YES !!!!!

Sunday April 29

The sun was shining, not too much wind, it looked promising for researching some of the nearby survey squares for Kentish Glory moths. Until we walked outdoors. It was very cold. The 2017 survey found the moths even in cold conditions, we were still hopeful.

The iconic Kentish Glory is classified as a 'Nationally Scarce A' moth, being found only in Scotland, where it is known from the Rannoch area, south Aberdeenshire, Speyside and on the Morayshire coast. It is a large and spectacular species, with an attractive combination of white and chocolate-brown markings. The sexes show marked sexual dimorphism, females being much larger than males. The primary larval food plant is Silver Birch, although it is also sometimes found on Downy Birch and Alder: in Britain, alder-feeding larvae have been found in the Rannoch area and in Glen Tanar (Deeside). The Kentish Glory inhabits lightly wooded moorland, where the birch scrub is no more than 1–3 metres tall.

It took us a while to work out exactly where the designated areas - where the moths have been seen in the past - actually were. We strung up the pheromone lure in two different squares during the morning, getting a nil return disappointingly. The recommended lure exposure time is only twenty minutes.

We used a butterfly net to  hold the small, uncapped tubed lure to start off and then swapped to a washing tablet mesh bag (once I found it).

Having researched the Highland BC website last night, I knew that the favoured area is Culbin Forest on the northern Inverness coast. Maybe that would be more successful. As we drove along the Forres road out of Carrbridge, a Ford car came in the opposite direction. Incredible. It was Sue and Ian who had been to see the Black-throated Divers at Lochindorb. After a short chat - we could see that they were getting very cold in the wind - we were snug in the car, heated seats much appreciated, we left for Nairn and Forres.

The car park is known to us as we have walked the forest for Crested Tit on many past occasions. We drove to the far end where the surrounding vegetation looked promising. An open area with Birch, and low scrub. Fifteen minutes after hanging the lure, the first male Kentish Glory arrived, flew around the area and departed without landing. A few minutes later, the same - or second - moth did the same thing. Large with a beautiful orange brown hindwing, in flight they were unmistakeable. We did a footballers' air punch of delight. The euphoria lasted for the rest of the day. 
Disappointing that photography was not possible, despite Pam waving the butterfly net at them they were not to be caught.

A fresh Peacock Butterfly did its best to distract us but to no avail - until after the Glory had left the scene.

The following photographs are courtesy of Mary Laing of Dinnet who gave me permission to use them.

 

Male Kentish Glory

Female Kentish Glory

Deciding to return via the coastal route, a visit to Loch Flemington added the reliable 'padders' :  Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen and Little Grebe.

Alturlie when the tide is out is a sea of seaweed, rocks and corvid strewn mud, the Kessock Bridge in the near distance a soaring elegant backdrop. Our first Hooded Crow was a good one, there are many hybrids here. None of the expected sea ducks remained, last week's good weather must have encouraged them north.

We seemed to do a tour of supermarkets to-day. The first one for the loo, another for handcream, the next for felt tip pens which Pam had forgotten to bring. None of mine were the right colour😉 .

Home to a warm house and to watch, via Sky Go on my IPad, most of the football match which ended in a 2-1 win in extra time for Man U against Arsenal. An even better day.

If interested, a report on the 2017 lure trial can be found on 
http://www.highland-butterflies.org.uk/ 
towards the bottom left of the page.