A pretty grey and damp day, but brightened by reports of a Chequered Skipper butterfly at Islay House Square, this is the first recorded instance for the island.
This species only occurs in western Scotland, from Loch Linnhe and Loch Etive north to Fort William and north to Glen Spean and west into Ardnamurchan. It appears to be extinct in former haunts in the English Midlands. A record here could be a really interesting extension of range or it might just be a wind-blown vagrant. Its habitat includes the edges of broad-leaved woodland especially where its caterpillar food-plant of Purple Moor-grass occurs. Bridgend Woods is therefore quite suitable. Malcolm
This is a blog of natural history notes maintained and moderated by members of the management committee of the INHT: Fiona MacGillivray, Isobel Freeman, Bernard Hannett, Kate Coutts and Mark Thaxter
We are always keen for more volunteers on our committee.
We hope that many people, both those who live here and visitors, will contribute their notes and impressions of the natural world on Islay. Please send to:
Photographs, or even short video clips, are particularly welcome.
We look forward to hearing from you
Fiona MacGillivray, Chairperson
The INHT Website
Click on our logo to take you to our website, where you can download a membership form to join the Trust, and also find our Biological Records Database which you can browse to see what has been recorded here and/or submit your own records.
Please support the INHT by clicking on
and make your online purchases with Amazon, John Lewis etc. benefit the Trust at no cost to you!
Corporate Membership of INHT
Advertise here. Click on logo for details
Islay Cottages - Kilchoman
Click on the picture for self catering cottages on Islay's west coast
Your membership of the Trust will allow us to continue our work at the Centre. Members enjoy access FOC at all times, including to our talks and presentations which are held approximately once a month.
This species only occurs in western Scotland, from Loch Linnhe and Loch Etive north to Fort William and north to Glen Spean and west into Ardnamurchan. It appears to be extinct in former haunts in the English Midlands. A record here could be a really interesting extension of range or it might just be a wind-blown vagrant. Its habitat includes the edges of broad-leaved woodland especially where its caterpillar food-plant of Purple Moor-grass occurs. Bridgend Woods is therefore quite suitable.
ReplyDeleteMalcolm