Borders Newsletter Issue 21 Autumn 2018 http://eastscotland-butterflies.org.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/EastScotlandButterflyConservation https://www.facebook.com/groups/eastscottishmoths/ Discoveries Welcome to this last issue in its current format of our newsletter for Most people with an interest in the natural world like to make discoveries Butterfly Conservation members and and there are three main ways in which this can happen. I am deliberately many other people living in the stealing this theme from one of the scientific magazines which I receive, but Scottish Borders and further afield. I think it’s all quite relevant to our activities. Please forward it to others who have an interest in butterflies & moths and who might like to read it and be kept in Firstly - sheer inspiration – those among us who are fortunate to be very touch with our activities. knowledgeable about butterflies and moths can work out where to look and Barry Prater make discoveries and, while we might marvel at their findings, we shouldn’t [email protected] be that surprised or feel inadequate because of them. Tel 018907 52037 Then – brute-force-recording – just spending a lot of time in the field with no specific aims except to find out what’s there and maybe, just maybe, getting lucky with a good discovery. This is often my approach, although I like to think it is a little bit more organised. Contents Thirdly there is - serendipity or sheer accident – but this is not always what it seems. Why is it that some people get lots of good or interesting Some of the Highlights from 2018 sightings while the rest of us plod on? I think this comes down to field skills Scotland’s Newest Breeding Butterfly and particularly being constantly vigilant for what might be around in any takes flight in 2018…….…. Iain Cowe particular location. You might call it expecting the unexpected. Finding a flying White-letter Hairstreak in the Borders last year might be an example Plant Communities for Butterflies & Moths: Part 9, Carr Woodland and of this. Other Wetlands …… Roger Manning The articles in this issue rely on some or all of the above approaches to Eshiels Wood and a Moth………….. exploring our local butterflies and moths, but whatever their basis I think Reuben Singleton & John Woolliams they are all quite inspirational and show us that there is still so much more out there to go at. Northern Brown Argus Survey ………………. …………. Barry Prater To see some of the broader picture of what’s happening in Scotland, please find a link to Butterfly Conservation Scotland’s Autumn e-newsletter here: Borders Recorders' details https://butterfly-conservation.org/sites/default/files/2018-09/Autumn%20e- news%202018.pdf [See last page for photo credits] And don’t forget that the UK Moths Atlas is due out in Spring 2019, and a special pre-publication offer is now available from NatureBureau: https://www.naturebureau.co.uk/bookshop/atlas-of-britain-and-ireland-s- ============================ larger-moths-detail This will be the last Borders newsletter in the current series, as after 10 years and 21 issues I am standing down as its creator and editor. I’m extremely grateful to the many people who have contributed news and articles with little persuasion from me. So far, I have failed to persuade anyone to take on the role but if there is someone out there who is interested do get in touch with me. Although I have done it ‘my way’ it could morph into many other formats – maybe a regular blog or a YouTube performance featuring real Lepidoptera in real habitats. The opportunities are there. Poplar Hawkmoth second generation adult 11 September 2018 Barry Prater Butterfly Conservation is a non-profit making company limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468). It is also a charity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268). Butterfly Conservation Scotland can be contacted at Balallan House, Allan Park, Stirling FK8 2QG, Tel 01786 447753. Some of the Butterfly and Moth Highlights from 2018 Even before we have many records in from all the Borders observers, it’s clear that it’s been a marvellous year for both butterflies and moths. The vice counties referred to are VC78 (Peeblesshire), VC79 (Selkirkshire), VC80 (Roxburghshire) and VC81 (Berwickshire). Butterflies Clouded Yellow – brief sighting of one flying north at Burnmouth on 14 May (Iain Cowe) Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary – one new site found at Pickie Moss in Berwickshire (Barry Prater). Green Hairstreak – found at two new sites in Peeblesshire (Reuben Singleton). White-letter Hairstreak – confirmed breeding with adults at several sites – see next article for the story. Small Blue – the various coastal sites have done well with record numbers counted and successful field trips