Ayrshire Dragons & Leps

August Migrant Hawker

2011-09-29T10:03:00.000-07:00

On 22nd August, I passed by Ardeer Fen with my compact camera in my pocket and, when a hawker landed on Gorse in front of me, I (over)excitedly took the opportunity to get a few macro shots. I was so engrossed in this photo opportunity, the fact that it could be something other than a Common Hawker never crossed my mind. Today I looked through the photos on that SD card for the first time and was surprised to find that it was actually a Migrant Hawker!

Another Migrant Hawker

2011-09-10T08:51:00.000-07:00

When the sun came out at a windy Garnock East this afternoon, about 40 Common Darters and 3 Common Hawkers were in a sunny woodland ride and a male Migrant Hawker was patrolling over a sheltered pool nearby.

Iain

Migrant Hawkers

2011-09-08T06:24:00.000-07:00

Over the past couple of years, I’ve had a few brief encounters with dragonflies that I’ve assumed to be Migrant Hawker - and this is despite the fact that I visit Ayrshire only rarely nowadays. However, other than one I watched at some length a couple of years ago in Stevenston, I’ve always written these sightings off as ‘maybes’. However, on Tuesday I was totally convinced that a small Hawker hunting along the woodland edge at Ardeer Quarry LNR was a Migrant Hawker. The next day, whilst birding at Garnock East, I was pretty sure I saw at least one other individual hawking high around a Willow tree before shooting off through the wood. It got to the point where I thought that either Migrant Hawker is not that uncommon in Ayrshire or I’m having serious trouble with my dragonfly IDs.

So today I ventured out to Garnock East armed with net. A break in the clouds brought out a few Common Hawkers and a few dozen Common Darters. After two suspected Migrant Hawkers evaded capture, I found one individual hawking at the edge of a conifer plantation, occasionally crossing paths with a couple of aggressive (and noticeably larger) Common Hawkers. I eventually managed to net the dragonfly to confirm my suspicions - it was indeed a Migrant Hawker.

I suspect that Migrant Hawker really isn’t that unusual in Ayrshire - at least not nearly as rare as the NBN distribution map suggests.

First Butterflies

2011-03-25T14:06:00.000-07:00

The warm sunny spring weather during the past couple of days has brought out the first few butterflies of the year.

Thursday 24th
Rankinston - 3 Peacocks and 2 Small Tortoiseshells
Coylton - 1 Peacock and 2 Small Tortoiseshells
Auchinleck - 1 Small Tortoiseshell

Friday 25th
Rankinston - 1 Small Tortoiseshell

Painted Lady

2010-09-09T09:56:00.001-07:00

A Painted Lady today in suburban Stevenston was the only one I've seen this year. A couple of Small Coppers were on the Ardeer Brownfield land at Garnock West and 3 Small Heaths were at Bogisde Racecourse.

Iain

June at Ardeer

2010-07-10T10:48:00.000-07:00

With solitary bees and wasps the focus of my attention, I wasn't very conscientious with regard to butterfly counts. However, on the 26th June I made a count of 69 Dark Green Fritillaries on the Ardeer Peninsula. The biggest surprise though was when a suspiciously small fritillary which I quickly netted as it flew past turned out to be a Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary. Literally hundreds of Ringlets too and mind-boggling numbers of Six-spot Burnet Moths.

It will take a long time to ID all of my bees and wasps under the microscope. However, below are a few pictures of ones that are already ID'd.

Ceropales maculata - a 'cuckoo' Spider Wasp

Chrysis ruddi - a Cuckoo Wasp
Nomada marshamella - a 'cuckoo' solitary bee
Anthophora furcata - a solitary bee
Coelioxys elongata - a cuckoo of leafcutter bees
Ectumnius contunuus - a digger wasp
Hedychridium ardens - a Cuckoo Wasp
Colletes floralis - a solitary bee

Oxybelus uniglumis - a digger wasp

Colletes floralis
Ringlet
Six-spot Burnets on Viper's Bugloss

Small Copper on Hawthorn
Dark Green Fritillary
Dark Green Fritillary

First Small Heath

2010-05-08T08:43:00.000-07:00

Whilst out walking in the Rankinston area this afternoon I saw my first Small Heath of the year (this is the second earliest date on which I have ever recorded this species), other butterflies seen in the area were 22 Green-veined Whites, 7 Orange Tips and 1 Peacock. This morning I also saw 3 Green-veined Whites, 1 Orange Tip and 2 Peacocks near Sinclairston.

Green-veined Whites

2010-04-25T14:07:00.000-07:00

I saw my first 4 Green-veined Whites of the year yesterday flying near Coylton bowling green, I also saw a Peacock yesterday and 2 Peacocks and a Small Tortoiseshell today in the Rankinston area.

Emperor Moth

2010-04-22T08:15:00.001-07:00

Have you seen an Emperor Moth in Ayrshire?

Emperor Moths are superb creatures that are emerging now and can be found in many habitats including hedgerows, but especially on the moors. You can find them sitting on top of heather for instance until the end of May. We have only 20 sightings for Ayrshire recorded and would like to find out more about it's distribution.

Cinnabar Moth Survey 2010

2010-04-16T13:34:00.000-07:00

This survey, which began last year, is continuing through 2010.

Like many of the commoner moths, the Cinnabar has undergone a long-term decline in recent decades (83% over 35 years, based on Rothamsted trap data) and at the UK level is now regarded as a vulnerable species (see ‘The State of... Britain’s Larger Moths’ report). It remains widespread across England & Wales, but is much scarcer in Scotland, where it is most often seen in coastal areas. Butterfly Conservation, with support from the Moths Count team, wants to learn more about where it occurs and this is most easily done by spotting the colourful orange and black caterpillars which feed on ragwort leaves, often in such large numbers that they strip the plants completely. The caterpillars can be seen in July and August; the equally striking adult moth has a long flight season, starting in late May and, because it is easily disturbed during the day and will fly when it’s sunny, may also be recorded during the same period.
Postcards showing both the larva and adult were widely distributed in 2009 and further publicity is planned for this year. People are being asked to send in any sightings using either the postcards or directly by e-mail to Barry Prater , the Moth Recorder for Berwickshire.

