WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND BUTTERFLIES

With the birding scene relatively quiet this time of year I've visited the West coast of Scotland and called in at some Butterfly sites whilst up there.

Glasdrum wood nature reserve-Argyll and Bute 

I visited this site for Chequered skipper back in 2017 but had no luck seeing any,returning to the site it didn't take long before I found two sat out on the bracken.

Confined to just the North west of Scotland and with a distribution centred largely around Fort William,Chequered Skippers are a true Scottish speciality.Other butterflies of note were Ringlet,Large White and at least six Small pearl-bordered fritillary.

Moving on from here I visited Appin which is just a few miles down the road which is a site for Marsh fritillary which is threatened,not only in the UK but across Europe,and is,therefore,the object of much conservation effort.

I walked around for a few hours but didnt even see a Butterfly on site and then the rain set in so I gave up and decided that I would give it another go tomorrow as the weather looked ok,well as good as it gets in Scotland.

I arrived back on site mid morning and didnt take long before I found one deep down in the grass.

The Marsh Fritillary was once widespread in Britain and Ireland but has declined severely over the twentieth century. The Marsh Fritillary populations are highly volatile and the species requires extensive habitats or habitat networks for its long term survival. It is now confined to the western side of Britain and Ireland.There were also good numbers of Small pearl-bordered fritillary flying around and Heath spotted orchids were on show in all there glory.

A nice few days away which was finished with a bird which I needed for Scotland,Little owl.I found out about a site and called in on the way home and I was lucky enough that one was sat out in a tree by the side of the road.

ARNESIDE KNOTT AND MYERS ALLOTMENT-CUMBRIA

I visited Arneside knott and Myers allotment today in Cumbria which are both Butterfly sites that are well known for High Brown Fritillary but after spending the whole afternoon in these area's, I had no sighting of any.A new Butterfly was seen though and in good numbers which was the Northern Brown Argus.

Northern Brown Argus

Other Butterflies of note were Ringlet,Speckled Wood,Large Skipper and Small Boarded Fritillary.

Small Boarded Fritillary

Speckled Wood

Large Skipper

Ringlet

Other Insects of note were Common blue damselfly,Broad billed chaser,Golden ringed dragonfly and Migrant Hawker

Common Blue Damselfly

Golden Ringed Dragonfly

Broad Bodied Chaser

.   

Migrant Hawker

This is the first time I had visited these sites but will definitely be back in the coming weeks.

A BIT OF SCOTTISH BIRDING

Whilst visiting friends in Oban this week I called in at Inchinnan,Clyde on the way up and managed to connect with a Stone curlew that had been found,on arrival the weather conditions were appauling but the bird showed well on arrival.

This was the first record for Clyde since 1966

Other birds of note during the week were Golden eagle,White tailed eagle,2 Ospreys and a pair of Red throated divers on there breeding ground.

On the way home I called in at Loch turret reservoir where I got cracking views of a Ring billed gull.

FEW DAYS AWAY BIRDING

21st May 

Visiting friends on the way down to Birmingham news broke that a Roseate tern had been found at Marsh lane nature reserve,the bird showed well as soon as I arrived on site.

This was a new site for me so I had a good walk around and had booming Bittern and a close encounter with a Cettis wabler.

22nd May

Waking up early this morning I visited the county of Cambridgeshire and headed straight for Fen drayton lakes where I managed to find the 1st summer Red footed falcon sat out on top of a popular tree.These are great birds and it was nice to catch up with this showy male,Cheshire is due one of these 🙏

Moving on from here I drove to Ouse fen RSPB where after a short walk the Great reed warbler could be heard singing away and eventually showed really well.I havent seen one of these for years so it was nice just to sit and watch this beauty on me own singing away.Two bitterns flew out of the reed bed in front of me which was also good to see.

 

After great views of the Great reed I drove back and called in at Paxton pits on the way home where I had stunning views of Nightingale,two were seen and this finished off a good days birding!

