Dominic Collins
@dominiccollins.bsky.social
Voluntary bird and butterfly surveyor for BTO, Staffs WT, RSPB, BC (WCBS). Patch-watcher. Moth-er. Green Party, Hope not Hate & Liberty member. Re-awoken political animal. Reader and bibliophile. Poet manque. Cat lover. Endon, Staffordshire.
Calling all VC39ers (and mothomaniac VCers the region / country over) - a quick plug for @vc39moths.bsky.social run by the eminent lepidopterist-CMR-guitarist @lesevanshill.bsky.social.
N.B. I didn't intend to platform the machinations of arch-rival @sj84turner.bsky.social whilst I was at it.
N.B. I didn't intend to platform the machinations of arch-rival @sj84turner.bsky.social whilst I was at it.
November 11, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Calling all VC39ers (and mothomaniac VCers the region / country over) - a quick plug for @vc39moths.bsky.social run by the eminent lepidopterist-CMR-guitarist @lesevanshill.bsky.social.
N.B. I didn't intend to platform the machinations of arch-rival @sj84turner.bsky.social whilst I was at it.
N.B. I didn't intend to platform the machinations of arch-rival @sj84turner.bsky.social whilst I was at it.
Fly Agaric. My brother is afflicted by fungophobia. The family story goes that as a child he ran gleefully towards one of these and was about to pick it up when my parents screamed "No! It's poisonous!". To this day he has the interesting impulse to cover his ears when he sees a mushroom. #fungi
November 10, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Fly Agaric. My brother is afflicted by fungophobia. The family story goes that as a child he ran gleefully towards one of these and was about to pick it up when my parents screamed "No! It's poisonous!". To this day he has the interesting impulse to cover his ears when he sees a mushroom. #fungi
Out along the valley this a.m. I'd missed the flooding of a week or so ago but the low-lying area below remains wet for much of the winter. 70 Teal to-ing and fro-ing whilst above a Peregrine just about held a stoop in check, 1 Wigeon, 37 Snipe, 6 Lapwing, 2 Stonechats, 2 Water Rails, 3 Grey Wags.🪶
November 10, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Out along the valley this a.m. I'd missed the flooding of a week or so ago but the low-lying area below remains wet for much of the winter. 70 Teal to-ing and fro-ing whilst above a Peregrine just about held a stoop in check, 1 Wigeon, 37 Snipe, 6 Lapwing, 2 Stonechats, 2 Water Rails, 3 Grey Wags.🪶
A splendid night's mothin' here in Endon, VC39. Top billing goes to my first ever Figure of 8, found mid-evening and promptly potted. 32/17 in total inc. 2 Satellites, Brick, Barred Sallow (having a record-breaking year here), 3 Y-l Quakers (likewise), Feathered Thorn & 8 Juniper Carpets. #TeamMoth
October 28, 2025 at 2:40 PM
A splendid night's mothin' here in Endon, VC39. Top billing goes to my first ever Figure of 8, found mid-evening and promptly potted. 32/17 in total inc. 2 Satellites, Brick, Barred Sallow (having a record-breaking year here), 3 Y-l Quakers (likewise), Feathered Thorn & 8 Juniper Carpets. #TeamMoth
I think it was @claretaz.bsky.social who made my wonder why I wasn't trapping last night. Anyway, by that point (10-ish) I was too inert to do anything more than activate the actinic angle-poise lamp that shines out onto the back garden. Within an hour, this tiny effort earned me a Mottled Umber.
October 25, 2025 at 7:19 AM
I think it was @claretaz.bsky.social who made my wonder why I wasn't trapping last night. Anyway, by that point (10-ish) I was too inert to do anything more than activate the actinic angle-poise lamp that shines out onto the back garden. Within an hour, this tiny effort earned me a Mottled Umber.
