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

A wee bit late for my first #Wildflowerhour but, I saw the best example of fasciation I think I've seen, the other day, in a plant of Pineappleweed, in the playground at work

50 willow ermine emerged in the last few days from larval webs I found at Saltholme. Now seemingly well established in the south of #VC66 it's good to see fresh adults, they show a thin white strip along the costa, visible on both sides of the forewing #teammoth

Was really nice to see adults of Coleophora lineolea ten days ago when at least three emerged at the base of the foodplant, Black Horehound. After feeding, the larvae descend to the base of the plant and pupate within their case as in the second picture #Teammoth

Quite a week for moths...a Small Marbled in the #Saltholme trap this morning continuing my run of good luck after 2 mornings with Kent Black Arches at home. Also today 2 D-b moth and a Dark Sword-grass...keeping fingers crossed for the moth morning event tomorrow #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social

Kent Black Arches over night again, this time just 1 and managed a slightly better photo. Also Scarce footman, increasing in #VC66 and a 2nd generation Early Thorn. At work today, Stathmopoda pedella for the 3rd year running was the 10th county record, this time 4 individuals found #teammoth

We're running a moth morning on Sunday at #Saltholme there's some good moths about, so keeping fingers crossed. Here's a selection from our last trap... @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social

Some very good mothing at the moment, over 100spp four nights ago (very good for here) including a few early records, but the absolute highlight was 3 Kent Black Arches this morning, the first record for #VC66 and possibly the most northern record in the UK to date #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social

A couple of recent emergences; Endothenia gentianaeana from teasel at #Saltholme and what I think is a small (WL approx 9.5mm) Wormwood Pug, reared through from a larva found on Bittersweet, Solanum dulcamara #teammoth

Moth numbers have picked up somewhat since I've been away. A couple from the home trap two nights ago...Coptotriche marginea is only the 14th #VC66 record in 25 years, the others are Blastodacna hellerella, Ancylis achatana and Hedya salicella #teammoth

I failed on two of my three target species, but back from a great trip north of the border and after two failed attempts at my other target, it was amazing to find 2 Chequered Skippers near Oban @savebutterflies.bsky.social

A smart one from yesterday, a male Dichrorampha alpinana found on the path near Phil Stead hide, a first site record for #Saltholme and only the 28th in #VC66. The larvae feed on ox-eye daisy, so worth keeping an eye out near to these @teesbirds.bsky.social

Lovely caterpillar found by a colleague at #Saltholme a couple of days ago, this looks like common quaker...such fabulous spots! #teammoth

A year ago on my WeBS count I noticed a small patch of Black Horehound, today I found feeding signs and 10 larval cases of Coleophora lineolea, a moth that hasn't been seen since 1994 in #VC66, it looks to be only the 17th record in Durham. Another foodplant is Hedge Woundwort @teesbirds.bsky.social

Ruddy Shelduck currently with Greylags on PCP, viewed from England Coast Path #Saltholme @teesbirds.bsky.social

Five or more of these pretty moths flying at Dorman's today; Small Yellow Underwing, I've not had a count higher than one before. Still nearly 40 Dingy Skipper as well and so many Common Blues, also Homoeosoma sinuella, Celypha lacunana and several Cinnabar #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social

#Teammoth highlights from my recent travels to #VC57 included the awesome larval webs of Spindle Ermine (Willow and Apple Ermine were also seen), Cauchas rufimitrella was new for me, as was Antispila metallella, the larva of Ypsolopha ustella amongst so much more - I love this time of year!

An excellent few days with some excellent weather for a while meant some good butterflies on my recent travels. Small Blue, Grizzled Skipper, Green Hairstreak and Duke of Burgundy the highlights. Painted Lady, Sm Heath, Sm Copper, Brimstone and Red Admiral were nfy @savebutterflies.bsky.social