This evening, Dean MacAskill counted 43 Small Blues during a walk through the dunes at Dornoch, and was delighted to see this freshly emerged Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary in his garden (a first for his garden at Achavandra Muir, nr Dornoch).

From Dornie, nr Kyle of Lochalsh, Brian Neath reports a catch of 113 moths of 36 species today included a second record of Satin Lutestring (opposite) for VC105.

Brian adds that despite the good weather experienced in the west it has still been disappointing for butterflies. So to see 40 butterflies of 7 species at Avernish on 25th June was a rare treat. These included Green-veined White, Common Blue (14), Small Tortoiseshell, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Speckled Wood (16), Meadow Brown and Small Heath. Common Blue seems to be one species that is having a good season. The number of Speckled Woods was surprising as he hadn't seen many on Carr Brae so far this year.

Janette Borwick reports a good catch in her moth trap at Glen Borrodale, Ardnamurchan, as the weather was fine and warm.

There were over forty kinds, mostly in twos and threes, though there were large numbers of Clouded Borders, Common Marbled Carpets, Peacock Moths and Brimstone Moths.

The moths illustrated are the Miller (L) and Pebble Hook-tip. (R)

Thanks to Dean MacAskill for this report from SE Sutherland: 3 Small Heath and 1 Small Blue at Dornoch dunes today.

John Kemp had a pleasant surprise today when he found this Silver Hook in his trap on South Uist - the second for VC110.

Thanks to Dr Catherine MacLeod for this photo of a Sweet Gale Moth taken at Portknockie today. Roy Leverton comments that it has been recorded on the Banffshire coast, but he has only found the caterpillars, never the adult. Portknockie is a new site.

Catherine also reports an increase in the number of Small Blues there (see entries dated 23rd and 24th May).

Brian Neath reports from Dornie that after the dearth of moths during April and the first half of May it was something of a shock to have 220 moths of 55 species attracted to the Robinson trap on 27th May.

Small Phoenix (23) and Knot Grass (19) were the most numerous, but the highlights were another Swallow Prominent, Clouded Silver, Poplar Lutestring, Coronet, 2 Light Knot Grass, 2 Saxon, 4 Yellow-ringed Carpet and 6 Scorched Wing.

Brian's garden on Carr Brae, Dornie is still the only known site for Scorched Wing in the whole of West Ross but 6 is the highest count that he has had so far. Perhaps they are getting ready to advance northwards!

Butterflies are still generally thin on the ground except for Green-veined White but Brian did have his first 7 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary and 9 Small Heath on his transect on 28th May.

The Pearl-bordered Fritillary's flight period coincided with cold damp weather and the most Brian saw was 5 on 20th May.

Tonight John Kemp a trapped a few moths on Eriskay and the south end of South Uist, with 4 Grey Scalloped Bars, 2 Puss Moths, 3 Fox Moths, 7 Brown Silver-lines and Satyr Pug (right) amongst the selection.

Back on the mainland, James Hammond recorded 2 male Orange Tip, 5 Speckled Wood, 3 Peacock butterflies, 2 Incurvaria pectinea, 2 Brindled Beauties, and one male Kentish Glory flying around the Wellhill carpark at Culbin Forest.

An exciting find in Brian Neath's Robinson trap at Dornie this morning - a Swallow Prominent. It was only Brian's 4th record. There are only 12 records in the VC105 database with dates ranging from 29th May to 22nd August so this was an extremely early individual.

The catch also included 3 Scarce Prominent, the first time Brian had recorded more than a single individual, and two Lesser Swallow Prominent. A Powdered Quaker was his first since 2007.

Janette Borwick, writing from Ardnamurchan, reports that not much has been happening there during the recent cold spell, but more moths are beginning to fly again.

Janette has been trapping on Friday nights for the Garden Moths Scheme, and found this Lesser Swallow Prominent in her trap tonight.

Thanks to Janette for the photos, which include one of an Early Thorn, also caught tonight.

Nigel Richards had this very early Nut-tree Tussock in his trap at Kildary - its appearance much earlier than last year.

Brian Neath had two more additions to the March checklist at Dornie tonight - Yellow-barred Brindle and Scarce Prominent as well as two more Early Thorn.

At Kiltarlity, near Inverness, Malcolm Harvey caught 5 very early Grey Birches. Malcolm added that a lot more Small Quakers have been trapped compared to last year.

Brian reports a Water Carpet and a Pine Beauty at the windows, Dornie. Also a Peacock butterfly near Killilan, and 2 at Carr Brae, Dornie.

Janette Borwick, at Glenborrodale, counted over 260 moths in and around the trap with twenty different species plus some she couldn't identify. This latest trap had the first Pine Beauty.

Janette's images, l - r: Pine Beauty, Twin-spotted Quaker, Oak Beauty.

Audrey saw a further 2 Orange Underwings today in Craigellachie NNR, Aviemore, grid ref NH8812.

Brian Neath, at Dornie, counted 205 moths of 14 species attracted to the Robinson trap - a higher count than he had during the whole of 2011! The catch included 108 of the 3 common Orthosia species but also good counts of 8 Early Tooth-striped , 13 Yellow Horned, 20 Mottled Grey, 15 Double-striped Pug, 12 Brindled Pug, 7 Red Chestnut, 5 Dotted Border, 5 Engrailed and 4 Small Quaker.

Jimmy McKellar saw a Peacock butterfly in his garden in Inverness. Brian Neath also reported a Peacock at Balmacara.

Audrey Turner saw her first two butterflies of the year, both Small Tortoiseshells. One was in Advie, grid ref NJ1234, the other was on the edge of Milton Wood, Aviemore, grid ref NH8913.

Audrey also saw an Orange Underwing moth in Milton Wood, same grid ref.

Brian recorded a Water Carpet at Dornie tonight, his earliest record by 2 weeks.

Brian Neath reports a good catch tonight with 40 moths of 9 species attracted to the Robinson trap:

20 Yellow Horned, a record count for the garden and Common Quaker, Hebrew Character and Early Grey were firsts for the year. A 10th species (Engrailed) was attracted to the windows. Tonight the first Red-green Carpet came to the windows bringing the year's total up to 15 species.

Brian Neath, writing from Dornie, reports there are still not a lot of moths about, but he did have an early Engrailed tonight, attracted to the windows and recorded earlier only on one occasion. Mottled Grey is the only common moth so far this year.

At Glenborrodale Janette Borwick counted 74 Oak Beauties in and around the trap tonight.