Largely disappointing results to MV trap so far this year eg only 36 of 17 spp on 8.5.26 (close to being outnumbered by Maybugs). Good to see first hawk moths and my favourite twig moth 😊

Finished on a high at over 900m on Ben Lomond (2/2)

And now for some quality pics courtesy of Neil Bell from Stob a’Choin; Bartramia halleriana, Plagiopus oederianus, Herbertus hutchinsiae & Racomitrium ellipticum

Mustn’t leave my TG6 at home next time. Flora’s Daltonia possibly the find of the week and a new VC record. Cynodontium jenneri was a nice find on Ben Ledi, Aneura mirabilis more exciting than it looks and I’ve never seen so much Blindia acuta. @bbsbryology.bsky.social

The brilliant Trossachs meeting organisers Philippa and Gordon @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Just back from Trossachs bryology meeting. From Flanders Moss to the heights of Ben Lomond there was something for everyone. An historic meeting too; we transferred from British Bryological Society (BBS) to the British and Irish Bryological Society (BIBS) on the 21st April. @bbsbryology.bsky.social

Yes - like when local MP had a meeting to talk about improving flood defences when attending this national emergency briefing should have the priority for that day - it’s all here, eloquently communicated by experts, no agenda except desire for a healthy planet www.nebriefing.org

Great Glos bryology group meeting last Sunday at the Hudnalls NR on challenging slippery slopes above the Wye. Over 100spp - thanks to Sharon for the report www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk/event/glouce... and an awful lot of the ids! @pilkyplant.bsky.social @bbsbryology.bsky.social

#RecordOfTheWeek today is the Springtail Pogonognathellus longicornis, seen in Abernant by Mark Evans. This is the largest Springtail species in the UK, reaching a massive 6mm 😁 Many thanks to Mark for the record and great photo, submitted via www.sewbrecord.org.uk

Journeying home from a fantastic @bbsbryology.bsky.social meeting this weekend - interesting to visit Thorne Moors, an area ravaged by industrial peat extraction which ceased in early 2000s. Conservation management in the region now focused on rewilding and restoring precious peatlands.

Euonymus europaeus - end of October 2024 #Wildflowerhour #fruits

Eared Leafhopper - Ledra aurita, unusual visitor to MV trap on 23Aug25 (but see not alone [email protected]) amongst numerous hornets & wasps, large numbers of regular species. Also 6 Dark Sword-grass & 11 Centre-barred Sallow #teammoth #hemiptera

Tree-planting is always good, right? Well, it turns out that a tree planted in the wrong place can actually have a negative impact on the climate. That’s why a research team with scientists from The Nature Conservancy developed maps to help with strategic reforestation for maximum benefit!

Late but… The day-flying Forester moth (Adscita statices) on Salad Burnet (Poterium sanguisorba) at end of May, in Gloucestershire #wildflowerhour #PollinatorPals

@wildflowerhour.bsky.social we also found this forest of Adder’s Tongue Fern at #bythesea Kenfig dunes

@wildflowerhour.bsky.social. Eryngium maritimum has to be one of the most photogenic plants #wildflowerhour #bythesea

The earliest I’ve had the mighty Clifden Nonpareil, Catocala fraxini, to my MV trap here in North Monmouthshire, VC35. Always a thrill.. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @hewittkvnvc35.bsky.social @gmtord.bsky.social #moths

Great few days at the BSBI Wales Annual Summer meeting in Denbighshire this week / cawsom dri diwrnod gwych yng nghyfarfod haf blynyddol BSBI Cymru yn sir Ddinbych.

Just returned on a high from the annual Wales meeting, exhibition & AGM in VC50 based at Rhyd-y-creuau. Fantastic organisation by Denbeighshire recorder. Delyth Williams. Fabulous sites, plants & people (in no particular order 😉). diolch yn fawr iawn i bawb @bsbibotany.bsky.social

We also moth trapped in Co Clare end of June/beginning of July. Nothing extraordinary but then all moths are beautiful #moths Both Dew Moth (Setina irrorella) & White-spotted Sable Moth (Anania funebris) were glimpsed on The Burren #Irishmoths Too early for the Burren Green maybe..

