Christopher Blakey
@christopherblakey.com
🎵 Theomousikos, Wycliffe Hall/University of Oxford
🦉 Wildlife watcher, recorder, and educator
📸 Mostly local photography- Oxfordshire (ex Durham)
🦋 Creator of https://durhammoths.org/
🌐 christopherblakey.com
📷 instagram.com/thewildlifewatcher
🦉 Wildlife watcher, recorder, and educator
📸 Mostly local photography- Oxfordshire (ex Durham)
🦋 Creator of https://durhammoths.org/
🌐 christopherblakey.com
📷 instagram.com/thewildlifewatcher
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Home | Durham Moths
Welcome to the Durham Moths website. The site provides descriptions, identification notes, and up-to-date information regarding the status, distribution, flight times, and occurrence of the moth speci...
durhammoths.org
Happy New Year #teammoth! I've been working on the first complete moth website for Durham alongside a few others, the result of which is here. I hope it is useful and interesting to recorders in the area and beyond! There are, no doubt, improvements/corrections– if you spot anything, do let me know.
Trapping around Cothill Fen this week produced some nice moths including Clifden Nonpareil! Evergestis limbata was the rarest to turn up, and it was nice to see Vestal and other migrants #teammoth @freshwaterhabitats.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
September 20, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Trapping around Cothill Fen this week produced some nice moths including Clifden Nonpareil! Evergestis limbata was the rarest to turn up, and it was nice to see Vestal and other migrants #teammoth @freshwaterhabitats.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
A surprising moth came to my light on Friday– the rarely-seen monster Tineid, Morophaga choragella. It's only been seen once in Durham (1862). I was also surprised by the number of Marbled White Spot– all 4 previous county records are of singles, and I got 7! #teammoth #mothsmatter #ukwildlife
July 8, 2025 at 5:44 PM
A surprising moth came to my light on Friday– the rarely-seen monster Tineid, Morophaga choragella. It's only been seen once in Durham (1862). I was also surprised by the number of Marbled White Spot– all 4 previous county records are of singles, and I got 7! #teammoth #mothsmatter #ukwildlife
Four nice micros from an afternoon stroll around Wynyard Woodland Park (VC66) last week: Dichrorampha alpinana, Schreckensteinia festaliella, Pammene regiana, and a beautiful Ptylocoma lecheana. All new to me! #teammoth #ukwildlife
June 13, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Four nice micros from an afternoon stroll around Wynyard Woodland Park (VC66) last week: Dichrorampha alpinana, Schreckensteinia festaliella, Pammene regiana, and a beautiful Ptylocoma lecheana. All new to me! #teammoth #ukwildlife
Delighted to have found Phtheochroa rugosana in Durham- the first modern adult record! An amazingly intricate moth, and a candidate for our rarest breeder due to the scarcity of White Bryony here. Keith Dover and I were following up on historic reports recently confirmed by larval records. #teammoth
June 8, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Delighted to have found Phtheochroa rugosana in Durham- the first modern adult record! An amazingly intricate moth, and a candidate for our rarest breeder due to the scarcity of White Bryony here. Keith Dover and I were following up on historic reports recently confirmed by larval records. #teammoth
Reposted by Christopher Blakey
The Durham Moths website has been updated with new data! We've had some interesting new arrivals to the county list over the last few months, including adding a new family of Lepidoptera thanks to the northward spread of Roeslerstammia erxlebella durhammoths.org #teammoth #mothsmatter
Home | Durham Moths
Welcome to the Durham Moths website. The site provides descriptions, identification notes, and up-to-date information regarding the status, distribution, flight times, and occurrence of the moth speci...
durhammoths.org
June 1, 2025 at 4:30 PM
The Durham Moths website has been updated with new data! We've had some interesting new arrivals to the county list over the last few months, including adding a new family of Lepidoptera thanks to the northward spread of Roeslerstammia erxlebella durhammoths.org #teammoth #mothsmatter
The Durham Moths website has been updated with new data! We've had some interesting new arrivals to the county list over the last few months, including adding a new family of Lepidoptera thanks to the northward spread of Roeslerstammia erxlebella durhammoths.org #teammoth #mothsmatter
Home | Durham Moths
Welcome to the Durham Moths website. The site provides descriptions, identification notes, and up-to-date information regarding the status, distribution, flight times, and occurrence of the moth speci...
