Comma-WestMidBC-autumn-2014

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Chequered Skipper - the star performer
Chequered Skipper appeared from
every direction, alighting on thistles
and bramble flowers, vying for
position with a plethora of Small
Pearl-bordered Fritillary. Nothing
camera shy about this lot – in fact
four Fritillary and two Skippers
shared the same thistle in front of me
while many others jostled for position
on the surrounding flora. Pairs
were trying to mate but the urge to
feed on nectar seemed greater.
Miriam sat on the side of the main
track under a power line with a flask
of coffee and admired the spectacle
of flying, feasting and sated Skippers.
Then a beautiful Whitespotted
Sable moth (Anania
funebris) settled on a white orchid
to complete this magic moment.
Second show of skippers
After a picnic in the woods overlooking
Loch Creran, whilst Liz
attempted a quick watercolour
sketch of the glaciated valley, we
returned to the lower path to get a
second show of skippers just as
Roger and Sheila arrived after their
morning jaunt across Rannoch
Moor. Expectations were extremely
high but cloud now covered the
sun and it soon started to
drizzle. A few Fritillaries
stood their ground but
every Skipper had
disappeared presumably
deep within the
surrounding long grasses
but well out of sight.
Back at base in Onich for our
farewell evening meal, Mary and
Mike recounted their day with the
Osprey at Loch Garten, while Dave
and Steve displayed digital images
of what everyone agreed looked
like a Golden Eagle. Meanwhile,
Jenny tempted us with tales of Black
Hairstreak around her home in
Cambridgeshire. Neil couldn’t resist
collecting a Brown House Moth
Chequered
Skipper appeared
from every
direction, alighting
on thistles and
bramble
flowers
that had settled on the window
during our meal. My own memento
of this last day was discovered later,
back in Malvern, on my shin after a
shower – a Highland tick!
A memorable foray
Special thanks to Mike and Mary
for organising another memorable
foray into the Scottish Highlands
and Islands. The work involved is
considerable and much appreciated
by everyone on the expedition.
Many thanks to Janette Borwick and
her BC team for the glorious moths,
superb scones and refreshing tea at
Glenborrodale. Many thanks
too to Andy Jackson for the
visit to Carna, the use of
his motor boats and the
excellent BBQ. Thanks
to Neil, Corinna, Oliver
and Flora for helping with
the organisation. Corinna
warned us in advance about
midges ‘brandishing fangs’.
This event was special because
of the location, the weather and the
fauna and flora. But its success
depended on the nature of the
group, their enthusiasm and support,
their knowledge and skills, and
their eccentricities. Breakfasting with
moths and rearing Hungarian Fritillaries
in a Scottish B&B cannot be
normal, but with the WMBC it can
seem so!
Report and photos by Mel Mason
Special thanks go to the
Scottish BC for hosting our trip
The group: Jennie Foster, Corinna
Gregory, Neil Gregory, (Oliver & Flora
Gregory), Ann Hadfield, Chris Johnson,
Liz Lloyd, Mel Mason, John Tilt, Miriam Tilt, Roger
Wasley, Sheila Wasley, David Williams, Mike Williams,
Mary Williams, Steve Williams, Carol Wood.
Autumn 2014 23