Oak Snakefly (Phaeostigma notata) was unexpected bycatch whilst moth trapping in Long Melford (Suffolk) last night (only my second). A Glow-worm larva that walked onto the sheet was another nice addition to the evening. Mothwise, 52 species in one trap was an improvement. #mothtrapintruders

It was nice to see this larval web of Small Eggar moth yesterday in Long Melford, Suffolk. I hope to take some better photos of the larvae as they get larger. Web is on Blackthorn. #mothsmatter

Another case of Coleophora kuehnella (Cloaked Case-bearer) found on oak today. This one was at Foxearth in Essex. Amazing constructions. #mothsmatter

Two nice longhorn beetles from yesterday. Both recorded at Long Melford in Suffolk: Anaglyptus mysticus (Rufous-shouldered Longhorn Beetle) and the much larger Stenocorus meridianus (Variable Longhorn Beetle). #UKBeetles

A few week 20 micro moths: 1. Platyptilia gonodactyla (Triangle Plume) 2. Epiblema sticticana (Colt's-foot Root-borer) 3. Coleophora kuehnella (Cloaked Case-bearer) 4. Agonopterix liturosa (Purple-shaded Brown) Quite a productive week despite some poor weather. See +ALT text. #mothsmatter

An excellent afternoon at Old Hall Marshes RSPB reserve produced AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, TEMMINCK'S STINT and PECTORAL SANDPIPER, plus Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, up to 16 Whimbrel, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 14 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Brent Geese and 3 Yellow Wagtails. 😀 #Essexbirding

Photos of four recent micro moths: 1. Eriocrania sangii (Purple Spring Jewel) 2. Coleophora hemerobiella (Black-spot Case-bearer) 3. Coleophora solitariella (Southern Stitchwort Case-bearer) 4. Coleophora ibipennella (Oak Pistol Case-bearer) Nice daytime records. See +ALT for details. #mothsmatter

I try to avoid negative posts on Bluesky (there's so much negative stuff elsewhere), but I couldn't ignore this. How on earth can contractors be trashing (coppicing) a local ancient woodland SSSI in the middle of the bird nesting season? Apparently Natural England were unaware and did not approve it

Read our latest blog about how the Connecting Constable & Gainsborough Country project is uncovering the rich wildlife of south Suffolk, using bioacoustics to map species across 17,700 hectares https://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/news/bioacoustic-research-reveals-bat-strongholds-southern-suffolk

A selection of moths from over the last few days. All from Long Melford in Suffolk. 1. Lackey. Larvae on Blackthorn 2. Cochylichroa atricapitana (Black-fronted Straw) 3. Prays ruficeps (Cryptic Ash Bud Moth) 4. Dyseriocrania subpurpurella (Common Spring Jewel). Leaf mine on oak #mothsmatter

Having failed to find this species last year, I was very pleased to find Coleophora discordella (Lotus Case-bearer) at Long Melford in Suffolk today. Two larval cases seen, plus feeding windows of a third individual on Bird's-foot-trefoil. #mothsmatter

One of the highlights from last night's moth trapping was this excellent BOMBARDIER BEETLE (Brachinus crepitans), famous for its ability to 'explode' noxious gases at potential predators. #longmelford #suffolk #UKBeetles

Four more micro moths from the last few days. 1. Coleophora serratella (Common Case-bearer) on Alder. 2. Coleophora badiipennella (Small Elm Case-bearer) on elm. 3. Eriocrania species. Leaf mine on Silver Birch. 4. Coleophora paripennella (Bronze Case-bearer) on Common Knapweed. #mothsmatter

EMPEROR MOTH. A nice addition to my Long Melford (Suffolk) parish list with three males attracted to the EMP pheromone lure today. #mothsmatter

Three micro moths from the last couple of days in Long Melford, Suffolk: 1. Esperia sulphurella (Sulphur Bark Moth). 2. Eriocrania sangii (Purple Spring Jewel). Leaf mine on Silver Birch. 3. Coleophora lusciniaepennella (Willow Case-bearer) on sallow. #mothsmatter

