Temple Balsall

Early Thorn.

First Moth out of the #teammoth trap this morning was this rather delicate, and pretty NFM/NFG #23 Early Thorn.

It was a bit floppy when I tried to photograph it on the bench, but looked a lot more natural hung in a tree.

7/6 from my trap lastnight, should of been one more but the little fekker flew off before I could photograph it and it would of been a nfg cause I didn’t have a clue what it was 🤬
Still had one nfg a dotted border so will take that…. #teammoth

1st butterfly visitor of the year to my North Norfolk garden yesterday, a Peacock before the mist came in. Have you had any butterflies in your garden yet this year? #savebutterflies

Toothwort Lathraea squamaria. Plant or creature? A couple of early spikes showing in central Hampshire today. @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Morning.

You Jin (b. 1979), “The Secret Garden” (2014), oil on canvas, 160 x 120 cm.

A barred spiral galaxy from the Galaxy Zoo 2 project, classified by 44 volunteers.

A barred spiral galaxy, observed with the Apache Point 2.5m Telescope in the SDSS survey.

It is at redshift 0.050 (lookback time 698.4 million years) with coordinates (167.62639, 55.16986).

44 volunteers classified this galaxy in Galaxy Zoo 2.

Green Hellebore Helleborus viridis in a beautiful strip of Hazel coppice at Walderton, West Sussex today. @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Large Tortoiseshell crowd - Kent

Male Crossbill - Kent Wood

Trees in a wood in Kent

Madeira cake ready to be eaten

The Wednesday Birder Club went up to the woods this lunchtime to escape the fog and took Honorary Member/Padawan Jacob with us

At least two Large Tortoiseshells, beautiful pair of Crossbills, Goshawk and lots of trees

Finished a complete Madeira cake - washed down with tea in the spring sunshine

Mottled Grey

Oak Beauty

Twin-spotted Quaker

6/6 last night in Cromford with the standout moth being this Mottled Grey. A new species for me and one I'd hoped might be possible on Cromford Moor, so rather a surprise to get it in the garden. Twin-spotted Quaker and Double-striped Pug also nfy. #TeamMoth

Over the next 2 days we could see some of the highest concentrations of Saharan dust recorded in the UK - an exciting event if it happened during the warmer months, but I doubt many moths will cross the nr Continent to reach us. We should certainly see an increase in Painted Lady though #teammoth

One last reminder of my talk tomorrow night on my book at Exeter Street Hall at 7.30 pm (until 8.30 pm). I will be selling the book at a discounted rate of £32 (cash preferred). Hope to see some of you there! It's only £2 entry.

My annual failure to get a decent photo of Orange Underwing, this time on @hampsteadheathcol.bsky.social. In the treetops at about 20 metres range. Possibly enough of a catch to see the orange intrusion through the brown terminal fascia...?! #TeamMoth

A Peacock butterfly with red wings and iridescent eyespots basking amongst ground vegetation.

The sun has struggled to burn through the fog today, but a few bright spells around lunchtime brought out a couple of Peacocks around Penryn Campus.

Nice to get the Pug season underway here with this fresh Double-striped, which was actually in the kitchen. #TeamMoth

our 2nd Small Quaker found on bench next to trap

One of 3 Common Quakers last night.

our 2nd Dotted Border this year, our first was found dead in a spiders web.

Another tiny 11 spot Ladybird, actually under the leg of the bench!

8/5 last night in Hunstanton, nfy Oak Beauty, found in spiders web, released, no photo. Also Small Quaker*, 3 C Q*, 2 H Char. & Dotted Border*. 11 spot Ladybird* under bench. #norfolkmoths #teammoth

Titchwell - nfy SE Owl, Stonechat & Black N Grebe. Gulls galore! #norfolkbirding