Red-headed Bunting moved to Category A of British list

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Red Grouse to be split by IOC

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Eastern Red-rumped Swallow set to be added to British list

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CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL RARE AND SCARCE BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS

20/06/2024

MEGA NEWS

ZITTING CISTICOLA-South Foreland-Kent

GREEN WARBLER-Fair Isle-Shetland

19/06/2024

MEGA NEWS

SOLITARY SANDPIPER-St Mary's-Isles Of Scilly

GREEN WARBLER-Fair Isle-Shetland

WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Murcar GC-Aberdeenshire

Green Winged teal-Burton RSPB

18/06/2024

MEGA NEWS

GREEN WARBLER-Fair Isle-Shetland

WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Murcar GC-Aberdeenshire

SOLITARY SANDPIPER-St Mary's-Isles Of Scilly

17/06/2024

MEGA NEWS

GREEN WARBLER-Fair Isle-Shetland

WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Murcar GC-Aberdeenshire

SOLITARY SANDPIPER-St Mary's-Isles Of Scilly

Green winged Teal-Sandbach Flashes

16/06/2024

MEGA NEWS

WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Blackdog-Aberdeenshire

Green winged Teal-Sandbach Flashes

15/06/2024

MEGA NEWS

WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Blackdog-Aberdeenshire

Green winged Teal-Sandbach Flashes

14/06/2024

MEGA NEWS

SOLITARY SANDPIPER-St Mary's-Isles Of Scilly

Green winged Teal-Sandbach Flashes

13/06/2024

MEGA NEWS

BRIDLED TERN-Coquet Island-Northumberland

Green winged Teal-Sandbach Flashes

12/06/2024

MEGA NEWS

BRIDLED TERN-Coquet Island-Northumberland-Bird still present on the 13/06/2024

5/6/24

MEGA NEWS

BRIDLED TERN-Coquet Island-Northumberland

4/6/24

MEGA NEWS

BRIDLED TERN-Coquet Island-Northumberland

3/6/2024

MEGA NEWS

BRIDLED TERN-Coquet Island-Northumberland

2/6/2024

MEGA NEWS

BRIDLED TERN-Coquet Island-Northumberland6/2024

1/6/2024

MEGA NEWS

BRIDLED TERN-Coquet Island-Northumberland

MARMORA'S WARBLER-Fair Isle-Shetland

30/05/2024

MEGA NEWS

MARMORA'S WARBLER-Fair Isle-Shetland

29/05/2024

MEGA NEWS

MARMORA'S WARBLER-Fair Isle-Shetland

26/05/2024

European Honey Buzzard-One over marsh covert hide-Burton RSPB

MEGA NEWS

GREEN WARBLER-Singing male-Holy Island-Northumberland

24/05/2024

MEGA NEWS

GREEN WARBLER-Singing male-Valyie-Unst

INDIGO BUNTING-Male photographed on bird feeders in nearby garden on Wednesday but no sign since-Milford Haven-Pembrokeshire

23/05/2024

MEGA NEWS

GREEN WARBLER-Singing male-Valyie-Unst

22/05/2024

MEGA NEWS

GREEN WARBLER-Singing male-Valyie-Unst

21/05/2024

MEGA NEWS

INDIAN GOLDEN ORIOLE-1st Summer male-Holy Island-Northumberland

 

20/05/2024

MEGA NEWS

BOOTED EAGLE-Cape Cornwall-Cornwall

Common Crane-One circled over Hoole then drifted south-west-Chester

MEGA NEWS

INDIGO BUNTING-Unringed 1st-summer male-Whitburn-Durham

19/05/2024

Glossy Ibis-One circled then flew towards Gowy Meadows CWT-Sweeney Meadows

MEGA NEWS

INDIGO BUNTING-Unringed 1st-summer male-Whitburn-Durham

18/05/24

MEGA NEWS

INDIGO BUNTING-Unringed 1st-summer male-Whitburn-Durham

13/05/2024

Common Crane-Ashton's Flash-Northwich

12/05/2024

Common Crane-Frodsham Marshes

09/05/2024

Montagu's Harrier-Ringtail flew past Leasowe Lighthouse and continued north over Liverpool Bay-Leasowe

08/05/2024

Common Crane-Two in nearby flooded field-Marbury

03/05/2024

Lesser Scaup-1st-winter female again on No 3 Bed from Rotary Hide-Woolston eyes NR-Permit Only

02/05/2024

Iberian Chiffchaff-Singing male still at junction of Park Lane and farm track-Meols

01/05/2024

White Stork-Three (including two blue-ringed individuals)-Puddington

Iberian Chiffchaff-Singing male still at junction of Park Lane and farm track-Meols