😂

😀

Do I sense a bit of friendly competition? 😃

Hello Steve. No, not too many in Suffolk. Maybe they are having a good year. Will certainly try a few more tetrads. 👍

Coleophora binderella (Alder Case-bearer). Larva and cases of three individuals found around Long Melford in Suffolk over the last couple of days. All were on Hazel (despite the common name the larvae feed on Hazel, Hornbeam and Birch as well as Alder). Nice to find. #teammoth

A fine display of BLUEBELLS in West Suffolk today. #wildflowerhour

Dyseriocrania subpurpurella (Common Spring Jewel). A common moth species - although I don't seem to get many to light. Most of my records are of its leaf mines on oak. This one was trapped in Long Melford, Suffolk (14/04/26). #mothsmatter

A good afternoon at Abberton Reservoir with 2CY BONAPARTE'S GULL, 2 ARCTIC TERNS, probably 50+ YELLOW WAGTAILS, 7 SPOONBILLS, 40 SAND MARTINS and a COMMON SANDPIPER amongst the highlights. #essexbirding

Nice to get the first 3 SEDGE WARBLERS of the year along the River Stour at Long Melford this morning. Nearby, 8 HOUSE MARTINS, 5 SWALLOWS and a single SAND MARTIN over adjacent fields and 2 CETTI'S WARBLERS heard singing. #suffolkbirding

Thanks Erica. I'm very pleased to have seen it.

Thanks so much Simon. I would have liked a better photo with the wings flat, but it kept walking around and waving its wings over its back like little semaphore flags. You help is much appreciated. 👍

I believe this fly is Chetostoma curvinerve (Honeysuckle Picturing), but I am hoping @flygirlnhm.bsky.social might be kind enough to confirm it for me. If so, it appears to be just the second record for Suffolk (and the first for VC26). Seen today in Long Melford.

Cramp-ball Fungus Weevil (Platyrhinus resinosus). I found five of these stunning weevils today in Long Melford, Suffolk. As their common name suggests, they feed on Cramp-ball fungus.

Two SWALLOWS seen around the Foxearth Meadows Nature Reserve in Essex this afternoon. My first of this year. #essexbirding

Andrena vaga (Grey-backed Mining Bee). Foxearth, Essex. Previously thought to be extinct in the UK, this species is believed to have recolonised southern (and south-east) England in recent years. Probably 30+ individuals seen.

SMALL EGGAR from Shimpling in Suffolk last night. The first time I've seen an adult of this attractive species. #mothsmatter

Thanks Vanna. I'm certainly no mycologist, but it appears to be a pretty good record.

Thank you very much James. Appreciated. 👍

I found this nice little fungus on several dead Hazel stems in old coppice at Long Melford. I believe it's Encoelia furfuracea (Spring Hazelcup) which appears to be rather scarce in West Suffolk. Hope my identification is correct.

Dotted Chestnut

Lead-coloured Drab

Two moth highlights from earlier this week in Long Melford, Suffolk: DOTTED CHESTNUT and LEAD-COLOURED DRAB. Thursday (5th) was very productive with 119 moths of 15 species in two and a half hours of trapping on the edge of an ancient wood. #mothsmatter

Hello Phil. Thanks for your message. Willow Tit is certainly long gone, but Marsh Tit is still quite numerous and there were five Nightingale territories in that general area last year. The area as a whole is now good with several fields in HLS and some EA winter scrapes created along Chad Brook.

The harvestman Rilaena triangularis. Found in woodland leaf litter, Long Melford, Suffolk.

Nice to see some (insect) signs of spring. 😎

It was nice to have some sunshine and warmth today (instead of rain!). The weather tempted out 10 BRIMSTONES, 3 COMMAS and a PEACOCK butterfly at Long Melford in Suffolk; all my first sightings this year.

I did wonder about Megachile species. 👍

It was interesting to be able to see these old solitary bee breeding chamber cells in a block of split wood. There were three 'tunnels' that had been used. Would have been nice to know which species was involved. #longmelford #suffolk

Thanks Tim. Certainly one I will be keeping my eye out for. 👍

My Long Melford local patch produced 598 LINNETS (in flocks of 400, 125 and 73), 93 CHAFFINCHES, 118 FIELDFARES, a flyover SISKIN, singing CHIFFCHAFF, 46 PIED WAGTAILS and 3 GREY WAGTAILS during this morning's walk. #suffolkbirding

Cylindroiulus punctatus (Blunt-tailed Snake Millipede).

Glomeris marginata (Pill Millipede).

Tachypodoiulus niger (White-legged Snake Millipede)

Three common millipedes found in Long Melford woodland this week. Millipedes are a new group for me so I'm starting with the 'easy' ones. 🙂
1. Cylindroiulus punctatus (Blunt-tailed Snake Millipede)
2. Glomeris marginata (Pill Millipede)
3. Tachypodoiulus niger (White-legged Snake Millipede)
#suffolk

A total of 51 bird species recorded on my first Long Melford (Suffolk) and Liston (Essex) local patch walk of February. Highlights included 135 CHAFFINCHES, 130 LINNETS, 330 LAPWINGS, a singing CHIFFCHAFF, 145 COMMON GULLS, 35 MEADOW PIPITS, 2 SISKINS and a WOODCOCK. #suffolkbirding #essexbirding