Hello botanists of Bluesky, I will be in north Wales next month and would like to look for the legendary Snowdon Lily. I've found various grid refs but it's a bit unclear which would require serious mountaineering! Would anyone be kind enough to help via a private message? @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Iberian Chiffchaff at Westleton Heath #Suffolk this morning. #ukbirding #suffolkbirding #birds
Coronet (Craniophora ligustri)
Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica)
Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)
Oak Nycteoline (Nycteola revayana)
"New for year" visitors to my #Norwich garden trap this week. A splendid Coronet, Muslin Moth ♂️, Shuttle-shaped Dart & Oak Nycteoline. #moths #norfolkmoths #teammoth #mothsmatter #pollinators #bugsky
Some of the other fabulous moths from this morning's trap. Pale Prominent, Nut-tree Tussock, Lunar Marbled Brown & another pic of the star visitor, Pinion-spotted Pug #norfolkmoths #moths #mothsmatter #teammoth #bugsky #pollinators
Pinion-spotted Pug (Eupithecia insigniata). New species for my garden (and me!) to light overnight. A small grey moth with prominent dark markings on the leading edge of the forewing with distinctive thin cross-lines. A beautifully patterned species. This is a Nationally Scarves B listed species. It's scarce in Norfolk, primarily seen in the NW of county, the Brecks as well as occasionally in Norwich. It is the first modern record for my tetrad, having previously been recorded by E.A.Atmore 1873-1913.
Acleris literana (Lichen Tortrix)
Lime Hawk-moth (Mimas tiliae)
Absolute scenes in the #Norwich moth trap this morning! Pinion-spotted Pug - a total stunner & new for the garden, who says pugs are boring?! Also the 2nd Acleris literana this month (3rd for garden) & first Lime Hawk-moth for '26. #teammoth #mothsmatter #moths #pollinators #norfolkmoths #bugsky
More pics of birthday boy Benji
Happy 11th birthday to our fur-baby Benji for tomorrow! Apologies, not wildlife related!!
Sun setting on Friday (10/4) and rising this morning (15/4) in Norwich & west Norfolk respectively
Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana)
Hawthorn Shield Bug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale)
Common Mourning Bee (Melecta albifrons)
Common Mourning Bee (Melecta albifrons)
A cup of tea in my #Norwich garden at lunchtime produced some "new for year" insects. Gooden's Nomad Bee, Hawthorn Shield Bug & a personal favourite, Common Mourning Bee. #bugsky #bees
Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula)
Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)
Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)
Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii)
Other highlights overnight in #Norwich were Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula) & Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) - both "new for year". Also this worn Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii) is the first of this species I have a pic for in '26! #norfolkmoths #mothsmatter #teammoth #moths #pollinators #bugsky
A really nice moth trap catch overnight in #Norwich. The highlight for me was this beautiful Lunar Marbled Brown (Drymonia ruficornis). Just the sixth garden record (one in '20, four in '24).
#norfolkmoths #teammoth #mothsmatter #moths #pollinators #bugsky
Oak-tree Pug (Eupithecia dodoneata) was another "new for year" species in my #Norwich moth trap this morning. The run of Frosted Green (Polyploca ridens) continues, a lovely fresh but dark individual showing variation with its counterpart. #teammoth #norfolkmoths #mothsmatter #bugsky
Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa) NFY in my #Norwich moth trap this morning. A common but mesmerisingly beautiful species. Always a welcome visitor. #norfolkmoths #moths #mothsmatter #teammoth #bugsky #pollinators
Visiting Ranworth Church this am, following up a belated report of a new bee for Norfolk on iNaturalist by bhunt27, I quickly discovered a thriving colony of Osmia cornuta nesting in the south-facing wall of the church. Most nests are 3-5m up but a few were at head height.
Acleris literana (Lichen Tortrix)
Acleris literana (Lichen Tortrix)
Acleris literana (Lichen Tortrix)
Brindled Pug (upithecia abbreviata). Many people are dismissive or down on pugs. They can be tricky to id, especially when worn. But I rather like them. Perhaps that's the birder in me, always trying to pick out the "wheat from the chaff". This individual is very fresh with intricate patterning & colours, a very easy id and a most welcome visitor. I think I enjoyed it more than the more scare A.literana.