There was a pleasing response from BC members and others and the map shows all the 2009 records received; if you know of more from last year do please send them in.
One of the objectives of the survey is to highlight the issue of moth conservation in the context of the overall pressure on biodiversity. The reliance of Cinnabar larvae on the widespread but controversial plant ragwort, known to be toxic to horses, may raise conflicts of interest, but a very helpful leaflet ‘Ragwort Friend or Foe’, prepared jointly by Butterfly Conservation, Plantlife and the British Horse Society is available from the BC Scotland page of the main BC website. The leaflet outlines the benefits and problems of ragwort and gives advice on its management.
Anyone who lives here or others who visit the area during the summer can help by taking part in the survey.

First bumblebees in Monktonhill

2010-03-17T11:03:00.000-07:00

I know it is slightly outside the normal scope of this site, but I saw my first bumblebees in our garden at Monktonhill today. I only got close to one (out of at least three), and that appeared to be the usual Bombus terrestris.

We still have 11 Small Tortoiseshells hibernating in our porch.

Roger Hissett

First butterfly of the year

2010-03-12T03:51:00.000-08:00

Earlier this morning I saw my first butterfly of 2010, it was a Small Tortoiseshell fluttering between a handful of Dandelions in the lovely sunshine near the former location of Littlemill Colliery just outside Rankinston.

Late Red Admiral

2009-10-22T11:51:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I saw a Red Admiral flying around in the autumnal sunshine on the outskirts of Rankinston, it is the first butterfly that I have seen for about a month despite there being quite a few warm and sunny days since the start of October.

Possible Migrant Hawker

2009-09-16T13:15:00.000-07:00

Had a possible Migrant Hawker at Garnock East today - 'possible' because I only watched it for about 30 seconds. After having made hundreds of sightings of Common Hawker at the site over the summer, this insect's behaviour immediately struck me as being different from your typical Common Hawker: it zoomed back and forth only a few inches above a brackish saltmarsh pool, changed it's altitude significantly a few times in a very short space of time, often reching quite a height, and was much more graceful in flight than your average Common Hawler - i.e. it didn't move like a'rigid toy aeroplane' the way Common Hawker does. Moreover, my immediate impression when first laying eyes on the insect was that it was a darter - it took me a couple of seconds to realise it was a hawker. Unsually when I see Common Hawker there's no mistaking it for a darter. As with last year's Migrant Hawker, the size difference between this individual and Common Hawker was very apparent.

Annoyingly, the insect flew off after about half a minute, before I could get a satisfactory look at is - so I shan't submit it as a definite record.

On the butterfly front, things have, of course, quietened down. The 'Painted Lady' explosion never really happened around the Ardeer area, with 6 butterflies along a 300m stretch of track at Garnock East a few eeks ago the highest count I made. I've noticed quite a few Red Admirals flying about since the fine weather started. Yesterday, 3 were nectaring on Aster beside the upper Garnock estuary. A couple of Painted Ladies were at the Ardeer Brownfield land too, along with a worn Small Copper. Another Small Copper was at Ardeer Fen.

On Sunday, a Common Blue was still on the wing at the Ardeer Brownfield land.

Today, a sunny patch of Sedums in a garden in my street in Stevesnton had 3 Red Admirals, a Peacock, a Small Tortoiseshell, and a Painted Lady.

(Photo: Red Admiral on Aster)

Stevenston Moths

2009-08-18T09:58:00.000-07:00

Taking advantage of a window of dry weather, I conducted my first remote mothing session for a while on some scrubby coastal heathland. No rarities, but highlights included Canary-shouldered Thorn, Treble-bar, Ear Moth, and Antler Moth.

(Photos: Canary-shouldered Thorn, Antler Moth, Treble-bar)

Ardeer Spit

2009-07-25T09:44:00.000-07:00

My first trip to the peninsula for a month or two produced 12 Dark Green Fritillaries, a Small Copper, 2 Peacocks, 150+ Common Blues, plus dozens of Graylings. A Drinker Moth had just emerged from its chrysalis.

(Photos: Dark Green Fritillary; Drinker Moth)

Second Generation

2009-07-22T12:43:00.000-07:00

Had my first second generation Small Tortoiseshells at Ardeer Fen about a week ago. Today I had my first Peacock and Small Copper, both on the Ardeer Brownfield land. Also, 3 Small Tortoiseshells at Ardeer Fen today.

Ardeer Brownfield land

2009-07-11T07:33:00.000-07:00

A walk around the woodland at Ardeer produced 11 encounters with male Common Hawkers, both along the woodland tracks and over the woodland ponds. A couple of Four-spotted Chasers and 4 female Common Darters were also seen. A Dark Green Fritillary was in a lush area of grassland beside the wood. A Red Admiral was on Bramble at the edge of the wood; another one was at Ardeer Fen.

Ardeer Brownfield land

2009-07-10T13:19:00.000-07:00

A walk through the Ardeer Brownfield land produced 110 Common Blues and 71 Graylings. 2 Common Hawkers and a Common Darter were at the woodland edge, as was a Red Admiral nectaring on Bramble flowers. I encountered another Red Admiral flying down my street in Stevenston.

Ardeer area

2009-06-29T03:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the first Red Admiral I've seen for a while was resting on a t-shirt on my washing line. An evening walk on the Ardeer Brownfield land produced a Grayling and 3 Painted Ladies. Owing to the rain, my moth trap out at Ardeer produced very little, but a Poplar Hawkmoth was a pleasant surprise.

(Photos: Poplar Hawkmoth; Grayling; Red Admiral)

Ardeer moth trapping

2009-06-27T08:47:00.000-07:00

Some of the more visually impressive moths attracted to a portable moth trap in my first out-of-the-garden trapping session were True Lover's Knot, Sallow Kitten, Grass Emerald, and Green Carpet. Gill Smart had a Grayling at Ardeer today - the first I've heard of this year.

(Photos: Sallow Kitten, Green Carpet, Grass Emerald)

Ardeer Brownfield land

2009-06-26T08:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I saw my first Common Hawker of the year flying along a woodland track. Further up the track I saw my first Cinnabar caterpillars of the year on Ragwort. A Brimstone moth was nearby. 3 Painted Ladies were the first I'd seen for a while. I also had one randomly flying through Stevenston and a couple more today. I could just be randomly seeing more than usual, or perhaps there's a slight increase in migration activity.

Ardeer Brownfield land

2009-06-24T07:37:00.000-07:00

Despite being exceptionally hot and humid, there was a significant breeze and so most of the active butterflies were in and around the woodland at Ardeer. A Dark Green Fritillary briefly nectared on some Red Clover. Also along the woodland tracks and roads were 4 Common Blues, 8 Ringlets, and 2 Meadow Browns.

