😂

Pale Prominent on fence

Best of 13/7 in Axminster VC3 this morning was this whacky, NFG Pale Prominent. 😎
#TeamMoth

Red Chestnut on slate. Only ever caught two or three of these in Bridport.

Oak-tree Pug on slate.

Maiden's Blush on slate.

A better return of 12/10 last night included 3 NFGs: Red Chestnut, Maiden's Blush and Brimstone; plus a 2FG Oak-tree Pug that sat still for a photo.
Axminster VC3.
#TeamMoth

Cream-spot Tiger on slate.

3 wks ago my wife brought home a caterpillar she'd found crawling along the prom at Seaton. ObsID reckoned Ruby Tiger, so imagine my delight at finding this belter in the cage today! Cream-spot Tiger is a new moth for me, and technically this one is the earliest Devon adult by 4 days. 😎
#TeamMoth

Been less than ideal weather here too, which won't have helped...

Thanks Paul, glad it's not just me.

Weather less than optimal here too Dave. Definitely not helping! 😄

Waved Umber in plastic pot

Not sure why, but really dire numbers here in Axminster VC3 lately, with just 14 moths in last 5 nights. 🤔
NFG Waved Umber in this morning's 4/4 the one and only highlight. 🎉
#TeamMoth

Cabbage Moth in plastic pot.

A bit wild out there tonight, but this very early (and NFG) Cabbage Moth has made it worth the effort of anchoring the trap with multiple bungees! 😄
#TeamMoth

Diamond-back Moth on white sheet

Streamer on wooden fence

Yay! A migrant! Despite big drop in temp, not as dreadful as I thought it would be, with 31/8 including one NFG Diamond-back and a surprising 9 Streamer.
Axminster VC3.
#TeamMoth

Powdered Quaker on slate

Scorched Carpet on slate

Leek Moth (Acrolepiopsis assectella) on slate

Thought 43/19 was a decent haul until I scrolled today's #TeamMoth output! This bit of East Devon evidently a migrant moth no-fly zone right now...🙄
Still, 4 NFG included a nice Powdered Quaker, 3 Scorched Carpet, Leek Moth and Common Pug. On 52 for year, 78 for garden.
Axminster VC9.

Ditto. Had a thumbs-up type email last night. 🎉🍾

Interesting history in Devon: first 2 records in 2023, none in 2024, 13 in 2025!

Grey Birch on brickwork. New moth for me.

Possible Pale Maple Stilt (Caloptilia honoratella) in plastic pot.

Swallow Prominent on wooden fence post.

7 NFG among a pleasing 40/17 this morning included a lifer Grey Birch. First decent showing of micros too. Best (15 Devon records) a poss Pale Maple Stilt, but not sure if can be ID'd 100% without gen. det.
A good night. 😎
Axminster VC3
#TeamMoth

Lunar Marbled Brown on egg carton

Pick of this morning's 21/10 was this NFG Lunar Marbled Brown. Only ever caught three in the Bridport garden. Another Shoulder Stripe and 4 Streamer were nice too. 😎
Axminster VC9.
#TeamMoth

Nice. 😎👍

Where's the patch Ian? Is that Tring?

Snap! 😄

Nut-tree Tussock on brickwork next to stainless steel base of porch light.

21/10 in Axminster VC3 last night, including 2 NFG Nut-tree Tussock, this one pulled in by the porch light. Also 4 Streamer, 2 Shoulder Stripe and a Spindle Moth. Happy with that. 😎

At home, damp microfibre to clean, dry to polish.

But often an 'ongoing' optics issue in stormy seawatches or windy coastal walks, specs included. Best I can ever manage is regular 'breathe on them and wipe'! Always microfibre though. Too much t-shirt and tissue treatment not great for lenses! 😄

😂

Quarterly Moth Report It's about time I compiled some sort of moth update, so here it is... In the first three months of 2026 we have caught 338 moths of 38 s...

Warning! No birds at all in this one...
#TeamMoth

Yep, reckon so. 15 Streamers so far, and 12 Shoulder Stripe.
Sorry. 😕

That's a beauty, Dave! 😍

Oak-tree Pug in plastic pot.

Apart from a small influx of Streamers, best of 18/8 was this NFG Oak-tree Pug. Foiled my photography plans, so here's last night's pot shot. I think this brings the 2026 garden total to 37 spp.
Axminster VC3.
#TeamMoth

Streamer on wooden fence.

Streamer on wooden fence.

Streamer on brick wall.

Streamer on brick wall.

Streamer-tastic night, with 8 of the little beauties, mostly on fence and walls close to trap. Almost all looking very fresh too.
I think they like to rest head-down. 😄
Axminster VC3.
#TeamMoth

A fresh Water Carpet in plastic pot.

Worth putting the trap out tonight, even if it's just for this pristine NFG Water Carpet. Only ever caught one in Bridport, at the end of last April. 😎
Axminster VC9
#TeamMoth

View from upstairs of the 885 bus out of Axminster. Road sign indicates Seaton straight ahead.

Bus stop on Seaton seafront.

Well, that was a first. The 885 from Axminster to Seaton this afternoon for a bit of bus pass birding. 😄

Shan't hold my breath. 😄 Habitat nice though. Beats the countless acres of depressing green desert that makes up so much of local 'countryside' within walking distance...

Yes, that later pond is visible from within the housing estate. Development here still ongoing.
The NW water body has little viewing area at SW corner that seems to be v popular with parents of small children for feeding tame, bottomless Mallards. 😄

WANT! Chances v slim here, but not impossible. It's the anticipation of moments like that, and the fact that they do occasionally happen, which make mothing so bloomin' addictive! 😄
Nice one! 😁👍