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It’s taken a couple of years to get Hayrattle established in the front lawn from wild seed - but this year we have well over 150 spikes. Low fertility and freezing the seed has been key. #NoMowMay #wildflowers #restorationecology #Rhinanthus

#LydiaWhite (a former student) and I looked effects of trapping effort on moth species accumulation a few years ago (actinic trap, Cardiff, 4 yrs data). Most species come from 30-50% of the effort - but the curve never stops increasing. *There are ethical dimensions to trap effort* #MothsMatter

Lobster Moth: a first for the garden in 14 years of trapping Stauropus fagi Stauropus (cross-footed - refers to the larval ‘legs’) fagi: feeds on Beech (among other trees in mature woodland) #MothsMatter

The original Snail Mail… #SnailMail

Second Small Mottled Willow of the year in Cardiff #MothsMatter #MigrantMoths

The local opportunist is back…

Rustic Shoulder Knot - surprisingly for such a common moth, the first here in 14 years of trapping. Apamea sordens: the specific name implies grubbiness or dirtiness. Rustic is a bit more polite.

Dactylorchids of various species (and hybrids?) now flowering in Nant Fawr Meadows, Cardiff. These two look like Heath- and Common Spotted, but S Marsh is sometimes in the mix at this site

Just had this from @btobirds.bsky.social: the remains of a 2yr old Oystercatcher ringed in Llanelli in Nov 1990 was recently recovered in the Isle of Man after 35.5 years, so around 37 yrs old. The age record is a 43 year old bird recently found on the east coast www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen...

Packed house for #BeaversAcrossBritain @beavertrust.org conference Day1

Heading north…

Lesser Whitethroat at the reservoir entrance just now (11.38 Monday) philb609.bsky.social

A friendly reminder of where the balloons from fast-food restaurant chains end up.

First May Highflyer of the year. Hydriomena impluviata: slightly obscure references to water and flooding could refer to rain-like streaks on the wings or the moth’s links with wet Alder woodlands. #MothsMatter

Any thoughts on this dragonfly nymph @britishdragonflies.bsky.social?

Pebble Prominent - new for the year. Notodonta ziczac - named from the zig-zaggy caterpillar Notodonta - refers to tooth-like scales on the forewings (best seen side-on) #MothsMatter

Pause for a #cuckoo on the Llyn Brianne circuit today..,

Today was year #46 of our annual invertebrate sampling around the #LlynBrianne Straam Observatory 1981-present. What began as an acid rain project is now one of the world’s longest investigations of global change effects on stream ecosystems www.cardiff.ac.uk/llyn-brianne...

Leo is an election dog veteran… #DogsAtPollingStations

The Pond Olive Mayfly - Cloeon dipterum - hanging on the kitchen window. Probably the world’s most abundant mayfly. Based on eye structure, this is a female. Males have large, brown additional turban-shaped eyes over the compound eye (pic from Wiki Commons)

Nutmeg. Uncommon as a resident in Glamorgan but linked with waste ground in Cardiff, Port Talbot, Neath and Swansea. This was only the 2nd in the garden. #MothsMatter

Swifts! Back over Cardiff’s #RoathPark Lake this morning.

The first Shuttle-shaped Dart of the year: v common but exquisite in pattern Agrotis: from the fields puta: could refer to the purity of the wing markings. An alternative hints at the rotten-wood colour of the wings, and ‘lignosa’ (woody) was an early synonym

My god. What have we done.

Orange Footman from last night here in Cardiff. Eilema: a veil - refers to the wing posture sorocula: the little sister. Smaller than other Footman moths?

Inspired Yoda’s look, the tarsier did. 🌌 This #StarWarsDay, let's remember that even the galaxy’s most iconic figures have roots in Earth’s biodiversity. IPBES#StarWarsDayscience shows nature’s health is the force binding all life together. To ignore the evidence, unwise it is. 🌍✨ #MayThe4thBeWithYou

Toadflax Brocade: the earliest of five caught here in our Cardiff garden since first arriving in 2021. Calophasia - of beautiful appearance lunula - from the crescent moon on the forewing

Dippers with older chicks typically depend on large prey to allow sufficient energy transfer to the nest - but the use of dragonfly nymphs is quite unusual. This bird is carrying one (Cordulagaster?) alongside a large limnephilid caddis. Very neat pic.

