Species of the Month: Emperor Dragonfly
Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator This large and distinctive species, Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator was formerly a very scarce and infrequent visitor to SW Scotland. The males are probably our most…
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Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator This large and distinctive species, Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator was formerly a very scarce and infrequent visitor to SW Scotland. The males are probably our most…
The southerly airflows hitting the UK in June brought an influx of migrant species, and some are easy to look out for in gardens. The Humming-bird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum gets its name from…
For June, our species of the month is one for gardeners, and one that may not always be a particularly welcome find. The Lily Beetle Lilioceris lilii is a leaf beetle (family Chrysomelidae),…
Moschatel Adoxa moschatellina, also known as Townhall Clock, is a typical flower of mature and often ancient deciduous woodland, but may also be found in riparian woodland and along hedges. In many…
Rooks Corvus frugilegus belong to the Corvidae family and are the most gregarious of our resident crow species in the breeding season. They can be most easily distinguished from other black…
The Common Frog Rana temporaria has been emerging from brumation and as many will have noticed begun to spawn. Our only resident for species of frog, the Common Frog, is easy to…
The Twenty Plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla is one of our most unique looking moths. It measures around 15mm across in its fanned resting position, and despite its name it does in fact have…
This spring SWSEIC will be holding two half-day gatherings for our local wildlife recorders. The events will include presentations about local wildlife and conservation projects and provides a chance to…
The Wigeon Mareca penelope is a familiar duck that winters in the UK in important numbers. Most of these birds travel from Iceland, Scandinavia and Russia, and numbers usually peak in December and…
Ladybirds hibernate during winter and often cluster communally in places relatively frost-free and with steady temperatures. It has become clear that many species have adapted well to the human environment…
You may be surprised to see a butterfly for the species of the month in November. Until fairly recently this was one of our most difficult butterflies to record due…
Autumn sees the return of migratory birds which breed in the subarctic regions and return to the relatively mild conditions of western Europe to spend the winter months. Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus are…
A familiar species of gardens, compost heaps and woodland debris it may come as a surprise that the Green Cellar Slug Limacus maculatusis is a non-native species. There is a very similar closely…
The Short-winged Conehead Erebia aethiops is one of five species of native bush-cricket that have been found in SW Scotland. First recorded in SW Scotland in 2011, this species has since…
This large and colourful hawker dragonfly is a recent colonist to SW Scotland. It is superficially similar to other hawker dragonflies, but can be readily distinguished with a good view.…
A streaky greyish-brown bird of woodland edge, parks and mature gardens. Spotted Flycatchers Muscicapa striata are migrants, spending the winter months in Africa. They are typically one of the latest summer migrants…
The Green Tiger Beetle Cicindela campestris is a distinctive species of ground beetle, the commonest and most widespread of five species of tiger beetle found in the UK. They are approximately…
The Currant Shoot Borer Lampronia capitella is a rare moth in the UK with only a handful of known sites. There is only one know Scottish site in the Scottish Borders near Peebles…
The charity Scottish Badgers is currently recruiting volunteers to assist with its national survey work in the region. The ‘Get Sett Scotland!’ citizen science project aims to provide an estimate…
SWSEIC has been busy updating the Dumfries & Galloway moth website. The website has been developed to aid recorders by providing the current known distribution of species in D&G, identification…
iNaturalist is a global wildlife recording website and app. It has particularly been gaining in popularity, particularly amongst less experienced recorders due to the helpful community and rich features of…
Local beetle enthusiast Bruce Philp has spent lockdown very productively by pulling together a provision beetle list for Ayrshire (VC75), The list is available to download here – VC75 Ayrshire coleoptera…
This update is to inform everyone on how SWSEIC activities are affected during the current coronavirus outbreak. In line with government recommendations, SWSEIC staff are currently working from home but…
Did you know that the ‘cuckoo-spit’ that you see in spring is produced by the immature stage (nymph) of a spittlebug or froghopper? Once the nymphs emerge as adults, usually…
Due to a very poor weather forecast, we have reluctantly decided to cancel our community moth trapping event at Kirkgunzeon on Saturday 8th June. We hope to be able to…
SWSEIC have produced two new A5 booklets about invertebrate groups in SW Scotland. The booklets cover dragonflies and crickets & grasshoppers, and focus only on the species recorded in Dumfries…
Wildlife recorders from around the region gathered in Dumfries on Saturday 30th March to learn about and celebrate the region’s special wildlife. SWSEIC’s Wildlife Recorders’ Gathering 2019 was the first…
The Kirkcudbrightshire Botany Group have published their planned events programme for 2019. The programme commences in late March with a visit to Grey Mare’s Tail (Galloway Forest Park) and will…
A new species of dragonfly was added to the list for SWSEIC’s office at Kirkgunzeon last week with the discovery of the scarce Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens in the nearby burn.…
Earlier this week SWSEIC reached a major milestone by adding our one millionth record to our database. The record of a Redshank on Loch Ryan was part of the county…
A new botany group – the Dumfriesshire Botany Group – has now been established in the eastern part of Dumfries and Galloway. The group will cover the vice-county of Dumfriesshire –…
Where’s Wildlife in Ayrshire? Project Officer – £21,000 p.a. The Southern Uplands Partnership is looking for an enthusiastic individual with excellent communication and project management skills to continue delivery of…
In the first ever year of the Kelburn Country show, Where’s Wildlife in Ayrshire, with the help of volunteer Rebecca, had a great day out with plenty of interest in…
SWSEIC have an opportunity for a volunteer to assist with the creation and updating of content for the SWSEIC website. If you are interested in helping please email the SWSEIC…
Published in spring 2016, the Dumfries & Galloway Wildlife Review 2015. The Review replaced our former printed newsletter ERC News. Over the past few years we had reduced the frequency of ERC…
Welcome to the new SWSEIC/Where’s Wildlife in Ayrshire? website! The website has been developed through the Where’s Wildlife in Ayrshire? project with the kind support of our project funders. The…
SUP is registered in Scotland as a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. Registered address: The Southern Uplands Partnership, Studio 2, Lindean Mill, Galashiels, TD1 3PE. Company No. SC200827 / Charity No. SCO29475