durhammoths.org
June 1, 2025 at 4:30 PM
The Durham Moths website has been updated with new data! We've had some interesting new arrivals to the county list over the last few months, including adding a new family of Lepidoptera thanks to the northward spread of Roeslerstammia erxlebella durhammoths.org #teammoth #mothsmatter
A few mothing highlights from April around County Durham. Phylloporia bistrigella is rare in the county, and I was delighted to find one again. Coleophora pyrrhulipennella case was a chance find- a new site, the third county record, and the first in 35 years. #teammoth #ukwildlife #moth #insect
May 9, 2025 at 2:10 PM
A few mothing highlights from April around County Durham. Phylloporia bistrigella is rare in the county, and I was delighted to find one again. Coleophora pyrrhulipennella case was a chance find- a new site, the third county record, and the first in 35 years. #teammoth #ukwildlife #moth #insect
The last night of March brought some nice moths to my traps. Red Sword-grass was a long-awaited first for me, and I've only seen Pine Beauty and Semioscopis avellanella once before! Taken in County Durham (VC66) in forest on the edge of moorland. #teammoth #mothsmatter #ukwildlife
April 4, 2025 at 6:00 PM
The last night of March brought some nice moths to my traps. Red Sword-grass was a long-awaited first for me, and I've only seen Pine Beauty and Semioscopis avellanella once before! Taken in County Durham (VC66) in forest on the edge of moorland. #teammoth #mothsmatter #ukwildlife
The end of last week finally saw some warmer nights in Durham, so I headed out to a favourite local spot with two traps in tow. Nothing I wasn't expecting, but a decent haul nonetheless (115 moths/18 species), and Yellow Horned is one I look forward to every year. #teammoth #mothsmatter ##ukwildlife
March 24, 2025 at 7:52 PM
The end of last week finally saw some warmer nights in Durham, so I headed out to a favourite local spot with two traps in tow. Nothing I wasn't expecting, but a decent haul nonetheless (115 moths/18 species), and Yellow Horned is one I look forward to every year. #teammoth #mothsmatter ##ukwildlife
40 moths/5 species earlier this week in a local Birch woodland. Pale-brindled Beauty made up most of the numbers, though a lone Spring Usher was my favourite of the night. Durham, VC66. #teammoth #mothsmatter #ukwildlife
February 6, 2025 at 12:33 PM
40 moths/5 species earlier this week in a local Birch woodland. Pale-brindled Beauty made up most of the numbers, though a lone Spring Usher was my favourite of the night. Durham, VC66. #teammoth #mothsmatter #ukwildlife
Reposted by Christopher Blakey
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our annual UK Moth Recorders' Meeting on Saturday
In case you missed it, all the brilliant talks from the day are now available to watch back on our YouTube channel! Grab a cuppa and catch up here 👉 youtube.com/watch?v=qLhn...
#UKMRM #MothsMatter
In case you missed it, all the brilliant talks from the day are now available to watch back on our YouTube channel! Grab a cuppa and catch up here 👉 youtube.com/watch?v=qLhn...
#UKMRM #MothsMatter
January 30, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our annual UK Moth Recorders' Meeting on Saturday
In case you missed it, all the brilliant talks from the day are now available to watch back on our YouTube channel! Grab a cuppa and catch up here 👉 youtube.com/watch?v=qLhn...
#UKMRM #MothsMatter
In case you missed it, all the brilliant talks from the day are now available to watch back on our YouTube channel! Grab a cuppa and catch up here 👉 youtube.com/watch?v=qLhn...
