Bee orchids this morning at RSPB Saltholme. @teesbirds.bsky.social

Saw my first bee orchids of the year around #Stockton including outside the police station and the Fusion Hive building. I tried unsuccessfully to persuade a later mow outside Fusion, but still eleven plants flowering (out of maybe thirty seen in feb) @teesbirds.bsky.social @plantlifeuk.bsky.social

Warm weather brought quite good numbers to the #Saltholme trap this week...129 of 46spp, highlights included the first #VC66 Lampronia morosa in 23yrs and an unidentified Etainia sp. Temperatures look good for the first Moth Morning event of 2026 this Sunday #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social

Finally confirmed Bactra robustana as breeding with occupied mines on Cowpen Marsh after almost a handful of records from #Saltholme over the last ten years. This nationally scarce moth feeds within sea clubrush, a common plant on Teesside #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social

Calamotropha paludella was first recorded in #VC66 in 2021. I saw it a year later at #Saltholme. There have been several records since in the eastern half of VC66 and as far north as South Shields. I caught up with the Typha feeding larva on Cowpen Marsh recently #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social

I recently went back to a patch of Black Horehound where I found Coleophora lineolea last year. On Sunday I counted a very decent 63 larval cases. The sp also feeds on Hedge Woundwort and Lamb's Ear @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social #teammoth

I love Garlic Mustard this time of year...Orange-tip butterflies lay eggs on it and the splendid Cauchas rufimitrella also uses it as a larval foodplant. Neither use it exclusively and both also use Cuckooflower. Both present currently in the Pollinator Garden at #Saltholme @teesbirds.bsky.social

I checked some alder buckthorn, planted 5yrs ago at #Saltholme and was happy to find my first eggs, (93 on 4 plants). I read females usually lay a single egg on the underside of a young leaf. If there's more than one it could mean more than one female. Very much looking forward to the caterpillars.

Glossy ibis present at Dorman's this morning, great white egret at Watchpoint and Bittern booming, heard from the hide as well @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social

Brimstone in the pollinator garden just now at #Saltholme also Red Admiral and Holly Blue @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social

Visiting a slither of saltmarsh by Teesside Park this week to collect foodplant for larvae I'm rearing, I was lucky enough to come across a population of Gynnidomorpha vectisana, a species not recorded in #VC66 since 1905. Sea Arrowgrass is their foodplant #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social

I've finally caught up with Endothenia marginana. One emerged today from teasel heads saved from cut and collect machinery in Sept and collected yesterday. It's 2nd #VC66 record this century. Two E.gentianaeana have also emerged - the size difference was a surprise #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social

40 Dingy Skipper recorded on the first survey of the year at Dorman's yesterday, in less than perfect weather and a new moth for #Saltholme in Pyrausta despicata, only the 17th #VC66 record #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social

Feeding signs of Epinotia abbreviana on Wych elm from #Saltholme today. The larva feeds on a leaf before it unfurls from the bud, leaving a distinctive, rather fab pattern of holes, though it's not always that neat. The larva then feeds nearby between spun leaves #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social

Had my first ever emperor moths this week, to a lure near Gribdale Gate, Great Ayton. Also, my first green hairstreaks of the year and lots of green tiger beetle activity #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social

Two black-tailed godwits in front of the fire station screen at #Saltholme this morning @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social

If correct, I had my first Coleophora lusciniaepennella on willow this week at #Saltholme. The first I saw, 2023, was feeding on Rosa sp., assumed to have blown off a nearby goat willow but clearly having fed on the rose. About 40 records in #VC66, underrecorded? #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social

Four wheatear on the Wildflower Walk at #Saltholme this morning. Cowslips looking good there as well @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social

Fifty moths of five species over night at #Saltholme was more than expected with the temperatures we had...Common Quaker, Clouded Drab, Dotted Border and Twin-spotted Quaker (only 2nd site record) all pictured. Also had Hebrew Character #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social

Adult Med gull on the Main Lake at #Saltholme about 15.50 today @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social

The sun was out today at #Saltholme and I had a look for caterpillars on alder but wasn't the only one with that idea...I think the larva is Epinotia immundana or Argyresthia goedartella, it's been feeding on catkins and was probably on its way to pupate somewhere safe #teammoth and, er, #teamspider

My first trap of the year at #Saltholme this weekend with five moths of five species. Acleris cristana the stand out was new to site and one I've not seen before. Also March moth, Chestnut and Oak Beauty. I didn't photograph the Hebrew Character @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social

Flock of siskin fifty strong this afternoon at #Saltholme feeding in the alders along from the Phil Stead hide, five at the entrance to Huntsman drive also @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social

Counted at least 35 bee orchid rosettes where i spotted them last year on the lawn outside Fusion Hive in Stockton. Will try and speak to someone so they might avoid being mown

My first moth of the year and it's not one I've recorded before; inside a seed of lesser burdock, the larva of Metzneria lappella, also only the second record of this species for #Saltholme #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social

The latest #Saltholme moth report looking back at 2025 is now available here: saltholmeupdates.substack.com/p/saltholme-... #teammoth

