Translate

On 12th September 2023, Chairperson Dr Ernie Hunter welcomed a large attendance of 50 people to our first Cooktown Wildlife meeting of the new season held, in Desertcreat W.I. Hall.  The speakers for the evening were Ric Else and Hazel Watson whose talk was on “Rathlin Island’s special species from seabirds to ladybirds and butterflies to butterworts”.

Self-confessed “nature nerds” they came to the Island in 2017 with the objective of recording as many species of plants and animals as they possibly could. To date they have recorded over 1400 species of plants and animals.  These include many rarities. The Golden Hare is a rare genetic variant of the Irish Hare which inhabits the island.  They have pale blonde fur and bright blue eyes. First recorded in 1970, the golden hare is a rather elusive creature and difficult to find. In 2019 six were spotted, but this year only one has so far been seen.

 Ric Else and Hazel Watson whose talk was on “Rathlin Island’s special species from seabirds to ladybirds and butterflies to butterworts”

Rathlin is the only site in all of Ireland were the Lempke’s Gold Spot Moth lives. Other Moth rarities  found are the Dotted Carpet Moth which lives on lichen covered trees, the Chestnut Coloured Carpet moth and Caryocolum Vicinella, a sea cliff and coastal species .The Island is also the home to the 24-spotted Ladybird. This very small velvety ladybird differs from many  other ladybirds in not being an eater of aphids when an adult. It feeds on the abundance of Sea Campion. The Grayling Butterfly is widespread, loving the bare rocky cliffs of Rathlin. The Green Hairstreak and the Holly Blue Butterflies can also be seen.

Read more: Rathlin Island's Special Species: From Seabirds to Ladybirds and Butterflies to Butterworts