A nice find as bycatch to our moth traps on the Essex coast on Friday with @wjrpb.bsky.social and @jonnywhu.bsky.social I’m no spider expert but this stood out as different and it’s looking good for Phaeocedus braccatus, a spider of sparsely vegetated coastal areas. Only the 2nd county record.

Happy bunny! Just found Coleophora albitarsella at baggeridge. Case on underside of Ground I've. Could see the pale feeding window so.looked underneath, bingo 😊 looks like 1 other record in staffs, Dovedale 1950! #teammoth @vc39moths.bsky.social

Another good find from Roman River Valley NR yesterday was a new moth for me - Proutia betulina (Birch Bagworm). #teammoth

Some superb Purple Toothwort (Lathraea clandestina) and Moschatel (Adoxa moschatellina) at Roman River Valley NR today in Essex. The rust Puccinia adoxae on one of the Moschatel too. A huge stand of Red Currant (Ribes rubrum) should host some interesting moth larvae before long. #wildflowerhour

Not many nights that have been suitable for trapping here in Essex over the last week or 2, but better conditions Monday night so gave it a go. Really pleased to get my first Caloptilia falconipennella (Dark Alder Stilt). Garden list now 646 in 3 years #teammoth

Popped across the border into Suffolk this morning to see a lovely patch of Green Hellebore (Helleborus viridis) near to Haverhill. Just one flower; but what a flower! Also, a bonus Engrailed (Ectropis crepuscularia) resting on a nearby trunk.

A few good nights recently at the garden actinic here in Essex. Mostly the expected early Spring fare but pleased to get my first lifer of the year - Acleris umbrana (Dark-streaked Tortrix) with 2 on 22nd. #teammoth

Brief sunshine yesterday so over to the chalk stream section of the Flitch Way via some very muddy woods. Two-spot Ladybird, a Mayfly nymph (prob Cloeon dipterum), the 1st time I’ve seen a Stonefly nymph (I have had adults of Nemoura cinerea here) and a lovely Spider - Platnickina tincta.

3 new moths for the year on Saturday night. Always pleased to get an Early Moth, and this was a nice fresh one. A fairly early March Moth and a Chestnut took my nascent year list to 11 species so far with 9 of those in the garden. #teammoth

2 nights of trapping in much more mild conditions here in W Essex with 2 species each night. They are the 4 I’d expect in January but welcomed them like old friends all the same. #teammoth

2025 review: an enjoyable year’s recording with 128 new moths for me. Other than a fruitful few days in the New Forest I mostly stayed local, or slightly further afield (Norfolk and Kent). These though, were the highlight macros from my Essex garden #teammoth

The Coleophora sp. larval cases I found on sea purselane by the Humber Estuary last October turned out to be C. salinella! Only recorded in Yorkshire for the first time in August last year (I suspect it's been there a while though). #TeamMoth #YorkshireMoths @doublekidney.bsky.social

F*ck me! #TeamMoth

I gendetted the 2nd Jersey Mocha for Essex last year (caught by @jonnywhu.bsky.social), and such has been their increase this year in the county (I know of at least 5 others) I now have caught one myself last night in the garden (in fact, likely 2!). Also some fresh autumn favourites. #teammoth

A lifer for me in the garden the night before last with a very unexpected Heath Rustic. Must be a migrant of sorts because I am a fair distance from any heathland. #teammoth

One of the best things about moth trapping in your garden is the bycatch. Last night I had a real surprise when this small ladybird appeared. I didn’t recognise it but it’s seemingly Oenopia conglobata which has only been recorded a handful of times in Britain and not previously in Essex. 🐞

Back from my French holiday and delighted that the Cisticola (+family!) was still on site at Walberswick. Went over early this morning with my eldest and we both had good views (but too far for my photography skills). Also a nice selection of seaside plants - Sea Pea being a new one for me.

Wax on, Wax off 🥋 (Closest I could get them to sit next to each other! Both caught in my garden earlier this week).

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Some excellent mothing in the New Forest over the weekend with @wjrpb.bsky.social . The scarcest micros were found while sweeping the boggy areas and all lifers for me. IDs in Alt text. 1/2

This cranefly arrived on the side of the trap last night. Ctenophora ornata. It had obviously been in wars as two legs are missing. Stunning looking creature all the same. New Forest garden moth trap. #diptera.

Some quality garden additions over the last few days taking me to 605 in 2 years and about 3 months. Both Ethmia dodecea and Eudemis porphyrana very scarce in Essex with less than 12 records of each. #teammoth

Last night I went to Colchester with @dcousins85.bsky.social on the Essex Moth trip. We saw the Strawberry Moon rising over Colchester from the meadow. Highlights for me, the Sloe Pug and uncommon Eidophasia messingiella (Bitter-cress Smudge). #TeamMoth.

Some cracking Coleophora from the Brecks last week with @wjrpb.bsky.social Coleophora pennella, a Vipers Bugloss feeder and Coleophora albicosta, a gorse feeder. #teammoth

Festoon, Alder Kitten, Marbled Coronet and Wood Carpet from the Brecks on Thursday night... @wjrpb.bsky.social @dcousins85.bsky.social #TeamMoth

17/05. A field trip with Essex Field Club & @dcousins85.bsky.social. Turned into a Coleophora day. I think 9 types recorded, two as aggs. #TeamMoth.

