I tested a new portable LED trap last night in my Laois garden and was delighted to see 10 species including 5 NFY. My highlight was a Red Sword-grass - a species I’ve only seen a couple of times before- it is a very good wood mimic! #teammoth

Lovely to see some woodland Primroses and Lesser Celandines this week - sure #SignsofSpring ! #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Cup fungi on a windowsill at Ballybrophy station, for #MushroomMonday #fungifriends

Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage growing amongst Wild Garlic, also Lesser Celandines, in Knockatrina Woods, Durrow for #wildflowerhour

Lovely to see Rue-leaved Saxifrage with a single flower at Ballybrophy station, first time I’ve noticed it there. Also a row of fresh new Shepherd’s Purse. #wildflowerhour

My first Early Dog-Violet this year, seen in woods in Durrow. #wildflowerhour

Plum blossom photographed on Friday night in Laois for #wildflowerhour

Lots of people have been sharing their first Common Quaker of the year - here’s mine from Saturday night. It was flying around my driveway and I managed to encourage it down with my torchlight and pot it. Nice and fresh! #teammoth

Snowdrops, Coltsfoot and Lesser Celandine today in Abbeyleix - nice to see some Spring flowers!#wildflowerhour

Coltsfoot in flower in Abbeyleix today for #wildflowerhour

Early Thorn, Shoulder Stripe and Dotted Border were my other species to trap in Laois last night. #teammoth

Clouded Drab and Hebrew Character, both NFY for me, in Laois last night. #teammoth

Great Diving Beetle / Dytiscus marginalis under the security light this week, in Laois. This is a female - with grooves in her wing-cases. @coleopsoc.bsky.social

An Early Moth and 2 Shoulder Stripe moths, both NFY, and 4 Dotted Borders came to my actinic bulb last night in Laois. #teammoth

On Friday night I put the actinic trap out and found 5 Dotted Border moths. An early Early Thorn was on the security lamp too. #teammoth

Spring Usher high up on the security light last night in Laois, I think it is my first ever! Thinking about setting a trap tonight and/or tomorrow! #teammoth

Hazel catkins (male) flowering in Dunmore Wood, Durrow, today for #wildflowerhour

Found some fungi in Caponellan Woods, Durrow for #MushroomMonday - Scarlet Elfcup and Birch Polypore and a Goblet or similar.

Stereum species etc for #mushroommonday, all found yesterday in Caponellan Wood, Durrow. #fungifriends

Melastiza sp. (?) orange fungi fruiting under a Thistle in my field this week for #FungiFriday #fungifriends

There are a range of sizes and colours of Angle Shade moth caterpillars on the house walls every night. This nicely coloured one was on the front door. #teammoth

Winter Moth, new for season, last night on house wall . #teammoth

A Rusty Dot Pearl moth was next to my front door early Monday evening! #teammoth

I had a closer view of the Glossy Ibis that has been on the River Erkina, Laois since last Tuesday but I’m still hoping to see it in the sunshine.

Red Dead-nettle, Field Forget-me-not and Annual Meadowgrass flowering in Durrow yesterday for #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Last night was mild and I saw 3 December Moths (NFY) at home in Laois. #teammoth

Annual Mercury flowering by the Royal Canal, Dublin 1 this week for #wildflowerhour

I found a new location in Dublin 1, by the Royal Canal, for Black Nightshade. #wildflowerhour @bsbiireland.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

A real surprise to see Bog Rosemary flowering today in Abbeyleix Bog; it is in the Ericaceae family and typically flowers in early Summer. Bush Vetch was also seen. #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

Roundhead /Stropharia sp. in Abbeyleix I’d forgotten just how slimy they are! #mushroommonday #fungifriends

Just 2 moths to my lamp yesterday evening - November Moth agg. and a Feathered Thorn. #teammoth

LBAM on Ivy earlier this evening. #teammoth

Blistered Cup Fungus (Peziza vesiculosa), or similar, growing on horse dung for #MushroomMonday #fungifriends

Field Blewits fruiting in my field in a ring / arc. #MushroomMonday #fungifriends

Purple Jellydisc fungi (Ascocoryne sarcoides), anamorphic stage, on the bark of a log in Abbeyleix for #MushroomMonday #fungifriends

Pineapple Weed looking as fresh aa a Daisy today for #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

I was surprised to see Feverfew flowering in Abbeyleix earlier this week, it’s a plant I rarely see. #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

Palpita vitrealis near Des’s trap locally in Laois on Monday night. Delighted to see and photograph it. First for Laois - the Laois team have done well for migrant moths this year considering we are in an inland midland county! #teammoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

27 moths of 11 species last night - Mottled Umber, new for year in my Laois garden. #teammoth

Black fungi at Ballacolla: Earth Tongues and Elfin Saddles (Helvella lacunosa), for #MushroomMonday and #fungifriends

Figure of Eight moth (NFY), netted off a high security lamp last night in Laois. #teammoth

Red-green Carpet from last night, it wouldn’t pose with the other moths! #teammoth

Most of the most attractive moths from my catch last night - aren’t they lovely! #teammoth

Surprised to find a Four-spotted Footman on the security lamp last night, a bit late in the year for this species here. #teammoth

Tawny Pinion moth found on Ivy at the weekend, a lifer for me, and very few records for Ireland. #teammoth

So good to have some moths again! 17 of 10 spp. in Laois with Green Brindled Crescent x2 and November Moth agg x4 both NFY, and excitingly my 2nd ever Merveille du Jour. Here it is showing its size against Pink-barred Sallow and GBC. #teammoth

Hawthorn Shieldbug on blackberries this evening.

Herald moth on blackberries this evening - I then checked lots more Bramble but didn’t find any more moths! #teammoth

Narrow-leaved Ragwort / Senecio inaequidens on Dublin quays today. #wildflowerhour #urbanbotany