Species of the Month: Rook Corvus frugilegus (April 2025)
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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 base of their …
Species of the Month: Short-winged Conehead Erebia aethiops (August 2024)
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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 & Galloway coast and is …
Species of the Month: Silk Button Gall
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Silk Button Gall Neuroterus numismalis Early autumn is a great time to look for galls. Galls take many different forms, forming on leaves, stalks and seeds and can be caused by mites, wasps or fungi. Oak trees are a good …
Species of the Month: Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea (July 2024)
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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. Males are brightly coloured, the black body contrasting with paired …
Species of the Month: Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata (June 2024)
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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 to return to their breeding grounds, seldom appearing before mid-late …
Species of the Month: Twenty Plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla (February 2025)
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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 24 ‘plumes’. The caterpillars feed on the leaves and buds …
Species of the Month: Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus (October 2024)
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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 our largest regular migrant bird, and occur in internationally important …
Species of the Month: Wigeon Mareca penelope (January 2025)
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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 January. A small breeding population does exist in isolated well-vegetated …
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