July on the Isle of Skye

5 July 2013 . . . . My first Burnet moth of the year, but too windy for a photograph, so this is one from last year.
Zygaena filipendulae (6-spot Burnet)	aphids on Centaurea nigra

6 July 2013 . . . . A bumper crop in the moth trap this morning, with more than ten different species.
Euthrix potatoria (Drinker)	Spilosoma luteum (Buff Ermine)
Lycophotia porphyrea (True Lover's Knot)	Eupithecia pulchellata (Foxglove Pug)

7 July 2013 . . . . Leitir Fura.

Polyommatus icarus (Common Blue - female)

8 July 2013 . . . . Walking from Elgol to Kilmarie

Lasiocampa quercus (Northern Eggar moth)

9 July 2013 . . . . A trip to the mainland with the U3A Nature Group. We explored the area around Duirinish and Drumbuie. Plenty of flowers but not many butterflies and no dragonflies or damselflies.

Polyommatus icarus (Common Blue - male)

10 July 2013 . . . . The Magpie moths were emerging in large numbers this morning. At one point I counted 12 fluttering around just above the heather.
Abraxus grossulariata (Magpie moth)

11 July 2013 . . . . Camas Malag The first meeting of the new Skye Botany Group, and I think a great time was had by all. Stephen gave us a list of 45 species he would like us to find and this was one of them:

Circaea x intermedia (Upland Enchanter's Nightshade)

18 July 2013 . . . . About a hundred moths in the trap this morning, including 11 new species. Here are four of them:
Eulithis populata (Northern Spinach)	Cosmorhoe ocellata (Purple Bar)
Aplocera plagiata (Treble-bar)	Biston betularia (Peppered)

18 July 2013 . . . . To Ashaig in the afternoon.
Spergularia media (Greater Sea Spurrey)	Glaux maritima (Sea Milkwort)

19 July 2013 . . . . A botanical survey in the Sleat peninsula south of Caradal, with Julian and Joanna. We didn't make any exciting discoveries, but saw lots of dragonflies and damsel flies, including Keeled Skimmer and Beautiful Demoiselle:

Calopteryx virgo (Beautiful Demoiselle)

22 July 2013 . . . . A guided walk with our local Countryside Ranger, exploring Talisker Bay in search of the rare Talisker Burnet moth. We think we found it and also managed to find a few other things as well:
Zygaena lonicerae (Narrow-bordered 5-spot Burnet, possibly subspecies jocelynae)	Zygaena purpuralis (Transparent Burnet)
Hipparchia semele (Grayling)	Coccinella septempunctata (7-spot Ladybird)

23 July 2013 . . . . Two new species in the trap this morning:
Light Emerald Campaea margaritata	Green Carpet Colostygia pectinataria

26 July 2013 . . . . Two common butterflies: the Meadow Brown has been around for a week or two, the Scotch Argus has only emerged in the last couple of days.
Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina	Scotch Argus Erebia aethiops

27 July 2013 . . . . Two new moths:
Antler moth Cerapteryx graminis	Barred Straw Eulithis pyraliata
Larva of the Peacock butterfly Aglais io