Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey: After two years of pilot testing, the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey is to be rolled out nationwide this year.

Volunteers in Highland and Moray who took part in the survey in 2007 and 2008 may continue with the same squares this year, unless they'd prefer to switch to one of the new squares (see map and list of squares).

Read more... (PDF file).

Butterfly Conservation Migrant Watch - please add your sightings of Painted Lady butterflies and Humming-bird Hawk-moth on Butterfly Conservation's website: http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/migrantwatch

Scottish Small Tortoiseshell survey: If you have spotted the Small Tortoiseshell butterfly in your area, please submit details of your sighting(s) on the main Butterly Conservation website.

Cinnabar moth postcard survey, 2009:
Like many of the commoner moths, the Cinnabar has undergone a long-term decline in recent decades (83% over 35 years) and at 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 more scarce in Scotland, where it is most often seen in coastal areas. The East Scotland branch, along with 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 and, because it is easily disturbed during the day and will fly when it’s sunny, may also be recorded during the same period.

During 2009 the survey will be focused on the Scottish Borders region, but records from anywhere in Scotland would be greatly appreciated.

Read more... (PDF file)

Chequered Skipper sites in Scotland requiring surveying in 2009: Chequered Skipper colonies are vulnerable to woodland regeneration and therefore surveys are needed in 2009 to identify colonies which are currently threatened, and may require scrub clearance. Read more... (Link to Glasgow and South West Scotland Branch website). For Chequered Skipper sites in Highland Branch area, please click on this link.

Mountain Ringlet survey: The Mountain Ringlet (Erebia epiphron) is a rare UK butterfly being confined to montane habitat between 350 & 900 m in the central highlands from Ben Lomond in the south to Creag Meagaidh /Glen Roy in the north and from Glasdrum/Glencoe, Argyll in the west to Schiehallion in central Perthshire in the east with two known colonies further east in the Cairngorms National Park: Glen Doll & Glen Feshie. This distribution amounts to just 50 10 km squares in Scotland which makes it much rarer than the iconic birds of the Scottish mountains such as the Ptarmigan & the Golden Eagle. When to do: 25th June to 20th July.

Read more... (link to Glasgow & South West Scotland Branch website)