(Photos: Common Blue)

Six-Spot Burnet Distribution

2009-06-23T11:52:00.000-07:00

Hi,

Here's the latest 2km distribution map of Six-Spot Burnet to complement the Chimney Sweeper the other day. I suspect it should be found in the majority of coastal areas. There is an odd gap between S Largs round the coast to Port Glasgow.

Hopefully we can fill in a few more dots...

Neil

Stevenston Dunes

2009-06-23T10:50:00.000-07:00

I counted 56 Six-spot Burnets at Stevenston Dunes. Also, there were 12 Small Heaths, a Meadow Brown, 6 Yellow Shells, and my first Common Blue of the year.

(Photo: Six-spot Burnet moths)

Chimney Sweeper Distribution

2009-06-19T11:45:00.000-07:00

Here's the current distribution at 10km resolution of Chimney Sweepers in Ayrshire. Hopefully we can fill in a few more 10km records this year.

Neil Gregory

Garnock East

2009-06-16T07:25:00.000-07:00

A lot of browns today with 23 Ringlets and 7 Meadow Browns at Garnock East. Also, 5 Small Heaths and 3 Small Coppers, but still no Common Blues. 3 Chimney Sweeper moths were in a mating frenzy in the horse field at Garnock East. A 30m wade through some Pignut revealed another 11 Chimney Sweepers.

(Photos: Chimney Sweepers; Small Copper; Meadow Brown; Ringlet)

Meadow Brown

2009-06-15T10:10:00.000-07:00

Taking a shortcut through Ardeer Quarry today, I disturbed my first Meadow Brown of the year from long grass. Also, 4 Four-spotted Chasers were at the small Ardeer Quarry pond.

Ringlet

2009-06-14T07:06:00.000-07:00

Heading out to Stevenston Dunes in the unexpectedly sunny conditions resulted in less than expected: 3 Small Heaths, 2 Small Whites, a Yellow Shell, and a Silver-y. However, at Ardeer Quarry I had my first Ringlet of the year. Also, at Ardeer Quarry I disturbed Clouded Border and Common White Wave moths from damp woodland.

(Photos: Ringlet; Clouded Border)

Pinbain Burn and Bennane Head

2009-06-12T15:17:00.000-07:00

Another 3 firsts earlier today - Dingy Skipper, Northern Brown Argus and Common Blue.

Pinbain Burn
1 Large White, 12 Green-veined Whites, 4 Northern Brown Argus, 5 Common Blues, 14 Painted Ladies and 11 Wall Browns.

Bennane Lea / Bennane Head
1 Dingy Skipper (Bennane Head), 3 Large Whites, 2 Small Whites, 23 Green-veined Whites, 2 Northern Brown Argus, 1 Small Copper, 25 Painted Ladies and 16 Wall Browns.

(Photos: Wall Brown; Common Blue; Northern Brown Argus)

Ardeer

2009-06-09T06:02:00.000-07:00

9 Small Coppers, 5 Painted Ladies, and 2 Cinnabars were on the Ardeer Peninsula. 13 Small Heaths, 4 Small Coppers, and 9 Painted Ladies were in Stevenston Dunes. The dune's thistles were the first I've seen in bloom and were evidently popular with the Painted Ladies.

(Photos: Painted Lady; Small Heath)

Garnock East

2009-06-08T07:10:00.000-07:00

7 Four-spotted Chasers were in scrub at Garnock East - I get the impression there are more than usual this year. A couple of Mother Shipton moths were together in some wildflower-rich grassland. Both yellow and brown forms of Yellow Shell were disturbed from vegetation. 8 Small Coppers were on my route through the site, including 5 in the horse field. 3 Drinker Moth caterpillars were also on my route.

(Photos: Four-spotted Chaser; Mother Shipton; Yellow and brown Yellow Shells; Drinker Moth caterpillar)

First Fritillaries

2009-06-06T02:09:00.000-07:00

The past week has been an excellent one for butterflies in the Rankinston area, on Monday 1st June I saw my first 6 Dark Green Fritillaries of the year in the Bow Hill area (NS4312, NS4412 and NS4512) and then on Thursday 4th June I saw my first Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (NS4413). This and the surrounding area must surely be one of the best places in Scotland to see both these species in good numbers as I recorded 40+ Dark Green Fritillaries and 20+ Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries multiple times here during 2008. Other butterflies seen were:-

Large White - 2 on 01/06 and 3 on 02/06
Small White - 2 on 02/06
Green-veined White - loads everyday but 300+ on 01/06
Orange Tip - a few every day but 20+ on 01/06
Green Hairstreak - 4 on 01/06
Red Admiral - 2 on 01/06
Painted Lady - a few every day but 20+ on 01/06 and 04/06
Small Heath - a few every day but 14 on 02/06 and 18 on 04/06

Painted Ladies in Kilmarnock

2009-06-04T08:46:00.000-07:00

News from Alistair Simpson

Wed, 3 Jun 2009
Painted Lady (2) in Townholm, Kilmarnock
Another in Wardneuk garden, Kilmarnock

Tue, 2 Jun 2009
Painted Lady at the Rugby Club, Kilmarnock

Mon, 25 May 2009
Orange-tips at Borland fishery, Cumnock

Further Painted Lady news from last weekend

2009-06-03T20:37:00.000-07:00

News from Angus Hogg

Sat, 30 May 2009
It's not often (if at all) that you can point to Glen App as the scene of an invasion but, between mid Glen App and Girvan, there were at least 80-100 Painted Ladies today, with 30 past in 20 minutes at Ballantrae. As if that wasn't enough, not 1, but 3 Red Kites drifted NE together over the glen at around 10.30, all of them untagged, 2 being immature (2nd cal yr) birds, the other an adult. Also present in the glen were a single Common Crossbill and a Cuckoo, Kilantringan Loch had at least three 4-spot Chasers along with several Large Red Damselflies and Common Blue Damselflies - and a newly emerged Small Heath.

Sun, 31 May 2009 Still they come!
Another day full of Painted Ladies - not quite 702, but close on 100 spread between Drumlamford and Barjarg at one end and Pinwherry at the other. Several Orange Tips still on the go too - and a Small Copper at Barjarg. Other insects of note included 4-spot Chasers at Corwar House, Barwinnock and Barjarg.

Wed, 3 Jun 2009
Wednesday morning in Galloway Forest Park near Loch Riecawr provided 45+ Four-spotted Chasers at one site, a single Golden-ringed Dragonfly and a basking Adder in one of the rides.

