The Highland Biological Recording Group

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	'Atlas of Butterflies in Highland and Moray' is now available from the Butterfly Conservation Highland branch website. *** Also the HBRG Bumblebee Atlas. * 2008 maps can be viewed here***.
Date	Some recent news not yet included in the main pages, and news of additions etc. to the site. for inclusion here. Or post your own comments and observations on the HBRG Forum (information on the Contact page). Red rows at the top are time-limited announcements of events etc.; green rows are news items from the previous 2 weeks; grey rows are older news items.
FUNDING FOR RECORDING	For details on how to apply for funding for T&S for recording in Highland click here.
HBRG MAMMAL ATLAS	The Mammal Atlas is being prepared for publication. All records up to the end of 2009 will be included. Please send in any additional records NOW!
9 March 2010	The signs of spring are gathering pace. We have had reports of Small Tortoiseshell on both E and W coasts. The first Oystercatchers have been heading inland. A number of birds are well into song, and checking out nest-sites. Frog-spawn has been seen on Skye, but if you have seen it elsewhere, please let us know. Breeding seems to be later this year than normal.
3 March 2010	While checking Brambles on river banks for the Species of the Month, please keep a look out for the March Brown mayfly Rhithrogena germanica. A guide to its recognition is here (.pdf, 180kB). The NBN Gateway map shows no records in our area, but I am assured that this does not reflect its true distribution, so if you are walking along one of our larger rivers in the next couple of months, please bear it in mind.
3 March 2010	An excellent guide to British mosses and liverworts has just been published. At £25 it is the bargain of the year. Buy it online here.
16 February 2010	A little bit early, we have started a new Species of the Month. Our first two ventures have been very successful, so let's keep that trend going. See details here.
11 February 2010	Among thousands of Pink-footed Geese on the Cromarty Firth were three Snow Geese (1 white, 2 Blue Snow Geese). Geese are very active at the moment, and a great wildlife sight on our doorstep.
9 February 2010	In view of the finds of Ray's Bream (see below), this article is relevant. I can't blank out the pointless comments, I'm afraid! More information is here.
5 February 2010	Large flocks of Pinkfooted Geese were heading north over Dingwall yesterday. That and the first signs of territorial and nesting behaviour in Great Tits and other garden birds must show that spring is on the way.
5 February 2010	Anyone wishing to get to grips with the bewildering variety of craneflies that we have here should look at the draft keys for download here. Some are quite large files, so beware if you are on dial-up connections.
25 January 2010	We have re-done the 'Field trips and events' page using a Google Calendar. Details will be posted there as they come to our notice, so check it every now and then to see what is coming up.
19 January 2010	Another two Ray's Bream Brama brama (see entry for 2 January below) have been found at Dornoch (David McAllister) and Dunnet (Paul Castle). If you are on the beach between now and March, look out for these and please report any finds.
8 January 2010	One of the surprises of extreme weather arrived in Jane Bowman's garden - a beautiful Greyhen (female Black Grouse). Picture.
3 January 2010	A project to create a Wildlife Encyclopedia with a Wiki is available here . You can edit and create your own content if you want to assist.
2 January 2010	Exactly a year on, David McAllister found another Ray's Bream Brama brama at Dornoch. See his post and picture on the HBRG Forum (link on left).
1 January 2010	Best wishes for 2010 to all our members and visitors to our website. It is not easy to do much recording with the land under a foot of snow, but when it melts, please remember the Species of the Month. While clearing some of the snow a few days ago, in -10C, I was serenaded by a Yellowhammer, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming in the trees nearby!
15 December 2009	Some spectacular behaviour by larval flies is described here (.pdf file, 160 kB). Although it was observed to the south of our area, who can be sure they do not also occur in Highland? Something to remember for next summer.
8 December 2009	A bit of pre-Xmas bad news is the first proof of breeding of the Harlequin ladybird in Scotland. Please be aware of this pest, which can easily be spread in garden materials and with other human assistance. The BBC report is here, and more information is at the Harlequin Ladybird site. Please report it if you find it.
7 December 2009	Martin Hind has reported a Blackcap coming to a bird table near Inverness. Once a strict summer visitor, it is not unusual to see wintering birds now, and they are frequent at nut baskets and fat-balls. Bramblings are more typically winter birds, and many are in the local Beeches. They look like rather orange-tinged Chaffinches with a white rump, and are also happy to attend bird tables.
1 December 2009	A new Species of the Month is very appropriate for the festive season. If you see any Holly over the winter, look for leaf mines and let us know the details. See the impressive results for our first target during November here.
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