having seen a micro (probably alternella) flying at Rode Hall (snowdrops looking good btw) I thought I'd give the trap a go. Unfortuately the council decided to repair the street light overlooking the garden! Managed 4/3 with Common Quaker, Chestnut and Grey-shoulder-knot. #TeamMoth

On final approach at Doxey.

Love Song Thrushes. This one sang all the time I was at Doxey.

What passes for a good view of a Cetti's Warbler - at Doxey 😀

Although I couldn't get very far at Doxey, I did get excellent views of a Great White Egret.

You could say that Doxey Marshes is impassable!

White Butterbur at Cotton Dell, Oakamoor. Not a native species but attractive all the same.

Staffordshire WT reserve of Cotton Dell, Oakamoor. An attractive spot and good for White Butterbur.

Where to go on a rare sunny day? We decided on Oakamoor and Cotton Dell. Lot of water in the R. Churnet. Immature Alder catkins have a very attractive purple tinge. Noted that the White Butterbur is spreading from the Dell to here.

Hair Ice is one of those things other people see - until today. This was at Staffordshire Wildlife Trust reserve Cotton Dell, Oakamoor. It forms on rotting wood on humid cold nights when temps are just below freezing and in the presence of the fungus Exidiopsis effusum.

Mr and Mrs Goosander from the Kingfisher hide at Trentham

2 skeins of Pink-footed Geese over the house today - stirring stuff.

Saved from the Irish Entertainer by a Pale Brindled Beauty on the wall. Never seem to catch much in February; don't know why. #TeamMoth

Our now regular female Sparrowhawk called in and stayed there for a good 10 minutes.

Little Egret off Valley Road, Stone. Was expecting flooding but there was none.

front garden not looking too bad on this dull, wet day.

Robins are singing so Spring not far off. Caught this one just as it was starting to rain - again!

Lucky encounter today!

Honoured visitor to the garden. Juvenile female Sparrowhawk holding on to the fence is the strong wind.

The Grey Shoulder-knot I found on a fence post on the 12th is still there! Cynics will say I pinned it there for a year-tick but it has changed orientation over the 3 days so is alive and just hibernating I guess. Interestingly the shield bug I found on same day is also in the same spot. #TeamMoth

Pair of Shovelers at Trentham Gardens today.

Nothing in the trap but a Pale Brindled Beauty on the window sill SJ93. #TeamMoth

Change in temperature encouraged this Hawthorn Shieldbug to emerge from hibernation.

Didn't expect this! Not in trap but just down the road on a fence post. Grey Shoulder-knot, first moth of the year. #TeamMoth

OK, more Fieldfare shots but you have to!

You don't often get a close enough to a Cormorant to see its green eye.

Cormorant by the side of the River Trent off Valley Road, Stone.

Some more photos of Fieldfare feeding on our local hawthorns; what an attractive bird. Excuse the background - it is a house roof in the distance!

Cyclamen 'Coum' looks very pretty as it pokes through the snow.

Blackbird getting showered with snow as it was feeding.

Redwing feeding on our local hawthorns

Male Goosander at Westport Lake; one of the few ducks left on the main lake.

Saw this Black-headed Gull at Westport Lake today. Not sure there is enough info on the ring to send off but does anyone recognise the text? Not a UK ring I think

Fieldfare enjoying apples on our local patch.

Thankfully the Yellow-browed Warbler was still at Westport Lake today. A county tick for me. Nice bird. @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social

Spotted this on a trunk on way back from shop. Female Mottled Umber. Can't recall last time I saw one. Think this is one of my favourite photos. Nice way to end the year. #TeamMoth

Little Egrets are not quite "10 a penny" these days but you know what I mean, still it's nice to get one on your local patch. This was feeding in a wooded stream near home.

Never seen a caddis in mid-December but Chaetopteryx villosa is said to be around through to January.

Despite -1C last night, found this hardy Winter Moth on a fence panel this morning. #TeamMoth

early Xmas present to myself! Excellent book - but oh the number of hybrids😀

Grey Damsel Bug on a nearby fence today. SJ93, Staffs.

Never expected to see a Red Admiral flying on 11th December! SJ93. Encouraged me to put the trap on #TeamMoth

A bit of sun yesterday brought a number of Nursery Web Spiders Pisaura mirabilis out to warm up.

OK, the trap was empty which was surprising given how mild it was. Here is my Emmelina monodactyla from earlier in the day. #TeamMoth

I guess any moth in December is a bonus. Mottled Umber, Red-green Carpet and LBAM so far. Also found Emelina monodactyla on a nearby fence earlier. Let’s see what is in the trap in morning. #TeamMoth

A male Blackcap getting nectar from our Mahonia.

Didn't put the trap on last night but found this Mottled Umber on the car door - it's covered in water droplets! #TeamMoth

Submitted this ichneumon to iRecord back in 2020. Just been accepted as Coelichneumon desinatorius and NBN map shows just 6 UK records, though I guess there must be more.

Long-tailed Tit having a laugh at its reflections 😄

Wasn't too bad given the clear sky: 4 Decembers, 2 Mottled Umbers (dark and typical forms), 2 LBAMs and an unexpected Dark Sword-grass. #TeamMoth