Branch Field Trips 2009
 Saturday 16th May: Culbin Forest, Moray – Target species Green Hairstreak, Pearl-bordered Fritillary and possibly even Dingy Skipper. Leader - David Barbour. Meet at 11.00am at the Wellhill carpark entrance to Culbin Forest. Grid ref: NJ997614 OS Sheet 27.
Report of field trip.
Saturday 23rd May: Biodiversity Blitz at Garrick Wood with Brian and Barbara Ballinger, owners. A joint field trip to mark National Biodiversity Week, organised by Highland Biological Recording Group, Tain and District Field Club, Butterfly Conservation and the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Meet at 10:30 am in the large layby opposite the entrance to the wood, close to the Fearn turnoff, SE of Tain. OS Sheet 21, Grid ref: NH797792. Please note: This is a very wet wood and wellies may be the best footwear.
Saturday 30th May, Sunday 31 May: Chequered Skipper Weekend, Glasdrum Nature Reserve, Loch Creran, Argyl (organised by Glasgow & South West Scotland Branch). Learn about Chequered Skipper and how to use GPS to record butterflies, plus moth trapping training day at Glasdrum on the Saturday. It is hoped that on the Sunday, participants may look for Chequered Skipper at other sites in Glen Creran & along the north shore of Loch Etive or further north around Fort William. Participants may wish to stay in Oban, Glencoe or Fort William depending on where they want to search for Chequered Skipper on the Sunday. There is a camping and caravan site near Glasdrum at Benderloch. Download an article containing a programme, directions and contact details (PDF file).
If rained off Saturday, meet 10.00am Sunday at Glasdrum.
Saturday 13th June: Loch Arkaig, Allt Mhuic – Target species Chequered Skipper and Pearl-bordered Fritillary which should be on the wing. Leader: Jimmy McKellar. Meet at 11:00 at Allt Mhuic car park Grid Ref NN120911. OS Sheet 34.
Saturday 25th July: Coinciding with the start of Save our Butterflies Week, this field trip will explore the new reserve created by Boleskine Wetland Project. Leader Katie Ellam. Meet at 11.00am at the Forestry Commission Inverfarigaig car park. From Inverness, take the B862 to Dores, then the B852 to Inverfarigaig. The car park is signposted from Inverfarigaig, just along the unclassified road to the Pass of Inverfarigaig. Grid Ref NH522237 OS Sheet 26
Moths Count events 2009
Saturday 30th May: Public Moth Trapping event (with National Trust for Scotland) at Lochalsh Woodland Park, Balmacara, Kyle of Lochalsh, Highland (Map ref: NG803280) . Meet at 10:00 am. Details and bookings from Barbara Soutar 0844 493 2233 or bsoutar@nts.org.uk
Saturday 20th - Sunday 28th June: Garden Moths Count. Members of the public will be asked to look for 20 common and easily recognised target species in their own gardens. Details of how to take part, including a gallery of photos and tips on how to find moths, can be found on the Moths Count website, http://www.mothcount.brc.ac.uk/default.aspx
Thursday 20th & Friday 21st August: Tomintoull, Glenlivet (with the Crown Estate, Glenlivet). Moths and bats. 8 - 10pm (or later), 20th August, and 10 am 2st August. Details and bookings from Vicky Hilton, 01479 870 070.
Friday 18th & Saturday 19th September: National Moth Night. This year's event spans 2 nights in case of unsuitable weather. The theme will be migration.
Other moth events
Saturday 29th August 8pm till late (to put out traps in the old tree nursery in Dell Woods, which is part of the Abernethy Forest, and see what comes in) and again on Sunday 30th August 9am to 10.30am (to check the full catch) Meet at Nethy Bridge Community Centre. Bring suitable outdoor clothing.
Booking is recommended but not essential. For more information contact the ranger on 01479 821565 or e-mail ranger@nethybridge.com |
When offered a 4-week sabbatical in 2009, Pete chose to spend it in the eastern Cairngorms in June and July, coinciding with the flight period of the Mountain Burnet, whose British distribution is confined to a few colonies in this area. During the first two weeks high pressure prevailed, allowing Pete to observe large numbers of the moth flying at its known sites.