A bug-filled day on Sunday in a sandy Breckland field with 12 species noted across about 50m of ground. Plenty new for me and lots associated with the plentiful Stork’s-bill on site. Pics of the more notable species with IDs in Alt text.With @wjrpb.bsky.social 1/2

A visit to a Kent wood with @dcousins85.bsky.social last night for Promfest. Several nice moths that we don’t see at all or infrequently in our gardens seen. #TeamMoth.

Annual survey by Essex Moth Group for Sloe Carpet last night produced 7, the temperature dropped from 10pm and it got very chilly near the Blackwater. #TeamMoth.

Some nice beetles from Saturday night’s moth trapping with @wjrpb.bsky.social at Bayfordbury Pinetum. A brilliant site that I’m looking forward to visiting again.

Trapping Hatfield Forest last night for NT. 4 people, 10 traps. Mostly the usual woodland moths. The larval signs and Pammene spotted by the eagle-eyed David. #TeamMoth

Found by dcosins85.bsky.social, this rather nice Coleophora argentula, Yarrow Case-bearer, on a dead Yarrow head near Icklingham , Suffolk yesterday afternoon. #TeamMoth.

Dcousins85.bsky.social and davidnorgate.bsky.social have put on the best so here are a few also rans from last night’s excellent outing.

A superb afternoon and evening in the Brecks yesterday. Thanks to @wjrpb.bsky.social for helping me to locate 2 of the rare Veronica. Breckland Speedwell seen but not in flower but Fingered Speedwell a nice way to bring up 3000 for my panlist.

Had a lovely walk yesterday afternoon with my boys and took our new pond-dipping kit to the chalk stream along the Flirch Way. Netted loads of Freshwater Shrimp which the boys were fascinated by (as was I!) Some nice fungi too - Scarlet Elfcups, Warlock’s Butter and Alder Goblet.

Finally some moths last night in VC19. 2 x Dotted Border, 3 x Pale Brindled Beauty, March Moth, 4 x T. alternella & A ferrugana/notana. #teammoth

Shieldbug year list up to 3 with both a Parent Bug and a Birch Shieldbug found while sieving leaf litter. Haven’t caught anything at all mothy for 2 weeks now but did find a larva mooching about the patio next to the trap. I think it’s a Straw Underwing (but I find caterpillars difficult!)

Popped out yesterday for a walk in the woods and added my first shieldbug of 2025 - a not green Green Shieldbug. Also a new spider for me - Drapetisca socialis sitting low down on a Hornbeam trunk. A sweep of Pendulous Sedge was pretty fruitless but I did coax a Cymus glandicolor into the net.

Another excellent morning #essexbirding - Great Grey Shrike, male Hen Harrier and a Merlin at Copt Hall, all from car park, then on to Abberton where we caught up with the Canvasback for the 1st time this year from L. Breton. Spoonbill in Hide Bay, and another Merlin hunting Linnet near to Birch.

Brilliant day in Cornwall today with @roncousins.bsky.social Both of us groaned when the report came through that it was up and flying about at 9, as we were still 1/2 hour away. As we got to Crowlas we saw a load of birders in the lay-by getting excited and we pulled in quick… What a bird.

Garden year list up to 5 (all macros) thanks to a milder night on Tuesday here in Essex. I thought Mottled Umber may have to wait until the autumn but pleased to catch a late flyer. Pale Brindled Beauty normally a mid January moth for me and this year no exception. Subtly beautiful #teammoth

Abberton today with @roncousins.bsky.social - drake Lesser Scaup, drake Smew and 4 Greater Scaup from Lodge Lane but couldnt dig out the Ring-necked or Canvasback. Slav and Blacknecks from LDLH. #essexbirding

I was very surprised to find this Grey Shoulder-knot flying around my kitchen yesterday morning! It must have come in on one of the warmer nights before this cold snap and had been hiding for a few days before we disturbed it. Moth year list up to 2 after a New Year’s Day Winter Moth. #teammoth

I started 2024 on exactly 2000 species for my pan-species list, mostly made up of birds, leps and a few obvious plants and inverts that you couldn’t fail to miss. I finish the year on 2950, far exceeding what I thought was possible in just a year!

This week I have spent 7 hours looking at these alders and 5 hours looking at this oak. Still no luck with the Scops but I did finally catch up with the Yellow Warbler today. Showing well on and off but usually keeping to the back of the alders. A bit of sunshine the difference maker today I think 😮‍💨

Today I dipped. And then I dipped again. I’ve had a few multiple tick days but I think that’s my first ever multiple dip day 😖

I wasn’t sure about trapping on Sunday as Bert tore through. Lodged the trap in a corner though and caught my first Scarce Umber of the year (and probably my last year tick) #teammoth Also a couple of new pan records, both to light - Lindbergina aurovittata and Palloptera scutellata.

Just completed a gen det on this moth, one of a pair at my garden moth trap in North Essex, in late June. Endothenia ustulana, Bugle Marble, a scarce (or under-recorded) inhabitant of damp woodland and waste ground. Just the one previous record for Essex, in 1905. #TeamMoth, #MothsMatter

Finally caught up with Plumed Prominent last night just over the border in Suffolk with @wjrpb.bsky.social, @roncousins.bsky.social and Neil Murphy. It wasn’t looking good with none at all in before 6.50, and then 4 males all descended at once! Fantastic moths with ludicrous antennae. #teammoth

Spent Sunday morning with @wjrpb.bsky.social at Waterford Heath near Hertford. Some superb pine bashing was fruitful for Ladybirds and my first Juniper Shieldbug.