Still no Whinchat this year! Lovely walk though. love seeing the Pink-footed Geese flying over calling. Also quick glimpse of the Barn Owl, Ravens, Buzzards, flocks of Long-tailed Tits with Chiffchaffs, Stonechat, Great Crested Grebe, Kingfisher, Goldcrests & a Peacock butterfly #ukbirding

8/20 in Marbury VC58 last night. 1 NFY with a Red-line Quaker. Also surprisingly a battered Dark Arches. Not sure if should be flying now but I haven’t had one for ages. Others: Brindled Green, Willow Beauty, SSRustic, SSDart and 11 Lunar Underwings #teammoth

Me in my happy place. Dramatic as it sounds I don’t know what I would do without nature! 😌

Mist over Marbury mere this morning. It’s such a beautiful morning. Listen out for Chips the Raven coming in for breakfast at the end of the video

Despite having thousands of photos of Ravens I just can't help taking more! Also on today's walk Stonechats, Reed Bunting, Kingfishers, Lapwings, Tufted Ducks, Great Crested & Little Grebes, Cetti's. Chiffchaffs, Nuthatch, GSWoodpeckers, LBBGulls and Skein of 500ish Pinkies over #ukbirding

8/21 in Marbury VC58 last night which was a lot more than I expected given the frost! Especially a Riband Wave which seems too delicate for frosty conditions! Highlights 2 Brindled Greens, 2 Sword Grass, Beaded Chestnut and most numerous was Lunar Underwings again (7) #teammoth

It’s a cold one this morning. First frost of the Autumn . Not going to be good for the moths, am expecting a Wogan 😅 but hopefully I will see some interesting Autumn birds!

The sunshine today brought out lots of Butterflies and insects. Never seen so many Red Admirals. Also lots of Commas, and lovely to see a Small Copper. Also lots of Ladybirds. Hornets and Hoverflies

There was an autumn feel to this morning's walk: cold, Pink-footed Geese over and the Swallows and Martins collecting to leave. Was hoping for a Whinchat but no luck but did see a pair of Stonechats. Also GWEgret, Little Grebes, Ravens, Kestrels, Buzzards, Coal Tits, Kingfishers, Mipits #ukbirding

Marbury patch was looking absolutely beautiful, from the top of Wirswall Hill, this morning in the sunshine . You can see why I get so many Oak loving moths in my moth trap as we are lucky to have so many old Oaks in the field boundaries.

Did my moth traps under the carport as it was so wet last night in Marbury (VC58) expected no moths and it was quiet but some lovely Lunar Underwings(19) of all different colours. Also Dark Sword-grass, Yellow-tail, Common Marbled Carpet, Angle Shades, Large YU, Square Spot Rustic #teammoth

First Pink-footed Geese of the Autumn this morning. Hopefully lots more to come!

Interesting trap in Marbury( VC58) today 27/76 Not sure if this is a Pearly Underwing which would be NFG. Also throw backs to summer ( 2 Swallow-tailed, 2 Yellow-tail, 4 Riband Wave) & Autumn (3 Brindled Green,2 Black Rustic,10 Lunar Underwing, Beaded Chestnut, Brown-spot Pinion) #teammoth

It has been suggested that my Spotted Flycatcher might actually be a Pied! I am afraid this blurred photo is the only one I got. It was only a fleeting glimpse. I wonder what other people think? It would be a patch first if it were. #ukbirding

On holiday I enjoy seeing unusual birds, but at heart I love my patch, walking around seeing what I see, and the anticipation of a rare bird. Sometimes it's quiet, but you just never know! Today's walk was nice: Spotted Flycatcher, Mipits, Ravens, GSWoodpecker, 100's of LBBGulls #ukbirding

Excuse my silly voice, don’t know why it is so high pitched 😅, but me and Chips had our most in depth conversation ever today. He both clacked his beak together and croaked at me. I love my Ravens so much! 🥰

