The Small Skipper has been present in the Scottish Borders now for a decade and a bit. In that time they have shown an easterly bias.The easterly bias continued as they invaded East Lothian taking advantage of open coastal grasslands and golf course roughs. They have now conquered as far as the city...

The Small Pearls flight was delayed 2016 in poor weather, but not delayed too long. Not the most spectacular season ever though. This one was photographed on a dank and misty day in the Scottish Borders at Gordon Community Woodland where a newly discovered colony thrives. As the sun clawed at the cl...

My specialist subject, Small Blue. I spend more time on Small Blue than any other species. 2016 was a rough year for them on the Berwickshire coast with cold sea breezes through the early flight period, however, undettered they bounced back when the weather cleared and persisted until the end of Jul...

Only one place in Berwickshire, can I guarantee a spectacular number of the Small Copper each and every season. The second brood numbers are always predictably high. So, St Abbs Head NNR July 2016 just as the second brood were emerging onto the scene.

You dont only get two white spots across the Border, oh no, nothing quite so common, how about four white spots ab quadripuncta!! :D This ab is quite common among the south east Scotland colonies. I am still in argument with myself whether it is more common on the coast as opposed to inland...howeve...

A 25 mile trip inland to the Scottish Borders town of Melrose in August, has been made an annual pilgrimage for this species now. Not much deviation in this species emergence, from the 1st of August you can always expect at least one. The species lasts about four to five weeks only at this site near...

Am I allowed to load both Scottish & English race Nice to see both versions Eric :) Not the very best season for Northern Brown Argus in the Scottish Borders especially on the coast though inland they fared only a little better. Too many overcast and cool days inland, and on the coast Spring wa...

Maybe not one of the finest photographs I have ever taken of the species however, the Large Skipper continues to expand at a much slower and more methodical pace than its cousin the Small Skipper. The Large Skipper has a very patchy history in the Scottish Borders though this past ten years it has b...

Congratulations Nigel. What a shot to win it! There were so many excellent to perfect photos that fired in towards the deadline that I thought my chances were fairly slim indeed. I am over the moon to get a second overall...unbelievable..even beating Nigels Apollo...even more unbelievable. Dave Coll...

With such a short window of opportunity and so few decent days to go looking for this species, it is always a tense affair looking for them. We do have some very lively colonies up here in the Scottish Borders, but there is always so much more to do than be dragged up into the high hill burns for a ...

The Grayling have had a hard time this past few years with very few coastal sightings numbering around the 100 mark rather than the thousands that there should be. This one is from the well known stronghold at St Abbs Head NNR. This Butterfly can be an incredibly shy and difficult to photograph subj...

Many thanks Lee, and yes, hopefully see you up our way one day.

Iain.

Many thanks Eric for your kind words. I was very glad I was able to point you in the right direction this summer for NBA. It all worked out rather well it seems with the wife kept happy as well.. Best Wishes to you both.

Iain.

FISHiEE wrote:Northern Brown Argus near Bournemouth!

Hahaha,,,yep...that would be a turn up. Thanks FishiEE.

Hi Chris,
Try Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa) flying through to December in some parts. Link here for more detail http://www.lotmoths.com/species/species ... ciesID=101

Iain.

Probably one of the most exciting days of 2016 involved just the one, at first, Dark Green Fritillary on the Lamberton coastal path on the South East Scottish coast. They are almost impossible to pin down in bright sunshine. One of the most active Butterflies? Well, yes... there are moments though w...

Far too many good encounters with Common Blue to pick one out specifically in 2016. I shall plump for this one, a rain soaked individual that had found shelter from an industrial downpour on the Lamberton coastal path in south east Scotland. Unfortunately I had no such cover and sat absorbing moistu...

Well done Iain. Very much deserved. Thank you for all of your help and support over the years. Thank you Nick, I have had as much help and support from you as well...it works both ways. Hopefully, I'll get up to SE Scotland soon for artaxerxes! Thanks David, I do hope to meet up with you one day in...

Many thanks everyone and some high praise from those that have inspired me. Its true that I need and needed little inspiration where Butterflies are concerned. Like many others here, its an obsession that never settles, even in the depths of the long winter. By the power of the Internet there is a s...

The Comma were scarce this year and for my area thats not too unusual. I had hunted for days to find a decent spot that I could observe them in Spring away from the usual haunts. I ended up spending a late afternoon in a Garlic filled trench by the River Whiteadder at Edrington Castle in the Scottis...