Arto Maatta
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artom.bsky.social
Arto Maatta
@artom.bsky.social
1.2K followers 930 following 1.1K posts
Birding, moths, and general interest in nature. A retired Cell Biologist.
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artom.bsky.social
After the initial excitement, Lina started to think that the first snow of the winter in Durham is quite cold and wet. #labrador #dogs
A yellow labrador retriever next to a bush on snowy lawn in a garden
November 19, 2025 at 8:58 AM
artom.bsky.social
The late Bluethroat at South Gare today afternoon. It was feeding actively, but the weather over the next few days doesn’t look good for it. #NEbirding @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social 🪶
Bluethroat on grass Bluethroat next to a rock on grass Bluethroat standing on a small rock on grassland.
November 17, 2025 at 6:24 PM
artom.bsky.social
Durham hosts the Lumiere festival for the last time this weekend, but #TeamMoth can, of course, set up an exciting light installation on any night! 1 Mottled Umber so far, so the worst outcome possible is avoided.
A light installation of red glowing sticks at the Lumiere festival in Durham Moth trap with the actinic light on.
November 15, 2025 at 7:26 PM
artom.bsky.social
Glass is half full -vibes with the very nice (both the taste and the label) bird-themed bitter tonight😋. #birds #beer
A beer bottle on a dining table.
November 14, 2025 at 8:43 PM
artom.bsky.social
The tail works like a propeller when there’s a treat on offer for a quick response to a recall. #labrador #dogs
November 12, 2025 at 4:12 PM
artom.bsky.social
Some quick record photos of the Pallid Swift at Whitburn this morning as it was circling over the houses in the village. A great find by @pratorum2112.bsky.social !
#NEbirding #RareBirdsUK @teesbirds.bsky.social 🪶
Pallid Swift against sky Pallid Swift Pallid Swift Pallid Swift
November 12, 2025 at 12:52 PM
artom.bsky.social
I found today a couple of Aspen leaves with apparent Ectoedemia argyropeza mines at Rainton Meadows NR. I’ve not seen them before and there are not too many records in VC66, so any opinions are welcome! #TeamMoth
A potential Ectoedemia argyropeza leaf mine in an Aspen leaf. The blotch mine is on a green island between the midrib and the first lateral vein. Grass is in two lines along the edges of the mine. Another potential E.argyropeza mine in a different leaf from the same Aspen. Swollen petiole at the base of the leave with an apparent oviposition site. Lower magnification of one of the leaves with the mine.
November 10, 2025 at 4:54 PM
artom.bsky.social
Olive-backed Pipit today afternoon at South Gare. Quite elusive bird, that occasionally moved up from the high grass and showed well in bushes. Thanks to the finder! #NEbirding #RareBirdsUK @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social
Olive-backed Pipit in a Sea Bucthorn bush. Another photo of the Olive-backedxPipit on the aame bush A slightly out-of -focus flight shot of the Olive-backed Pipit.
November 8, 2025 at 4:49 PM
artom.bsky.social
Last night 10 of 8 sp moths. Australian Orange-tip (Tachystola acroxantha) was a new garden ✅, they have started to spread in the county in the recent years. Juniper Carpet was nfy and Willow Beauty a very late record. Durham VC66. #TeamMoth @teesbirds.bsky.social
Australian Orange-tip moth (Tachystola acroxantha) Juniper Carpet
November 6, 2025 at 10:16 AM
artom.bsky.social
Plenty of rain last night so only 5 moths bothered to check our trap. Brick was a year ✅ so it was worth having a go. Feathered Thorn, MdJ, Lesser YU and LBAM were the supporting cast. Durham VC66. #TeamMoth @teesbirds.bsky.social
Brick moth Feathered Thorn Merveille du Jour
November 5, 2025 at 3:40 PM
artom.bsky.social
I saw again this afternoon the partially leucistic Jackdaw that has been hanging around Neville’s Cross, Durham, for a few years now. #NEbirding @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social 🪶
A partially leucistic Jackdaw on an TV aerial between two other Jackdaws (that have the usual plumage)
November 1, 2025 at 7:30 PM
artom.bsky.social
Snow Bunting at Church Point, Newbigging today. #NEbirding 🪶
Snow Bunting on dry seaweed. Snow Bunting tilting its head and facing the camera Snow Bunting standing on large rocks.
