Christopher Blakey

This Yellow-tail larvae made me stop in my tracks last week. The angry glowing red, the deep contrasting black, the excessive hair... just amazing. #micromoth #moth #teammoth #ukwildlife 🦋🌼🌱🐛

Yes, it's a little beauty!

I was very happy to find one of my favourite micro moths - Eulia ministrana (Brassy Tortrix) - resting on an Elder flower this morning. What a stunner! #micromoth #moth #teammoth #ukwildlife 🦋🌼🌱

Only 4 moths in my garden trap this week, but 2 were very good to see. Puss Moth was a long-awaited first (although no records in my 10km grid square for 40 years). Oak Hook-tip still has less than 60 records in Durham, but seems to be establishing itself well #ukwildlife #teammoth #insect #moth 🦋🌳

Sandy Carpet is nice to get– only ever had one in the garden

Devon Carpet continues its northward expansion. I caught Durham's 4th this week over 20km from the nearest record (mine from last year)! Cream Wave was another highlight (only my second) and I always enjoy seeing the elaborate antenna of Incurvaria masculella #teammoth #ukwildife #insect #moth 🦋

Thanks Tony!

The lovely micro moth Esperia sulphurella, seen at dawn on an oak tree. I found double-figures of these shiny wonders around some wood piles in a local #durham nature reserve this week. #ukwildlife #teammoth #insect #moth 🦋☀️🌳

One of many Orange-tip I found patrolling the glades in a local wood over the weekend. A common butterfly around me in #Durham, but always a joy to see in the early- morning light. #ukwildlife #butterfly #nature 🦋

Plenty of shiny Green Longhorn moth (Adela reaumurella) out yesterday, including these males sharing a gorse flower. #ukwildlife #teammoth #insect #moth #wildlife 🌼🦋

Green Hairstreak on bilberry from the Durhan dales today- the moor was teaming with them! #ukwildlife #butterfly #insect 🦋

Green Hairstreak on bilberry from the Dales today- the moor was teaming with them! #ukwildlife #butterfly #insect 🦋

Yes, it could get cramped in there!

I've been monitoring this beautiful Willow Tit nest since I first heard them digging out an old Elder cavity in early April. The female is currently sitting on an enormous clutch of 11 eggs! @btobirds.bsky.social #ukwildlife #nest #ukbirds #nrs 🪶🥚

Still relatively few moths flying in #Durham, but the species are starting to change. Nice to see some Prominents and a Purple Thorn at my light- also found a Herald earlier in the day. #ukwildlife #wildlife #teammoth 🦋🐛

Very pleased to have a Long-eared Owl nest on my patch again this year! I went to check this morning and found the female sitting tight. I'll be monitoring this (cautiously) for @btobirds.bsky.social NRS. #ukwildlife #UKBirding

Yes should be... very odd!

@davegrundy.bsky.social 4 seems to work for me, though I think that's the limit. Could be an issue with file size?

Tried out a new site in #Durham this week full of damp birch woodland. 6 Scarce prominent was a record for me! #teammoth #ukwildlife #moths #insects

Lunar Marbled Brown isn't common in VC66, but it can be numerous where it occurs. We had 30+ whilst trapping at an ancient woodland site on the edge of the #Durham dales this week, along with 5 Scarce Prominent, Pale Pinion, and other good things. #teammoth #ukwildlife #moths #insects

Always appreciate you sharing posts Dave

Great to see Ring Ouzel back on breeding territory in the #Durham Dales. We found at least 6 individuals interacting at one spot today! #ukwildlife #ukbirding @btobirds.bsky.social

Some brilliantly shiny Eriocraniidae from the #surrey hills this week. #teammoth #ukwildlife #insect #wildlife

27 moths of 11 species in a garden overnight in West Sussex. I was particularly pleased to get my first Lunar Marbled Brown– not easy to get where I normally trap in County Durham! Nice also to get 3 Streamers, and a Frosted Green. #teammoth #ukwildlife

A fantastic morning out in #sussex and #surrey today– I was very pleased to find a pair of Lesser-spotted Woodpecker in the same wood as last year. Goshawk and singing Woodlark were best of the rest. #ukbirding #ukwildlife @sussexwildlife.bsky.social

You never know! I've only ever had 1 in the garden trap (Framwellgate Moor).

I left my trap at a local ancient woodland in #durham for a few hours last night. I've had good numbers of Yellow Horned here the past few years, and was glad to see that continuing this year. #teammoth #ukwildlife

Thanks Mike!

A beautiful Jack Snipe I found today– normally these take lots of patience, but it was the first thing I saw when I started scanning with my binoculars! I’d found birds here in previous years, so knew it was worth checking– they can be very faithful to particular spots. #UKBirding #ukwildlife #birds

A beautiful Jack Snipe I found today– normally these take lots of patience, but it was the first thing I saw when I started scanning with my binoculars! I’d found birds here in previous years, so knew it was worth checking– they can be very faithful to particular spots. #UKBirding #ujwildlife

Engrailed was the most numerous moth in my trap this morning. I had a look at my records over the past few years trapping in this local ancient woodland in #Durham (VC66), and I’ve got more records of Engrailed than any other species. #teammoth #moths #ukwildlife

Nice record!

I had my first last night too

Acleris hastiana was the best of a slightly disappointing turnout at a local nature reserve in #Durham last night– not a common moth in the county. I don’t get many dark-form Pale-brindled Beauty, so it was nice to see such a fresh example. Also found vapourer moth eggs nearby! #teammoth #ukwildlife

Sure, thanks Daryll!

A snowy day out west in #durham yesterday- nice to see crossbills in pairs despite the cold #ukbirding #ornithology

Thanks Dave, nice to see you on here! Always like seeing your posts from Spain

Hi Arto, yes it's an LED setup I built. Runs off a usb power bank. It really helps get deep into habitat! 3 sp. is better than my garden so far this year despite trying last week- I have 0!

My first mothing of 2024- a good trip to local ancient woodland producing 51 moths/10 sp. Nice to get a few Spring Ushers - a favourite of the early geometrids. The Engrailed was the earliest for #durham by some 15 days. Bring on the test of year's trapping! #ukwildlife #teammoth #moth

My first moths of the year were these amazing Heralds. I went to a tunnel where I found them last year, and counted 58- the largest roost count for the county, beating the 43 I counted here last winter! Amazing that they withstand the temperature- felt much colder than 0 #ukwildlife #teammoth #moth