We are pleased to announce our programme of field trips and moth events for 2010.

Highland Branch field trips and moth events are open to members and non-members, and admission is free. Booking is necessary for only one event this year - the moth identification workshop at Aigas Field Centre on Sunday 4th July.

This year we are listing butterfly and moth events organised by other groups, including moth events in Caithness, Balmacara and Orkney. We have included contact details for the organisations responsible, and recommend that you get in touch with them should you have any questions.

Please come well equipped with suitable footwear and clothing for the conditions, and carry enough to eat and drink for the duration of the trip. If you aren't sure about the conditions to expect, we recommend that you contact Jimmy McKellar or Tony Mainwood (details below) before the event.

Jimmy McKellar, Branch Chairman, Email jimmy.mckellar@btopenworld.com, Tel 01463 241185
Tony Mainwood, Branch Secretary, Email tony.mainwood@btinternet.com, Tel 01408 633247

Aldie Burn

To search for Green Hairstreaks.

Meet at 10.30 at the Forestry car park at NH 755 792, OS Sheet 21, just off the Scotsburn Road near Tain. Duration 2 to 3 hours.

Leader: Colin Ridley.

Allt Mhuic Reserve Family Fun Day Loch Arkaig, 10am – 4pm.

There will be various activities for both children and adults as well as regular guided walks to see the reserve’s three key residents: Chequered Skipper, Pearl-bordered Fritillary and the Highland Cattle that are managing the reserve by light grazing.

Meet at reserve car park Grid Ref (NN 120 911). We are also looking for volunteers to come and help out. If you are interested please contact Tom Prescott: Tel: 01540 661469, Mobile: 07979 785665,
Email: tprescott@butterfly-conservation.org

Ardersier Green Road

An evening walk to look for Dingy Skipper at this interesting site. Meet at 19:00 in the car park on the left as you start to leave Ardersier heading for Fort George. Grid ref NH 779 556, OS sheet 27. Duration 1 hour.

Leader: Jimmy McKellar, Tel: 01463 241185,
Email: jimmy.mckellar@btopenworld.com.

Glen Feshie

Meet at 11.00am at the large layby at Grid Ref NH 842 009, OS Sheet 35, on the unmarked road turning off the B970 at Insh House (NH 835 038) near Kincraig and Loch Insh. There are smaller parking areas very close by. Duration would be about 3 hours max, with possibilities of another location nearby if the weather is good.

Leader: Audrey Turner, Mobile: 07784 000263, Email:unicorn64@btinternet.com

Read a report of this field trip.

Cuil Bay, near Duror - Looking for Marsh Fritillary.

This butterfly is a recent colonist to the Highlands.

Turn off the A828 Ballachulish to North Connel road just south of Duror at the school, signposted to Cuil.

We will meet at 2pm at the roadside parking overlooking the bay at approx grid ref (NM 979 552). We may also visit some of the large Marsh Fritillary colonies just to the south around Appin.

For more info and to arrange joint transport please contact Tom Prescott: Tel: 01540 661469, Mobile: 07979 785665, Email: tprescott@butterfly-conservation.org

Dalwhinnie

Target species Mountain Ringlet which should be on the wing. Meet at 11:00am at the car park in Dalwhinnie. Grid Ref approx. NN638850 OS Sheet 42. Note this may be a strenuous walk. Leader: Jimmy McKellar.

RSPB Insh Marshes NNR

A mid-week walk to look for Northern Brown Argus and other butterflies. We’ll start off by looking through a moth trap run the previous night. Meet at 09:30 at the RSPB Insh Marshes car-park, 2km out of Kingussie on the B970, past Ruthven Barracks. Grid ref NN 776 998, OS sheet 35. Duration approx 3 hours.

Leader: Pete Moore (Warden).

Loch Fleet NNR Open Day

Moths and butterfly walk. Meet at 10.00am at the car park at Littleferry, Grid Ref NH 806 955, OS Sheet 21. Duration 1 hour 30 minutes on official programme but can be extended.

Leader: Tony Mainwood.

Lochaline, Morvern - Looking for Purple Hairstreak.

This butterfly is a recent colonist to the Highlands. We will also look for the larval webs of Marsh Fritillary.

