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Flora and fauna (Scottish Highlands)

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    Fieldfare in a rowan tree.

 Glen Spean, 26/10/92

~ Serendipity in action - I had parked the van long after dark on a random disused loop of the A86 above the Pattack, and woke the next morning to find at roof-window level this fruitful rowan under seige by a flock of fieldfare and redwings, fuelling up for the next leg of their journey south.
    Fieldfare in a rowan tree.

Glen Spean, 26/10/92
    Scotch Argus [Erebia æthiops]

Glen Finnan, 05/08/95

~ The watchful Argus of Greek mythology had 100 eyes, and gave his name to this butterfly. It is common enough, but if you find a   brown butterfly similarly marked but without the white spots in the eye-centres, Butterfly Conservation would like to hear from you, as it could be a Mountain  Ringlet [Erebia epiphron] and they are not at all common. 

I once found Mountain Ringlets by the dozen (between Meall Phubuill and Meall Bhuidhe, at the head of Glen Lyon, 19/07/93), but not knowing then of their rarity I took only a few photos and later donated the only decent slide to Butterfly Conservation.