Field trip Loch Fleet NNR, SE Sutherland, 20th July 2008.

17 folk braved blustery showers to be rewarded with some sunshine later on, which brought out a good selection of butterflies.

The day started with a look through the moths caught overnight in the shelter of the nearby conifer plantation. The catch comprised 28 Magpie Moths, 10 True Lover's Knot, 6 Mottled Beauty, 3 Barred Red, 3 Ingrailed Clay, 2 Double-striped Pug, and 1 each of Grey Pine Carpet, Green Carpet, Common Footman, Purple Bar and Barred Straw.

 

The team then battled its way to the mouth of the Fleet before a patch of sunshine in a sheltered spot in the dunes revealed the first Grayling of the day. 1 or 2 Small Heaths were also spotted, and the moth list was added to with Garden Tiger, Yellow Shell, Shaded Broad-bar and a Fox Moth larva.

 

 

Lunch was taken early and that seemed to do the trick with a spell of sunshine that revealed the rest of the players in the butterfly line-up - Dark Geen Fritillaries, Common Blues and Meadow Browns together with lots more Small Heath and several more Grayling all performing well.

Jimmy as usual caught a variety of insects, most of which had only scientific names but added greatly to the interest of the day.

 

 

 

 

More Grayling seen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grayling close-up

 

 

 

 

 

Garden Tiger moth