Orkney

[web4160]

We are going on a week's holiday to Orkney at the end of May. I have been unable to find anything about what butterfies we might find there. Anyone got any information?

[David M]

I don't think there'll be much up there, to be honest. To my knowledge, Large Heath is the only species of note to be found in Orkney and that won't be around till mid July.

[Pete Eeles]

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/sites_sq ... pecies=All

Cheers,

- Pete

[web4160]

Thanks for that, very much as I suspected. May have to try Dunnet Head for the Small Blue before we catch the ferry!

[ScottD]

I've got the 2005-2012 butterfly national distribution maps for Scotland courtesy of Richard Fox@BC.
Orkney only shows ~12 species incl. immigrants like Clouded Yellow & Painted Lady.
Just be grateful that it's Orkney & not Shetland (7 species)!

Of course lack of recorder effort could be a part of it.

[web4160]

Thanks Scott,

Sounds like we might be lucky to see 6 or 7 different species. I will let you know, although the weather doesn't look too good there next week so may struggle to see any!

David

[web4160]

After the first three days here I was beginning to think we wouldn't see any butterflies at all. Maximum temperature was 11 degrees and no sign of the sun. However things improved yesterday while we were on the island of Sanday and several Green Veined Whites plus a solitary Large White were seen including a couple at the extreme northern tip of the island a lattitude of 59 29' North.
Today on the mainland of Orkney in addition to several Green Veined Whites two Red Admiral and Two Painted Ladies were the highlight. Again all of these were seen at the extreme north west of the island on the Brough of Birsay. So 4 species seen so far not sure I will make 6 in a week. Most likley others to be seen would be a Small Tortoiseshell and/or a Peacock.

[David M]

Talk about surprises!

I've only seen half a dozen Red Admirals thus far in 2014 and no Painted Ladies at all!

[web4160]

These were my first Painted Ladies as well!