Monday 10th August

Finally managed to have a go at the Big Butterfly Watch, aided by a whole morning of reasonable sunshine.

Not surprisingly, the results weren't wonderful.  I decided to try the beginning of the path from Loch Stroan to Loch Skerrow after the farm track turnoff, where there were large numbers of scotch argos at the end of August last year. In the allocated fifteen minutes I managed just six scotch argos and

Golden Ringed Dragonfly

three meadow browns. Outside the time frame, I did see several more examples of the same species, plus a couple of ringlets and two common blues but overall it was distinctly sparse and the scotch argos weren't keen to settle more than momentarily.  There were in fact a good deal more dragonflies around than butterflies, mainly golden-ringed dragon flies, testimony to the wet weather this summer if any was needed.

The picture in the garden is similarly bleak.  Buddleia has been out in large quantities for a week but all it has attracted is one small tortoiseshell. Early days yet though.

I attempted a bit of flower spotting and photographed two plants, neither of which seem to be represented in my Book of Wild Flowers. Also observed were a couple of low-flying red kites as on my last visit here, a juvenile robin and a juvenile bullfinch drinking out of a puddle on the road. Have not however heard a chiffchaff for a couple of weeks at least.