Stevenston Dunes

2009-06-02T09:55:00.000-07:00

My first 6 Small Heaths of the year were at Stevenston Dunes today, along with a Cinnabar moth and a Painted Lady laying eggs on thistles. I didn't see any Green Hairstreaks at Ardeer Quarry, but single Lead Belle and Silver Y moths were near the Gorse.

(Photo: Lead Belle)

Green Hairstreak

2009-06-02T09:53:00.000-07:00

Alistair Murdoch, one of North Ayrshire Council's rangers, had a single Green Hairstreak beside Gorse at the south of Ardeer Quarry yesterday (1st June).

Painted Lady immigration - Sun 31 May

2009-05-31T18:47:00.000-07:00

Painted Ladies were active from 0704h along the disused railway line between Kilmarnock, Knockentiber and Springside and before it was time to head back for breakfast, 32 had been counted along with 12 Orange-tips plus the other three pierids. In Kilmarnock, Painted Ladies were heading NW at a rate of 2/min around midday but on the coast between Troon and Irvine, no obvious movement was detected. Gailes Marsh only had 7 and a 1.5 km stretch south from Irvine harbour mouth produced just 15. Did anyone record large numbers in the south of the county today?

Large Red, Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies noted at a few sites in the Irvine area.

Painted Lady immigration - Sat 30 May

2009-05-31T18:38:00.000-07:00

Incredible numbers of Painted Ladies along the south coast on Saturday (31/05/09) - easily surpassing the county's biggest previous invasion in 1996. We stopped counting at 702! In contrast to London earlier this week when most butterflies were urgently flying north without stopping, most of today's individuals were resting and feeding on almost every available nectar source (particularly Brassicaceae, Asteraceae and Trifolium spp.) but a northward movement was still apparent in the fairly strong SE wind. Some numbers: 199 along a 500m stretch from Pinbain Burn south; 234 between Bennane Lea & Port Vad; 209 along a 500m stretch from Ballantrae Pier south; only (!) 36 at Currarie Port. Also noted from the car in every 1km home to Kilmarnock. At a rough estimate, assuming an even distribution of numbers and uniform habitat, there could have been at least 50000 along the Ayrshire coast today. Other highlights: Dingy Skipper & 21 Wall at Pinbain; 48 Wall at Bennane Lea-Port Vad; 8 Wall at Currarie, and large numbers of Silver-Y everywhere. Nine other spp inc Large Skipper, Small Heath & Small Copper.

Fraser & Alistair Simpson

Ardeer Peninsula

2009-05-31T06:15:00.000-07:00

Seem to be fewer Painted Ladies around today, with 15 along the sea defences between Stevenston Point and the Robert Burns mural. Also along this stretch were 2 Cinnabar moths and a Small Copper. 7 Small Coppers were sat along a track on the peninsula. Another Cinnabar and a Mother Shipton moth were also present.

Painted Ladies Everywhere

2009-05-30T13:53:00.000-07:00

I have seen virtually nothing but Painted Ladies during the past 24 hours, it all started with 4 near Rankinston last night followed by another in Ayr early this morning but that didn't prepare me for what I saw today at Ballantrae. As soon as I walked down towards the beach there were at least 10 flying just in front of me and between Ballantrae and Bennane Head I stopped counting at 200 and all the way up the coast from Balcreuchan Port to Pinbain Burn/Pinbain Hill it was exactly the same so there must have been at least a few thousand Painted Ladies flying in the Ballantrae area today. The other butterflies seen were 160+ Green-veined Whites, 18+ Large Whites, 5 Small Whites (but there may well have been quite a few more), 3 Orange Tips, 6 Small Coppers, 3 Peacocks, 2 Small Tortoiseshells and 50+ Wall Browns (including 23 at Bennane Lea/Bennane Head and 15 at Pinbain Burn) but I found no Dingy Skipper, Large Skipper or Northern Brown Argus although it may be slightly early in the year for the latter 2 species.

Painted Ladies

2009-05-30T06:57:00.000-07:00

Painted Ladies everywhere today. Most notable counts were 5 flying through Garnock East and a further 27 nectaring - mainly on Bird's-foot Trefoil. Across the Garnock at the Ardeer Brownfield land, 31 were nectaring in a 40mx40m patch of Bird's-foot Trefoil.

Ardeer Brownfield land

2009-05-29T10:58:00.000-07:00

No Painted Ladies yet, but 7 Small Coppers were within a couple of hundred metres of each other. A Cinnabar moth was on a patch of dune heath and a Pyrausta purpuralis pyralid moth was in a wildflower-rich woodland clearing. The scortching temperatures saw hundreds of solitary bees and wasps hovering low over the sandy areas - a lot of Sphecodes cuckoo bees in particular.

(Photos: Pyrausta purpuralis; Sphecodes sp.)

Waiting for the Painted Lady invasion to hit Ayrshire

2009-05-28T09:30:00.000-07:00

With millions of Painted Ladies arriving in Southern England over the past week and the promising forecast for this weekend, it looks like many will be moving through Ayrshire. In central London this morning I observed a steady northerly stream of butterflies flying at speed across some of city's busiest streets!
More here on the BC website: http://tinyurl.com/m8kc8e

Green Hairstreaks in Kyle Forest

2009-05-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

During a walk through the Kyle Forest from Rankinston to Sinclairston yesterday I discovered Green Hairstreaks in this area for the first time, I found 7 on the edge of the forest near Ewe Hill (NS4512 and NS4511) and another 2 near Knockguldron (NS4813), I also saw 90+ Green-veined Whites and 24 Orange Tips and a large number of these butterflies were seen along the stretch of road between Knockguldron and the northern edge of the forest.

Garnock Estuary Area

2009-05-22T06:20:00.000-07:00

On a sandy, wildflower-rich track on the Ardeer Brownfield land across the river from Garnock East, 2 Small Coppers were basking (2 more at Garnock East and 1 at Ardeer Fen). A Cinnabar moth was there - my first this year - and the ground was alive with solitary wasps. A Common Heath moth was nearby.

Yesterday, a BTCV insect netting event at Ardeer Quarry produced only one moth, which they identified as Least Black Arches, a very local moth in Scotland.

(Photos: Small Copper; Cinnabar)

First Small Heath

2009-05-22T03:10:00.000-07:00

I saw my first Small Heath of the year this morning near the village of Rankinston (NS444143), other butterflies seen in the area were 24+ Green-veined Whites and 3 Orange Tips.

