Site of the Month: Lynn Glen (January 2024)
Blog
Located just south of Dalry in North Ayrshire this site is of considerable geological interest. The 320 million year old limestone formations have been carved by the water exposing a wide range of marine fossils including corals, bivalves and conodonts, which …
Site of the Month: Merrick Kells (February 2024)
Blog
In the heart of Galloway, the Merrick Kells is a fantastic example of habitats carved by glaciers during the Pleistocene (the last Ice Age). The area is home to important moraines which may help us to unravel mysteries on the climate and …
Site of the Month: The Nith Estuary (December 2023)
Blog
This Nith Estuary is one of the most significant sites in the region for wintering waders and waterfowl. The Solway is famously home to the entire wintering population of Svalbard Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis, and has significant numbers of Pintail Anas acuta, Shelduck Tadorna tadorna and Scaup Aythya marila. The …
Solitary bees: training for identification, surveys and monitoring
Event
Buglife are running a solitary bee workshop at RSPB Mersehead on the 23rd June. This free event is an opportunity to learn more about solitary bees, identification of some of the commonly seen species and how to survey and monitor them. …
Species of the Month: Common Frog Rana temporaria (March 2025)
Blog
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 identify as having slippery smooth skin and very long back …
Species of the Month: Currant Shoot Borer Lampronia capitella (April 2024)
Blog
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 and it is entirely possible that more populations could be …
Species of the Month: Green Cellar Slug Limacus maculatusis (September 2024)
Blog
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 related species called the Yellow Cellar Slug Limacus flavus which, whilst it was …
Species of the Month: Green Tiger Beetle Cicindela campestris (May 2024)
Blog
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 10-15mm in length and are easily recognised by their iridescent …
Species of the Month: Moschatel Adoxa moschatellina (May 2025)
Blog
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 regions it is amongst a suite of species used as …
Species of the Month: Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata (December 2024)
Blog
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 with several using nooks and crevices in buildings. Perhaps surprisingly, …
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