Polmaily Field Trip - Saturday 28th of May 2016

Eight members gathered at the end of the forest track into Polmaily, in warm and sunny conditions. Mark Wynn, the current branch chairman, led the walk and the previous chairman also attended. A Highland member from the south of England had decided to join the group.

 

As we proceeded up the track it was not long before several Dingy Skippers were spotted: once the Skippers settled in the gully to the right of the track, which had been cleared of scrub etc. for their and the fritillary's benefit, they were very difficult to pick out.

 

It had been hoped that several Pearl-bordered Fritillaries would be seen but by the time the walk finished we had only seen one or two Fritillaries ( briefly) and it had been impossible to confirm that they were Pearl rather than early Small Pearl. This was despite a couple of members spending a while higher up the bank among the bracken looking for them.....but no further Fritillaries showed themselves.

 

Botanical interest while we enjoyed lunch beside a stream at the top of the track was provided by Butterwort, Globeflower and orchids( not yet in flower) . A rather long slow worm and two small frogs were also spotted.

 

Six butterfly species were seen during the walk: Peacock  Speckled Wood, Green veined White, Dingy Skipper(below left), Pearl-bordered Fritillary( probably) and Orange Tip. Several interesting moths also showed themselves,including Ancylis badiana (BF1126) and the somewhat larger Bordered Pearl(BF1373)(below right) which it is understood has only recently been recorded in Scotland.

 

Geoff Hiscocks