I'm taking a little break from social media. I'm losing the battle with my mental health. Thanks for your lovely interactions & support it has been so appreciated, my followers are the best! I wish everyone exciting birds, moths, wildlife, joy & most of all the thing I long for most, peace.

Walked early today starting at 4.15 & finished by 10.30 to beat the heat! Highlight was seeing lots of Kingfishers. Also Ravens, Kestrels, Yellowhammers, Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, House Martins going into their nest, Linnets, Whitethroats, Cetti's calling, Lapwings, Skylarks etc!

Nice trap last night in Marbury VC58 with fewer Dark Arches, Heart and Darts and LYU’s!! 5 NFY with Round-winged Muslin, Muslin Footman, Large Emerald, Double Dart and July Highflyer. Other highlights: Peach Blossom, Scarlet Tiger, 3 Elephant Hawk-moths and a Drinker.

Highlight of today's walk was 2 Kingfishers chasing each other up & down the canal & while I was taking this wonderful photo 😅 a Barn Owl flew across the canal! Also saw the juvenile Wagtails again in the same tree, all 7 Ravens, Sedge & Reed Warblers, Yellowhammers etc! #ukbirding

In a trap dominated by Dark Arches and Hart and Darts the star was this Leopard Moth. Sadly it wouldn’t pose for photos! Other NFYs the wonderful Drinker, Dun-bar and Scalloped Oak. Other highlights 4 Elephant and 2 Eyed Hawk-moths and 5 Garden Tigers!

Think you can just make it out from the video but interesting this morning to watch 5 Lapwings dive bomb one of the juvenile Ravens, In the end the Raven flew off. Think the Lapwings are nesting in the adjacent field, the Raven was just sat there waiting for egg not in the field.

Some really beautiful skies again from the top of Wirswall Hill over Cheshire. As o have said many times I never tire of this view 😊

Beautiful walk this morning and the highlight was lots of sightings of Barn Owls. Also Ravens, Kestrel, Sedge & Reed Warblers, Blackcaps, Whitethroat, Cetti's calling, Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings, friendly Mute Swan, Skylarks, Lapwings, Oystercatcher, GSWoodpecker, GCGrebes #ukbirding

Some absolutely beautiful fresh butterflies on today's walk. A lot of the Painted Ladies I have seen this year have been very faded but today's was very beautifully marked. Also my first Ringlets of the year and the Small Tortoiseshell added lots of colour to the morning.

The juvenile Ravens can quite easily eat for themselves now but they still try their luck with the adults. It’s interesting how they all have different personalities. Some are shy, some braver and one is very noisy and demanding 😆

This beautiful moth greeted me as I opened the trap this morning, a Lilac Beauty NFY. Unlike most of the moths lately it didn’t fly off and let me photograph it which was a bonus! It is such a lovely looking moth #teammoth

Good morning from Marbury. Happy Summer Solstice. Hope everyone has a lovely, peaceful day with nature 😊

Exciting to see a juvenile, I think, Yellow Wagtail on my walk this morning. We have had a pair on patch and saw them collecting what looked like nesting material in spring. It's my favourite thing about patch, watching birds and learning about their behaviour🥰 #ukbirding

Another lovely walk. Highlight was seeing a few more Swallows and Martins. Also it was nice to have the Swifts soaring above me while I was sat with the Ravens. Also Kestrels, Buzzards, calling Green Woodpecker, Reed & Sedge Warblers, Cetti's, Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings etc! #ukbirding

Single-dotted Wave the one NFY last night but the most interesting thing about last night’s trap was 10 Small Mottled Willows! Also think it’s a different individual, a much fresher one, a Rhodophaea Formosa Beautiful Knot- horn. The moth face in the 1st photo is a Small Mottled Willow! #teammoth

Wonderful walk this morning it started with singing Yellowhammers, then a hunting Barn Owl ,followed by the magnificent sight of 7 Ravens flying in, a Kestrel seeing off a Red Kite, juvenile Swallows, Swifts and then a beautiful Yellow Wagtail sat in a tree right in front of me! #ukbirding