Whites

2009-05-16T04:54:00.000-07:00

Largely overcast and with a cool east wind, I didn't encounter a single butterfly during my walk in the countryside above Stevenston, until I reached Auchenkist Farm. A marshy field, 300m x 40m, dotted with Cuckoo Flowers, had at least 80 Whites dancing about during sunny spells. My best estimate of species composition was 62 Green-veined Whites, 13 Orange Tips, and 5 Small Whites.

(Photos: Small White; sheltered, marshy field)

Small Tortoiseshell survey

2009-05-13T09:50:00.000-07:00

This survey was brought to my attention today:

http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/form/3196/Scottish_Small_Tortoiseshell_survey.html

A few firsts

2009-05-13T09:35:00.000-07:00

The warm, sunny weather today produced my first Four-spotted Chaser, Blue-tailed Damselfly, and Azure Damselfly at Garnock East. Single Small Copper and Red Admiral were across the Garnock at the Ardeer Brownfield land.

(Photos: Four-spotted Chaser; Azure Damselfly; Blue-tailed Damselfly)

Small Copper

2009-05-12T11:56:00.000-07:00

My first Small Copper of the year was flushed from a worn track at Garnock East this afternoon.

Green Hairstreaks at Craigdow Loch

2009-05-11T14:02:00.000-07:00

During a visit to Craigdow Loch near Kirkoswald this afternoon I saw my first Green Hairstreaks of 2009 (a total of 7 butterflies), other butterflies seen in the Kirkoswald/Craigdow area were 18+ Green-veined Whites, 6 Orange Tips and 2 Small Tortoiseshells.

Red Admiral

2009-05-02T08:12:00.000-07:00

My first Red Admiral of the year was at Garnock East today. A Common Carpet was disturbed beside the wood.

(Photos: Red Admiral; Common Carpet)

Holly Blue in Ayrshire (again!)

2009-05-01T10:39:00.000-07:00

Following Angus Murray's discovery of a Holly Blue in his garden in Ayr on three dates last August, he has recently sighted a first brood male on 22 April. Observers are encouraged to search out this species throughout the county.

There are a number of interesting questions and possibilities here: is the species holding on at a few undiscovered locations?; has it recently colonised from coastal D&G (and why no records in the large gap between?); has it (as eggs/larvae) been accidentally introduced with holly/ivy/another plant which may have come via garden centre from further south?

First Large White

2009-04-28T11:12:00.000-07:00

My first Large White of the year was nectaring on various woodland edge dandelions at Garnock East today. Also at Garnock East were 2 Orange Tips and 9 Green-veined Whites. A Small Tortoiseshell and a Peacock were basking just over the Garnock East boundary fence at Bogside Racecourse.

(Photos: Orange Tip; Large White; Peacock)

First damselflies

2009-04-27T09:30:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I had my first damselflies of the year: c.60 Large Red Damselflies in the scrub around Garnock East. Also on the wing at Garnock East were 5 Green-veined Whites, 2 Peacocks, and 1 Orange Tip.

(Photo: Large Red Damselfly)

Rankinston Area

2009-04-25T08:15:00.000-07:00

There were 10 Green-veined Whites, 3 Orange Tips and 3 Peacocks seen this afternoon in the Rankinston area, I also saw a single Green-veined White in Cumnock earlier this morning.

Ardeer Quarry and Eglinton moth

2009-04-20T07:11:00.000-07:00

7 Peacocks (6 basking along the Railtrack road), 3 Green-veined Whites, and a Small Tortoiseshell were at Ardeer Quarry this afternoon. This morning, a Flame Carpet moth was roosting on a fence post in Eglinton Country Park.

(Photo: Flame Carpet)

Ardeer Quarry

2009-04-19T07:49:00.000-07:00

3 Small Tortoiseshells, 2 Peacocks, 4 Green-veined Whites, and an Orange Tip were at Ardeer Quarry this afternoon.

Orange Tip & Green-veined White in Monktonhill

2009-04-18T18:25:00.000-07:00

Monktonhill - Saturday 18th April.

There was one Orange Tip and at least one Green-veined White in our garden (NS352286) this afternoon - our first for the year. Also one Peacock.

Roger Hissett

First Green-veined White

2009-04-18T08:47:00.000-07:00

I saw my first Green-veined White of the year today near the former location of Littlemill Colliery less than a mile outside Rankinston and despite the fine weather I saw only 3 other butterflies all day (2 Peacocks and 1 Small Tortoiseshell).

Ardeer Quarry Railtrack access road

2009-04-18T06:55:00.000-07:00

5 Peacocks were basking along the old Railtrack access road. A Small Tortoiseshell was nectaring on a roadside Dandelion. As usual, the Peacocks were taking part in a lot of chasing. One Peacock pursued a Dunnock through the air for a few meters and 'mobbed' it for a couple of seconds after it landed.

Butterfly habitat improvement

2009-04-18T06:46:00.000-07:00

A local conservation group has cleared away a lot of scrub at the south of the Ardeer Quarry LNR site. This area is rich in wildflowers and contains the greatest diversity of butterflies on the reserve. Much of the area - a former railway siding - had become overgrown with Gorse and Sea Buckthorn. The work wasn't a full clearance: several sizeable patches of Gorse and Bramble have been left.
(Photo: Sea Buckthorn stumps)

Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell in Kilmarnock

2009-04-02T21:00:00.000-07:00

More early butterflies from the Kilmarnock area today included a single Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell in Wardneuk, at least two Small Torts in Townholm and a single in a garden near North Craig Reservoir (Obs: A & D Simpson).

Peacocks

2009-04-02T13:13:00.000-07:00

A single Peacock was flying around dune heath on the Stevenston side of the upper Garnock Estuary; 2 were at Garnock East; 2 were on the track to Garnock East behind the recycling centre by Garnock Floods; 4+ were basking on the old Railtrack access road at Ardeer Quarry.
(Photo: Peacocks)

Small Tort

2009-03-31T11:47:00.001-07:00

With the cold spell over, a single Small Tortoiseshell was in a Dandelion-studded garden opposite Saltcoats Harbour this afternoon.

More Peacocks

2009-03-19T09:03:00.000-07:00

Temperatures peaked at 16 deg C today. A single Peacock was basking at Garnock East. 3 Peacocks were at Ardeer Quarry, 2 of them basking on the old Railtrack access road. Also, 2 Green Tiger Beetles at Garnock East were the first I've seen this year.
(Photos: Peacock at Ardeer Quarry; Green Tiger Beetle at Garnock East)

Small Tortoiseshell in Ayr

2009-03-18T11:35:00.000-07:00

Whilst out walking in the lovely spring sunshine this afternoon I saw my first butterfly of 2009, a Small Tortoiseshell flying along the bank of the River Ayr close to Dam Park Stadium (NS344214).

