Site of the Month: Lynn Glen (January 2024)
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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)
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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)
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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 – April: Currant Shoot Borer
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Currant Shoot Borer Lampronia capitella 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 …
Species of the Month – April: Rook
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Rook Corvus frugilegus 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 corvids by the grey-white skin at the …
Species of the Month – August: Emperor Dragonfly
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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 colourful large dragonfly, with a bright green thorax and extensive …
Species of the Month – August: Short-winged Conehead
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Short-winged Conehead Erebia aethiops 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 spread widely along the Dumfries & …
Species of the Month – December: Orange Ladybird
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Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata 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 …
Species of the Month – December: The Herald Moth
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The Herald Scoliopteryx libatrix Many of us will be familiar with butterfly species such as the Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae which spend the winter as adults in a dormant state – similar to hibernation – to emerge again when warmer …
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