RARE species of moths have been discovered at Ellisland Farm,
A midsummer event at Robert Burns’s historic farmstead near Dumfries has revealed it is a haven for nature – with rare moths, kingfishers and even a bat roost delighting visitors.
They came to light during the recreation of riverside walks created during Burns’s tenancy in 1788, and focusing on the area’s flora and fauna.
Moth traps set by naturalist Malcolm Haddow, from the South West Scotland Environmental Information Centre, caught 82 species and 500 individual moths. The tally included several rare and nationally significant finds, such as Bluebell Shade (Eana incanana); Small Marbled (Eublemma parva); July Belle (Scotopteryx luridata); and Broom-tip (Chesias rufata).
Malcolm called it “one of the best moth trapping sessions” this year and hopes to return in future.
Kingfishers were also seen by the River Nith along with bat activity. A Soprano Pipistrelle bat roost was recorded in one of the historic buildings, with 95 bats observed emerging at dusk.
Ben Hobman of Nithlife led the walks and delivered a talk on the aquatic richness of The Nith and its tributaries.
Joan McAlpine, from the Robert Burns Ellisland Trust, said: “Ellisland has always inspired creativity – and now it’s inspiring conservation. We’re thrilled to work with Nithlife and experts to share this with the wider public.
“We will be feeding this information to the design team who are working on plans to restore the site – to ensure we protect its wonderful ecology.”
