Get in touch if you are planning to attend @nordicoikos.bsky.social and considering sharing your #forest #ecology work using #remotesensing. I'm working on a thematic session proposal. 🧪🌍🔭🌳🌲

Fifty new houses going up on a greenfield site near my tiny village, not a solar panel in sight. No infrastructure, almost no public transport. Pig ugly to boot. Why are we allowing this?

Visiting mum in the Waveney valley so would have been rude not to try to add Black-winged Kite to my British list. It showed well at 8.30 this morning just north of Ludham Bridge, between the snow showers, before heading off NW. 🥶 #ukbirding #ukbirds

A few more moth numbers from 2025: At my London flat: 3,920 of 250 species, 97 trap nights. The in-laws Devon garden: 3,857 of 322 spp, 32 nights. 30 other nights included Surrey Heath (6), 192 spp; Blakeney Point: (7), 56 spp (but 2,346 moths). Conclusion: the London flat sucks! #TeamMoth

@ukbutterflies.bsky.social I don’t know how unusual this is but here’s a pristine comma from the Kingsbridge Estuary this morning

As it happens it’s only 3 days since I said Happy Christmas to Andy Parsons as we passed on the stairs of a Kent pub…

The guardians of the countryside have been busy again out on Walland Marsh, I have no idea why they have butchered the hedges, I can only think that some government incentive was offered, as we know the Guardians do nothing without a return.

I met Emma at an invasions conference a few years ago. She was just such a kind and easy person. We hit it off immediately and I’ve admired her from afar ever since. What a force for good she was. Rest easy, and thank you. theconversation.com/emma-johnsto...

So 2025 turned out to be a good year for moths. I managed to see 727 species, 726 photographed, 725 as adults; 110 lifers; and a minimum of 13,762 moths trapped (although 159 trap nights was my lowest number in any full year since I started mothing). What will 2026 bring...? #TeamMoth

The anniversary of the best photo I’ve ever taken… #catsofbluesky #cats

A comprehensive review building on the IPBES #InvasiveAlienSpecies Assessment reveals that numbers of alien species are increasing for all taxonomic groups and regions, and that this trend is likely to continue. Read more: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/brv.70058

Merry Christmoth everyone! #TeamMoth

Moth Advent 24. No question of the moth of 2025, by a county mile. I’ll never forget seeing this land on the sheet at Kenfig NNR. After a lot of swearing and input from BlueSky, ID was confirmed as The Sorcerer, just the 4th British record and a 1st for Wales. I’m still buzzing now! #TeamMoth

Danai is one of our fantastic M.Res. BEC alumni. Check out her feed for one example what the degree could lead to... (She also knows that next year is 2026...!)

I’m clearly living in the past. 2026 intake!

We know that the role of nocturnal moths as pollinators has been greatly underestimated in Europe, but this impressive new study shows that tiger moths (Arctiinae) are important generalist pollinators in a lowland rainforest in Ecuador #teammoth 🌎 royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article...

Applications are open for UCL's M.Res. in Biodiversity, Evolution & Conservation, 2024 intake. Learn the latest scientific techniques for studying biodiversity jointly with UCL, the Natural History Museum, and ZSL. Details here: www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-...

Moth Advent 23. A field trip in November with @wjrpb.bsky.social to look for the scarce and late-flying Plumed Prominent. Rapid success as the first individuals were in within an hour of dusk, but we had to wait longer to get the elaborately antennaed males. Lifer 109/110 for the year. #TeamMoth

Moth Advent 22. October in Devon and the possibility of some migration took me to the south coast path. Too windy alas, but set up the trap in the car park instead and the first moth in was a lifer – this Feathered Brindle. Not unexpected as mainly a species of southern coastal areas. #TeamMoth

Moth Advent 21. I start each academic year now by taking the new @ucl.ac.uk Biodiversity Masters students to Blakeney Point, with migrants uppermost in mind. Not a great week for them this year unfortunately, but there's always moths. This year produced my first Pink-barred Sallow. #TeamMoth

Moth Advent 20. Mid-September and back to the Surrey heath with @photography-aj.bsky.social. I had at least one target species in mind, as I’d never seen Heath Rustic. By the end of the session, dozens – probably the commonest moth of the evening. Location, location, location. #TeamMoth

On the seventh anniversary of THIS image, here's a funny story about the elephants, Naomi Wolf and the absurdity of online nostalgia.

Moth Advent 19. It’s rare when the highlight of an evening isn’t a lifer, but so it was on the late August evening on the Norfolk fen. To be fair it’s hard for almost any moth to top a Clifden Nonpareil, especially when you’ve never previously had one in the trap. Just a monster! #TeamMoth

Butterfly numbers booming in St Albans! Managing meadows with low mow techniques and sowing wildflower seeds have resulted in a big increase in butterfly number. Congratulations to St Albans Council @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Moth Advent 18. Back out trapping in the UK at the end of August after a fortnight in France, with an evening on a Norfolk fen. Another great night, with 61 species and 2 more lifers, including this Webb’s Wainscot. Another nationally scarce species, albeit one that seems to be spreading. #TeamMoth

Are you at #BES2025 and want tips on how to write a winning CV and cover letter? Then pop along to the Professional Development suite now for the Careers Drop-in session.