#UKMRM #MothsMatter
Reposted by Christopher Blakey
A roundup of the mothing year at #Saltholme 2024 is online and available: community.rspb.org.uk/placestovisi... @teesbirds.bsky.social Highlights included 3 #VC66 firsts; Coleophora inulae, Elachista poae and best of all Dahlica triquetrella, found and id'd by scabz1.bsky.social #teammoth #ukmoths
January 18, 2025 at 2:50 PM
A roundup of the mothing year at #Saltholme 2024 is online and available: community.rspb.org.uk/placestovisi... @teesbirds.bsky.social Highlights included 3 #VC66 firsts; Coleophora inulae, Elachista poae and best of all Dahlica triquetrella, found and id'd by scabz1.bsky.social #teammoth #ukmoths
The frost finally broke in Durham this week, so I headed out to a local woodland with the LED light for a few hours. 23 moths of 5 species was better than expected- Mottled Umber did most of the heavy lifting numbers-wise. Finally, the first moth records of the year! #teammoth #ukwildlife
January 15, 2025 at 5:43 PM
The frost finally broke in Durham this week, so I headed out to a local woodland with the LED light for a few hours. 23 moths of 5 species was better than expected- Mottled Umber did most of the heavy lifting numbers-wise. Finally, the first moth records of the year! #teammoth #ukwildlife
Reposted by Christopher Blakey
In about a month or so Achlya flavicornis (Yellow Horned) will be on-the-wing and always a pleasure to see. This Dorset specimen posing nicely for me way back in 2007. #MothsMatter #TeamMoth
January 12, 2025 at 5:41 PM
In about a month or so Achlya flavicornis (Yellow Horned) will be on-the-wing and always a pleasure to see. This Dorset specimen posing nicely for me way back in 2007. #MothsMatter #TeamMoth
Reposted by Christopher Blakey
Happy New Year #teammoth! I've been working on the first complete moth website for Durham alongside a few others, the result of which is here. I hope it is useful and interesting to recorders in the area and beyond! There are, no doubt, improvements/corrections– if you spot anything, do let me know.
Home | Durham Moths
Welcome to the Durham Moths website. The site provides descriptions, identification notes, and up-to-date information regarding the status, distribution, flight times, and occurrence of the moth speci...
durhammoths.org
January 1, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Happy New Year #teammoth! I've been working on the first complete moth website for Durham alongside a few others, the result of which is here. I hope it is useful and interesting to recorders in the area and beyond! There are, no doubt, improvements/corrections– if you spot anything, do let me know.
Happy New Year #teammoth! I've been working on the first complete moth website for Durham alongside a few others, the result of which is here. I hope it is useful and interesting to recorders in the area and beyond! There are, no doubt, improvements/corrections– if you spot anything, do let me know.
Home | Durham Moths
Welcome to the Durham Moths website. The site provides descriptions, identification notes, and up-to-date information regarding the status, distribution, flight times, and occurrence of the moth speci...
durhammoths.org
January 1, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Happy New Year #teammoth! I've been working on the first complete moth website for Durham alongside a few others, the result of which is here. I hope it is useful and interesting to recorders in the area and beyond! There are, no doubt, improvements/corrections– if you spot anything, do let me know.
Reposted by Christopher Blakey
All welcome at Butterfly Conservation’s free online UK Moth Recorders' Meeting (Saturday 25 January 2025 on Zoom). Reserve your place now bit.ly/3Z2MOzc There’s a fab line-up of speakers: bit.ly/3Z2MxfE #TeamMoth please repost to spread the word!
December 5, 2024 at 5:47 PM
All welcome at Butterfly Conservation’s free online UK Moth Recorders' Meeting (Saturday 25 January 2025 on Zoom). Reserve your place now bit.ly/3Z2MOzc There’s a fab line-up of speakers: bit.ly/3Z2MxfE #TeamMoth please repost to spread the word!
