@stevetortrix.bsky.social
Following a tip-off via IRecord, I found several mines of Phyllonorycter pastorella on a small NR near Worcester Uni on Thursday. Image of Crack Willow leaf with typical almost rectangular mine and pupal case protruding. The first adult emerged early afternoon today. Another regional first!
September 27, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Following a tip-off via IRecord, I found several mines of Phyllonorycter pastorella on a small NR near Worcester Uni on Thursday. Image of Crack Willow leaf with typical almost rectangular mine and pupal case protruding. The first adult emerged early afternoon today. Another regional first!
Following on from one at Winyates, Redditch exactly 2 years ago now a true VC37 Clancy's Rustic at Warndon, Worcester O/N - one of 30 species recorded.
September 27, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Following on from one at Winyates, Redditch exactly 2 years ago now a true VC37 Clancy's Rustic at Warndon, Worcester O/N - one of 30 species recorded.
To say that the history of Buttoned Snout in Worcs is puzzling is a understatement! Only 3 records between 1899 and 1975, despite an extensive Hop Growing area west of River Severn. Gap of 43 years and now resident in small numbers. Waited 21 years here at Warndon then 2 come along in one night!
July 31, 2025 at 7:24 PM
To say that the history of Buttoned Snout in Worcs is puzzling is a understatement! Only 3 records between 1899 and 1975, despite an extensive Hop Growing area west of River Severn. Gap of 43 years and now resident in small numbers. Waited 21 years here at Warndon then 2 come along in one night!
It's only taken 20 years to get a Warndon, garden one but it seems they all turn up in the end! Jarrad Tibbett's came round to admire it and brought me the second good migrant in Worcs this month - Small Mottled Willow from Wilden Top last night. VC37
June 13, 2025 at 5:33 PM
It's only taken 20 years to get a Warndon, garden one but it seems they all turn up in the end! Jarrad Tibbett's came round to admire it and brought me the second good migrant in Worcs this month - Small Mottled Willow from Wilden Top last night. VC37
Ian Machin's netting skills and observation came good again with the rediscovery of Phyllonorycter kuhlweiniella - swept off Oak leaves at Hartlebury Common, Worcs yesterday evening. almost 148 years since the last at Old Hills on 14th May 1877
May 6, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Ian Machin's netting skills and observation came good again with the rediscovery of Phyllonorycter kuhlweiniella - swept off Oak leaves at Hartlebury Common, Worcs yesterday evening. almost 148 years since the last at Old Hills on 14th May 1877
Early morning Northwick Wetlands for a couple of species not seen there at all in my early years; 2 Redshank, a pair of Mandarin, 3 Green Sands and 2 Little Egrets not recorded between 1968 and 1975. Only the River Severn Kingfisher was a regular then! Flashes seem to have expanded nowadays.
March 17, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Early morning Northwick Wetlands for a couple of species not seen there at all in my early years; 2 Redshank, a pair of Mandarin, 3 Green Sands and 2 Little Egrets not recorded between 1968 and 1975. Only the River Severn Kingfisher was a regular then! Flashes seem to have expanded nowadays.
Continuing to live the Bluesky handle ! Two more nice-looking Acleris from Warndon Trap last 3 nights. 'Jazzy' A. cristana and 'dark stripy' A. umbrana (only second here but obviously spreading well in VC37 now)
March 9, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Continuing to live the Bluesky handle ! Two more nice-looking Acleris from Warndon Trap last 3 nights. 'Jazzy' A. cristana and 'dark stripy' A. umbrana (only second here but obviously spreading well in VC37 now)
A late afternoon team search along the NNR section of the disused railway line in the Wyre Forest yesterday produced 7 cases of Narycia duplicella on old posts. Netting with head-torches from dusk produced male and female Acleris hyemana near the southern edge of its national range here.
March 7, 2025 at 10:41 PM
A late afternoon team search along the NNR section of the disused railway line in the Wyre Forest yesterday produced 7 cases of Narycia duplicella on old posts. Netting with head-torches from dusk produced male and female Acleris hyemana near the southern edge of its national range here.
The Marbled Duck was relocated by Ian and Lawrence Machin this pm at Longdon Marsh WWT Roadside pool. It is un-ringed and fully winged and can be elusive but was viewed from 5m inside entrance gate. The drake Ring-necked Duck was again at Hill Court Screen. Image by Andy Warr.
March 2, 2025 at 7:13 PM
The Marbled Duck was relocated by Ian and Lawrence Machin this pm at Longdon Marsh WWT Roadside pool. It is un-ringed and fully winged and can be elusive but was viewed from 5m inside entrance gate. The drake Ring-necked Duck was again at Hill Court Screen. Image by Andy Warr.
Drake Ring-necked Duck at Longdon Marsh NR late afternoon showing from Hill Court Screen. Earlier moulting adult and 2nd-winter Med Gulls on flashes NW of Longdon Village with 200 Common Gulls and 1k BHGull.
February 27, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Drake Ring-necked Duck at Longdon Marsh NR late afternoon showing from Hill Court Screen. Earlier moulting adult and 2nd-winter Med Gulls on flashes NW of Longdon Village with 200 Common Gulls and 1k BHGull.
male Ruddy Shelduck, pair of Pintail, 13 Goosanders, male Peregrine and male Brambling in the sunshine at Clifton Pits, Worcs this pm....
February 18, 2025 at 9:19 PM
male Ruddy Shelduck, pair of Pintail, 13 Goosanders, male Peregrine and male Brambling in the sunshine at Clifton Pits, Worcs this pm....
