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.

A PLUMED PROMINENT from last night in West Suffolk - one of three trapped in a new 10km square. 😀 #mothsmatter

I spent two hours moth trapping in private woodland at Long Melford in Suffolk this evening. A total of 107 moths of seven species. The amazing thing is that 86 of the moths were the Nationally Scarce PLUMED PROMINENT. I've never trapped anything like that number before. #mothsmatter

My first local patch walk of November produced a total of 46 birds species with the highlight being a male Stonechat. Also, Nuthatch, Siskin, Grey Wagtail, 20+ Sky Larks and a Red Kite. #longmelford #suffolkbirding

Photos of five micro moths from local recording over the last week. I do like the first one. 1. Stigmella catharticella on Purging Buckthorn. 2. Diurnea lipsiella. 3. Phyllonorycter klemannella and Caloptilia elongella on Alder. 4. Stigmella basiguttella on oak. #mothsmatter

Suffolk: 1st winter BROWN SHRIKE still present at Upper Hollesley Common at 12.25. #suffolkbirding

Some photos from this week's micro moth recording. 1. Diplodoma laichartingella (Yellow-headed Bagworm). 2. Ectoedemia atricollis (Barred Fruit-tree Dot). 3. Stigmella regiella (Purple-shot Dot). 4. Ectoedemia occultella (Large Birch Dot). #suffolk #mothsmatter

Still quite good numbers of moths present locally (especially on Ivy blossom). Three highlights from this week were Tawny Pinion, a fairly late Clifden Nonpariel and Autumnal Rustic. #longmelford #suffolk #mothsmatter

An hour and a half spent searching Ivy blossom in Long Melford (Suffolk) last night produced a total of 104 moths of 20 species, including Clancy's Rustic, Pink-barred Sallow, Rusty-dot Pearl, L-album Wainscot (2), Dark Chestnut (3), Black Rustic (2) and Brick (23). Very enjoyable. #mothsmatter

Moth trapping on the edge of ancient woodland in Long Melford, Suffolk last night produced 19 species, including Pale Pinion (2), Clancy's Rustic, a migrant Pearly Underwing and a Green-brindled Crescent. Several species were only found on Ivy blossom. #mothsmatter

One of two STONECHATS at Long Melford this afternoon. Having increased over recent years, these are just about annual here now. #suffolkbirding

Two leaf mines of Stephensia brunnichella (Basil Blotch-miner) on Wild Basil. An excellent find during a Suffolk Moth Group visit to Great Waldingfield yesterday. #mothsmatter

Four more leaf mines from this last week. 1. Stigmella hybnerella (Shining Hawthorn Dot). 2. Phyllonorycter comparella (Poplar Leaf-miner). 3. Phyllonorycter pastorella (Royal Leaf-miner). 4. Stigmella malella (Apple Dot). Finding leaf mines is quite satisfying. 🙂 #mothsmatter

Essex: ARCTIC WARBLER still present at Great Wigborough, near Abberton Reservoir at 18.30. In hedge along public footpath just south-east of the church. TL968155. Parking at the church is limited.

It was good to see two SWIFTS over Long Melford this morning (having not seen any for over a week). My first September sighting here since 2020. #suffolk

A few micro moths from the last few days: 1. Chrysoesthia drurella (Fiery Miner) on Fat Hen. 2. Chrysoesthia sexguttella (Orange-spotted Miner) on Fat Hen. 3. Fig-leaf Skeletoniser (Choreutis nemorana) on Fig. 4. Stigmella hybnerella (Shining Hawthorn Dot) on Hawthorn. #suffolk #mothsmatter

This juvenile MANDARIN was an interesting sighting at Long Melford (Suffolk) today. Assume they must have bred somewhere locally this year. #suffolkbirding

Phyllocnistis extrematrix larval mines found today on Black Poplar at Long Melford in Suffolk. Thanks to Neil Sherman (CMR) for confirming. #mothsmatter

It's been nice to record some inland migrant moth activity over four evenings this week with totals of Vestal (2), Bordered Straw (2) and Dark Sword-grass (10). Also, another 19 Marbled Clovers and a Four-spotted. Amazing! 😀 #suffolk #mothsmatter @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

MARBLED CLOVER. I caught 5 last night - a long way from their Breckland stronghold. That's now 7 from three locations on two farms over the last month, all by fields managed under Countryside Stewardship. I hope they've colonised. #longmelford #suffolk #mothsmatter

A few more photos of the juvenile BLACK STORK at Boyton, Suffolk which continued to show well again yesterday. #RareBirdsUK #suffolkbirding

A few leaf mines from around Long Melford in Suffolk this week. Quite a diversity. Caloptilia fidella (Hop Stilt) on Hop. Fomoria septembrella (Hypericum Dot) on St John's-wort. Stigmella incognitella (Grey Apple Dot) on Crab Apple. Phyllocnistis xenia (Kent Maze-miner) on White Poplar. #mothsmatter

The juvenile BLACK STORK was showing well at Boyton, Suffolk again today. #RareBirdsUK #suffolkbirding

A rather nice larva of POPLAR GREY moth. Found today on Aspen. #longmelford #suffolk #mothsmatter

Moth trapping with Stuart Read on an organic field margin in Long Melford, Suffolk last night produced c.120 species, the highlights of which were a worn FOUR-SPOTTED (the 3rd I've seen in a week) and 2 MARBLED CLOVERS. I'm now wondering if both are trying to colonise the area.... #mothsmatter