Although a bryology meeting to Co Clare, it was impossible not to take in the very special higher plant flora @bsbibotany.bsky.social including Potentilla fruticosa (Shrubby Cinquefoil), Dryas octopetala (Mountain Avens), Epipactis atrorubens (Dark-red helleborine), & Viola elatior (Fen Violet).

Delightful BIBS meeting in Co Clare with special thanks to Rory & Jo @bbsbryology.bsky.social. Lovely to meet so many Irish members, visit turloughs and the very special Burren #bryophtes

Labour are backtracking on a plan to help save birds: by blocking a new rule that would make developers put a £35 nest brick in every new home. They think it'll help win them votes - we need to show it would do the opposite. Sign the petition 38d.gs/ky2i

Rewarding trap 30th April N. Monmouthshire VC35. 157 of 51spp, 25 ffy. Some highlights; White-pinion Spotted, Alder Kitten, Lobster Moth, Great Prominent, Buttoned Snout, Least Black Arches, White Ermine, Orange Footman, The Coronet & Pauper Pug (FW11mm)?#teammoth

Fantastic Freiburg. Huge thanks to @milueth.bsky.social & Philippa @bbsbryology.bsky.social for wonderful week of bryologising. From the banks of the Rhine to the heights of Feldberg.So many highlights..

Back home in North Monmouthshire (VC35), first good trap results this year on a mild cloudy night (22Mar25). 84 of 19spp to MV. Lots of ffy including Yellow-horned and White-marked.

We also ran a Robinson moth trap at Nell Bank (VC64) and were pleased with 17spp over the 6 nights including Pine Beauty, Engrailed, Brindled Pug, Dotted Border, Early Thorn, Early Grey and Dark Chestnut

Stunning Blue Moor-grass - Sesleria caerulea in full bloom on the calcareous grassland throughout the week at BBS Wharfdale spring meeting.

Day 5 BBS spring meeting Wharfdale. Exploring Pickles Gill. Lots of finds here, including fruiting Palustriella commutata & rotting log smothered with Tritomaria exsectiformis

Day 4 BBS spring meeting Wharfdale. R. Wharfe, Ilkley. Silted branch with forest of Bryoerythrophyllum recurvirostrum (which caused initial head scratching). Candidates for Orthotrichum rivulare subjected to microscopic examination revealed their identity as O. sprucei with larger mid leaf cells.

Day 3 BBS spring meeting Wharfdale Dobpark Wood Ptilidium pulcherrimum espied by Peter Martin growing on Betula branch. Reported other known site in VC64 has been felled.. @BBSbryology.bsky.social

Day 2 BBS spring meeting Wharfdale. Around Thruscross- successful Schistostega pennata - ‘Goblin gold’ hunting by Claire Halpin. Her updated images will be here www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk/learning/spe... Dichodontium pellucidum in base rich flush, Hyocomium armoricum from acidic stream

Just back from brilliantly run BBS spring meeting in Wharfdale. Plenty of site choices, excellent evening talks & great group of people 😊 Day 1 highlight from Conistone Dib, Rhytidium rugosum debracket.

Wonderful day on ‘The Darens’ 2/3/25 for Glos BBS perfect weather, a list of 165 including Bryum elegans, Blepharostoma (debracket), Tortella fasciculata, Archidium alternifolium, Barbilophozia sudetica, Fissidens celticus and Nogopterium gracile

Nice to see @BBSbryology.bsky.social has joined Blue Sky. Looking forward to Wharfdale after great meetings from Hungary to Islay to Devon last year.

Some retrospective posting…wonderful BBS liverwort week in October led by Nick Hodgetts based at Nature Scot Kinlochewe. Every day special from Atlantic wood beside Loch Marée to the Northern hepatic mat on Beinn Eighe.

23rd October- 50 of 21 species to MV trap north VC35 of which new record of this is Spiny Hook-tip Watsonalla uncinula & 3rd for VC. Diagnostic white above black (although this not as two dashes) and too late for Oak according to Phil Sterling m.youtube.com/watch?v=pr4f...