Slightly underwhelming trap last night in Marbury VC58 last night given the conditions. 17/60. Still some lovely moths though: Black Rustic, 12 Lunar Underwings, 3 Silver Y’s, Small Blood-vein, Beaded Chestnut, Angle Shades, Pale Mottled Willow, Dark Sword-grass and a late Yellow-tail #teammoth

Really fab walk this morning and dry despite the wet forecast. Highlights: Great White and Little Egrets, 1st Shovelers of the Autumn, Little and Great Crested Grebes, Coal Tit, Goldcrests, LBBGulls, Buzzards, Ravens, Sparrowhawk, Kingfishers, Tufted Ducks, Nuthatch, Chiffchaffs #ukbirding

Really interesting trap this morning in Marbury VC58 16/39. It had an Autumn feel with 3 NFY: Black Rustic, Beaded Chestnut & 2 Brindled Greens. Still some migration though with 2 Scarce Bordered Straws, 2 Silver Y’s & Rush Veneers. Others to note Gold Spot, Angle Shades, Lunar Underwing #teammoth

A very chatty Chips again this morning. He certainly had a lot to say for himself at the minute 😅 I so wish I knew what he was trying to communicate.

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14/32 in Marbury VC58 last night. Nothing new. Highlights: 3 Angle Shades, Light Emerald, Silver Y, Small Blood Vein, Lunar Underwing. I have a feeling these next couple of nights are going to be much better 😆 #teammoth

1st full day back on patch was a bit of a washout! Saw a Sparrowhawk dive bomb a crow, Little & Great Crested Grebes, Chiffchaffs, LBBGulls (see more Gulls in inland Marbury than I saw in Scilly!) & this large raptor being harassed by crows? Not sure photos good enough to id it?!

Happy to be back to my Marbury trapping. VC58 last night. It was quiet with 8/16. Happy though to have 2 NFY with a Brown-spot Pinion and Lunar Underwings (3). Also: Straw Dot, September Thorn, Common Wainscot, Set HC, Lesser Yellow Underwing and Large Yellow Underwing #teammoth

So so excited and happy to see this pair this morning 😁 They haven’t forgotten me!! Chips was very chatty!! It was such a wonderful feeling when I heard their call as they flew in🥰

Planes went! A bit bumpy though! Nice and bright and went over the harbour which was unusual for us. #Scilly

Good morning from Scilly. The storm is coming 😬Going to brave the weather. Not sure I am going to see many birds though!!

Beautiful day for a walk around St Mary’s Scilly. Highlight was a Pied Flycatcher, haven’t seen one for years. Also Spotted Fly, Snipe, Greenshank, Wheatears everywhere & Sanderlings. No Bluethroat! We may have an extra day to look for it as already no boat Monday,don’t know about planes! #Ukbirding

Another fab day on Scilly mainly chasing elusive Wrynecks! We were rewarded with a great views of one eating on a gravel cliff face. They have to be one of the best birds 😀 There is a Bluethroat here and I tried a few times to see it and even sat still for a short time 😅 but no luck yet #ukbirding

Well moth-ing has been a washout on Scilly, the weather just hasn’t played ball. I have had a moth fix though while out walking: an Hummingbird Hawk-moth, a Yellow Shell & lots of Rush Veneer (Nomophila Noctuella) including this beautifully marked one. Not had one this fresh at home #teammoth

No lifers today on Scilly 😄 but did get my best ever view of a Kingfisher from the Higher moors hide. At home, I normally snatch a photo, as it stops for a second, as I walk! Also did the Eastern Isles trip and saw Seals, Gannets, Fulmars and Shags. #ukbirding

Good morning from Scilly, another very breezy showery day!

