Summer Wildlife

My personal recording this year has taken a back seat to children’s activities and engaging visitors to the Borders Estate, however that does no mean that there has been no biological recording going on. Alongside the usual monitoring of squirrel and pine marten activity (pine marten are very active at this time of year), local County Recorder Malcolm Lindsay has been undertaking some late night excursions along the Lady’s Walk to look for night flying invertebrates.

Image: Barred Hook-tip Watsonalla cultraria by Malcolm Lindsay

Moth trapping involves setting up light traps that attract these flying beasties, which then allow them to be identified, counted and recorded, with warm and still conditions being ideal.

As you can imagine this summer proved a challenge for Malcolm, but not to be deterred, he recorded a staggering 179 species of moth on or near to the Lady’s Walk. With 110 of these species being new records for Bowhill, Malcolms highlight was the Barred Hook-tip (Watsonalla cultraria) which was only first recorded in Scotland in Kirkcudbrightshire last year, appearing to be expanding its range rapidly.

Five priority species were also recorded by Malcolm, the Autumnal Rustic, Small Pheonix, Ghost Moth, Grey Dagger and Small Square-spot. One of his favourite finds was the stunning Beech-green Carpet moth, a specialist perfectly adapted to blend into its woodland habitat.

Image: Beech-green Carpet moth (Colostygia olivata) by Malcolm Lindsay