My first butterflies of the year

2009-03-18T08:58:00.000-07:00

With bright sunshine all day, next to no wind, and temperatures peaking at 14 deg C, I wandered around Stevenston's green spaces in search of newly emerged hibernators. A Peacock powered over the small Ardeer Quarry pond and a Small Tortoiseshell fed from heather in a garden beside Ardeer Quarry.
(Photo: Small Tortoiseshell)

Moths in Ayrshire Literature

2009-01-30T13:02:00.000-08:00

I'm trying to find out any literature references for moths in Ayrshire. With Marco's help we've found a few bits and pieces, but nothing substantial. Also I'm investigating if there are any historic natural history societies that may have literature. I know about the Ayrshire Archaelogical Society, but no success with useful references.

Or could it be that there has been very limited entomological work in Ayrshire!

Hope you can help.

Neil

Ardeer Quarry LNR public consultation

2008-12-20T05:51:00.000-08:00

As part of the development of the Ardeer Quarry LNR management plan, Stevenston Environmental Group is holding a public consultation on proposals for the reserve. Several of the projects are butterfly/moth/dragonfly related.

Details of the projects and the group's email address can be found at:
http://www.geocities.com/stevenstonenvironmentalgroup/ardeerpage.htm

Physical work cutting back scrub, felling trees, etc. will probably start at the end of winter. With all the red tape involved in creating a new wetland, I'm guessing that work won't begin on this until the end of next summer.

Ruby Tiger Larvae

2008-11-17T11:57:00.004-08:00

Dear All,

A number of people have reported seeing Ruby Tiger larvae this year, but not from Ayrshire. They are small hairy, brown (sometimes black) and an orange body stripe sometimes. They run fast and can be found in grassy areas often looking for bare ground, which is warmer than other places. Let me know if you've seen any with the Grid Ref. Here's a picure taken last year:

Best wishes,

Neil Gregory

Garnock East

2008-09-28T11:47:00.000-07:00

Warm sunshine for much of today saw lots of Common Darters out, many in copulating pairs. Good numbers of Black Darters too, including a couple of copulating pairs. Also, a Common Hawker was out and about.
(Photo: Black Darter)

Migrant Hawker

2008-09-26T12:14:00.001-07:00

I came across a Migrant Hawker yesterday (25^th September) hawking along the woodland edge near the eastern end of Auchenharvie wood in Stevenston (NS 262 420). There’s only one previous record for Ayrshire, but it is a species extending its range northwards. Whether my sighting is indicative of a greater presence by the species in the NW this year I don’t know. However, it’s worth keeping an extra eye open for them over the coming weeks (their flight season extends into November).

It was feeding 8-16 feet in the air and was intermediate in size between Common Hawker and Common Darter. I found the dragonfly to be very obviously smaller than Common Hawker – a size difference I wouldn’t have expected from reading the field guides. Because of its small size, it didn’t give the impression of being a ‘miniature aeroplane’ like the Common Hawker does. The individual I saw hawked with the end of its tail curved slightly.

This size difference was accompanied by a feeding behaviour noticeably different from that of Common Hawker.

It fed far more frantically than Common Hawker, taking detours off its flight path far more frequently to flycatch – dipping down one second then jumping up the next. Similarly, it also changed direction far more often when hunting. Changing direction frequently and randomly, it covered a smaller area than Common Hawker when feeding.

To those familiar with the jizz and behaviour of Common Hawker and Common Darter, Migrant Hawker should stick out like a sore thumb – the difference in size and behaviour between the two species is obvious.

It’s worth pointing out that Migrant Hawkers can turn up just about anywhere; they don’t just frequent wetland habitats. The one I saw was several hundred metres from the nearest pond, hawking along a woodland edge.

Also worth mentioning, I’ve seen a few Red Admirals powering about recently, including one today at Eglinton and two yesterday at Auchenharvie. Also a couple of Peacocks during the past week: 1 at Shewalton Wood on Sunday and one at Garnock East on Tuesday. There was also a Common Hawker at Garnock East on Tuesday, along with dozens of Common Darters.

(Photos: Common Darter at Garnock East)

Ardeer Quarry LNR

2008-09-01T09:30:00.000-07:00

A window of sunshine for a few hours today saw a few butterflies on the wing at Ardeer Quarry: 3 Common Blues, 2 Red Admirals, 1 Small Copper, 1 Meadow Brown, and 1 Small White. Also, there was a White Ermine moth caterpillar crawling across the tarmac.
(Photos: Common Blue, Small Copper, White Ermine moth caterpillar)

Garnock East

2008-08-28T12:10:00.001-07:00

Wet weather and soaking grass. Not great conditions for butterflies, but as I walked through the long grass at Garnock East I disturbed a Common Blue, a Peacock, a Green-veined White, a Meadow Brown, and a Small Heath – a good variety for such a wet day. As conditions got better, a Peacock and 2 Green-veined Whites were on the wing. An Elephant Hawk-Moth caterpillar was crawling across the road at Garnock East.
(Photos: Small Heath and Elephant Hawk-Moth caterpillar.)

Stevenston 23rd August

2008-08-24T07:16:00.000-07:00

Walking in the countryside NW of Kerelaw in Stevenston, I came across only a few butterflies: 1 Red Admiral, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, and 4 Green-veined Whites. At Ardeer Quarry there were a couple of Green-veined Whites, a Peacock, a Meadow Brown, and what I think is a Shaded Broad-bar moth.

Ardeer Quarry LNR 19th and 21st August

2008-08-22T01:29:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately I've been away from the county for most of the summer, but thankfully I'm able to catch the tail end of the season. On the 19th there were 4 Common Blues, 3 Small Coppers, 8 Green-veined Whites, and 1 Meadow Brown at Ardeer Quarry LNR. On the 21st there were 5 Common Blues, 3 Small Coppers, 4 Green-veined Whites, 1 Large White, 3 Meadow Browns, 2 Peacocks, and a Silver y moth. (Photos: Common Blue, Silver y moth, Small Copper)

Fritillaries Galore In Rankinston Area

2008-07-22T11:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I followed the track which runs from the end of the road above Rankinston below Bow Hill as far as Dunston Hill (NS4312 and NS4412) and counted 60+ Dark Green Fritillaries and 8 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries, many of these were found on the first grassy hillocks to the right of the path just beyond the wooden bridge.

