| When the gentleman naturalists of the 19th century began to explore and record Scotland's fauna they provided English names for the species they found. No less than three moths have Rannoch in the name, Rannoch Sprawler, Rannoch Brindled Beauty and this species opposite the Rannoch Looper. The reason for the popularity of Rannoch is, at first puzzling since they all occur in Strathspey, probably in greater numbers. However the answer is, in historical terms, plain to see. These naturalists explored Scotland using the new train system and they would have disembarked and Rannoch station to set off and record so these species were first known from that area. We photographed this species close to Loch Ness last week whilst searching for Dragonflies |  |
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 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.  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.  Just back from a great trip to Somerset concentrating on Light trapping Moths and Butterfly walks. Many highlights to choose from but I have chosen the Privet Hawkmoth as the star, even over the Large Blue Butterfly and rare Heath Fritillary. It has the largest wingspan of any of the native moths.
More pictures from out Somerset visit can be found here:http://www.pbase.com/wildscot/somersetleps |
AuthorEric & Lesley McCabe Archives
January 2021
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