East Lothian Sightings October 2017

[georgehogg]

At least 4 Speckled Wood still very active at Skateraw today,plus Red Admirals.
Also min 15 Red Admirals and 2 Peacocks on flowering ivy at Thorntonloch.
All in sunny spots out of the wind.
Bletted elderberries a great attraction.

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[georgehogg]

16degrees today in fields between Haddington and Garleton Hills.
Speckled Woods still active along a sheltered woodside,also a Red Admiral on flowering Ivy on Amisfield Mains access road.
Also unconfirmed fly by red admirals along the route.
Shame about all this wind

[NickMorgan]

How about a quite fresh-looking Small Heath being seen by Abbie at Aberlady on Friday? That is by far the latest record I have ever received for the species.

[IAC]

How about a quite fresh-looking Small Heath being seen by Abbie at Aberlady on Friday? That is by far the latest record I have ever received for the species.

Hi Nick, Looking at the SB records for Small Heath we have 2 records for 18th September from Billhope and Ettrickbridge 2013, 2015, respectively...so...Abbie's records beat those by a clear month. Thats pretty remarkable. I can't say if East Lothian has anything quite as late as that...worth finding out. There have been a few record breakers this year, the latest for us in the Scottish Borders was a Small Copper at Burnmouth on the 20th October in reasonable condition beating a late record of the 16th October 2006. Are they partial third broods due to mild conditions, or just late emerging Butterflies from a second brood? Really can't say. We also had Small Blue recorded in August again this year...just to add.


Iain.

[NickMorgan]

Iain,
The previous latest record I had for Small Heath was 25th September last year, and that was almost a month later than the previous latest record!
Things are certainly changing out there.

[georgehogg]

So Iain ,Seems I was optimistic hanging around the flowering ivy at Thorntonloch today, in hopes of a comma joining the five red admirals there !

[IAC]

[quote="georgehogg"]So Iain ,Seems I was optimistic hanging around the flowering ivy at Thorntonloch today, in hopes of a comma joining the five red admirals there ! [/quote

Hang around George and hang around some more, Comma are out there and will be into November. I have only ever found the one November Comma mind you...but never say never. It was a cold night, but its warming up now. Last saw Comma on the 20th.

Iain.