Out along the valley this afternoon. Gloomily quiet for the most part, but the winter marsh is water-logging nicely and I duly found my first Jack Snipes (2) of the season together with 13 Common. Elsewhere c120 Fieldfare and 50 Redwing were gathered in field boundary treetops. 🪶
October 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Out along the valley this afternoon. Gloomily quiet for the most part, but the winter marsh is water-logging nicely and I duly found my first Jack Snipes (2) of the season together with 13 Common. Elsewhere c120 Fieldfare and 50 Redwing were gathered in field boundary treetops. 🪶
Recently discovered on the driveway wall - a growth of Vapourer eggs. Would have loved to watch these being pumped out by the female, but wasn't even aware she was there. #TeamMoth
October 24, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Recently discovered on the driveway wall - a growth of Vapourer eggs. Would have loved to watch these being pumped out by the female, but wasn't even aware she was there. #TeamMoth
My local patch walk. I do most of my birding, butterflying, mothing and Brown Hare-watching within these precious confines. One day - who knows - I may write 'The Natural History of Endon' in the form of an imaginary and one-sided correspondence with the Endonian Society.
October 23, 2025 at 8:54 AM
My local patch walk. I do most of my birding, butterflying, mothing and Brown Hare-watching within these precious confines. One day - who knows - I may write 'The Natural History of Endon' in the form of an imaginary and one-sided correspondence with the Endonian Society.
Last night's moths. A Feathered Thorn appeared on the window at 7.45 p.m. At about 4 a.m. (awoken repeatedly by my own snoring / wife berating me for snoring. Decided to abandon the bed and join the moths) discovered a NFY Mottled Umber on the doorstep - later re-encountered on a wall. Plus: ...
October 22, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Last night's moths. A Feathered Thorn appeared on the window at 7.45 p.m. At about 4 a.m. (awoken repeatedly by my own snoring / wife berating me for snoring. Decided to abandon the bed and join the moths) discovered a NFY Mottled Umber on the doorstep - later re-encountered on a wall. Plus: ...
I'm afraid I am guilty of hoarding Mervs. But I think there's plenty to go round. Just popped out and lo-and-behold:
October 22, 2025 at 3:48 AM
I'm afraid I am guilty of hoarding Mervs. But I think there's plenty to go round. Just popped out and lo-and-behold:
This morning's moths. Nothing N, but I did manage my second Feathered Thorn of the year (the first turning up a month ago on 20th Sept). Also notched up my 37th Merv of the year thus far. Truly, I am blessed with Mervs. 6 Juniper Carpets was a seasonal high too. #TeamMoth
October 21, 2025 at 1:30 PM
This morning's moths. Nothing N, but I did manage my second Feathered Thorn of the year (the first turning up a month ago on 20th Sept). Also notched up my 37th Merv of the year thus far. Truly, I am blessed with Mervs. 6 Juniper Carpets was a seasonal high too. #TeamMoth
Am afflicted with mothing ennui lately, seeming only able to attract varying numbers of the same species (8 Mervs was a record). Had a tantrum yesterday and vowed not to moth again this year. But I'm out again tonight, like a sucker, like a schmuck, like a lamb to the slaughter. #TeamMoth
October 20, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Am afflicted with mothing ennui lately, seeming only able to attract varying numbers of the same species (8 Mervs was a record). Had a tantrum yesterday and vowed not to moth again this year. But I'm out again tonight, like a sucker, like a schmuck, like a lamb to the slaughter. #TeamMoth
Quite dismally quiet on the patch this morning but managed to eke out a female Pintail at the Ashes Pool with 2 Little Grebes, a Cormorant (uncommon here) and 3 Snipe. Elsewhere: 4 Snipe, 4 Fieldfare and 12 Redwing. The juve. Peregrine absent from the Peregrine Pylon this morning. Pictured anyway. 🪶
October 20, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Quite dismally quiet on the patch this morning but managed to eke out a female Pintail at the Ashes Pool with 2 Little Grebes, a Cormorant (uncommon here) and 3 Snipe. Elsewhere: 4 Snipe, 4 Fieldfare and 12 Redwing. The juve. Peregrine absent from the Peregrine Pylon this morning. Pictured anyway. 🪶
Probably my favourite photo from the day so far.