Moth Advent 17. One more of the 200 species from the Kent NNR bioblitz, and another nationally-scarce moth that, as its name implies, likes unimproved chalk grassland. Chalk Carpet is not especially rare, but is a priority species for conservation in the UK, and a new one for me. #TeamMoth

Moth Advent 16. The new Kent NNR includes a nice bit of chalk grassland, with associated special moths. Not least amongst those is the nationally-scarce Lace Border, which was present in good numbers (and intent on making more) around (if not in) the traps. #TeamMoth

As the dams dry out, feral goldfish are easier to snag. A timely reminder that pet fish should *never* be released. Pics by @terngirl.bsky.social

Stunning sunset over Threlkeld right now #LakeDistrict @metoffice.gov.uk @stormhour.com @pastpreservers.bsky.social @suewilkinson.bsky.social

As with many other commenters I suspect this will be ignored, begging the question why go through the costly, time-wasting business at all?

Fossil-fuel extraction massively outweighs critical mineral mining needs (quite literally) – We dig up tens of billions of tonnes of stuff every year to produce coal, oil & gas – Raw-material extraction for critical minerals would be a fraction of that, even under net-zero 1/2

Moth Advent 15. Thanks to @jimlabisko.bsky.social, in July I got to help with a bioblitz at a new NNR in Kent, with Dave Shenton and others. The moths were epic: 200 species in one night, and 16 lifers. The latter included this stunning Kent specialty micro Bisigna procerella. #TeamMoth

The English countryside in a nutshell.

Moth Advent 14. New macros on the Camden roof terrace are few and far between now, so to get this Plain Pug the night after my first Langmaid’s was a very pleasant surprise. But whoever named it needs a severe talking to – it’s definitely at the attractive end of the Pug spectrum. #TeamMoth

I approve of this book shelf. Also, available from all good booksellers…

Every day’s a school day. Butterflies and moths in the names of Harlow pubs, and the reason why. Lovely piece of lepidopteral history. #TeamMoth

It's hard to find a complete list but there is/was also Willow Beauty & Phoenix. And why are they named after butterflies and moths - I found this from 1980 - page 3 - this I didn't know!!! southherts.camra.org.uk/wp-content/u...

I have been meaning to send this message forever … most of the pubs in #Harlow #Essex are named after butterflies or moths some include Willow beauty Drinker moth White admiral Painted lady Herald Ringlet The shark Orange footman Essex skipper Garden tiger (now closed) #teammoth plus ones in 📸

Moth Advent 13. For a few years now I’ve been checking as many LBBYUs as I can in the hope that one of them might be a Langmaid's. And this year, for the first time, at least three of them seemed to be that species. Hopefully enough on the photos to convince the CMR come submission time… #TeamMoth

Work continues on the new Surrey Moths website at www.surreymoths.org.uk. It's still lacking images, and some species accont detail (the admin is in place to start writing them), but it's now functioning well and like a good wine will improve with age. #MothsMatter

Moth Advent 12. Through the year I’ve been helping the lovely horticulture students at Kew Gardens @rbgkew.bsky.social empty their Thursday night moth trap, getting to see some cool insects as a result. Not least in early July, with my first ever Light Crimson Underwing. What a moth! #TeamMoth

Are you excited for #BES2025 ? We sure are! You can catch us at the ‘Meet the SIGs’ event on Tuesday, as well as the Conservation & Macro SIGs Social later that evening. Please drop by and say hi!

My friend Claudia texted me yesterday to report a Hummingbird Hawk-moth in her Highgate front garden. I sometimes trap at her place (e.g. where I caught the Four-spotted Footman) and she knows her nature well enough to be certain. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #TeamMoth

Moth Advent 11. As the June heatwave continued, I took up the offer to run the MV in my friends Javier and Karine's nearby garden. A superb night: cold wine, great company, 112 species, and 7 lifers including this Bordered Sallow. All just a 5-minute walk from home in inner London. #TeamMoth

Congratulations @rachelhester.bsky.social - @uclcber.bsky.social has been so lucky to have you! #bioinvasions #invasivespecies #iecology #biologicalinvasions #alienspecies #nonnative

Yesterday afternoon @rachelhester.bsky.social successfully defended her PhD thesis—𝗔 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶-𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘁 𝘐𝘤𝘩𝘵𝘩𝘺𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘢 𝘢𝘭𝘱𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻—we couldn't be more proud @uclcber.bsky.social @zslscience.bsky.social @ucllifesciences.bsky.social