Chequered Skipper Weekend 29 & 30 May 2010
at Glasdrum National Nature Reserve (NNR)

Chequered Skipper is a Priority Species and is the only UK butterfly species unique to Scotland since it went extinct in England in 1976. And it is a beautiful little butterfly full of character with its golden speckled wings and chubby body. The distribution of the Chequered Skipper is very limited being confined to the most northern parts of Argyll and parts of Lochaber around Fort William where it is generally found at the bottom of slopes near lochs and rivers. However, many individuals were seen at Glasdrum NNR at 300-350 m in 2009.

Glasdrum NNR is currently managed by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) for Chequered Skipper, Pearl-bordered Fritillary and other butterflies with regular scrub clearance along the lower wayleave and glades of various sizes on the lower slopes. To aid future woodland management at Glasdrum NNR and other Chequered Skipper sites, it would be useful to know the range of size of woodland glades Chequered Skipper uses and whether population density is dependent on woodland glade size and also to determine the altitude range of Chequered Skipper populations and how population density changes with altitude.

The Chequered Skipper weekend is a great opportunity for branch members to see this rare and beautiful Scottish butterfly, meet other members and get out and about in Scotland’s great scenery.

NB The slopes at Glasdrum are steep in some areas and walking will involve some wading through tall bracken. A moderate level of fitness is required.

Saturday/Sunday 29/30 May 2010

Chequered Skipper Weekend

Glasdrum NNR, Loch Creran, Argyll

Learn about Chequered Skipper and how to use GPS to record butterflies plus moth trapping

Training day at Glasdrum on the Saturday when amazing habitat for Chequered Skipper and Pearl-bordered Fritillary at 300-350 m will be visited. It is hoped that on the Sunday, participants may look for Chequered Skipper at other sites in Glen Creran & along the north shore of Loch Etive or further north around Fort William.

Participants may wish to stay in Oban, Glencoe or Fort William depending on where you want to search for Chequered Skipper on the Sunday. There is a Camping & Caravanning Club site near Glasdrum at Barcaldine.