Coleophora binderella (Alder Case-bearer). Larva and cases of three individuals found around Long Melford in Suffolk over the last couple of days. All were on Hazel (despite the common name the larvae feed on Hazel, Hornbeam and Birch as well as Alder). Nice to find. #teammoth

A fine display of BLUEBELLS in West Suffolk today. #wildflowerhour

Dyseriocrania subpurpurella (Common Spring Jewel). A common moth species - although I don't seem to get many to light. Most of my records are of its leaf mines on oak. This one was trapped in Long Melford, Suffolk (14/04/26). #mothsmatter

A good afternoon at Abberton Reservoir with 2CY BONAPARTE'S GULL, 2 ARCTIC TERNS, probably 50+ YELLOW WAGTAILS, 7 SPOONBILLS, 40 SAND MARTINS and a COMMON SANDPIPER amongst the highlights. #essexbirding

Nice to get the first 3 SEDGE WARBLERS of the year along the River Stour at Long Melford this morning. Nearby, 8 HOUSE MARTINS, 5 SWALLOWS and a single SAND MARTIN over adjacent fields and 2 CETTI'S WARBLERS heard singing. #suffolkbirding

I believe this fly is Chetostoma curvinerve (Honeysuckle Picturing), but I am hoping @flygirlnhm.bsky.social might be kind enough to confirm it for me. If so, it appears to be just the second record for Suffolk (and the first for VC26). Seen today in Long Melford.

Cramp-ball Fungus Weevil (Platyrhinus resinosus). I found five of these stunning weevils today in Long Melford, Suffolk. As their common name suggests, they feed on Cramp-ball fungus.

Two SWALLOWS seen around the Foxearth Meadows Nature Reserve in Essex this afternoon. My first of this year. #essexbirding

Andrena vaga (Grey-backed Mining Bee). Foxearth, Essex. Previously thought to be extinct in the UK, this species is believed to have recolonised southern (and south-east) England in recent years. Probably 30+ individuals seen.

SMALL EGGAR from Shimpling in Suffolk last night. The first time I've seen an adult of this attractive species. #mothsmatter

I found this nice little fungus on several dead Hazel stems in old coppice at Long Melford. I believe it's Encoelia furfuracea (Spring Hazelcup) which appears to be rather scarce in West Suffolk. Hope my identification is correct.

Two moth highlights from earlier this week in Long Melford, Suffolk: DOTTED CHESTNUT and LEAD-COLOURED DRAB. Thursday (5th) was very productive with 119 moths of 15 species in two and a half hours of trapping on the edge of an ancient wood. #mothsmatter

The harvestman Rilaena triangularis. Found in woodland leaf litter, Long Melford, Suffolk.

It was nice to have some sunshine and warmth today (instead of rain!). The weather tempted out 10 BRIMSTONES, 3 COMMAS and a PEACOCK butterfly at Long Melford in Suffolk; all my first sightings this year.

It was interesting to be able to see these old solitary bee breeding chamber cells in a block of split wood. There were three 'tunnels' that had been used. Would have been nice to know which species was involved. #longmelford #suffolk

My Long Melford local patch produced 598 LINNETS (in flocks of 400, 125 and 73), 93 CHAFFINCHES, 118 FIELDFARES, a flyover SISKIN, singing CHIFFCHAFF, 46 PIED WAGTAILS and 3 GREY WAGTAILS during this morning's walk. #suffolkbirding

Three common millipedes found in Long Melford woodland this week. Millipedes are a new group for me so I'm starting with the 'easy' ones. 🙂 1. Cylindroiulus punctatus (Blunt-tailed Snake Millipede) 2. Glomeris marginata (Pill Millipede) 3. Tachypodoiulus niger (White-legged Snake Millipede) #suffolk

A total of 51 bird species recorded on my first Long Melford (Suffolk) and Liston (Essex) local patch walk of February. Highlights included 135 CHAFFINCHES, 130 LINNETS, 330 LAPWINGS, a singing CHIFFCHAFF, 145 COMMON GULLS, 35 MEADOW PIPITS, 2 SISKINS and a WOODCOCK. #suffolkbirding #essexbirding