Meet at 1.30pm in the car park of the café at the Lochaline – Mull ferry terminal, grid ref (NM 679 445). This will allow members on Mull to attend the trip.

For more info and to arrange joint transport please contact Tom Prescott: Tel: 01540 661469, Mobile: 07979 785665, Email: tprescott@butterfly-conservation.org

Findhorn Dunes – A leisurely walk around the dunes to discover what is there.

Meet at 11.00am in the RSPB car park opposite Findhorn Foundation on the shore-side of the road just before entering Findhorn. Grid Ref NJ 050 635. OS Sheet 27. Leader: Jimmy McKellar

Polmaily, near Drumnadrochit. Butterfly work party.

This is a break with tradition being the first conservation day that the branch has organised. We will be clearing scrub along the track side to benefit Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Dingy Skipper.

Please wear old clothes and bring work gloves, secateurs, loppers and bowsaws if you have them. Further handtools will be available.

We will meet at the end of the forest track into Polmaily at grid ref NH 484 304. This is c2 miles west of Drumnadrochit on the A831 towards Cannich.

We envisage the work taking place between 10:30am and 4:00pm, but you can come along just for an hour if you wish.

For more info please contact Tom Prescott: Tel: 01540 661469, Mobile: 07979 785665,
Email: tprescott@butterfly-conservation.org

National Moth Night at Plockton

Bats and Moths – Come and see what buildings have bats in and what amazing and colourful moths are flying at this time of year! The event will take place above the coastal village of Plockton searching for bats around the large trees and croft buildings, and moths by the wildflower meadows of the area, and setting traps to catch the nocturnal visitors before recording and releasing them in the morning. Meet outside the Plockton Hotel NG 802 333 at 9:30 pm on the Friday night and 10:00 am for the morning event. Please bring warm clothes, midge protection and a torch for the night time session Contact: Barbara Macritchie Balmacara Estate 0844 493 2233 or bmacritchie@nts.org.uk

Organised by Balmacara Estate, The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) in association with the Moths Count project.

National Moth Night at Nethy Bridge.

With Mike Taylor and Mel, the Explore Abernethy Ranger. Meet at.8.30pm at Nethy Bridge Community Centre Grid Ref NJ 002 205, OS Sheet 36. A short presentation on moths, light refreshments and setting of traps at the Old Tree Nursery (NJ 101 200) and see what arrives for an hour or two. Warm clothing and a torch are strongly advised! Meet again at 10.00am on the Sunday morning (16TH May) at the Old Tree Nursery to see what has been caught.

For further details contact Mel (Explore Abernethy Ranger) tel 01479 821565

National Moth Night at Great Glen House, Inverness.

Meet at 8pm at Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness (grid ref NH 638 443). Refreshments will be provided as well as family activities.

If it is a good moth night we will also meet up on the Sunday morning to see what is in the moth traps.

For more info contact Tom Prescott: Tel: 01540 661469, Mobile: 07979 785665, Email: tprescott@butterfly-conservation.org

National Moth Night at Spinningdale Wood in partnership with the Woodland Trust.

Meet at 11.00am at the car park (Grid Ref NH 667 907, OS Sheet 21) about 1.5 km along the unclassified road from Spinningdale. After examining the moths caught overnight we will go in search of Pearl-bordered Fritillaries which may be flying if it is a sunny day. Some preliminary habitat management will be attempted in the afternoon so bring your garden rake to help clear some spaces in the dead bracken.

Leader: Tony Mainwood.

Pine-tree Lappet Survey – Inverness/Kiltarlity area.

In order to help determine the current status of Pine-tree Lappet, BCS is co-ordinating a survey of pine plantations in the area. The focus will be on looking for new sites rather than confirming its presence at currently known sites.

Meet at 8.30pm at the Brockies Lodge Hotel, Kiltarlity (Grid Ref NH 514 418). Depending on the number of people/traps/generators etc, we will split into groups and set traps in the locality. Please bring along any traps you have.

To help us coordinate the survey effectively please can you let us know if you plan to come along. If you are unable to attend but keen to help look for this moth during its flight period (latter half of June into early July) then please also get in touch to arrange access permissions etc to trapping sites.

