Outer Hebrides Biological Recording
Outer Hebrides Biological Recording
News and Events
The report for 2024 offfers a more concise summary of the records collected during 2024, with the emphasis on the diversity of our recording activities rather than a detailed statistical analysis. The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy recognises the importance of the high quality data provided by amateur biological recorders required for nature restoration projects and monitoring climate change. It is easy to focus on the data and overlook the importance of engaging with nature for both our individual and community well-being and the future of our natural environment.
Recording and monitoring the biodiversity of our islands has never been more important, and each year the new records added to the database contribute to our knowledge about the distribution and diversity of the animals, plants and fungi which are part of our natural environment. We are continuing to add new species to the lists of wildlife recorded in the islands, and adding new dots on the distribution maps for even some of the most common species.
The reports on biological recording in the Outer Hebrides in 2017 to 2024 can be viewed and downloaded from the Publications section.
The species lists have been updated to include records submitted during 2024 are now available on the OHBR website.
Once again we have added a number of new species to the list including some not recorded for over 30 years. You can discover more in our report for 2024 Discovering our Natural Heritage - Biological Recording in 2024.
We have decided to run this survey again as it was affected by the poor summer weather in 2024. It is easy to participate, both species are day active and you won’t need a moth trap to catch them. In addition the caterpillars of the cinnabar and the pupal cocoon of the six-spot burnet are easy to identify and conspicuous.
We have produced a survey guide which has some identification hints as the two species both have a bold black and red colouration that, whilst making them easy to separate them from most other moths, can be quite confusing if all you get is a brief glimpse of one. You can discover more about the project and how to participate on the OHBR Cinnabar and Six-spot Burnet Survey 2025 page.
This project was popular in 2024 and produced some interesting results. There are still gaps in thedistribution maps, so we will run the survey for another year.
Searching for caterpillars is a very accessible way of recording moths and butterflies and we have chosen four target species of moths with very distinctive hairy caterpillars.
You can discover more about the project and how to participate on the Hairy Caterpillars 2025 page.
To make it really easy we've produced a simple guide containing photographs and descriptions of four target species, distribution maps and a calendar to show when they are most abundant.
Is it Spring yet? Probably not, but you can help us track the arrival of Spring through the islands by telling us when you first see or hear any of our 9 target species - 3 wild flowers, 3 birds and 3 insects. The arrival of spring in the Outer Hebrides is always unpredictable so it is important to measure the variation from year to year so that we can begin to understand the effect of climate change on our wildlife. It is designed to be fun and easy, so join us and help make a difference.
You can discover more about the project and how to participate on the Hebridean Spring Project pages.
To make it really easy we've produced a leaflet and an on-line recording form
We were invited by the Better Biodiversity Data to contribute to an exhibition in the Scottish Parliament in September 2024, to highlight the important role of amateur biological recorders in providing the data which is essential for conservation our biodiversity, restoring habitats and monitoring the effects of climate change.
The large, national citizen science projects are well publicised, so we chose to showcase an example of the work of experienced and skilled amateur recorders who study under-recorded species and make a significant contribution to science and conservation. There is a long tradition of this type of project in the annals of natural history, and in an age of bioblitzes and citizen science, there is a risk that their work can be overlooked by the wider biological recording community. The Outer Hebrides Desmid Survey is a good example of this type of project where a dedicated amateur naturalist has made a major contribution to our knowledge of the freshwater algae of our islands and described three species new to science.
You can view the presentation via this link.