October 30, 2025 at 3:21 PM
artom.bsky.social
One of the four Long-tailed Ducks at Druridge Bay CP this morning. #NEbirding 🪶
A female-type plumage Long-tailed Duck swimming on a lake.
October 30, 2025 at 3:17 PM
artom.bsky.social
Three new year ✅ last night among 16 of 10 sp - December Moth (5 of them), Streak & Mottled Umber. Also Merveille, 2 Spruce Carpets and R-g Carpet. Durham, VC66. @teesbirds.bsky.social #TeamMoth
December Moth on tree bark. Streak moth on green cloth Mottled Umber
October 29, 2025 at 10:19 AM
artom.bsky.social
It was great that the Pallas’s Warbler at Trow Quarry was still present today as I was under the weather yesterday. Jack Snipe at Saltholme and Firecrest in Hartlepool completed today’s birding. #NEbirding @teesbirds.bsky.social
Pallas’s Warbler and on a twig.
October 20, 2025 at 4:28 PM
artom.bsky.social
Rock Pipit at Hartlepool Headland on Thursday. @teesbirds.bsky.social #NEbirding 🪶
Rock Pipit standing on seaweed on a sandy tidal shore
October 18, 2025 at 3:24 PM
artom.bsky.social
Last night’s trap resulted in 22 of 11 sp (about par in our garden; would need some sorcery to get higher numbers here). Angle Shades was NFY, also 3 Feathered Thorns, 2 Merveilles, 5 Yellow-line Quakers & a late Common Wainscot. #TeamMoth @teesbirds.bsky.social 🦋
Angle Shades Feathered Thorn Merveille du Jour Yellow-line Quaker. This photo is from 13th October when this species was new for the year
October 18, 2025 at 9:40 AM
artom.bsky.social
Little Owl at Marsden Quarry today. I was trying to find a Yellow-browed Warbler that had been seen there earlier when I realised that I was myself a target of intense surveillance. #NEbirding @durhambirdclub.bsky.social @teesbirds.bsky.social 🪶
Little Owl sitting on a branch and staring at me.
October 13, 2025 at 7:46 PM
artom.bsky.social
Belated photos of the best moths (out of 10 sp) trapped on Thursday night. Feathered Thorn and November Moth agg. were nfy and we also got the 2nd Merveille du Jour and 3rd Rusty Dot Pearl of the autumn. Durham VC66. #TeamMoth @teesbirds.bsky.social
Feathered Thorn November Moth aggregate (Epirrita sp). Merveille du Jour Rusty Dot Pearl
October 11, 2025 at 6:17 PM
artom.bsky.social
Lunchtime dog walk at Crossgate Moor, Durham: Red Kite drifting SW, 3 Buzzards, Kestrel & Dipper - all showing nicely in good light, but I hadn’t my big camera with, so only 🐶 pics to show. #NEbirding #labrador @durhambirdclub.bsky.social
A yellow Labrador Retriever looking at right on a path along the edge of a field.
October 11, 2025 at 2:03 PM
artom.bsky.social
A couple of record shots of the Hooded Crow at Saltholme today. It was initially noticed flying past us by a birder sitting next to me at the Haverton Viewpoint and I managed to get a few quick photos of it. #NEbirding @teesbirds.bsky.social
October 9, 2025 at 2:10 PM
artom.bsky.social
The first Merveille du Jour of the year in our garden this morning 🤩. Durham, VC66. #TeamMoth #invertebrates @teesbirds.bsky.social
Merveille du Jour (Griposia aprilina) resting on a red autumn leaf.
October 7, 2025 at 3:26 PM
artom.bsky.social
Good numbers of Whooper Swans in the county today. These 8 were resting in the afternoon at Rainton Meadows (thanks to Chris Cummings for the info). #NEbirding @durhambirdclub.bsky.social @teesbirds.bsky.social 🪶
Whhoper Swans resting at the edge of a pond
October 6, 2025 at 5:42 PM
artom.bsky.social
Lina falling asleep with her soft toy rabbit friend. #labrador #dogs
A yellow Labrador Retriever asleep holding her rabbit soft toy on her front paws.
October 3, 2025 at 9:06 PM
artom.bsky.social
The resident Greater White-fronted Goose was still at West Saltholme this morning while Back Saltholme hosted 20 Avocets. Also, a Merlin was hunting at Greatham Creek. #NEbirding @teesbirds.bsky.social
Greater White-fronted Goose resting on high grass while a Canada Goose is grazing behind it.
October 2, 2025 at 3:07 PM