Tom Prescott: Tel: 01540 661469, Mobile: 07979 785665, Email: tprescott@butterfly-conservation.org

Moth Identification Workshop at Aigas Field Centre, near Beauly.

Concentrating on Pugs with Roy Leverton and Mark Young. Tea/coffee and biscuits from 10.00am for a 10.30am start. A soup and sandwiches type lunch will be provided and there will be tea/coffee and biscuits in the afternoon with a 4.00pm to 4.30pm finish. Photographs of pugs and other tricky species for identification will be welcome and so would any already existing voucher specimens, but please do not bring live moths. The workshop is a Moths Count event and there is no charge.

Places are limited so booking is essential with Tony Mainwood. Email tony.mainwood@btinternet.com or Tel 01408 633247.

Findhorn

Targeting Lunar Yellow Underwing, a UKBAP species not recorded in the area since 1997, and also the Portland Moth, Coast Dart and Archer’s Dart. Meet at Findhorn Beach car park at 9.00pm Grid Ref NJ 043 648, OS Sheet 27. If you wish, bring your own moth traps to increase the chances of success, but please contact Mike first. Warm clothing, torch and sustenance advisable. Duration – as late as you wish! If the weather is bad there is the option of trying the Saturday. (There is apparently a historic record of Crescent Dart, though that prefers rocky coastlines – but Burghead isn't far away for those who wish to go on and search for it.)

Leader: Mike Taylor, Tel: 01479 831060, Mobile: 07757 607287, Email: mst.taylor@btinternet.com

Moth Magic in Caithness

Help attract and identify moths using sugar, and set up a moth trap in the forest. Then empty the trap on Sunday morning.

Meet at Seadrift Visitor Centre at Dunnet at 8pm on Saturday, then Seadrift 10am on Sunday. Grid Ref ND 219 706.

Organised by the Highland Council Countryside Ranger Service, Adults £3, Child £2.

Contact Paul on 01847 821531.

Big BioBuzz Day

Your chance to get involved in a unique wildlife and plant recording event happening in the Cairngorms National Park!

The Cairngorms Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) is running three 24 hour events in the Cairngorms National Park to celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity 2010.

The Park communities of Grantown-on-Spey, Kingussie and Ballater will play host to the Big BioBuzz Day on Saturday 22 May 2010 to coincide with International Biodiversity Day and Scottish Biodiversity Week. Read more...

Moths and Orchids Night – Proving Darwin's Theories

The wildflower meadows of Drumbuie are known for their orchids, including the greater butterfly orchid and the rare and endangered lesser butterfly orchid. The naturalist Darwin theorised how moths feed at these flowers and how pollen would stick to the visitors.

Come and help us prove Darwin’s theories and help contribute to work being done in this area. We will be watching at dusk to see what is feeding and setting traps to capture the moths.

Come and help record and release the catch the following morning.

Meet at the start of the footpath to Port an Eorna in Drumbuie (NG 776 312) at 10:00 pm for the evening session and 10:00 am in the morning. Please bring a torch and warm clothing for the evening/night session.

Contact: Barbara Macritchie Balmacara Estate 0844 493 2233 or email bmacritchie@nts.org.uk

Butterflies and Orchids Walk

A walk around the species rich wildflower meadows, heathland and shores of Drumbuie and Port an Eorna to celebrate Save our Butterflies Week.

A number of butterflies and day flying moths may be seen in this area as well as other wildlife both on and off the shore.

Meet outside the Plockton Hotel NG 802 333 at 10:00am. Walking boots and midge repellent advised (but hopefully not waterproofs).

Cost £5 (free if joining the NTS).

Contact: Barbara Macritchie Balmacara Estate 0844 493 2233 or email bmacritchie@nts.org.uk

Families Moth Day

Organised jointly by Orkney Field Club and RSPB local group.

Moth traps will be set at various locations on the Saturday night. Then on the Sunday morning we will examine the night’s catch.

Contact Sydney Gauld on 01856 872468 for details on location and time of meeting for the Sunday morning. Youngsters are welcome but must be accompanied by a relative or close family friend.