Thanks to Stuart Benn for reporting seeing 2 Red Admirals today at Beechwood Farm, Inshes, Inverness (NH696449). These were the first that Stuart had seen in Highland this year.

Another Peacock, this time in a garden in Inverness, 09.30, overcast, 13 - 14 degrees C.

Brian Neath was surprised to find a Speckled Wood on the wall of his house at Dornie this morning, 8 days later than his previous latest date.

Brian also had the first Feathered Thorn in his light trap last night, 11/10/2011 (see October moths of the month).

Thanks to Cherry Fairlie for reporting this Death's Head Hawkmoth, seen in the car park by Johnston Carmichael, South Street, Elgin, this morning.

Mike Taylor, County Moth Recorder for Moray, says "This is a first for Moray (VC95) and according to the ‘Moths Count’ maps only the fourth for mainland Highland and NE Scotland since 2000.

An exciting find at Kildary, Easter Ross: an August Thorn. This is a first for VC 106, and a species that normally only just gets into SW Scotland. Perhaps a product of strong southerly winds in recent days? Thanks to Nigel Richards for sharing the record and photo.

Cycling around Culbin Forest, via Binsness and Buckie Loch, Bill Slater counted 3 faded and one fresh looking Speckled Wood, 8 Peacock, 1 Scotch Argus (Buckie Loch) and 1 male Common Blue, the latter at NH 996 644 (pictured).

He also noticed a Bordered White caterpillar dangling by its thread from a conifer branch. A closer look revealed that it was being attacked by an ant.

Having missed the last two weeks on his Carr Brae (Dornie) butterfly transect, Brian Neath found today's weather was much better than forecast, and recorded 11 Scotch Argus even though it was the latest date on which he had recorded this species. Otherwise just 3 Speckled Wood and 2 Peacock.

Brian had a record count of 144 Scotch Argus on the transect on 22nd August despite it being a poor season for most butterfly species. Previous highest peak counts were 97 on 3rd August 2006 and 84 on 13th August 2009.

Brian's transect is only about a kilometre in length so he is literally wading through them when they are in such numbers!

This Painted Lady appeared in an Inverness (Scorguie) garden today, along with 2 Speckled Woods and a Small Tortoiseshell.

Audrey Turner also saw a Painted Lady at Kinrara estate on the path up to the Waterloo Cairn and Duke of Gordons memorial, grid ref NH867081. She reported a couple of Scotch Argus nearby, adding that there hadn't been as many Scotch Argus about in the last couple of weeks, probably due to the weather.

At Culbin Forest, on the way to the Gut, James Botterill observed a good display of blues and Scotch Argus, and also a large number of Peacocks.

In wooded areas to the north of the Bin of Cullen, including Crannoch Hill, Scotch Argus, once abundant in August, now appear absent. However there are still some to be found in the railway cuttings between Cullen and Portknockie. George Mair reported 5 just east of Cruats Farm, NJ 494 680.

Fergus McKinnon reports a Garden Tiger moth in his garden at Culbokie on the Black Isle.

Thanks to Julie Wilde for the use of the photo.

From Duror in Appin, Corrine Allward reports 5 Common Blues and 1 Speckled Wood. She also had a glimpse of 2 Fritillaries but was unable to identify them positively. Although perhaps too late for Marsh Fritillary, Corrine says they occur at nearby Cuil Bay.

Corrine also sent a photo of a cluster of Drinker moth eggs, taken on 14th July (opposite).

On the Caledonian Canal banks between Inverness and Dochagarroch, beween 12:00 and 13:30, the following were seen: 7 Meadow Browns, 4 Ringlets, 3 Speckled Woods, 1 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (NH 638 412) , 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Common Blues, 2 Green-veined Whites.

Thanks to Janette Borwick for this fine image of a Dark Green Fritillary, taken at Glen Borrodale today. She also saw some Speckled Woods.

Jimmy McKellar reports Ringlets all along the Caledonian Canal (opposite) from Inverness to Dochgarroch.

Behind the shingle bar east of Findhorn, towards the dunes, the following were seen: 11 Common Blues (mostly males), 6 Small Heaths, 4 Meadow Browns, 1 very fresh Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Shaded Broad-bar, and 3 Six-spot Burnets.