Eric & Lesley's Wildlife Blog - Wildscotphotos

Rare Butterfly

17/6/2022

One reason for travelling is to find restricted distribution species. Argyll is rich in insect life including species we cannot find in Eastern Scotland. For that reason, we visit once a year in late Spring when there's plenty activity about and the weather is often agreeable with few of the unwelcome insects.
Nine dragonflies are quite possible; if fact we scored eight on this year's visit, missing out on Golden-ringed which may not have emerged given that it seems to be a late Spring. However there are also interesting Butterflies and Moths. As well as the restricted range Chequered Skipper which we saw there is the Marsh Fritillary. We don't see it every year but this year we found, perhaps, four. The underside is distinctive as it is with many butterflies which look much the same on the upper wing. A cloud had come over and thankfully this one settled for a photo call.

Spring firsts

12/4/2022

If you are keen on birds you tend to note firsts - the first migrant of the year (usually Chiffchaff) then the other early birds such as Sand Martin, Wheatear and Willow Warbler. As the year progresses into summer its less of an issue.
There are some Butterflies which are also notably early. These are the ones that overwinter as an adult. Mostly they are the larger species such as Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. Another is the Comma (pictured). The Comma is new to our area. For a while it was doing rather badly in the UK however it managed to switch foodplants and has made a spectacular recovery, moving north quickly and now is regularly seen in Central Scotland. The warm Spring day when it appeared it was one of four seen together at the site.

Pretty in Pink

22/8/2019

Last month we travelled to the southern counties of England on the lookout for insects including some rarer ones. At Kingcombe it was moth trapping along with outings for butterflies, We failed on Purple Emperor but had success with Southern, and Scarce Blue-tailed, Damselflies as well as commoner species like Gatekeeper. It was hot but not suffocatingly so.
In the New Forest we were very pleased to see Nightjar hawking at sunset.
This picture is of a female Marbled White against the pink of Rosebay Willowherb.

Northumberland Coast

25/7/2018

A change of scenery was needed, so we decided to head south and visit the Northumberland coast for a couple of days. Not a county we know well. A particular target was Roseate Tern, but there were plenty other things of interest to seek out along the coast. Visiting one of the many coastal wetlands to look for Barn Owl (which we failed to see!) we passed a farm with this Little Owl sitting outside on the wall. Another highlight was a damp meadow with a Grasshopper Warbler in full song.
We did a couple of boat trips and did see Roseate Terns as well as plenty Sandwich and Arctic, but never close enough for good photos.
Butterflies were abundant too with lots of Small Skippers and Dark Green Fritillaries around the wet ponds.

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.