May on the Isle of Skye

1 May 2013 . . . . Suisnish . . . . The first orchids of the year.
Orchis mascula (Early Purple Orchid)

5 May 2013 . . . . Camas Malag . . . . a new Skye species for me.
Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn)

6 May 2013 . . . . Largest catch in the moth trap last night (19) probably because our local willows are flowering. Only one new species but a very attractive one:

Water Carpet (Lampropteryx suffumata)

7 May 2013 . . . . The temperature reached 20C today!!! This brought out a variety of insects:
Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)	Bee Fly (Bombylius major)
Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines)	Green-veined White (Pieris napi)

11 May 2013 . . . . Strath Suardal

This looks like the rare Soft Shield Fern (Polystichum setiferum) but is more likely to be the Hard Shield Fern (Polystichum aculeatum) or possibly a hybrid.

12 May 2013 . . . . Two new species in the moth trap this morning:
Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria)	Red Sword-grass (Xylena vetusta)

14 May 2013 . . . . Stumbled across this abandoned Oystercatcher's nest in our local Forestry Commission car park.

19 May 2013 . . . . Two new species in the moth trap this morning:
Ruddy Highflyer (Hydriomena ruberata)	Brown Silver-line (Petrophora chlorosata)

20 May 2013 . . . . Exploring the Allt Strollamus
Philonotis fontana	Saxifraga stellaris Starry Saxifrage

21 May 2013 . . . . Ben Suardal
Dryas octopetala (Mountain Avens)	Dactylorhiza maculata (Heath Spotted Orchid)

25 May 2013 . . . . Creag Strollamus
Diphasiastrum alpinum (Alpine Clubmoss)

26 May 2013 . . . . Near Caradal in the Sleat peninsula
Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)	Rove beetle (Staphylinus erythropterus) - photo: James K. Lindsey

29 May 2013
Streamer (Anticlea derivata)	Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata)
May Highflyer (Hydriomena impluviata)	Glaucous Shears (Papestra biren)