1/2 Exciting trap in Marbury today with a NFG: a Four-dotted Footman. Also 2 NFY: Scarlet Tiger and Yellow-tail. ( everything wanted to fly away today so rubbish photos!) Other notables my 4th Small Mottled Willow in 3 days, a PaleTussock, Garden Tiger and 3 Elephant Hawk-moths #teammoth

Moth trap looking very scenic tonight and there are already moths flying 😆 #teammoth

Wet early, but brightened up on today's walk. Birding highlight was as I was photographing the Stonechat family looked up to see a Barn Owl hunting in the field. Also lovely to see the adult Raven grooming the youngsters still. Yellowhammers, Reed & Sedge Warblers, Nuthatch etc! #ukbirding

Today’s soothing nature video! 😆 A Swollen-thighed Beetle having a little wash 😊

48 Species last night in Marbury in a trap dominated by Heart and Darts, Large Yellow Underwings, Dark Arches and Flames, but some wonderful colour with this NFY Small Elephant Hawk-moth. Also NFY Beautiful Hook-tip. Other highlights were 3 Garden Tigers & Elephant & Poplar Hawk-moths #teammoth

My friend from Uni reminded me that I always talked about living in the country & made her come for long walks with me! I was born in a high rise flat l & spent my childhood in a large council estate. I don’t know where this longing to live in the country came from but I am lucky to be here now!

It may be a wet miserable morning but this lot always brighten it up! You can see on this video how much more developing the youngsters need to do. They do eat for themselves now but always try their luck with the adults for an easy feed! 😆

8 NFY’s last night in Marbury VC58 46/ 147. Over 200 species for the year now. Always lovely to see the 1st Garden Tiger of the year. Other NFY: Short-cloaked Moth, Motted Beauty, Obscure Wainscot, Fan-foot, Swallow-tailed, Common Footman, Green Oak Tortrix (Tortrix Viridana) #teammoth

Lovely warm walk. Highlights reeling Grasshopper Warbler, Ravens. Sparrowhawk with prey chased by a Crow (I think it's a Sparrowhawk anyway but it seemed large!) Reed, Sedge & Willow Warblers, Oystercatchers, Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings, lots of Long-tailed Tit fledglings etc! #ukbirding

Some insects from my walk a stunning Spider a Furrow Orbweaver and a Common Carder Bumblebee. Watching the Bumblebee nectaring is so calming! 😁 Video in comments

Close call for insect of the day today! 😁 The Ni Moth was exciting to see this morning in the trap (relatively rare migrant moth for Cheshire), but this Brown Chafer was amazing to look at closely too, even if it is not rare!

I think I can tell the Ravens Chips (male) & Gravy (female) apart now, certainly when they are together, but also when they are apart. Chips is larger with a chunkier beak, and Gravy seems to have a "skirt"... Not sure if that's a female Raven thing or just her!

Lovely walk, highlight was 2 close flybys from a Kingfisher, not seen 1 lately. Also Barn Owls, REd Kite, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Ravens, 8 Swifts, House Martins, Swallows, Reed, Sedge & Willow Warblers, GSWoodpecker, Goldcrests, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting & lots of vocal Wrens! #ukbirding

Excited this morning when almost the first moth I saw was this Ni Moth. Last year I saw one almost to the day and it was only the 2nd for Cheshire. There are now a few more Cheshire records but still a rare and unusual moth for Cheshire. So excited 😆 @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #teammoth

When you look at insects closely they’re absolutely amazing! This tiny insect (obsID says it’s a Chaoborus species, a type of midge), was on the trap today. I took a close up of it and just look at its feathery antennae! Maybe not everyone’s cup of tea but amazing nonetheless!