3 of at least 11 Heralds I found roosting in the ancient undercroft of Finchale Priory, Durham. I wonder how long they've been roosting here! #teammoth #HibernatingHerald #ukwildlife #mothsmatter #insect #moth
December 14, 2024 at 5:27 PM
3 of at least 11 Heralds I found roosting in the ancient undercroft of Finchale Priory, Durham. I wonder how long they've been roosting here! #teammoth #HibernatingHerald #ukwildlife #mothsmatter #insect #moth
Another of one of the Jack Snipe I found this week not far from home in Durham. I've come across quite a few birds locally this winter. #UKBirding #UKwildlife #bird
November 29, 2024 at 8:14 PM
Another of one of the Jack Snipe I found this week not far from home in Durham. I've come across quite a few birds locally this winter. #UKBirding #UKwildlife #bird
Reposted by Christopher Blakey
Well it's no surprise that my #GardenMothScheme
data show 2024 to be the worst year for overall moth numbers since 2017. Quarter 4 (autumn) was pretty good but Quarters 1-3 (spring, early & late summer) were all poor. Two other GMS gardens in S. Wales show a similar pattern. #TeamMoth
data show 2024 to be the worst year for overall moth numbers since 2017. Quarter 4 (autumn) was pretty good but Quarters 1-3 (spring, early & late summer) were all poor. Two other GMS gardens in S. Wales show a similar pattern. #TeamMoth
November 28, 2024 at 8:15 PM
Well it's no surprise that my #GardenMothScheme
data show 2024 to be the worst year for overall moth numbers since 2017. Quarter 4 (autumn) was pretty good but Quarters 1-3 (spring, early & late summer) were all poor. Two other GMS gardens in S. Wales show a similar pattern. #TeamMoth
data show 2024 to be the worst year for overall moth numbers since 2017. Quarter 4 (autumn) was pretty good but Quarters 1-3 (spring, early & late summer) were all poor. Two other GMS gardens in S. Wales show a similar pattern. #TeamMoth
There's a small marshy spring near me that holds Jack Snipe every year. I found two sitting today, including one sat relatively clear of vegetation, and it let me creep right up to it without moving an inch! One of my favourite sights in the cold season. Durham, UK. #UKBirding #UKwildlife #bird
November 26, 2024 at 4:34 PM
There's a small marshy spring near me that holds Jack Snipe every year. I found two sitting today, including one sat relatively clear of vegetation, and it let me creep right up to it without moving an inch! One of my favourite sights in the cold season. Durham, UK. #UKBirding #UKwildlife #bird
Beech-green Carpet was a new species for me this year- three came to my LED light one night in a Durham ancient woodland. #teammoth #ukwildlife #mothsmatter #insect #moth
November 25, 2024 at 5:48 PM
Beech-green Carpet was a new species for me this year- three came to my LED light one night in a Durham ancient woodland. #teammoth #ukwildlife #mothsmatter #insect #moth
I was very pleased to find Barred Carpet this summer at its only modern site in County Durham. #teammoth #ukwildlife #mothsmatter #insect #moth
November 24, 2024 at 5:26 PM
I was very pleased to find Barred Carpet this summer at its only modern site in County Durham. #teammoth #ukwildlife #mothsmatter #insect #moth
Another mothing highlight this year was finding day-flying Manchester Treble-bar on the Durham moors. Absolutely exquisite things! #teammoth #ukwildlife #mothsmatter #insect #moth #wild #macro 🦋🌿
November 21, 2024 at 6:38 PM
Another mothing highlight this year was finding day-flying Manchester Treble-bar on the Durham moors. Absolutely exquisite things! #teammoth #ukwildlife #mothsmatter #insect #moth #wild #macro 🦋🌿
It seems a good time to be posting some 2024 mothing highlights. This June I finally caught up with Grass Wave in Durham, which is only known from one 10km square on the edge of the moors. This one sat obligingly as the sun set. #ukwildlife #teammoth #mothsmatter #insect #moth #wild #macro 🦋🌿
November 20, 2024 at 4:54 PM
It seems a good time to be posting some 2024 mothing highlights. This June I finally caught up with Grass Wave in Durham, which is only known from one 10km square on the edge of the moors. This one sat obligingly as the sun set. #ukwildlife #teammoth #mothsmatter #insect #moth #wild #macro 🦋🌿