Other butterflies seen in this area were:-
1 Large White, 2 Green-veined Whites, 1 Common Blue, 1 Small Heath, 76+ Ringlets and 9 Meadow Browns.

I also searched the Bow Bing for Graylings but none were found.

Ringlet

2008-06-15T19:53:00.000-07:00

My first Ringlet of the year at Gailes Marsh today – a nice fresh, silky, dark individual. Low numbers of everything else such as Small Copper, Small Heath and Common Blue. Damselflies were fairly scarce with the following found: Emerald Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly.

Fraser Simpson

Meadow Brown at Eglinton Loch

2008-06-15T19:52:00.000-07:00

Meadow Brown seen at Eglinton Loch. Also, plenty of Common Blue Damselflies in the water vegetation at the west end of the loch with a single Common Hawker and Large Red Damselflies in drier habitat at the east end.

Gordon McAdam

In the shelter of North Glen App

2008-06-14T21:48:00.000-07:00

I checked a few sites on the southern coast today but it was clear that the wind was one factor in the low numbers around. Still, Pinbain Burn had a single Grayling (my earliest record), 10 Large Skipper, 2 Northern Brown Argus, 1 Wall, 6 Common Blue, and 3 Small Heath. Moving inland to the shelter of North Glen App proved a wise move with some good counts:

Dark Green Fritillary (17)
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (13)
Large Heath (17)
Small Heath (70+)
Large Skipper (2)
Wall (1)
Golden-ringed Dragonfly (min 9)

Also Meadow Brown, Common Blue, Green-veined White, Peacock (very worn individual from the 2007 brood), Chimney Sweeper, Large Red Damselfly, Crossbill (4+), Jay and Tawny Owl.

Fraser Simpson

Portencross Today

2008-06-14T20:55:00.000-07:00

Very little about today: only one micro-moth (unknown sp.), no Burnets or Blues or Whites about! I think the wind and temperature were just too low.

The rocky outpost next to the pier at Portencross is fanatstic for flowers:
Wild Thyme
Devil's-bit Scabious
Northern Marsh Orchid
Bird's Foot trefoil
Blooody Cranesbill
A small white bladder type campion
Red Campion
Lady's Bedstraw

There were also 8 Large White larva on the field escaped Oil Seed Rape plants - see picture

Nil Gregory

Basking Shark - Bennane Head

2008-06-10T13:27:00.000-07:00

Report of a Basking Shark at Bennane Head on 09/06/08 only 4m out from the shore!
Neil

National Moth Night 7 June

2008-06-05T19:20:00.000-07:00

From Neil Gregory...

Just a reminder that National Moth Night is happening this Saturday. We would be very grateful for any records you may have from day-time observations and night time trappings. Please contact your local moth recorder with your records. Below is a message from the National Moth Night team with a little more information:

"Once again National Moth Night (organised by Atropos and Butterfly Conservation) is upon us and this year we are celebrating its 10th anniversary. Even more reason to go out into your gardens and the wider countryside to record moths!

For 2008, NMN includes a daytime element and a change from the normal macro-moth only list of targets with the inclusion of both micro-moth and habitat targets, respectively Anania funebris and Orchards; the macro-moth targets being Bordered Gothic (Heliophobus reticulata) and Narrow-bordered bee Hawk-moth (Hemaris tityus).

It is recognised the target species and habitat will not be in the reach of every recorder or public event; however, the NMN team do encourage recorders and event co-ordinators to allocate their own local targets of interest, an ideal opportunity to do so.

For 2008, we strongly encourage the use of the revamped NMN data submission form and the new NMN recording template forms (Microsoft Office and Sun Systems OpenOffice formats) which will be made available from the NMN website (www.nationalmothnight.info) for the event until the end of the year. Along with a short questionnaire, the data submission form gives provision for recorders to attach the NMN recording templates, MapMate `Sync' files (in preference to submission via the MapMate Web Server) or any other suitable data format (visit the NMN website for further details).

On behalf of the National Moth Night team, thank you for your continued support for the event and let's hope for good weather and a bumper crop of moths!

Regards, Les Hill.Data manager, National Moth Recording Scheme

Dalmellington Area - 4th June

2008-06-04T12:41:00.000-07:00

Today whilst out walking in the Dalmellington area I saw a very early Dark Green Fritillary near Dalcairnie Glen, this is the first time that I have ever seen this butterfly before the last week of June, other butterflies seen were as follows: -

Bogton Loch > Dalcairnie Burn/Glen > Wee Berbeth Loch/Hill
60+ Green-veined Whites
3 Small Whites
8 Orange Tips
12+ Small Heaths

Dalmellington Moss
4 Green-veined Whites
1 Orange Tip
2 Small Heaths

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

2008-06-02T11:07:00.000-07:00

Sunday 1st - Near Drumshang Loch in the Carrick Hills

2 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries
3 Small Heaths

May Roundup

2008-06-01T08:56:00.000-07:00

30 May
Borland Fishery: Orange-tip, Green-veined White, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral (AS).

26 May
A stop at Pinbain Hill on the way home produced the first 3 Northern Brown Argus along with about 12-13 Wall Browns (RHH).

20 May
During the past week lots more butterflies have been seen within the village and in surrounding areas, these have included the first sightings for 2008 of Small Heath (3 on 19th), Large White (1 on 18th) and Small White (1 on 13th) as well as loads of Green-veined Whites, some Orange Tips, a few Small Tortoiseshells and Peacocks and 1 Red Admiral (JC).

18 May
A walk round the Garnock Floods and the west side of the railway embankment: plenty of Green-veined Whites and Orange-tips, with a few Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells and a single Small Copper. Plenty of Large Red Damselflies, a few female Azure Damselflies, several Four-spotted Chasers (GM).
Garnock East: Small Copper near the railway at Ardeer Quarry; Four-spotted Chaser over scrub near the upper Garnock Estuary; and a Blue-tailed Damselfly in a ditch at Ardeer Quarry (IH).

15 May
Craigdow Loch: 4 Green Hairstreaks, 10 Green-veined Whites and an Orange-tip (JC).
Culzean and Kirkoswald area: loads of Green-veined Whites, 16 Orange-tips, 5 Small Whites, 8 Small Tortoiseshells and 3 Peacocks (JC).
Glen App : Wall Brown and Red Admiral (RHH).

