searching posts during the day. You can easily see the problem a bird would have in trying to decide if it was wood or food.