Chuffed to find Acleris literana (Lichen Tortrix) on the moth trap this am, the 2nd garden record. A worn, shabby individual, but you can see why it has it's colloquial name. Brindled Pug (upithecia abbreviata) also "new for year" - my thoughts in ALT. #teammoth #mothsmatter #bugsky #norfolkmoths
Yellow-legged Mining Bee (Andrena flavipes)
Gwynne's Mining Bee (Andrena bicolor)
Black Oil Beetle (Meloe proscarabaeus)
Black Oil Beetle (Meloe proscarabaeus)
Yellow-legged Mining Bee (Andrena flavipes), Gwynne's Mining Bee (Andrena bicolor) & Black Oil Beetle (Meloe proscarabaeus) in West #Norfolk this morning. #bees #pollinators #solitarybees #oilbeetles #bugsky #insects #beetles
Brindled Beauty (Lycia hirtaria) was "new for year" in this morning's #Norwich moth trap. Plus a brace of Frosted Green (Polyploca ridens) - always a welcome sight. #moths #teammoth #mothsmatter #norfolkmoths #bugsky
Pleased & surprised to spot this female Buffish Mining Bee (Andrena nigroaenea) on my urban dog walk just now. I think this is my first #Norwich record. Spotted whilst admiring Hairy-footed Flower Bees on a large area of Red Dead Nettle that has not been mown down! #bees #bugsky #solitarybees
Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) resting on a fence post near moth trap
Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) resting on a fence post near moth trap
Frosted Green (Polyploca ridens) resting on chip of bark
Frosted Green (Polyploca ridens) resting on chip of bark
A little bit of colour in this morning's moth trap. Only my second Early Thorn (and first of the spring generation) and one of two Frosted Green, more regular in the garden but great to see after none in '25. #norfolkmoths #mothsmatter #teammoth #moths #bugsky
Superb pic
Picture of a polaroid of a Great Egret from 1993. Photographer unknown
Picture of a polaroid of a Great Egret from 1993. Photographer unknown
Found it. Even better than I recalled, 55th record.
Presume that's the one I ticked on 1st May '93? I think I worked out it was something like the 90th record for Britain. I have a polaroid of it somewhere, purchased from the back of a toggers car or from the albums at In Focus, as was the way. Purple Heron on Gypsy Lane, Brancaster on the same day.
Yep, I think so too. Very jealous, I've never had one here in Norwich (yet!).
A gorgeous Pine Beauty (Panolis flammea) in the trap this morning. 3rd #Norwich garden record. #mothsmatter #teammoth #norfolkmoths
A freshly emerged Greater Bulb-fly, wings still not fully "inflated" on the leaf of a house plant. Presumably having crawled up from the pot soil below.
Greater Bulb-fly on my finger prior to release
Greater Bulb-fly on my finger prior to release
Greater Bulb-fly released into the sunshine on hazel trellis to warm up and fully "inflate" it's wings
A freshly emerged Greater Bulb-fly (Merodon equestris) found on a house plant this morning. So fresh that the wings were not yet fully inflated. Safely moved outside into the sun. #flies #bulbfly #bugsky
Eurasian Spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia) in #Essex last week.
#birding #essexbirding
Engrailed (Ectropis crepuscularia). Moth resting on chip of bark
Pleased to see this lovely fresh Engrailed (Ectropis crepuscularia) yesterday morning. Found on some washing hanging near the moth trap! A common species but only my 3rd garden record and the 1st of the spring generation. Previous records (3/7/20 & 27/6/25).
#teammoth #mothsmatter #norrolkmoths
Me too ha ha!
Male Grey-backed Mining Bee (Andrena vaga)
Pleased to discover several male Grey-backed Mining Bees (Andrena vaga) have emerged from the West Pottergate #Norwich colony. Hopefully some females will emerge soon to secure their future at this site. #bees #solitarybees #bugsky
@timstrudwick.bsky.social @vannabartlett.bsky.social
Hi Mark, Cliff Mining Bee (Andrena thoracica) and I think I'd go with Chocolate Mining Bee (A.scotica), assuming it didn't have red patches/band?