A sub-adult White-tailed Eagle was located on west side of Clifton Main Pit at 11:00 today. It remained perched in a dead pine tree for 80 mins before heading towards adjacent River Severn. Seemingly un-ringed, un-tagged and no visible transmitter so maybe not English and wild. Images by Andy Warr
December 31, 2024 at 7:00 PM
A sub-adult White-tailed Eagle was located on west side of Clifton Main Pit at 11:00 today. It remained perched in a dead pine tree for 80 mins before heading towards adjacent River Severn. Seemingly un-ringed, un-tagged and no visible transmitter so maybe not English and wild. Images by Andy Warr
An Aproaerema polychromella made it to Worcs overnight last Friday at Malvern Link, apologies for poor record shot - not much light today! First regional record and a long way in from the SW coast where the majority landed.
December 4, 2024 at 4:24 PM
An Aproaerema polychromella made it to Worcs overnight last Friday at Malvern Link, apologies for poor record shot - not much light today! First regional record and a long way in from the SW coast where the majority landed.
Followed instinct and weather to Droitwich at lunchtime and soon enough 2 ad Kitts on nearby lake, quickly joined by a 1st-w and 21 more adults at 1pm - 10 min wash and brush then gone. 1st-winter Med briefly.
November 19, 2024 at 5:25 PM
Followed instinct and weather to Droitwich at lunchtime and soon enough 2 ad Kitts on nearby lake, quickly joined by a 1st-w and 21 more adults at 1pm - 10 min wash and brush then gone. 1st-winter Med briefly.
When everybody else is getting Scarce Bordered Straw, you start to wonder! Finally one to Actinic in Worcester garden on Sunday 10th
November 14, 2024 at 1:33 PM
When everybody else is getting Scarce Bordered Straw, you start to wonder! Finally one to Actinic in Worcester garden on Sunday 10th
This Dark Sword-grass to MV in Worcester on Monday night had seen better days. More interesting was a pyralid moth potted while sweeping fallen leaves at West Hagley Webbs by Jarrad Tibbets yesterday. Looks good for Worcs 2nd Palm Tabby (Diplopseustis perieresalis). Migrant or adventive ?
November 6, 2024 at 7:58 PM
This Dark Sword-grass to MV in Worcester on Monday night had seen better days. More interesting was a pyralid moth potted while sweeping fallen leaves at West Hagley Webbs by Jarrad Tibbets yesterday. Looks good for Worcs 2nd Palm Tabby (Diplopseustis perieresalis). Migrant or adventive ?
Sods Law - if this was a moth it would be straight on the British List but alas its a dragonlfly, who's list keeper have a more conservative outlook! (Make sense). A female Slender Skimmer emerged from an aquatic tank in Bromsgrove, Worcs and currently at my house
October 13, 2024 at 11:01 AM
Sods Law - if this was a moth it would be straight on the British List but alas its a dragonlfly, who's list keeper have a more conservative outlook! (Make sense). A female Slender Skimmer emerged from an aquatic tank in Bromsgrove, Worcs and currently at my house
for info: N WORCESTERSHIRE: ring-tailed Hen Harrier Bell End flew northeast over A491 at 5:17pm - the 3rd or 4th sighting in this area since June - wonder what it is doing there al this time?
September 11, 2024 at 8:28 PM
for info: N WORCESTERSHIRE: ring-tailed Hen Harrier Bell End flew northeast over A491 at 5:17pm - the 3rd or 4th sighting in this area since June - wonder what it is doing there al this time?
Here's one causing a bit of a 'flap' in parts of southern England. Material kindly forwarded from a Devon source and emerged here on Monday PM. Fig Leaf Skeletonizer! Not yet in the West Midlands. I have checked out out 3 Worcs garden centers to no avail.
September 5, 2024 at 6:58 PM
Here's one causing a bit of a 'flap' in parts of southern England. Material kindly forwarded from a Devon source and emerged here on Monday PM. Fig Leaf Skeletonizer! Not yet in the West Midlands. I have checked out out 3 Worcs garden centers to no avail.
For info [Joe Sparey
@Joe_Sparey
OSPREY! Circling then lost to view, 16:48. Stanford on Teme. #WorcsBirds @WorcsBirding]
September 5, 2024 at 4:45 PM
For info [Joe Sparey
@Joe_Sparey
OSPREY! Circling then lost to view, 16:48. Stanford on Teme. #WorcsBirds @WorcsBirding]
Bittern again reported flying across Grimley CLP from one side to the other mid-pm (News via Whatsapp)
September 2, 2024 at 3:53 PM
Bittern again reported flying across Grimley CLP from one side to the other mid-pm (News via Whatsapp)
No need to haggle over the price or size of house bricks for this one on Saturday night here in Worcester. CN news!
September 2, 2024 at 2:17 PM
No need to haggle over the price or size of house bricks for this one on Saturday night here in Worcester. CN news!
Have just received confirmation that this moth was indeed a male Isophrictis anthemidella (thanks to det by Patrick Clement). Taken on beach at Sandwich Bay on 17th July 2024. The only site in the UK that the species has been recorded!
September 1, 2024 at 6:57 PM
Have just received confirmation that this moth was indeed a male Isophrictis anthemidella (thanks to det by Patrick Clement). Taken on beach at Sandwich Bay on 17th July 2024. The only site in the UK that the species has been recorded!
Early morning walk round Clifton was quiet just 2 GS, 1 CS, 2 LE, Snipe, Hobby but no small calidrids!
September 1, 2024 at 10:17 AM
Early morning walk round Clifton was quiet just 2 GS, 1 CS, 2 LE, Snipe, Hobby but no small calidrids!
juv Peregrine arrived at Clifton mid-pm and sent the 3 juv Black Terns packing! Juv Common Gull came back in.
August 31, 2024 at 3:39 PM
juv Peregrine arrived at Clifton mid-pm and sent the 3 juv Black Terns packing! Juv Common Gull came back in.