Headed up to Burton Mere & Parkgate yesterday, using the train for the first bit. Some decent birds including Little Gull & Spotted Redshanks but the best sightings were the two showy Water Voles. #UKBirding #Lowcarbonbirding

Managed a ride up to Rixton Moss today where at least 25 Corn Buntings were seen! Most I've seen in Cheshire for years and a brilliant addition to the bike yearlist! A few of them were singing too. #UKBirding #LowCarbonBirding

My longest ride of the year so far up to Speke Hall. Managed to see the Grackle (whatever list it ends up on, it's on my bike list!). Also managed to add Rock Pipit, Yellow-legged Gull and Peregrine, taking my green list to 93. #LowCarbonBirding #UKBirding

Had a ride up to Woolston Eyes today adding some good birds to my green birding yearlist. Grey Partridge, RN Parakeet & Marsh Harrier the best of these. Also managed Tree Sparrows, Yellowhammers, 4+ Bullfinches & an Oystercatcher. #LowCarbonBirding #UKBirding

Managed a last minute addition to my #BirdingByBike list today with 4 White-fronted Geese at Mabury CP. Scaup & Little Gull were nice records here too. #LowCarbonBirding #UKBirding

Didn't manage to add any birds to my #BirdingByBike yearlist today although I did pass last year's total distance cycled of 3100 miles! A few Pink-footed Geese, Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, 4 Skylarks and c10 Fieldfares were the highlights. #UKBirding #LowCarbonBirding

A cycle to Sandbach & Marbury yesterday didn't add anything to my #BirdingByBike list but did bring up 3000 miles cycled for the year! Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Pink-footed Geese & Kingfisher were the highlights. #Lowcarbonbirding #UKBirding

Had a ride around the farmland towards Whitley Reed yesterday. A bit of a cold one but still managed a Brambling, 5+ Tree Sparrows, 2 Yellowhammers, c80 Pink-footed Geese and c200 Fieldfares. #LowCarbonBirding #UKBirding

@mothiduk.bsky.social Struggling a bit with this one so would value your opinion. It wouldn't keep still to be photographed properly and was even more worn after spending a bit of time in the fridge! Thanks as ever for your help.

The harrier that came in off the sea at New Brighton, Cheshire today. Managed a few shots (that weren't too bad considering the weather!) before it disappeared quickly inland. #UKBirding

Back out on the bike today after a bit of a break. Not much but a couple of juvenile Black-necked Grebes were at Woolston while the ride also had a few Goldcrests, Grey Wagtail & a sparrowhawk. Also helped improve fitness levels ready for the Autumn rush of birds! #UKBirding #BirdingByBike

@mothiduk.bsky.social I know there are a few very similar species, but is this Argyresthia semifusca? Thanks for any help as ever.

@mothiduk.bsky.social Could this be an Ocherous Pug? Never seen one before if it is! Thanks.

Caught this weird looking Brimstone Moth last week. Never come across one like it before. #Teammoth

@mothiduk.bsky.social A couple of moths from today which I think are Clouded Brindle & Large Twin-spot Carpet. Both scarce in our area so could do with a second opinion! Thanks.

@mothiduk.bsky.social Still struggle with pugs but I'm going with Wormwood? Really helps having confirmation (or not!) in the learning process. Thanks as ever.

@mothiduk.bsky.social A couple of micros from today. I'm going with Pyrausta purpuralis and Phycita roborella. Thanks for any help as always.

Managed to cycle over to Daresbury today to add the Woodchat Shrike to my #BirdingByBike year list. The best bird on it and a great way to bring up the 150! #LowCarbonBriding #UKBirding

@mothiduk.bsky.social A couple of micros from today's trap. I'm going with Hedya nubiferana and Ancylis achatana. Thanks as usual for your help.

@mothiduk.bsky.social A few I was stuck on from last weekend. Not sure about the pug or micros, but do you think the other is Vine's Rustic? We've never had one here in the spring so it would be good to confirm. Thanks as ever for your help.

@mothiduk.bsky.social A few moths from today. I think these are Broken-barred Carpet & Ingrailed Clay. Not sure about the micro though. Any help much appreciated as usual.

@mothiduk.bsky.social Do you think this is Hedya pruniana? Caught yesterday.

A great start to the weekend yesterday with a quick ride over to Newchurch Common after work. The Hoopoe eventually showed well, feeding & singing from the tree-tops! Don't remember ever hearing one singing in the UK before. Probably my best bike tick of the year so far. #LowCarbonBirding #UKBirding

Had a ride up to Woolston Eyes today where at least 18 Black-necked Grebes showed well on No4 Bed. Also managed to add Hobby, Whimbrel & Wood Sandpiper to the bike year list #LowCarbonBirding #UKBirding

@mothiduk.bsky.social Two pugs I'm struggling with from today. Photos not that good either- my camera always struggles when they rest on the wall at the back of the trap. Any help greatly appreciated as ever.