13 May
Glen App: 6 Small Heath (RHH).

11 May
Garnock East: 3 Small Tortoiseshells, 6 Peacock, 5 Green-veined Whites, 7 Orange Tips. Ardeer Fen: 15 Green-veined Whites. Ardeer Quarry: 7 Peacocks, 2 Small Tortoiseshells, 17 Orange Tips, 7 Green-veined Whites (IH).

6 May
Had a very enjoyable 2 hours wandering around one of my "local" tetrads this morning (south edge of Blairquhan up to Dyke Farm). Lots of Orange-tips about (RHH).

3 May
Culzean: 2 Peacocks (G).

2 May
Ardeer Quarry: 10 Orange-tips, 1 Peacock and 3 Small Tortoiseshells (VF).

1 May
Garnock East:Large Red Damselflies (c150), 15 Peacocks, 7 Orange Tips, 3 Green-veined Whites, and 9 Small Tortoiseshells (IH).

Thanks to Gayle, John Candlish, Vallerie Firminger, Iain Hamlin, Angus Hogg, Gordon McAdam, and Alistair Simpson for the news.

A few firsts

2008-05-18T08:23:00.000-07:00

A few firsts of the year (for me): Small Copper in the cattle field at Garnock East and near the railway at Ardeer Quarry; Four-spotted Chaser over scrub near the upper Garnock Estuary; and a Blue-tailed Damselfly in a ditch at Ardeer Quarry.

Iain

Cuckoo Flower

2008-05-16T13:25:00.001-07:00

Here are some things to look out for on cuckoo flower:

Orange-tip eggs - just under the fowers on the flower stems.

Adela rufimtrella - a long horned micro moth that feeds on cuckoo flower and garlic Mustard (in the same way orange-tips do). you will see them occassionally on the cuckoo flower flowers. Flying now.

Micropterix calthella - tiny micro on buttercups and cuckoo flower. Shiny wings, yellow head

I would be especially pleased for some rufimtrella records as I have no Ayrshire records and it must be present. calthella has been recorded, but with no specific records as yet.

See www.ukmoths.org.uk for pictures.

Neil Gregory

Loudon Castle Moths

2008-05-16T13:21:00.000-07:00

Species list from Moth Trapping at Loudon Castle on 10/05/08 for Irvine Valley Walkers. Over 60 attendees, but mostly interested in bats!

Least Black Arches

Scalloped Hazel

Early Thorn

Water Carpet

Chestnut

Hebrew Character

Flame Shoulder

Common Carpet

Red-green Carpet

Pale Prominent

Common Quaker

Clouded Drab

Brindled Pug

Double-striped Pug

10xMay bugs too

Neil Gregory

Stevenston area, 11th May

2008-05-16T10:19:00.000-07:00

Garnock East:
3 Small Torts
6 Peacock
5 Green-veined Whites
7 Orange Tips

Ardeer Fen:
15 Green-veined Whites in a relatively small area of Marsh Marigold and Cuckoo Flower

Ardeer Quarry:
7 Peacocks – holding territories along tarmac road at east of reserve.
2 Small Torts
17 Orange Tips
7 Green-veined Whites

(Photos: Small Tort at Garnock East; Orange Tip in overcast conditions on previous day at Ardeer Quarry)

Garnock East 1st May

2008-05-04T10:03:00.000-07:00

Warm sunny weather saw the sudden emergence of many Large Red Damselflies - about 150 seen in the scrubby areas on a circuit around Garnock East. Also, good numbers of butterflies: 15 Peacocks, 7 Orange Tips, 3 Green-veined Whites, and 9 Small Tortoiseshells.

Iain

April Roundup

2008-04-30T20:40:00.000-07:00

30 April
Small Tortoiseshells, 2 Peacocks, 1 Red Admiral and a Green-veined White at Rankinston (JC)

28 April
Orange-tips in Ayr gardens (RGV) (JT).

27 April
First Green Hairstreak of the season at Drumtee. Also 7+ Emperor moths (FSS).
The upper part of Glen App held 3 Peacocks and at least 5 Green-veined Whites (RHH).
Colmonell had a pair of Orange-tips (RHH).
More male Orange-tips at Maxwelston and Hamilton Bridge in the Girvan valley (RHH).
A few Small Tortoiseshells and an Orange-tip in Ardrossan and Portencross (SMcM).
Orange-tip and Small Tortoiseshell in Kilmaurs garden (RT).

19 April
Two Peacocks at Finnarts Bay (RHH).

17 April
First Green-veined White of the season in Glen App (RHH).

13 April
Peacock basking in full sunshine at Loch Finlas (GM).
Single Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell at Bargany and Crosshill respectively (RHH).

3 April
Peacock near tennis courts in Kay Park, Kilmarnock (AS).

Thanks to John Candlish, Angus Hogg, Gordon McAdam, Stuart McMahon, Alistair Simpson, Jim Thomson, Robin Turner and Dick Vernon for the news.

Green Hairstreak emergence

2008-04-27T20:47:00.000-07:00

A single Green Hairstreak on the wing at the Drumtee colony north of Fenwick on Sunday 27th. Most of the forestry here has now been harvested and most of the hairstreak habitat patch (strip of fenced blaeberry/heather/etc between the forest edge and grazing) has been trashed by machinery. If the site is left as a clear fell it'll probably recover in time. Also at least seven Emperor moths buzzing around. No hairstreaks at Corsehouse Reservoir yet.

Dragonflies link from Ayrshire Birding

2008-02-14T06:40:00.001-08:00

I've added a new link at the bottom of the floating menu on the Ayrshire Birding web-site to Fraser's new Dragonflies in Ayrshire web-site.

Small Tortoiseshells emerging from hibernaculums

2008-02-13T22:55:00.000-08:00

The unseasonal, double-figure temperatures and extended sunshine have resulted in several Small Tortoiseshells flying or basking this week. Singles have been noted near Girvan on the 12th, at Crosshouse Hospital on the 12th, and at Borland Fishery, Cumnock on the 13th. Thanks to Alan Paxton, Alistair Simpson and Robin Turner for these reports.

Stinchar Bridge

2007-10-23T21:32:00.000-07:00

Two Peacocks and a Common Hawker still on the wing,

Angus Hogg

Black Darters at Loch Doon

2007-10-17T21:52:00.000-07:00

Perhaps the biggest surprise were the 2 Black Darters - not the most active of dragonflies but, given the time of year and the temperature, hardly surprising.

Angus Hogg

Red Admiral, Pow Burn

2007-10-10T21:53:00.000-07:00

Pow Burn had no Little Egret, but a Red Admiral brightened the area up.

Angus Hogg