Moth trapping on a friend's recently created meadow in North Essex last night produced 107 species, including several very nice ones: Four-spotted (my 2nd this week), Oncocera semirubella, Ruddy Carpet, and Dasycera oliviella. #mothsmatter

FOUR-SPOTTED moth. Definitely the highlight of the 80 species recorded last night. Was trapped on the edge of a GS6 (species-rich grassland) field in what would appear suitable habitat. Very happy with that. #suffolk #mothsmatter

It's a shame this WHITE-LETTER HAIRSTREAK was past its best today as it was very confiding - and still great to see. #longmelford #suffolk

Three local leaf mines from the last week: Bohemannia pulverosella (Speckled Apple Dot) on Crab Apple. Stigmella tiliae (Lime Dot) on Small-leaved Lime. Stigmella malella (Apple Dot) on apple. Mines certainly appear to be getting more numerous now. 🙂 #suffolk #mothsmatter

Arhopalus rusticus (Dusky Longhorn Beetle). Five of these large (25mm) and impressive longhorn beetles were attracted to my moth trap last night. The literature says that they were formerly a Scottish species that has spread south using conifer plantations. #longmelford #suffolk #mothtrapintruders

Forked Catchfly (Silene dichotoma), a scarce 'casual' seen in an organic clover ley in West Suffolk today, together with Corncockle (Agrostemma githago) and Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus). 🌸 #wildflowerhour

Some very nice species seen whilst moth trapping at Long Melford last night. Some of my favourites from 111 species included Eyed Hawkmoth (📷), Peach Blossom, Large Emerald, Orange Moth, Lackey, Festoon, Scorched Wing, Blackneck, Scarce Silver-lines, Drinker and Evergestis limbata. #mothsmatter

Another moth 'pot shot'. This is Commophila aeneana (Orange Beauty). Found in an organic field margin at Long Melford in Suffolk yesterday. A new species for me and a really attractive moth. It's larvae feed in the roots of ragwort. #mothsmatter

VESTAL found in a grassy field margin at Long Melford in Suffolk today. #mothsmatter @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

PUSS MOTH larvae. Eight individuals of different growth stages found on (white) poplar saplings today. Very impressive caterpillars. #longmelford #suffolk #mothsmatter

Excellent moth trapping with Stuart Read in Long Melford, Suffolk last night - despite the thunderstorm! Highlights from 125+ species included 5 Red-necked Footman, Four-spotted Footman, Lunar Yellow Underwing, 12+ Lackey, 3 Festoon, 2 Adela croesella and Eidophasia messingiella. #mothsmatter

Great to see my first (2) local NORFOLK (or Green-eyed) HAWKERS today at the Foxearth Meadows Nature Reserve in Essex. They have been seen here for the last few years (mostly singles) and it seems very likely that they have now established themselves. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Very nice to see two species of snakefly in a day yesterday - I've only seen three before. Phaeostigma notata (Oak Snakelfly) and Xanthostigma xanthostigma (Small Snakefly) found during an excellent Suffolk Moth Group visit to one of my local farm recording sites. The moths were great too!

Apple Ermine (Yponomeuta malinellus). Larval webs found at three local sites this weekend; one on Crab Apple and two on domestic apples. #longmelford #suffolk #mothsmatter

Three species of ermine (Yponomeuta) moths from this week. The larval webs are fairly easy to find and record. 1. Spindle Ermine (Y. cagnagella) on Spindle. 2. Orchard Ermine (Y. padella) on Blackthorn. 3. Willow Ermine (Y. rorrella) on willow. #longmelford #suffolk #mothsmatter

Female Red-footed Falcon still hawking insects around Hide Bay, Abberton Reservoir at 15.30. Also Black Tern and 2 Hobby. #essexbirding

Four local micro moth larvae from the last couple of days. Tortrix viridana (Green Oak Tortrix) - oak Coleophora serratella (Common Case-bearer) - Hazel Coleophora hemerobiella (Black-spot Case-bearer) - apple Erioncranid species (probably E. semipurpurella)- Silver Birch #mothsmatter

The larval case of the moth Coleophora kuehnella (Cloaked Case-bearer). Found this morning whilst doing a farmland bird survey in Long Melford, Suffolk. Amazing! #mothsmatter

A few micro moths from Long Melford, Suffolk this morning. 1. Coleophora conspicuella (Knapweed Case-bearer) on Common Knapweed. 2. Coleophora gryphipennella (Rose Case-bearer) on wild rose species. 3. Aspilapteryx tringipennella (Ribwort Stilt) on Ribwort Plantain. #mothsmatter

Shepherd's-needle (Scandix pecten-veneris). Long Melford, Suffolk. An impressive display - perhaps 120m long and up to 10m wide - of this Critically Endangered arable plant. #wildflowerhour

Highlights from my Long Melford local patch walk this morning included 5 Sedge Warblers, 4 Reed Warblers, Cuckoo, 4 Swallows (still very few here), 2 Cetti's Warblers, Gadwall, Marsh Tit and Little Egret. Plus 2 Nightingales heard last night whilst out moth trapping. #birdingsuffolk

BROWN-TAIL moth caterpillars. I found about 20 webs of these on a small Hawthorn hedge in Long Melford, Suffolk this morning. Their webs and irritating hairs seem to do a good job of protecting them from predation. #mothsmatter

Bluebells seen on my farmland bird survey this morning. An impressive sight. #longmelford #suffolk