A 30 mile circuit today around Delamere Forest & Abbott's Moss. No sign of yesterday's Wood Warbler but Pied Flycatcher & Redstart were good additions to the #BirdingByBike yearlist (even though they didn't show for long) Now up to 141 for the year. #LowCarbonBirding #UKBirding

A 60 mile ride over to Burton Mere Wetlands today. Added some tricky birds to my #BirdingByBike yearlist including Little Owl, Spotted Redshank, Grasshopper Warbler & Cattle Egret. Also my 1st Sedge Warbler & Whitethroat of the year. Currently at home having a sit down! #LowCarbonBirding #UKBirding

Bit of a slog in the wind today but still clocked up 37 miles with a ride over to Frodsham. Highlights were the 8+ Water Pipits (some in full summer plumage). Also added LRP & Wheatear to my #BirdingByBike year list. #UKBirding #LowCarbonBirding

Rode up to Woolston Eyes today but it was pretty quiet. Most of the highlights came from my half way stopping point at Whitley Reed. Managed to add Mandarin to my #BirdingByBike year list here as well as enjoying good views of Tree Sparrows, Nuthatch & Yellowhammers. #LowCarbonBirding #UKBirding

@mothiduk.bsky.social Could this be a Lead-coloured Drab? It was smaller than the Clouded I caught today and was more grey than the photo shows. Couldn't see the antennae though!

Best trap of the year so far at Marbury CP, Cheshire. Highlights included Oak & Brindled Beauties, Pine Beauty, Engrailed & Early Thorn. #teammoth

Only a short ride today, down to Marbury but it was enough to find my earliest ever singing Blackcap & a nice 1stW Little Gull. Reed Buntings by the hide were looking pretty good too. #LowCarbonBirding #UKBirding

Only a short ride today down to Marbury but it was enough to add Mediterranean Gull to my #BirdingByBike year list. Takes the total to 115 now- just ready for the migrants next! #UKBirding

Clocked up 38 miles on the bike today but did manage to add some good birds to my #BirdingByBike yearlist. Best of these were Ring-necked Parakeet at Dunham and Willow Tit at Woolston Eyes. A nice Brambling here too. #LowCarbonBirding #UKBirding

Had a trip up to Hoylake yesterday and managed to see the Black Scoter which was a decent Cheshire lifer. Too far to photograph but gave good scope views. Picked up a Wheatear nearby too which was my personal earliest, beating my previous early record from 1990! #UKBirding

Finally got round to twitching the Cley Church window while in Norfolk this week! Can't believe it was 2008 that the real White-crowned Sparrow was there! #UKBirding

10 years since the Laughing Gull at New Brighton! Not seen one since so it would be very nice to get another some time soon! (preferably in Cheshire!) #UKBirding

Was over to see my parents in Barnsley this weekend and managed a detour to Swillington on the way back. Always a good day when you see a Firecrest! The Slavonian Grebe wasn't bad either. #UkBirding

Clocked up 76 miles this weekend with rides over to Oglet & Frodsham. My #BirdingByBike list is now up to 110 which isn't bad going. Best birds added included Kumlien's Gull, Shorelark, Short-eared Owl, Ruddy Shelduck, Scaup, Rock Pipit & Whooper Swan. #LowcarbonBirding

Finally got started on my #BirdingByBike year list today. A nip round the fields near home, ending at Marbury CP. Some good year ticks including Grey Partridge, Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow, Peregrine, Kingfisher & Bittern. Flipping cold though! #LowCarbonBirding

Marbury CP at dusk today: a male Goosander dropped in while around 6K Starlings came in to roost. No sign of the Bittern however. #UKBirding

Managed a couple of visits to Marbury on the bike today. Some nice sightings including at least 3 Hawfinches, Kingfisher, 8 Goldeneyes & a Common Scoter. #UKBirding #BirdingByBike

Bit of a slog over to Frodsham in the cold wind today, but I managed to add Hawfinch & Grey Plover to my #BirdingByBike list for the year (pity I dipped the WF Goose!). That brings up the 150 which will be a nice target to aim for next year! #LowCarbonBirding #UKBirding

Sea watching off New Brighton in pretty challenging conditions this afternoon. Not much to show for the effort, the highlights being single Little Gull, Kittiwake, 2 great Crested Grebes, 18 Common Scoters & a Shelduck as well as some pretty impressive waves! #UKBirding

A very obliging Robin by the hide at Marbury today. Much easier to photograph than the 4 Hawfinches present! #UKBirding

@mrbedford.bsky.social Here is the new account I've set up to post about the wildlife (mostly birds) we see in our school grounds. This site feels like a much nicer place to do that! #UKBirding

Around 10k Starlings came in to roost at Marbury today frantically trying to avoid the two Sparrowhawks present! Also 2 Kingfishers, a Goldeneye & 2 goosanders. #UKBirding

Spent some time in the hide at Marbury CP over the wet and windy weekend. A couple of showy Jays certainly brightened things up a bit though! Always great birds to see. #UKBirding

Bike fixed so decided to head up to Woolston again today. Not the best views by the time I arrived, but still managed to add the Penduline Tit to my #BirdingbyBike year list. Definitely the best of the 145 species on it! #UKBirding #LowCarbonBirding

Patience paid off when the Penduline Tit finally showed itself at Woolston Eyes this afternoon. It was calling and showing well although never stayed still for long (hence the poor photos!). Still, a long overdue UK tick for me and good to see it in Cheshire too. #UKBirding