Epinotia caprana from Seaton Common, May this year #VC66 thanks to @bendale0651.bsky.social for id. It's a first for the 10km square, first larval record and only the third county record since 1995, the others at Framwellgate Moor in 2014, and near Trimdon, in 2023 #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social

Some big counts of Wigeon (1776) Lapwing (1328) and Golden Plover (1720) on Cowpen Marsh this morning for WeBS despite the less than favourable weather @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social

Quite a smart diving beetle (approx 19mm) Colymbetes fuscus, found yesterday in a drain at #Saltholme whilst trying to figure a bit more control of the water in Firestation Field...I love the intricate dark markings on the pale sandy-coloured elytra @teesbirds.bsky.social

As #NationalTreeWeek comes to a close, we're highlighting the wonderful Dark Bordered Beauty 🌳🦋 This threatened moth, which resembles crackled bark and leaves, can be found on damp, lightly wooded heathland. 📷: Ilia Ustyantsev, George Tordoff, Martin Wain #MothsMatter #TeamMoth

Whooper on the main lake at Saltholme currently @teesbirds.bsky.social

I believe these are Common Inkcap fungi from Stockton in the last week. I was surprised to read that they can lift paving slabs and break through tarmac...I was pretty excited to find some doing just that. Apparently their strength comes from their hyphae aligning vertically @teesbirds.bsky.social

Jack snipe from the Wildlife Watchpoint hide just now at #Saltholme @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social

Holidaying down in Sussex at Pett Level this week. Trapping slow for the first 2 days with cold nights, a Delicate the best of only 13sp (34moths). The last 2 days have been amazing with 37sp (162 moths) including 6 lifers to light, and another with what I think is Psyche casta #teammoth

Another new one for #VC66 i think with these records of Coleophora atriplicis on Grass-leaved Orache from some of the restored saltmarsh on Teesside. It seems to be doing pretty well with several cases found @teesbirds.bsky.social #teammoth

A couple of recent larval records from Teesside...spinnings on Annual Seablite and Grass-leaved Orache produced larvae of Scrobipalpa nitentella, a #VC66 first, and, in flowers of Sea Aster, larvae of Eucosma tripoliana, a second #VC66 record #teammoth

Hoping for another Convolvulus Hawk-moth, almost a year to the day since last year's first for site, when we run a Moth Morning at #Saltholme this coming Sunday starting 0930 @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social #teammoth

I've only seen one Small Ranunculus adult before so it was a delight to finally get two in the #Saltholme trap this week. Just around the corner 10 larvae were still present on and around prickly lettuce, some wandering, presumably finished feeding, hope they turn up in a future trap #teammoth

On common fleabane at #Saltholme today, couldn't find it in time for the moth morning, but Apodia martinii sat nicely for a picture. This was the third #VC66 record but it's worth scanning the foodplant wherever it is found as it is likely to be more widespread #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social

A recent trip to Devon had so many moth highlights. Rosy footman has been on my wanted list for ages, Devonshire Wainscot was just ace, Mullein Wave, so beautiful, and the fabulous mines of Enteucha acetosae, one of the smallest moths in the world - wingspan can be just 3mm #teammoth

Good to see a bit of attention on the Cleveland find. Exceptional find by @sidwemn.bsky.social keep checking those whites! @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social

In the #Saltholme trap last night, Rush Veneer, the second site record, i think there's been a few around #VC66 already this year, though they peak in the first half of Sept usually. We'll have our next 'Moth Morning' on Sunday from half 9 @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social #teammoth

Overnight at #Saltholme we had Bactra robustana, Nationally Scarce B, which is a third county record although there's quite a lot of Sea Club Rush locally and I'm sure we could find more with some more adventurous trapping @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social #teammoth

Finally found galls on Rosebay Willowherb from Mompha sturnipennella in our work compound. An adult in spring 2023 at Saltholme was the 1st for #VC66 so nice to show breeding. I feel there may be more Mompha spp about than records suggest #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social

Best of the #Saltholme trap this morning was this Schoenobius gigantella, a moth of reedbeds. It is the second site (and #VC66) record and may still be the most northerly UK location for this species @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social #teammoth

Weather is not set to be great, but we'll be running a moth trap tonight for a moth morning event on Sunday at #Saltholme pictures are some of our previous July records @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social #teammoth

Not sure i can believe it, a great year for insect migration continues. Two definite highlights from this morning in Stockton #VC66, Golden Twin-spot and my third record of Kent Black Arches, all this year...there's so much time for more #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social

Nice to see two Brown Argus at #Saltholme today near to the Visitor Centre. Sightings on site earlier in the year were a bit sparse, despite the decent weather @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

We will be running a moth session this Saturday morning, the 12th July at Saltholme...fingers crossed! @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social #teammoth

Delighted with two larvae from Red Campion in my garden...Rivulet, feeding on the ripening seeds, its presence given away by frass, ejected from the seedhead. The other I think, is The Campion, this individual close to pupation. Two excellent reasons for growing Red Campion #teammoth