First Knot Grass of the year: Acronicta rumicus - after the use of Rumex as a larval food plant. #MothsMatter

Is there a present-day equivalent?

Small Mottled Willow, I think? - but a bit battered and faded. To light in Cyncoed, Cardiff last night @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @daveslade42.bsky.social

V interesting from #EdDrewitt, @robthomasbirds.bsky.social and others on Peregrines provisioning chicks during darkness - typically with Starlings, Feral Pigeons or - mostly - prey from caches. Sometimes also more unusual species as in this image from the paper doi.org/10.1098/rsos...

V cool pic: the prey are Baetis mayflies, neatly arranged in the bill reflecting careful selection. Fledged Dippers transition to independence at this point, demanding more as the adults become reluctant. The independent young learn to forage on similar small prey - see doi.org/10.1006/anbe...

@daveslade42.bsky.social From last night: earliest of the 7 that I’ve had in 14 years’ trapping

Sycamore from last night: the earliest of the seven that I’ve caught over 14 years of trapping. Previous earliest was May 7th and all others were June or July. Acronicta aceris. Acronicta = nightfall. #mothsmatter

Glyphotaelius pellucidus. Only the fourth spp of caddis in the moth trap so far this year.

Least Black Arches - new for the year. Also Tachyostola acroxantha - a non-native of Australian origin.

The first Cockchafer of the year - but still v slow for moths. Melolontha melolontha: from a combination of ‘mêlon’ (=fruit) and ‘óllumi’ (to destroy) - from their reputation as agricultural pests. Controlled naturally by Moles, Badgers, Hedgehogs, ground beetles etc

Not the most typical non-native species in Wales… www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

It's already destroyed a lot of fossil fuel supply, but the Iran War is shaping up to deliver the biggest destruction of fossil fuel demand in history. www.businessgreen.com/news/4528540...

Oak-tree Pug - fairly regular in our Cardiff garden. Eupithecia dodoneata Eupithecia - a goodly dwarf dodoneata - from an ancient Grecian town whose oracle spoke when the wind blew through a grove of sacred oak trees - hence belonging to the oaks. V poetic. #mothsmatter

Improving water quality to bend the curve of freshwater biodiversity loss. Our new review offers 14 steps in 4 themes: Improved monitoring and understanding Regulation & enforcement Pollutant remediation at source and in catchments Addressing systemic drivers cdnsciencepub.com/doi/full/10....

A walk through the vineyards of Champagne today. Organic viticulture on the left, more conventional practice on the right - literally on the same slope and in the next parcel. Which would you support?

Entry-level birding taxonomy : basics; round ones: crappers; swimmers; birds with funny legs; killers. #ornithology #birding #birds #birdwatching #birdidentification (From a book by Matt Kracht)

The first Nut-tree Tussock of the year - and the earliest here in 14 years of trapping. More typical for April. Colocasia coryli: one of the instances where an animal accidentally has the same genus name as a group of plants. “coryli” refers to Hazel - one of the larval food plants #mothsmatter

Moths are definitely getting cool, now they can even help your brain function! Yet more reasons to start recording them @savebutterflies.bsky.social @richardfoxbc.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

First Brindled Beauty of the year in Cardiff. Lycia hirtaria: both genus and species names imply shaggy, hairy, wolf-like appearance. #mothsmatter

A bit busier than usual in the garden pond this morning…

A national survey of breeding waders is underway in #Wales, organised by @natreswales.bsky.social. All records of Curlews and Lapwings in potential breeding habitat are valuable, so please do share your knowledge via @cofnod.org.uk. 📷 Cameron Sharp www.birdnotes.wales/blog/welsh-w...