Visit to Taynish National Nature Reserve, Argyll 30/05/05

The bank holiday weather was unusually sunny so I took a trip to the Taynish National Nature Reserve (NR725834) to see the Marsh Fritillaries. I had not been to the reserve since June 1992. The car park has improved since then but the track leading to the reserve is still full of potholes.

From the Car Park I then followed the main woodland trail (W1 and W2 on the excellent leaflet provided at the Car Park) to the coastal paths where most of the Marsh Fritillaries can be found. The walk along the woodland trail is very pleasant with constant bird song in the background. Birds seen included Redstart, Grasshopper Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Buzzard, Hooded Crow, Lesser Redpoll, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Cuckoo and the ubiquitous Chaffinch. I am not surprised the birds do well at Taynish as there is plenty of food for them. Along the woodland trail I encountered many Geometrid Moth caterpillars hanging from tree branches on silk threads. On closer inspection there were actually thousands of caterpillars. Caterpillars on virtually every leaf. Take a closer look and suddenly you see that some of the Oak trees have been completely defoliated by the caterpillars. The Hazel, Alder and Birch are also getting a hammering from the caterpillars

Along the woodland trail there was also an abundance of Large Red Damselflies, several Four Spotted Chaser Dragonflies and the occasional Specked Wood and Green-veined White.

Further along the woodland trail, by the SNH National Nature Reserve buildings you go through a gate, walk across a small field and continue along the coastal path. The best place to see the Marsh Fritillaries is beyond the C1 marker but before the C2 marker on the trail. The pockets of marshy grassland and scrub on the right (north-west) side of the main path support the Fritillaries. The habitat is quite sensitive to trampling so it is best to return to the main path once the butterflies have been seen. During my visit 15+ Fritillaries were seen in a relatively small area. An unexpected surprise was the sight of a single mature Marsh Fritillary caterpillar feeding on the leaf of the Devilsbit Scabious. The 30th May is quite late to see a mature caterpillar so it may have been parasitized or if not it could mean that the flight season will be extended this year. I also found 7 Green Hairstreaks in a small colony at the same location as the Marsh Fritillaries. The scrub surrounding pockets of marshy grassland provides wind shelter and local hot spots which the butterflies seem to favour.

It is worth continuing along the main coastal path to marker C3 to see the marine life in the clear water. I found the Black Brittle Stars particularly interesting to watch. Along the north-west coastal edge there are many sea shells to be seen including fine specimens of the Golden Carpet Shell, Chequered Carpet Shell, Large Sunset Shell and Common Saddle Oyster.

Although the visit took place on a bank holiday there were very few visitors and along the coast it was blissfully quiet, in a magnificent location, which provided a total escape from the humdrum of city life.

Marsh Fritillary taken by Keith Futter

Keith Futter