Comma-WestMidBC-autumn-2014

A Chequered Skipper
shares a thirstle with
a Small Pearl-bordered
Fritillary
Small Copper
Green Hairstreak
at Allt Mhuic
and the Chequered Skipper
sudden movement of a dark butterfly
developed into a chase around the
four kilometre trail, but when it came
to rest, it displayed almost iridescent
green underwings – a Green Hairstreak.
Then, like waiting for a
bus, several more hairstreaks
appeared at once and
flew off in different directions.
Eventually returning
to the entrance, I
found the majority of our
group had ventured no
more than 10 metres where
Oliver and Flora had caught sight
of a male Chequered Skipper. They
had lingered there until, a few
hundred photos later, another
skipper was spotted. Armed with
Mike’s recording and mapping
sheets, we didn’t take long to list our
sightings. Then, determined to find
more, we set off for Glen Loy to the
West and started to look along a
sloping bank 200 metres wide by
a river where a Cuckoo could
...like waiting
for a bus, several
more hairstreaks
appeared at once
and flew off in
different
directions.
clearly be heard calling nearby.
After about an hour searching
between the grass and bracken, I
went to admire a patch of bluebells
in a small glade beneath birch,
rowan and bog myrtle. A
sudden movement – my
own first sighting of a
Chequered Skipper
as it rested on top of a
bluebell, providing the
perfect photo opportunity.
Others soon discovered
a second and an
expensive array of Canon, Panasonic
and Nikon did their magic of
recording another high spot of the
first day. On the way back to our
cars, Neil discovered a Narrow-
Bordered Bee Hawk Moth whilst
Carol and John tripped over several
small but rare orchids – a Small
White or Pseudochris albida!
Back in the B&B, Roger had a
happy event. Congratulations! One
of his Hungarian Lesser Spotted
Fritillary pupae had emerged –
an immaculate imago with newly
pumped wings spread for the
perfect photograph. Does anyone
have a mate?
Freshly baked scones and jam
The next day involved a ferry
crossing and a car drive along the
scenic coastline of Loch Sunart
to Glenborrodale to visit Janette
Borwick, a member of Scotland BC
and a keen moth trapper. On the
way, we glimpsed a Pine Martin
running across the road. Greeted
with freshly baked scones and jam
with mugs of tea and coffee, we
examined the specimens from the
previous night – Wow! the sheer
number and variety of moths were
impressive… Clouded Border,
Brimstone, Peach Blossom, Pebble
Hook-tip, Peppered, Green Silverlines,
Saxon, Birch Mocha, Satin
CONTINUED ON PAGE 22
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