Aberdeen City Council Countryside Ranger Service

🦋 Today, Ranger Jack was carrying out some invasive species control work at Scotstown Moor Local Nature Reserve. Just as he was finishing up for the day, he spotted a flash of orange fluttering through the grassland – the unmistakable colour of the small pearl-bordered fritillary (Boloria selene).

🌳 These small yet striking butterflies are typically found in damp grasslands, wet meadows, and woodland clearings. Their caterpillars feed exclusively on violets, while the adults source nectar from plants such as ragged robin, thistles, and bugle.

🔎 Scotstown Moor is currently the only site in Aberdeen that is known to support a confirmed colony of small pearl-bordered fritillaries, although there have also been sightings of this species on Kincorth Hill and the Kings Link Golf Course. Regardless of where they are spotted, it’s fantastic to see these insects in Aberdeen as they are considered a high conservation priority by Butterfly Conservation.

🌸 Each year, the Countryside Rangers work to restore and maintain the wetland at Scotstown Moor, helping to keep the conditions damp and suitable for a wide range of species. This management work also benefits these fritillaries by creating the open conditions their foodplants need to thrive.

😊 Have you ever spotted a small pearl-bordered fritillary in Aberdeen? Let us know in the comments section below.

⭐ Volunteers Needed ⭐

Come and join the Countryside Rangers next Thursday (18th June) for some tree planting and bracken bashing on Elrick Hill! 🌿

📍 Meet at the Brimmond Hill North Carpark for 10:00am.

🎟️ Spaces for these events are limited, so please remember to reserve a spot by visiting the link below:

Practical Volunteering Day - Tree Planting and Bracken Bashing! Join the Countryside Rangers for a day of tree planting and bracken bashing on the beautiful Elrick Hill.

🦇🦋 There are 9 places left on our Wild Night Out at the Den of Maidencraig LNR event this coming Friday 🦋🦇

⏱️ Friday 12th June, 21:30pm - 00:00am ⏱️

🌕 The UK is home to around 2500 different species of moth, many of which call Aberdeen home. Along with moths, our night skies are patrolled by several different bat species. Join the Countryside Rangers after dark for an exclusive look into this overlooked nocturnal world.

Our activities will focus on:

🐛 Moth trapping: Over the course of the evening, we will set up sugar and light traps to attract moths, which we will identify and release unharmed.

📻 Bat detection: We will also undertake a short guided walk along the Denburn, using specialised detectors to listen to the clicks and calls of hunting bats.

🎫 Please remember to reserve a spot by visiting the link below:

A Wild Night Out at Den of Maidencraig Local Nature Reserve Join the Countryside Rangers and learn about moths, bats, and other amazing wildlife that we can only see at night!

When you are out and about, take note of the wildlife around you. Birds are still in song. Today, Ranger Rob was in Dyce and took note of Blackbird, Chaffinch, Wren, Dunnock, Jackdaws, Rooks, and a Grey Heron which had landed on a dead tree over the River Don to enjoy a freshly caught fish.

Flowers such as Knapweed are still in flower, along with Red Campions, Germander Speedwell, Lesser Stitchwort, Wild Carrot and Common Comfrey.

Look out for brightly coloured beetles, Buff tailed bumble bees, Red tailed and White tailed bumblebees can be seen visiting the many flowers and blossoms.

Look out for leaf mines on the leaves of many trees. These are caused by the larval stages of moths, beetles and sawflies. These animals create winding trails and blotches within the leaves.

Now is truly a good time to be out and about enjoying some of the very best of wildlife.

🚮 Yesterday, Rangers Jack and Rob were joined by 8 volunteers at the Donmouth Local Nature Reserve to carry out a litter pick as part of World Ocean's Day.

🗑️ In total, the group managed to remove 18 bags of litter, several large flytipped pieces of plastic, and also an old barrier from the north and south shore of the estuary. The majority of this waste consisted of small pieces of plastic, fishing line, and polystyrene.

