Partnered with Argyll Biological Records Centre (ABReC)
The Long-eared Owl is a medium-sized woodland Owl. They have prominent ear tufts that appear to sit in the middle of the head and are usually held erect. Plumage is brown and buff, with heavy mottling and barring over most of the body. Long-eared Owls nest almost exclusively in old stick nests of crows, magpies, Read More …
This Emperor Moth caterpillar, was found at Gleann an Fhiodh, on 9th July 2012. This form has purple spots rather than the more usual yellow ones. These help to camouflage it among the heather, which it feeds on and which will soon be in bloom. The much larger and darker flowers of Bell Heather are Read More …
Beetles in the family Chrysomelidae are commonly known as leaf beetles. This is a family of over 35,000 species in more than 2,500 genera, one of the largest and most commonly encountered of all beetle families. They exist on every continent except Antarctica. This colourful specimen was found on our recent field trip to Glen Read More …
The more delicate and daintier of the two butterfly orchids is found on rough pastures, damp heathland, bogs and rather less frequently, in woodland. The delicate flowers are highly scented at night in order to attract hawkmoths. Lesser Butterfly Orchid, Duror, 5th July 2012 Photo by Carl Farmer Camera : Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ150
The Giant Tachinid Fly resembles a bumble bee in flight. It is found in woods and on heathland from February until September and is a parasite of large caterpillars. This individual was found at Duror, on Thursday 5th July 2012. Photo taken by Carl Farmer What an ugly brute, no not Carl !!
The Drinker is distinguished from other large eggars by outer cross-line on forewing which runs diagonally to wing tip, and the two central white spots. We have found many Drinker caterpillars on our field trips but this male moth, which we found in Glen Feochan on Tuesday 26th June 2012, is the first I have Read More …
This Golden-ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii ) resting on Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) was recorded on our mid-week field trip to Glen Feochan on Tuesday 26th June 2012. Photo courtesy of Richard Wesley
It has been a good year for recording Marsh Fritillary here on Seil and locally, with records from Ballachuan, Kilbrandon Church, Ardencaple, Loch Charn and the Toad of Lorn. The importance of this string of close sites cannot be stressed too much, for if one site fails then there is always another to recolonise. Taken Read More …
Marmalade Hoverfly on Meadow Buttercup, Glen Etive, 25 Jun 2012 Photo courtesy of Carl Farmer
Dark Giant Horsefly, on Foxglove, Glen Feochan, 18 Jun 2012. “The heaviest fly in Europe”. 2.5 cm long. What a monster !! Photo courtesy of Carl Farmer
Found yesterday in Balvicar a Spotted Flycatcher (Musicapa striata) nesting in the porch of a members bungalow. There have been previous records of this species on Seil including Clachan Seil and Kilbride, but this is the first breeding record for Balvicar.
This Dark Green Fritillary photo is showing both topside and underside of wing for identification. It has alighted on Red Clover, with a bit of Yorkshire Fog in the picture too. This was taken on Friday 20th June 2012, at Kilmartin, by Carl Farmer
Another moth to add to our photographic database this month is Noctua pronuba (Large Yellow Underwing) which is fairly common and was found locally here at Balvicar by one of our members Pat Hines. This moth flies from June to October and can be found in a wide variety of habitats.
The leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) are amongst the biggest beetle families with more than 35,000 species in more than 2500 genera worldwide. They are found throughout the world except the Antarctic and most of the high Arctic. In Germany 520 species are known to occur. The small to medium-sized beetles are mostly phytophagous, numerous species are Read More …