A good local patch walk along the River Stour at Long Melford (Suffolk) and Liston (Essex) this morning produced a male PINTAIL (very good for here), a pair of WIGEON, male GADWALL, 210 LAPWINGS, a pair of STONECHATS, 3 CHIFFCHAFFS, MARSH TIT, 2 WOODCOCK and 44 LINNETS. #suffolkbirding #essexbirding

A group of five queen HORNETS found hibernating under loose bark on a fallen tree at Long Melford, Suffolk today. Hope this doesn't mean my moth trap will be full of them later in the year. 😲

Fallow Deer at Shimpling, Suffolk. A small part of a herd that recently numbered 114+ animals. From the local Landscape Recovery project: 'the highest risk to the success of habitat enhancement and creation in the long-term, is the lack of deer management.' I'd never have guessed! 🦌🦌🦌.......

Six species of moth found in Long Melford (Suffolk) woodland this evening - all by torchlight. Totals were: Early Moth - 5 Spring Usher - 1 Mottled Umber - 2 Satellite - 5 Chestnut - 7 Winter Moth - 18 Interestingly, 4 of the Satellites and 3 Chestnuts were feeding on overripe rosehips. #mothsmatter

The floodwaters along the River Stour between Long Melford (Suffolk) and Liston (Essex) produced several interesting bird sightings this morning, including a GREAT WHITE EGRET, 3 Shoveler, 28 Teal, 4 Gadwall, 57 Lapwings, a Little Grebe and 25 Pied Wagtails, plus a flyover Siskin.

My first Long Melford (Suffolk) outing of 2026 produced counts of 110 Yellowhammers, 80 Chaffinches, 90 Linnets (in flocks of 60 and 30 birds), a Stonechat, 2 Ravens and (just outside of the parish boundary) a singing male Crossbill. #suffolkbirding

The RED-NECKED GREBE showed nicely at Ardleigh Reservoir, near Colchester, Essex this afternoon. #essexbirding

A very enjoyable (but cold) visit to Abberton Reservoir in Essex today provided sightings of male LESSER SCAUP, 15 SCAUP, 3 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE, 15+ WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, BLACK-NECKED GREBE, 2 SMEW, 3 BEWICK'S SWANS, 3 LITTLE STINTS, 2 RED-CRESTED POCHARDS and a RAVEN. #essexbirding

The highlight of my Long Melford (Suffolk) farmland bird counts today was a flock of 210 Yellowhammers feeding on the edge of a clover ley field. 🙂 Also, 40 Linnets, 18 Chaffinches, 3 Reed Buntings, Stonechat and a Raven.

The highlight of my Christmas Day Long Melford local patch walk was a group of five CHIFFCHAFFS seen feeding together in a sheltered sunny corner at the sewage works. #suffolk

Porcellio spinicornis (Painted Woodlouse). Found amongst a pallet of bricks. Long Melford, Suffolk. An attractive woodlouse with a contrasting dark head and yellow spots down the back.

Searching a small dung heap in Long Melford (Suffolk) today produced my first self-found #pseudoscorpions (well, one). I believe this is Pselaphochernes scorpioides, but would certainly welcome the opinion of others.

FALSE LADYBIRD (Endomychus coccineus). One of two found by torchlight last night whilst out searching for moths. Large numbers of Winter moths were seen (246), plus singles of Satellite, Chestnut and a late Brick. #longmelford #suffolk

Having recently purchased the @fieldstudiesc.bsky.social AIDGAP key to woodlice, I managed to find and identify six species today. As well as the four in the photos (see ALT text), there were Common Striped Woodlouse (Philoscia muscorum) and Porcellionides pruinosus. #isopoda

Hibernating HARLEQUIN LADYBIRDS (Harmonia axyridis) at Long Melford in Suffolk. This cluster really shows off the amazing variety of colours and patterns (and size) shown by this species.

Suffolk: male GREEN-WINGED TEAL still on The Slough at Lackford Lakes SWT Reserve mid afternoon. #suffolkbirding

Still three species of butterfly on the wing at Long Melford in Suffolk this morning: Red Admiral, Peacock and what was probably my latest ever Clouded Yellow.