🌟 A huge thank you goes out to the 8 volunteers who joined us yesterday. We really do appreciate all of your hard work that goes into keeping our greenspaces clean and healthy.

🦇🦋 There are still plenty of spaces left on our Wild Night Out at the Den of Maidencraig LNR event 🦋🦇

⏱️ Friday 12th June, 21:30pm - 00:00am ⏱️

🌕 The UK is home to around 2500 different species of moth, many of which call Aberdeen home. Along with moths, our night skies are patrolled by several different bat species. Join the Countryside Rangers after dark for an exclusive look into this overlooked nocturnal world.

Our activities will focus on:

🐛 Moth trapping: Over the course of the evening, we will set up sugar and light traps to attract moths, which we will identify and release unharmed.

📻 Bat detection: We will also undertake a short guided walk along the Denburn, using specialised detectors to listen to the clicks and calls of hunting bats.

🎫 Please remember to reserve a spot by visiting the link below:

A Wild Night Out at Den of Maidencraig Local Nature Reserve Join the Countryside Rangers and learn about moths, bats, and other amazing wildlife that we can only see at night!

🌸 Last Friday, Ranger Jack was joined by members of the 46th Aberdeen Boys' Brigade, Kincorth for a volunteering session on Kincorth Hill (The Gramps). Working together as a team, the boys cut back sections of gorse that had begun to encroach on newly established heathland.

🪺 The boys carefully trimmed the outer edges of the gorse, taking care to avoid any areas where nesting birds might be present. The weather was on our side throughout the evening and we rounded off the session with a chat about future volunteering opportunities.

🌳 Well done to everyone who gave up their Friday evening to support the upkeep of The Gramps. It’s a fantastic nature site and by all doing our part we can help ensure it remains a valuable space for both wildlife and the people who enjoy the hill.

🚮 Litter Pick at the Donmouth LNR - Monday 8th June 🚮

🌾 Join the Countryside Rangers for World Ocean's Day for a rewarding morning of litter picking at the Donmouth Local Nature Reserve.

🗑️ Help protect the Donmouth estuary by picking up litter and keeping the area clean for both wildlife and visitors

✨ For more information on how to sign up, click the link below:

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World Ocean's Day - Beach Litter Pick at the Donmouth Local Nature Reserve Join Aberdeen City Council's Countryside Ranger Service on World Ocean's Day for a community litter pick at the Donmouth LNR.

🌍🎉 Celebrating Volunteers’ Week 🎉🌍

🌱 This week marks Volunteers’ Week and we’d like to take a moment to recognise and thank the incredible people who generously give their time to support our Countryside Rangers. Their dedication and enthusiasm go above and beyond, helping to protect, preserve, and enhance Aberdeen’s amazing natural greenspaces.

So far in 2026:
✨ 186 volunteers have joined us in our conservation work
⏳ 490 hours of commitment and volunteer work contributed
🗑️ 40 bags of litter collected to keep our greenspaces clean and thriving

😊 The passion and effort shown by our volunteers has made a real and lasting impact, not only on the environment, but on the communities who enjoy these spaces.

🌟 Thank you for everything you do. You are at the heart of our mission to create a biodiverse, best value, and socially inclusive future for all 💚

⭐ Volunteers Needed ⭐

Come and join Rangers Jack and Lydia on Elrick Hill this Wednesday and Thursday for a spot of Bracken Bashing! 🌿

Meet at the Brimmond Hill North Carpark for 10:00am.

🎟️ There are two sessions available. Spaces for these events are limited, so please remember to reserve a spot by visiting the links below:

🐸 Wednesday 3rd June:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/practical-volunteering-day-bracken-bashing-tickets-1988324116958?aff=oddtdtcreator

🐸 Thursday 4th June:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/practical-volunteering-day-bracken-bashing-tickets-1988324746842?aff=oddtdtcreator