Chequered Skipper Weekend 30 & 31 May 2009
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, some individuals were seen at Glasdrum NNR at 300 m in 2008.

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.

During the Chequered Skipper weekend, the position of each Chequered Skipper seen will be recorded with Global Positioning System (GPS) devices which will enable the data to be plotted on a map. Use of GPS is a good method of recording some of Scotland’s rarer butterflies which have a limited distribution and training in the use of GPS to record butterflies will be provided at Glasdrum NNR on Saturday 30 May. Then participants will be split into groups to survey the different woodland glades at Glasdrum NNR and nearby Chequered Skipper sites. If you book accommodation overnight Saturday/Sunday 30/31 May in Oban, Glencoe, Fort William or at the Oban Camping & Caravan site at nearby Benderloch, then you can head off independently on the Sunday to search for Chequered Skipper at other historical sites.

The Chequered Skipper weekend is a great opportunity for branch members to participate in this research, 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 30/31 May

Chequered Skipper Weekend

Glasdrum NNR, Loch Creran, Argyll

Moth trapping from 8am Saturday. Talk about Chequered Skipper and how to use GPS to record butterflies at 10am.

Participants will be split into groups on the Saturday to survey Glasdrum NNR and possibly adjacent sites for Chequered Skipper.

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.

If event rained off Saturday, meet 10.00am Sunday at Glasdrum.

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 Benderloch.

This is a free event but please contact SNH in advance if you intend to come along. John Halliday/Hazel White, SNH, Kilmory Industrial Estate, Lochgilphead Tel 01546 603611. or John.Halliday@snh.gov.uk / Hazel.White@snh.gov.uk

Please bring waterproofs,stout footwear and a packed lunch.