I'd been mulling on that but for taking a trip or two out to likely sites...
@mothyblackburn
Professor of Invasion Biology at UCL. Amateur father, birder, moth-er. Mainly post wildlife photos, occasionally science and politics. Author of The Jewel Box, winner of the ZSL Clarivate Award for Communicating Zoology.
I'd been mulling on that but for taking a trip or two out to likely sites...
That's a beauty, had me scratching my head.
Some moths to light on the London roof terrace overnight, with 16:5 recorded. No migrants (of course) and mainly Common Quaker, but Tachystola acroxantha was NFY, and there was a lovely frosty Oak Beauty. #TeamMoth
Happy #WorldBookDay. For those who like to dress up for it, here's Daisy Edgar-Jones rocking The Jewel Box look a few years back...
For those of you who have (like me) watched cats batting at moths around your traps, this might be of interest. Or alternatively, not at all unexpected. #TeamMoth
resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Yeah but they come to your trap! π‘
Ps only half a dozen!
No, Middlesex, so Colin. Given the date and previous records, LOU would be unlikely. Good enough for me anyway π«£.
My annual failure to get a decent photo of Orange Underwing, this time on @hampsteadheathcol.bsky.social. In the treetops at about 20 metres range. Possibly enough of a catch to see the orange intrusion through the brown terminal fascia...?! #TeamMoth
hear hear!
Urgh, thatβs a nightmare. Hope all is sorted quickly.
Driving to Abingdon so a transect count of Red Kites up the M40. 58 up to the J7 turn off, a further 20 between there and the church. I still remember seeing my first one on that route 35+ years ago.
Good luck! Hope the moon doesnβt spoil things for you.
The odd leaf mine in this Holm Oak outside Oxford. Presumably lots of heringella in the summer. #TeamMoth
We all do it. Hopefully we learn from our mistakes!
That is what we mean by feathery antennae...
Fruit-feeding is common enough. That looks like a chunky moth!
They were flying last Tuesday in Surrey...
Out again last night, looking for moths with @wjrpb.bsky.social. 176:14 at a relatively early shutdown, including Agonopterix alstromeriana NFY and a well-marked Diurnea fagella. 13 Small Brindled Beauty and 63 March Moth making up the numbers. #TeamMoth
Or write books.
Came to Fun within about 30 seconds at 2 different locations.
Male Lead-coloured Drab moth on a tree. Note the feathery antennae.
The feathery antennae are usually a give away on Lead-coloured, at least the males (which you're more likely to get anyway). So far 99.5% all the Drabs I've caught have been Clouded.
Really enjoyed discussing The Lawton Principles (more, bigger, better and more joined up) with the ever enthusiastic John Lawton. youtu.be/GMlzvNxM2N0?...
Thanks for this Bill - great to see John on such good form.
It is (they are) mine. Doing it to help them survey the biodiversity on site. But fun for me a I only have a small roof terrace.
Overnight trapping at Kentish Town City Farm. 15:6 was better or worse than it could have been, depending on your levels of optimism. 7 Common Quaker, 3 Hebrew Character, 2 T. alternella, and singles of Oak Beauty, DS Pug, and, NFY, this Light Brown Apple Moth. #TeamMoth
Wow, Small Eggar in the garden Mark?!
Yellow Horned in torch light. One of over a hundred, a few nights ago, on a Surrey heath. These moths seem to prefer fluttering along on the leaf litter more than most moths. Once near the trap they often freeze with their wings spread like this. #TeamMoth
Stunning shot Andy!
Copycat...