Northern Brown Argus

A couple of weeks ago Martin and I had decided that another visit to Scotland was in order, with both birds and butterflies as our targets. Elvis the King Eider in the Ythan estuary was the primary quarry. Martin was keen to get the tick and I wanted some improved shots from those I took in May. Of course, the Law of Sod kicked in and Elvis did a bunk northwards just after we had booked our hotels. So we modified our programme and the final list was a mix of birds and butterflies. My emphasis was on the butterflies - wanting just five to complete my UK mainland list, but Martin was just as keen to get them in the bag.

So early on a fine sunny morning we left our hotel in Berwick upon Tweed and made our way to St. Abb's Head, where there is a reserve set aside for the Northern Brown Argus. On the walk towards the head we were distracted by Ringlets and some strange day flying moths of a species that I had not seen before. In the breeze they proved almost impossible to photograph and I never obtained a satisfactory shot.

When we reached the NBA reserve we split up so that we could search a larger area. It wasn't long before we found a resting specimen and I was well pleased to record my 54th species of butterfly. I reckon we probably had double figure sightings and having recorded sufficient specimens we decided that we could use the time better at our next venue. Of course on the way back to the car we were seduced by the offerings of "The Old Smiddy", where we had a bacon butty and a cup of tea as we had foregone breakfast in order to maximise our time here. We shared our table with an incredibly tame male Chaffinch who had a few pickings from us.

 

 

 

St. Abbs

We made excellent progress, the Edinburgh City Bypass flew past and we were making good time to Trinafour, a village off the A9 north of Blair Atholl. David Gardiner had told me that Mountain Ringlets can be found in this location, and close to the road. Unfortunately the weather deteriorated and drizzle set in. We searched in vain and found just a few Small Heaths flying. I think we were just a tad early as the season in Scotland has been delayed by prolonged bad weather earlier in the year. Additionally, there have been extensive groundworks here, large new electricity pylons being installed obviously require heavy plant over the area. So we hit the road for our third target of the day, the Osprey nest that Liz and I had visited during May, I was keen to know if there had been any breeding success.

Sure enough, as we arrived we could see the male Osprey was sat in exactly the same place - an old dead tree adjacent to the nest. Encouraged by the female he went off in search of food and amazingly returned in very short order with a Pike. Now we had clear views of both adults and at least one youngster. Unfortunately tempus fugit and we had to press on to our overnight accommodation in Grantown on Spey. Not a bad day - two ticks from a "wanted" list already.

 

The previous day we had broken the journey up north with a visit to RSPB Dearne Valley - or Old Moor, as it used to be called. Here we had views of the drake American Wigeon, sadly distant and the photographs are not the best. Sitting in the hide with the rain coming down I entertained myself photographing a Green Sandpiper. Later we went in search of the Little Bittern that had been resident for some days, alas a no show and as I sat in the "Bittern Bus Stop", an open shelter overlooking the reedbeds of the reserve, I had an overwhelming desire to nod off.