2024 County Report for East Inverness-shire

Andy Amphlett & Adam Fraser

  • 15,650 new records were added to the DDb. All records have been verified and validated.
  • 81% of these records were collected by the VCR, often accompanied by Liz Amphlett. Other recorders who individually collected more than 1% of the records were: Audrey and Bob Turner, Jim McIntosh, David Elston, Gus Routledge and Ian Green. Combined, these recorders along with the VCR collected 95% of the records in 2024. 150 other recorders contributed smaller numbers of records, many via iRecord & iNaturalist.
  • 819 taxa (at species rank or below) were recorded.
  • 23 taxa (at species rank or below) were new to vc96.
  • 12 taxa (at species rank or below) were recorded for the first time post-1999.
  • Records were collected in 42 hectads, 236 tetrads and 449 monads.
  • 89% of records were collected at 100m precision or better.
  • 1136 records were of vc96 Rare Plant Register taxa (7.3%).
  • 4% of records were new hectad records, 40.9% were new tetrad records and 68.7% were new monad records.
  • 2,058 pre-2020 records were added to the DDb, and additional details (locality name and accurate date) added to 1,605 pre-2000 records.
  • In addition, c. 2,500 records from 2024, entered into iRecord or iNaturalist have yet to be transferred to the relevant DDb workspaces. Of these, almost all those created since June 2024 have been verified within Indicia.

Gymnadenia densiflora (Marsh Fragrant-orchid)

Min. 6 plants on flushed, base rich slope. Species in the general area included Carex dioica, C. hostiana, C. lepidocarpa, Eriophorum latifolium, Parnassia palustris, Schoenus nigricans & Trollius europaeus. ID confirmed by Richard Bateman (referee). First vc record.

Myosotis discolor subsp. dubia (Changing Forget-me-not)

A scarce native in Scotland, but perhaps overlooked. Recorded at 3 locations in damp pasture with Juncus. First vc records.

Allium paradoxum var. normale (Few-flowered Garlic)

With flowers and no bulbils. 1st record for Scotland, ID confirmed by Paul Green. Clump in patch of waste ground between garden and farm buildings.

Cardamine pentaphyllos (Five-leaflet Bitter-cress)

One clump, probably a garden throw out in area of waste ground. 3rd Scottish record. Found by Sue Thomas. ID confirmed by M.J. Crawley.

Hordeum murinum (Wall Barley)

Recorded at 6 locations, the first vc records since 1988.

Lepidium campestre (Field Pepperwort)

The second vc record and the first since 1900.

Parietaria judaica (Pellitory-of-the-Wall)

4 large clumps and 2 small clumps, at base of walls in Nairn. First vc record since 1970. Found by Ian Green.

Polypogon viridis (Water Bent)

Has finally arrived in vc96, but only a single plant. Found by Ian Green.

Vulpia fasciculata (Dune Fescue)

Tens of thousands of plants on dunes at Nairn. A casual,  inland, record in 1971 is the only other vc record. One of only two extant populations in Scotland.

Sorbus croceocarpa (Orange Whitebeam)

Two trees, one old and collapsed, the first vc record since 1971. Possibly the same location as a record from 1909. Det. by Tim Rich.