Today only the cheeky, demanding Raven fledgling was with the adults at 1st. It mainly begs to Chips (the male) who does feed him/her although he is less attentive than he used to be. The others came later. They seem more independent & appeared to be enjoying flying in the wind!

On the way to the pub and the Barn Owl flew across the car park so slight detour to the field. Couldn’t not. No matter how many times I see it I get so excited 😬

A second Raven post today because this little fledgling is just so adorable. It is the one that comes the closest with Chips and Gravy and is also the most noisy and demanding. It’s a shame he can’t stay with them as he is going to be such a character 😁

Much better weather for today's walk! Birding highlights: Barn Owls, 2 Yellow Wagtails, all 7 Ravens, Little Egret, Oystercatchers, Buzzards, Kestrel, Skylarks, Lapwings, Reed, Sedge & Willow Warblers, Whitethroat, Chiffchaffs, GSWoodpecker, Swifts, Swallows & House Martins #ukbirding

Busiest trap of the year 44/122 in Marbury VC58 last night. 3 NFY: Common Emerald, Light Arches & Fan-foot. Heart and Dart and Dark Arches were the most numerous. Other highlights 5 Barred Straw, Streamer, Elephant Hawk-moth, Burnished Brass and some migration with a Small Mottled Willow #teammoth

Gravy telling me what she was up to yesterday morning!! Maybe she just wanted a break from the kids 😆 Chips is being very patient 😊

Morning from Marbury! It promises to be a better day than yesterday! Just look how beautiful these clouds are this morning. Can you spot the new moon?! 😊

Hard to believe the 1st photo is what greeted me when I went out early to do the Moth traps! It was dry for the walk down the canal where this Yellowhammer brightened my morning. Also Barn & Tawny Owls, Kingfisher, Reed Warbler. It then rained constantly for the rest of my walk!!

She’s here! Don’t know where she has been for 6 hours. Sorry for being an idiot! I am going to have to learn how to worry about them less.

Highlights from my showery walk with some spectacular stormy skies! Another patch Raven pair with young, Kestrels with young, Yellow Wagtail, Yellowhammers & today's insect that caught my eye (don't know how it did as it was as small as a grass seed!) Not sure exactly what it is!

Some bonding time for Chips and Gravy today in between feeding duties! First time I have seen them spend lots of time doing this since they started nesting. So love their little chortles to one another

Feed me!! The youngsters can eat the suet on their own now, and have started to do so, but they still prefer to be fed by the parents! #ukbirding

Heavy showers on this mornings walk. Birding highlights: all 7 Ravens, Barn Owls, Reed, Sedge & Willow Warblers, Cetti's, Whitethroat, Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings, Skylarks, Oystercatchers, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Chaffinch making the most of the abundance of insects! #ukbirding

Spot the odd one out😆Doesn't the Jackdaw look tiny!

Very quiet in the traps again 8/17 best being a Barred Straw and a Burnished Brass. These cheeky monkeys always come and keep me company while I process the moths, waiting for one to escape! I throw them some suet to give the moths a chance! #teammoth

When you are sitting with Chips and you hear something close behind you!! Lovely time sat with them in the sun this morning. Chips has even almost gone to sleep! Also lovely earlier to watch Gravy groom one of the young🥰

mention Wirswall Hill a lot! It is one of my favourite places in the whole world. It is such a peaceful place. From here you can see to Wales, Quiosley mere, the Bickerton hills, Marbury Mere with the Peak District in the distance, Jodrell Bank, Mow Cop and Keele! 😁

Some non birds from this morning's walk! Today's insect that caught my eye was this Rutpela Maculata ( Spotted Longhorn Beetle) Also mating Large Skippers and rain over the Cheshire plain from the top of Wirswall Hill where I am dry!

Mixed weather on this morning's walk. Birding highlights: Barn Owls, all 7 Ravens, Sedge, Reed, Willow and Cetti's Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings, Song & Mistle Thrushes, Great Spotted Woodpecker and our friendly Canada Goose couple have has Goslings #ukbirding