September 17, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Probably my favourite photo from the day so far.
Wish I could've been there to join those whose voices salvage some dignity and decency from this day of national disgrace. @ukstoptrump.bsky.social @hopenothate.org.uk
September 17, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Wish I could've been there to join those whose voices salvage some dignity and decency from this day of national disgrace. @ukstoptrump.bsky.social @hopenothate.org.uk
I got stung on the hand by a hornet in Leighton Buzzard recently. It was extremely painful. My hand ached for two weeks and 3 & 1/2 weeks later the entry wound is still visible.
September 10, 2025 at 10:31 AM
I got stung on the hand by a hornet in Leighton Buzzard recently. It was extremely painful. My hand ached for two weeks and 3 & 1/2 weeks later the entry wound is still visible.
Someone's been putting out the wrong flags. I thought the St George's cross was the symbol of bigotry, intolerance, scapegoating and hatred.
@hopenothate.org.uk @stopracism.bsky.social @standuptoracismuk.bsky.social
@hopenothate.org.uk @stopracism.bsky.social @standuptoracismuk.bsky.social
September 10, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Someone's been putting out the wrong flags. I thought the St George's cross was the symbol of bigotry, intolerance, scapegoating and hatred.
@hopenothate.org.uk @stopracism.bsky.social @standuptoracismuk.bsky.social
@hopenothate.org.uk @stopracism.bsky.social @standuptoracismuk.bsky.social
Not something you expect to hear at this time of year. Alarm calls from two birds heard previously. I think - having referred to @richardkbroughton.bsky.social's 'The Marsh Tit and the Willow Tit' - that an adult male WT was prompted into song by the incursion of a dispersing juvenile (both seen).
August 2, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Not something you expect to hear at this time of year. Alarm calls from two birds heard previously. I think - having referred to @richardkbroughton.bsky.social's 'The Marsh Tit and the Willow Tit' - that an adult male WT was prompted into song by the incursion of a dispersing juvenile (both seen).
Out along the valley this afternoon. A Hobby over the Ashes Pool in an unsuccessful attempt to snatch a Swallow or Housemartin. 2 Redstarts (1 juve + 1 f. / juve seen briefly in flight) and the local Green Woodpeckers have had an excellent breeding season - 6 inc. juves counted today. 🪶
July 31, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Out along the valley this afternoon. A Hobby over the Ashes Pool in an unsuccessful attempt to snatch a Swallow or Housemartin. 2 Redstarts (1 juve + 1 f. / juve seen briefly in flight) and the local Green Woodpeckers have had an excellent breeding season - 6 inc. juves counted today. 🪶
Mompha locupletella, or Flame Mompha - a willowherb leaf-miner - taken on 22nd July. Only my second record of this tiny but (especially when fully revealed under magnification) very attractive species. Photographed with my clip-on macro lens. #TeamMoth
July 27, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Mompha locupletella, or Flame Mompha - a willowherb leaf-miner - taken on 22nd July. Only my second record of this tiny but (especially when fully revealed under magnification) very attractive species. Photographed with my clip-on macro lens. #TeamMoth
Congratulations, again, Stringfellow.
July 26, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Congratulations, again, Stringfellow.
Butterflying along the disused railway line this afternoon. 16 spp. recorded, including Small Copper, Painted Lady and a record 29 Speckled Wood. Also 5 spp. of day-flying moth, including this surprise Scallop Shell, gorging on ragwort. @bc-westmids.bsky.social #TeamMoth #TeamRagwort
July 24, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Butterflying along the disused railway line this afternoon. 16 spp. recorded, including Small Copper, Painted Lady and a record 29 Speckled Wood. Also 5 spp. of day-flying moth, including this surprise Scallop Shell, gorging on ragwort. @bc-westmids.bsky.social #TeamMoth #TeamRagwort
