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
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
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
I found the flightless female Mottled Umber climbing over my bag as I went to pack up- a first for me! I never realised how striking they are #teammoth
January 15, 2025 at 6:15 PM
I found the flightless female Mottled Umber climbing over my bag as I went to pack up- a first for me! I never realised how striking they are #teammoth
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
An early year favourite, but one that doesn't seem to wander too far up in Durham. I've only ever had one in the garden trap, meanwhile down the road in an ancient birch woodland...
January 13, 2025 at 1:15 PM
An early year favourite, but one that doesn't seem to wander too far up in Durham. I've only ever had one in the garden trap, meanwhile down the road in an ancient birch woodland...
I use a 30000 mAh, 25W power bank running at ~12V and a constant voltage/current step up/down module. If used on a trap, I can adjust the current to get the maximum power whilst ensuring the battery lasts overnight. If I'm staying with the light, I run at full power and switch batteries ~3hrs.
December 17, 2024 at 4:50 PM
I use a 30000 mAh, 25W power bank running at ~12V and a constant voltage/current step up/down module. If used on a trap, I can adjust the current to get the maximum power whilst ensuring the battery lasts overnight. If I'm staying with the light, I run at full power and switch batteries ~3hrs.
I've had success with 3w LEDs in a few configurations– if you're OK with a bit of soldering then it's a good option! I've recorded 500+ species to these lights using traps and sheets over the last 3 years. Have a look here petermobbs.wordpress.com?s=moth for more on this sort of set-up. #teammoth
December 17, 2024 at 11:33 AM
I've had success with 3w LEDs in a few configurations– if you're OK with a bit of soldering then it's a good option! I've recorded 500+ species to these lights using traps and sheets over the last 3 years. Have a look here petermobbs.wordpress.com?s=moth for more on this sort of set-up. #teammoth
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
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 🦋🌿
I've not recorded many adult Mottled Umber this year- here's one from a few years ago, taken in a Durham woodland. #ukwildlife #teammoth #mothsmatter #insect #moth #wild #macro 🦋🌿
November 18, 2024 at 3:44 PM
I've not recorded many adult Mottled Umber this year- here's one from a few years ago, taken in a Durham woodland. #ukwildlife #teammoth #mothsmatter #insect #moth #wild #macro 🦋🌿
A few from the last week in woodland around Durham. Rhigognostis incarnatella at a new site was the highlight- always a stunning moth! Agonopterix nervosa was a surprise- the latest VC66 record by 2 weeks. Nice standard autumn stuff besides #ukwildlife #teammoth #insect #moth #wild #macro 🦋🌿
October 19, 2024 at 6:59 PM
Here are some rather pretty Narrow-winged Pug caterpillars from the Durham and Cumbrian moors this month- part of my tentative efforts to get better at finding moth larvae! #ukwildlife #teammoth #insect #moth #wild #macro #eupithecia #eupitheciananata 🦋🌿
September 27, 2024 at 9:53 AM
Here are some rather pretty Narrow-winged Pug caterpillars from the Durham and Cumbrian moors this month- part of my tentative efforts to get better at finding moth larvae! #ukwildlife #teammoth #insect #moth #wild #macro #eupithecia #eupitheciananata 🦋🌿
Well done! The previous R. erxlebella is mine from a few weeks ago- it seems to be a good year for them!
August 19, 2024 at 8:06 PM
Well done! The previous R. erxlebella is mine from a few weeks ago- it seems to be a good year for them!
