@rayb126.bsky.social
Birder and general wildlife watcher, especially moths
Had my first December of the year last night 13/11/25 at home in St Helens, one of my favourite winter species, I know they can be quite common elsewhere but it's only the 23rd record for our area. #mothsmatter #StHelensBirding
November 14, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Had my first December of the year last night 13/11/25 at home in St Helens, one of my favourite winter species, I know they can be quite common elsewhere but it's only the 23rd record for our area. #mothsmatter #StHelensBirding
A nice Barred Sallow and a Beaded Chestnut, two of the more uncommon species from last night 18/10/25 at home in St Helens, both nfy. #mothsmatter #StHelensBirding
October 19, 2025 at 12:54 PM
A nice Barred Sallow and a Beaded Chestnut, two of the more uncommon species from last night 18/10/25 at home in St Helens, both nfy. #mothsmatter #StHelensBirding
This Grey Shoulder-knot was the best of the 30 of 16 species recorded last night 16/10/25, at home in St Helens, the 22nd record for our area. #mothmatter #StHelensBirding
October 17, 2025 at 8:41 AM
This Grey Shoulder-knot was the best of the 30 of 16 species recorded last night 16/10/25, at home in St Helens, the 22nd record for our area. #mothmatter #StHelensBirding
Descent night last night 13/10/25 at home in St Helens, with 50 moths of 18 species, with this nice Yellow-line Quaker one of the better ones, nowhere near as common as Red-line Quaker here. Also a late Uncertain, this being the latest record by over a month at home. #Mothsmatter #StHelensBirding
October 14, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Descent night last night 13/10/25 at home in St Helens, with 50 moths of 18 species, with this nice Yellow-line Quaker one of the better ones, nowhere near as common as Red-line Quaker here. Also a late Uncertain, this being the latest record by over a month at home. #Mothsmatter #StHelensBirding
And yet another Palpita vitrealis last night in St Helens, clearly a different moth to the last one, also gaps in between trapping, and two Rusty-dot Pearl, Silver Y and Turnip Moth (no pics) #mothsmatter #StHelensBirding
September 7, 2025 at 8:28 AM
And yet another Palpita vitrealis last night in St Helens, clearly a different moth to the last one, also gaps in between trapping, and two Rusty-dot Pearl, Silver Y and Turnip Moth (no pics) #mothsmatter #StHelensBirding
Yet another Palpita vitrealis last night at home in St Helens, my 4th of the year and a slight less worn individual than the others I've had, to put it in context, there are only 12 other records for our area. #mothsmatter #StHelensBirding
September 5, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Yet another Palpita vitrealis last night at home in St Helens, my 4th of the year and a slight less worn individual than the others I've had, to put it in context, there are only 12 other records for our area. #mothsmatter #StHelensBirding
Another Palpita vitrealis last night, my third one of the year but nothing else of note
September 2, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Another Palpita vitrealis last night, my third one of the year but nothing else of note
Maiden's Blush last night 19/8/25 at home in St Helens, Merseyside, only the second one I've had at home. #mothsmatter #StHelensBirding
August 20, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Maiden's Blush last night 19/8/25 at home in St Helens, Merseyside, only the second one I've had at home. #mothsmatter #StHelensBirding
A Scarce Bordered Straw was the best of the bunch last night at home in St Helens, the first since 2015 locally. #mothsmatter #StHelensBirding
August 18, 2025 at 9:46 AM
A Scarce Bordered Straw was the best of the bunch last night at home in St Helens, the first since 2015 locally. #mothsmatter #StHelensBirding
I caught this moth last night 9/8/25 at home in St Helens, Merseyside which I reckon is a Twin-spotted Wainscot, as this would be a new species for me and St Helens and is a species that I am not familiar with, I would welcome opinions on if people agree, cheers. #mothsmatter #StHelensBirding
August 10, 2025 at 9:14 AM
I caught this moth last night 9/8/25 at home in St Helens, Merseyside which I reckon is a Twin-spotted Wainscot, as this would be a new species for me and St Helens and is a species that I am not familiar with, I would welcome opinions on if people agree, cheers. #mothsmatter #StHelensBirding
It was a bit chaotic last night trapping at my sisters in Haydock St Helens, with 427 moths of 97 species, the highlights being another Kent Black Arches, Bordered Beauty, Round-winged Muslin and 2 Stathmopoda pedella, all pictures taken with my phone, the latter pot shot. #Teammoth #StHelensBirding
July 4, 2025 at 6:34 PM
It was a bit chaotic last night trapping at my sisters in Haydock St Helens, with 427 moths of 97 species, the highlights being another Kent Black Arches, Bordered Beauty, Round-winged Muslin and 2 Stathmopoda pedella, all pictures taken with my phone, the latter pot shot. #Teammoth #StHelensBirding
Had two new species last night at home, one of which is new for St Helens, they are Stigmella assimilella, 2.5 mm and the new for St Helens, Stigmella trimaculella 3mm. Almost missed them. These are quite distinctive species. #Teammoth #StHelensBirding
June 26, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Had two new species last night at home, one of which is new for St Helens, they are Stigmella assimilella, 2.5 mm and the new for St Helens, Stigmella trimaculella 3mm. Almost missed them. These are quite distinctive species. #Teammoth #StHelensBirding
A migrant Palpita vitrealis at home in St Helens last night, slightly better condition than the first one I had here.
