Andy Amphlett (Acting)
6108 records were collected in 2021, of 530 taxa. Records were from 135 tetrads (252 monads). 89% of the records were collected by Anne Burgess who continued to target monads with few or no previous records. 68% of records were new taxon × monad records. 5 new species were recorded and 6 species were recorded for the first time post 1999. 158 records of RPR taxa were made.
1st vc94 record. Rapid expansion of this species’ range post 1999 in Scotland (and Ireland). (Anne Burgess and Hazel Milne).
1st vc94 record. Bird seed alien in garden. 5th Scottish record. (David Law).
1st vc94 record. A single flowering / fruiting plant at Dufftown Golf Course. Probably a grass seed alien. This is the first record for Scotland, and the first GB record since 1998. (John Milne and Ian McDonald).
On rock outcrop on coastal slope. 1st vc94 record since 1905. (Peter Mackie, det. Brian Burrow)
Beside track at windfarm. 1st vc94 record since 1912. (Anne Burgess and Hazel Milne).
On roadside bank. 1st vc94 record since 1971. (Ian Green).
In north Scotland this is almost exclusively a coastal species, typically found in the upper saltmarsh zone, or in areas within the reach of salt spray. It is most unusual to find it in a non-saline habitat (small damp clearing at the edge of woodland), albeit one within 2-300m of the shore. The location is under threat from a proposed housing development. (Andy Amphlett).
25 flowering spikes, plus 8 old spikes from previous year(s). In grass field layer under Betula pubescens (Downy Birch) beside River Avon. The 2nd post 1999 record for vc94, and by far the largest population recorded in the vc. (Pete Moore and Hilary Swift).
Several rosettes and two flowering stems beside the River Avon near Tomintoul. The plants were growing amongst rocks at the margin of a channel excavated in September 2019 to reduce erosion to farmland on the opposite bank, by opening up an old river channel to accommodate peak flows. The plants were probably growing from rhizomes in situ, or that had been moved by the channel engineering works. 4th post 1999 location for vc94. (Pete Moore and Hilary Swift).