Dave Emley

having seen a micro (probably alternella) flying at Rode Hall (snowdrops looking good btw) I thought I'd give the trap a go. Unfortuately the council decided to repair the street light overlooking the garden! Managed 4/3 with Common Quaker, Chestnut and Grey-shoulder-knot. #TeamMoth

On final approach at Doxey.

Love Song Thrushes. This one sang all the time I was at Doxey.

What passes for a good view of a Cetti's Warbler - at Doxey 😀

Although I couldn't get very far at Doxey, I did get excellent views of a Great White Egret.

You could say that Doxey Marshes is impassable!

White Butterbur at Cotton Dell, Oakamoor. Not a native species but attractive all the same.

Staffordshire WT reserve of Cotton Dell, Oakamoor. An attractive spot and good for White Butterbur.

Where to go on a rare sunny day? We decided on Oakamoor and Cotton Dell. Lot of water in the R. Churnet. Immature Alder catkins have a very attractive purple tinge. Noted that the White Butterbur is spreading from the Dell to here.

Hair Ice is one of those things other people see - until today. This was at Staffordshire Wildlife Trust reserve Cotton Dell, Oakamoor. It forms on rotting wood on humid cold nights when temps are just below freezing and in the presence of the fungus Exidiopsis effusum.

Mr and Mrs Goosander from the Kingfisher hide at Trentham

2 skeins of Pink-footed Geese over the house today - stirring stuff.

Saved from the Irish Entertainer by a Pale Brindled Beauty on the wall. Never seem to catch much in February; don't know why. #TeamMoth

Our now regular female Sparrowhawk called in and stayed there for a good 10 minutes.

Little Egret off Valley Road, Stone. Was expecting flooding but there was none.

front garden not looking too bad on this dull, wet day.

pedunculate rather than sessile 😀

Can't beat a real map!

Robins are singing so Spring not far off. Caught this one just as it was starting to rain - again!

Lucky encounter today!

Out of interest, the GSK I found on a fence post on the 12th is still there! During that time it has rotated its position between vertical, 30 degrees, horizontal and upside down. Quite interesting. Do hibernating butterflies etc do a similar thing. Does the wind direction affect attitude?

Honoured visitor to the garden. Juvenile female Sparrowhawk holding on to the fence is the strong wind.

The Grey Shoulder-knot I found on a fence post on the 12th is still there! Cynics will say I pinned it there for a year-tick but it has changed orientation over the 3 days so is alive and just hibernating I guess. Interestingly the shield bug I found on same day is also in the same spot. #TeamMoth

The RSK I saw yesterday was in the same place 24hours later!

Pair of Shovelers at Trentham Gardens today.

Nothing in the trap but a Pale Brindled Beauty on the window sill SJ93. #TeamMoth

Change in temperature encouraged this Hawthorn Shieldbug to emerge from hibernation.

Didn't expect this! Not in trap but just down the road on a fence post. Grey Shoulder-knot, first moth of the year. #TeamMoth

OK, more Fieldfare shots but you have to!

You don't often get a close enough to a Cormorant to see its green eye.