East Lothian Sightings - July 2017

[wgell]

Down at the Binning Wood this morning but saw nothing even though it was brightening and warming up after the deluge of the last few days!

Later at Saltoun Wood I spotted Ringlets and Speckled Woods in large numbers, 4 Red Admirals and 2 Dark Green Fritilleries.

[jpgn]

Also a couple of Dark Green Fritillaries just inland from Hummel Rocks at the W end of Gullane Bay - mid-morning today

Jim & Ali

[wgell]

Walked along the path from Gifford to Bolton this morning. Ringlets and Speckled Woods out in numbers. Also six Red Admirals and two Meadow Browns.

This afternoon at Knowes near East Linton 4 Red Admirals and a Comma.

Red Admirals seem to be doing well just now...

[jpgn]

Tried for Will's Large Skippers along Bennet's Burn, E of Pressmennan Wood, this morning - but no luck. The weather was great, the area was sheltered from the stiff breeze, there was masses of flowers and there were loads of Ringlets, Meadow Browns, bumblebees and damselflies - but no Skippers... Wonder whether last week's deluges did for them?

Had at least 6 Red Admirals on the walk S from Pitcox - and then had 9 Speckled Woods in Ninewar Wood later on in the day.

Jim & Ali

[georgehogg]

Two transects today,Gorse Bank at Torness and the wood and sea bank at Skateraw.
Bright but a tad more wind than I would have preferred.
Gorse Bank.....1 Sm Tort , 1 Red Admiral , 1 Peacock , 1 Common Blue , 1 Meadow Brown , 31 Ringlet , Moths - 19 Yellow Shell , 3 Siver Y , 1 Barred Straw , 1 Snout , 1 Small Magpie.
Caterpillars-3 Red Admiral , 5 Chamomile Shark and 16 Cinnabars.
Skateraw.....1 Small White , 1 Large White , 2 Fly By White , 16 Red Admiral (at least 7 on one bramble bower) , 3 Common Blue , 19 Ringlet , 3 Speckled Wood , 5 Silver Y , 6 Yellow Shell , 2 NB5 Spot burnets.
Caterpillars--32 Peacock , 8 Cinnabar.
Nice mix of species , I just wish we didn't have to have wind along with every sunny day !

[jpgn]

Some decent sunshine at last in East Lothian - and lots of butterflies were out and about enjoying it.

5 Red Admirals, 6 Small Tortoiseshells and a Large White during my Longniddry delivery round this morning

6 Graylings, 1 Large White, 1 Small White and a fly-by Dark-green Fritillary at Meadowmill Pyramid early afternoon

Loads of Small Skippers; plenty of Ringlets, Meadow Browns, Small Heaths and Common Blues; 3 Small Coppers; 4 Red Admirals and a Dark Green Fritillary at Luffness Links Quarry later on in the afternoon.

Jim

[wgell]

Wednesday 5th
Walked along the river from Preston Mill to Knowes and back. A few Ringlets, 2 Large White and 3 Red Admirals.

Friday 7th
Binning Wood.
Numerous Speckled Woods and Ringlets. 2 Red Admirals.

Saturday 8th
Barns Ness.
Numerous Ringlets and Meadow Browns, 4 Red Admirals, 6 Small heath, 4 male Common Blues and 1 Painted lady.

Saltoun Wood.
Numerous Ringlets and Meadow Browns, 6 Red Admirals, 4 Speckled Wood, 3 Small Skippers.

[ricowells]

While waiting in the Musselburgh railway station car park today noticed lots of buddleia beside the track so had a look but only 1 red admiral. However, the waste ground either side of Queen Margaret University looks like it would be worth investigating with lots of flowering plants and some distant butterflies (too far away to identify without my binoculars) and what looked like a burnet moth (six spot maybe). It did not land for a photo but did photograph this moth - anyone ID it?

[MarkCubitt]

Your moth is a Shaded Broad-bar.

Mark

[ricowells]

Thanks for the ID info Mark