led by Iain Cowe have shown many people this species. Small Blue – first of the year (IC) Holly Blue (RC) Holly Blue – one at Coldingham Sands on 15 August (Robin Cowe). Northern Brown Argus – plenty of records as part of the Borders-wide survey started this year. Again, see later article for more details. A thriving new colony was discovered on the Lyne Water during a field trip there (Reuben Singleton). Moth Events Some very successful and well-attended moth evenings were held this summer. Malcolm Lindsay arranged an outing for the local SWT group to the Chisholme Estate (near Roberton to the west of Hawick) on 7 July, which gave a good moths list (54 species) with many eye-catching moths for the 30 or so who came in the morning to see the results. There was great hospitality from the Chisholme Institute who provided a very comfortable bedroom for the overnight moth-trapper as well as afternoon tea to close the event! Moths at Chisholme and enthusiastic attendees (MKL) We participated in Chris Packham’s UK Bioblitz when he and his team visited St Abbs, recording both moths and butterflies and added two new macromoths (Pinion-streaked Snout and Pimpinel Pug) to the species list for this very well-recorded site. A moth evening and morning led by Reuben Singleton over 20-21 August in the Manor Valley (SW of Peebles) was also very successful, with over 20 attendees. Macromoths Large Red-belted Clearwing - following his discovery of pupal cases back in 2013, David Long continues to manage his woodland at Spottiswoode for this species by cutting birches, leaving suitable stumps for egg-laying. He also monitors the site closely. In 2017 he saw the first adult moths, including egg-laying females, and this year there was even more success. A total of 82 pupal cases was counted and good numbers of adults seen. Freshly-emerged Large Red-belted Clearwing and its pupal case (BP) and another of the moths in perfect condition (DL) Scalloped Hook-tip – first VC78 record (John Woolliams) Pebble Hook-tip – first VC78 record since 1976 (Reuben Singleton) Emperor Moth - a really excellent walk on 12 May, led by Iain Cowe at Gordon Community Woodland when, in near- perfect weather a turnout of 19 witnessed male Emperors attracted with pheromone lures. Red Carpet – recorded twice in the Lammermuirs, the first VC81 records since 1988 (Barry Prater). Beech-green Carpet – unusual record from a Selkirk garden on 3 August (Douglas Methven). Scarce Tissue – one found unexpectedly indoors at Chirnside in mid-May, the first VC81 record since 1964 (Iain Cowe). Scarce Tissue (IC) Tissue and the summit of Dunside Hill where it was found (BP) Tissue – research by Katty Baird into the hibernation and mating behaviour of this moth is continuing. There were several unexpected records – one attracted to a porch in Peebles on 16 August, the first for VC78 (Reuben Singleton), one found beneath a Sallow on19 April, the first for VC80 (Teyl de Bordes) and one attracted to a light trap on the summit of Dunside Hill (440m elevation) on 19 August (Barry Prater). Blue-bordered Carpet – recorded for only the second time in VC78, the previous record being in 1977 (Reuben Singleton). Thyme Pug – recorded new for VC79 in June (Teyl de Bordes). Ochreous Pug – first record for VC78 (Reuben Singleton). Triple-spotted Pug – three trapped at Coldingham in late July; new for VC81 (David Bryant). Orange Underwing – two seen by the edge of woodland near Jedburgh on 6 April; second site in VC80 and third for the Borders (Reuben Singleton). V-Moth – apart from one record in 2004, a record from Broughton by the Tweed in late July (VC78) is the first Borders sighting since 1988 of a species which has become extremely scarce nationally (Reuben Singleton). Speckled Yellow – two sightings at Cademuir, near Peebles and Craig Head at Stanhope in late May are the first for VC78 (John Woolliams, Alison McArthur and Malcolm Lindsay). The previous four Borders V-moth (RS) Speckled Yellow (MKL) records have been in south Roxburghshire. September Thorn - first record for VC79 on 17 August (Teyl de Bordes). Pinion-streaked Snout – a new species for VC81 recorded at two sites 14 – 25 July (Barry Prater and David Bryant). Copper Underwing – first record for VC81 was one trapped at Lurgie Loch on 12 August (Barry Prater). Clouded Brindle – first record for VC79 on 29 June (Malcolm Lindsay). Northern Arches – previously only known from one site in VC81 this moth was found on three more hills in the Lammermuirs between 30 July and 19 August (Barry Prater). Northern Arches (BP) Northern Deep-brown Darts with sallow species (TdeB) Northern Deep-brown Dart – usually recorded singly, four were found at the Douglas Burn site in VC79, making this the highest number recorded at a site in the Borders since 1956 (Teyl de Bordes).