Another wonderful day walking around St Mary’s Scilly. Highlight was seeing a Dotterel, another lifer and a bird I have always longed to see. Also lots of Wheatears, Spotted Flycatchers, Turnstones, Sanderlings, Ringed Plovers and only my 2nd ever Clouded Yellow Butterfly. #ukbirding

Another great day on Scilly. The highlight was a lifer with a Glossy Ibis at higher moors. Also lovely to see some waders & Sanderlings have to be 1 of my favs. Couldn’t resist going back for more of the Hoopoe. Finally it might not be rare but enjoyed this Greenfinch eating blackberries #ukbirding

No moths!! It’s blowing a gale, woke up in the middle of the night and trap had blown around. Need to weigh it down tonight duh🙄, if I have another go! At least it is not quite as wet as was forecast. Happy holidays 😆 #teammoth

It was a really great first day’s birding on Scilly. Saw Manx Shearwaters, Gannets, Fulmars and this Skua( not sure what kind) from the Scillonian and then a short afternoon walk saw my 2nd ever Hoopoe ( thanks @northantsbirding.bsky.social ), Sandwich Tern? and a Pectoral Sandpiper #ukbirding

The little travel moth trap is going to be in this garden tonight on the Isles of Scilly! Not sure the weather is going to play ball this week but I will give it a go as it’s alway worth a try! #teammoth

Made it to Penzance! Sea a bit rough but the Scillonian looked smooth enough so fingers crossed for tomorrow. It’s always lovely to see the sea!

Out early to feed the Ravens before going on holiday and what a beautiful morning it is. There will be no birds or moths from Marbury for a week but hopefully there will be some exciting ones from Scilly!😁

Going through my phone clearing photos and videos for my hols and came across this video from April. I have shared it before but it is my fav ever video of Chips and Gravy. I feel blessed that they shared this intimate moment with me while I sat with them 🥰 #Ravens

Quiet in the traps in Marbury VC58, 18/46 today. Highlights: Dark Sword-grass, Angle Shades, Centre-barred Sallow, 2 Small Blood-veins. I don’t know whether to trap tonight as travelling early ish tomorrow I probably will though as I don’t want to miss that Convolvulus Hawk-moth! #teammoth

Only a short early walk this morning to feed the Ravens, but it was an exciting one as my friend rang to say there was a Marsh Harrier heading towards Marbury mere! It was lovely to see it as there haven't been many around this year. #ukbirding

Quiet traps in VC58 (15/26) most of the interesting moths were on the wall. 1 NFY Red-Green Carpet. Also Lilac Beauty, Centre-barred Sallow, 2 Angle Shades, Olive-tree Pearl (Palpita Vitrealis). Started my packing for Scilly today and the 1st thing in was the trap. I’m not addicted!!🤣 #teammoth

And they are back 😁 Chips telling me where he has been for the last couple of days 😆 #ukbirding #Ravens

Another damp, relatively quiet walk around Marbury. Nice to see Mistle Thrushes though. Also Gadwall, Little & Great Crested Grebes, Mute Swans, Kingfisher, Chiffchaffs, still plenty of hirundines, interesting looking Crow. Even the Ravens haven't been for the last 2 days. #ukbirding

Interesting traps in VC58 (Marbury) 21 species: NFG Heath Rustic. Also a late Buff Ermine, Large YU has overtaken Set HC as the most numerous, Flame, 7 Rusty Dot Pearl (Udea Ferrugalis), Dark Sword-grass, Light Emerald, Silver Y and a photo of the MV in all it’s glory from last night! #teammoth

Morning from Marbury. It looks like it is going to be a stormy one today. Hopefully there will still be lots of bird s to see!

Damp walk around Marbury (Sy13) this morning. Nice to see some slightly different birds this morning Great White Egret and Gadwall which I haven't seen for a while. Also 9 Little Grebes, Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, Tufted Ducks, Ravens, Buzzards, singing Chiffchaffs, LBB Gulls #ukbirding

After the excitement of the Clifton Nonpareil, it’s back down to earth with the traps (VC58 Marbury), but it wouldn’t be exciting if we saw unusual moths every day 😉 Always some interest though: first Yellow-tail since Aug 6th today,Rusty Dot Pearl,Small Blood-veins, Silver Y, Angle Shades #teammoth

Lovely to see the Barn Owl early this morning, also a Kestrel was out early hunting and a Kingfisher was flashing down the canal. Other highlights 8 Mistle Thrushes, Ravens, Buzzards, Chiffchaffs, Great Crested Grebes, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Black-backed Gulls #ukbirding