June 24, 2025 at 1:20 PM
A migrant Palpita vitrealis at home in St Helens last night, slightly better condition than the first one I had here.
A red letter day today with two new moth species for me at home in St Helens, Merseyside, the first being a Scarlet Tiger, but even more exciting was the micro moth I caught, a Anarsia innoxiella which is not only new for me but it is the first record for Lancashire. #Teammoth #StHelensBirding
June 21, 2025 at 5:02 PM
A red letter day today with two new moth species for me at home in St Helens, Merseyside, the first being a Scarlet Tiger, but even more exciting was the micro moth I caught, a Anarsia innoxiella which is not only new for me but it is the first record for Lancashire. #Teammoth #StHelensBirding
Another Kent Black Arches last night at my sisters in Haydock, St Helens, this is the 4th one I've had at this location. Picture taken with my phone. #Teammoth
June 16, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Another Kent Black Arches last night at my sisters in Haydock, St Helens, this is the 4th one I've had at this location. Picture taken with my phone. #Teammoth
Male Four-spotted Footman, at my sisters in Haydock, St Helens, only the 2nd record for St Helens.
June 15, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Male Four-spotted Footman, at my sisters in Haydock, St Helens, only the 2nd record for St Helens.
I'm dog sitting at my sisters for a few days so I brought my moth trap to Haydock, St Helens, I had 218/61 the best being this Spinach and a Acleris hastiana, I also had 11 Elephant Hawk-moth which is the most I've ever had in one trap. #Teammoth
June 14, 2025 at 3:57 PM
I'm dog sitting at my sisters for a few days so I brought my moth trap to Haydock, St Helens, I had 218/61 the best being this Spinach and a Acleris hastiana, I also had 11 Elephant Hawk-moth which is the most I've ever had in one trap. #Teammoth
Just had a Coleophora alcyonipennella confirmed by Steve Palmer, our ex county recorder, which is a new species for me and obviously for St Helens, sadly no picture. #Teammoth
June 9, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Just had a Coleophora alcyonipennella confirmed by Steve Palmer, our ex county recorder, which is a new species for me and obviously for St Helens, sadly no picture. #Teammoth
A nice Green Arches last night 8/6/25, only the second one I've had at home in St Helens, Merseyside, the first being in 2015. #Teammoth #StHelensBirding
June 9, 2025 at 7:28 AM
A nice Green Arches last night 8/6/25, only the second one I've had at home in St Helens, Merseyside, the first being in 2015. #Teammoth #StHelensBirding
This Shark was the best of the bunch last night 5/6/25, the 11th one I've had at home in St Helens, Merseyside. #Teammoth #StHelensBirding
June 6, 2025 at 9:23 AM
This Shark was the best of the bunch last night 5/6/25, the 11th one I've had at home in St Helens, Merseyside. #Teammoth #StHelensBirding
In amongst the 30+ Heart and Dart last night 31/5/25 at home in St Helens, was this Heart and Club, only the second record for St Helens. The first being in 2013. #Teammoth #StHelensBirding
June 1, 2025 at 1:44 PM
In amongst the 30+ Heart and Dart last night 31/5/25 at home in St Helens, was this Heart and Club, only the second record for St Helens. The first being in 2013. #Teammoth #StHelensBirding
Numbers were down on previous night last night 27/5/25 at home in St Helens but this Treble Lines was yet another new species for the garden. I was surprised that it was a new one for the garden as I have seen them several times before but obviously elsewhere. #Teammoth #StHelensBirding
May 28, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Numbers were down on previous night last night 27/5/25 at home in St Helens but this Treble Lines was yet another new species for the garden. I was surprised that it was a new one for the garden as I have seen them several times before but obviously elsewhere. #Teammoth #StHelensBirding
Had this Notocelia rosaecolana last night 24/5/25 at home in St Helens which is a new species for me, also this nice Scorched Wing #Teammoth #StHelensBirding
May 25, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Had this Notocelia rosaecolana last night 24/5/25 at home in St Helens which is a new species for me, also this nice Scorched Wing #Teammoth #StHelensBirding
Alder Moth was the best of the 32 species recorded last night 20/5/25 at home in St Helens, only the 3rd one I've had at home #Teammoth #StHelensBirding
May 21, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Alder Moth was the best of the 32 species recorded last night 20/5/25 at home in St Helens, only the 3rd one I've had at home #Teammoth #StHelensBirding