http://southwestscotland-butterflies.org.uk/blog Recording & conserving the butterflies & moths of SW Scotland Sun, 05 Sep 2010 21:31:43 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The Common Blue  is one species of UK butterfly which shows marked differences in wing colouration between the sexes and there is also a difference in the appearance of the females between northern and southern Britain. The female upperwings are brown and blue with orange margins and individuals from Scotland typically ... http://southwestscotland-butterflies.org.uk/blog/?p=556 The Breeding Bird Survey (BBS)  is the British Trust for Ornithology's flagship bird survey and has been running since 1994. The BBS is a line-transect survey based on randomly selected 1 km squares. It has been very effective in monitoring UK bird populations and has shown changes over time and regional differences. ... http://southwestscotland-butterflies.org.uk/blog/?p=542 Late August and September is the time when large numbers of Peacocks, Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell can sometimes be seen on buddleia. But the ones I have seen near where I live in Glasgow's southside are sadly bare of butterflies. Peacocks emerge during August and I saw quite a few Small ... http://southwestscotland-butterflies.org.uk/blog/?p=538 2010 was the second year of Chequered Skipper Surveys in Argyll and Lochaber organised by the branch. And while not all records are in yet, I can report some exciting new records in and around Taynuilt. [caption id="attachment_510" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Distribution of Chequered Skipper Records around Loch Etive"][/caption]   The only previous Chequered ... http://southwestscotland-butterflies.org.uk/blog/?p=509 Although we have yet to receive the first sighting of a Scotch Argus in 2010 on the date of writing this blog post (21 July 2010), the first ones are very likely on the wing now. While the Scotch Argus can be found in much of highland Scotland and in parts ... http://southwestscotland-butterflies.org.uk/blog/?p=484 In recent years we've seen a significant increase in the number of Comma sightings in SW Scotland. Until now these records have all been of adult commas, but thanks to Heather Young of the SW Scotland branch we now have proof of Commas breeding in the branch area. [caption id="attachment_469" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Comma Caterpillar 13-07-2010"][/caption] On the 13th of ... http://southwestscotland-butterflies.org.uk/blog/?p=479 The Pebble Hook-tip is one of six species of moth belonging to the family Drepanidae which occur in the UK. Hook-tip refers to the tips of the forewings which are strongly hooked. The photo below was taken at Glasdrum on 29 May 2010 during the Chequered Skipper weekend and is of ... http://southwestscotland-butterflies.org.uk/blog/?p=426 We are looking for volunteers to help with a national (UK) survey of butterflies during 2010. A pilot survey had been run for a few years down south and was rolled out nationally last year. It requires each region in Britain to undertake a survey of up to 25 one kilometre ... http://southwestscotland-butterflies.org.uk/blog/?p=416 This survey, which began last year, is continuing through 2010. [caption id="attachment_412" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Cinnabar moth"][/caption] Like many of the commoner moths, the Cinnabar has undergone a long-term decline in recent decades (83% over 35 years, based on Rothamsted trap data) and at the UK level is now regarded as a vulnerable ... http://southwestscotland-butterflies.org.uk/blog/?p=411 After the cold winter of 2009/10, it is likely that we will have to wait rather longer to see butterflies and moths on the wing this year than in recent years when spring phenology has been advanced. Here are some stats on the winter. The Met Office areal series for Scotland ... http://southwestscotland-butterflies.org.uk/blog/?p=403