Gyr Crakes
@gyrcrakes.bsky.social
Mark Lawlor - birder and naturalist in Guernsey
The weird, invasive Orange Pore Fungus (Favolaschia Calocera) found at Pleinmont, Guernsey last week.
November 16, 2025 at 12:56 PM
The weird, invasive Orange Pore Fungus (Favolaschia Calocera) found at Pleinmont, Guernsey last week.
A question for moth trapping people. I needed a new MV bulb, so bought a cheaper online. When it came out said metal halide in the box (L). I assumed I got the wrong type so I bought 2 MV bulbs from WatDon. They are exactly the same but the metal halide label is covered over with sharpie (R).. (1/2)
November 12, 2025 at 6:13 PM
A question for moth trapping people. I needed a new MV bulb, so bought a cheaper online. When it came out said metal halide in the box (L). I assumed I got the wrong type so I bought 2 MV bulbs from WatDon. They are exactly the same but the metal halide label is covered over with sharpie (R).. (1/2)
Delighted to find a superb PALLAS'S WARBLER this morning at Vau de Monel, Pleinmont, Guernsey. This is my first "self-found" Pallas's, and the first record in Guernsey since 2008.
(photos below were taken by Wayne Turner later in the day - thanks to him for the use of these)
(photos below were taken by Wayne Turner later in the day - thanks to him for the use of these)
November 9, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Delighted to find a superb PALLAS'S WARBLER this morning at Vau de Monel, Pleinmont, Guernsey. This is my first "self-found" Pallas's, and the first record in Guernsey since 2008.
(photos below were taken by Wayne Turner later in the day - thanks to him for the use of these)
(photos below were taken by Wayne Turner later in the day - thanks to him for the use of these)
New 'Just a Bird' diary/blog post - July 2025: Trip to UK, day 7 - The New Forest
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/10...
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/10...
July 2025 - trip to UK (day 7) — Just A Bird
The trip finished with a full day in the New Forest , to search for rare species. I had been looking forward to this for a while and intended to give it some real effort today. I didn’t get off too...
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November 2, 2025 at 1:10 PM
New 'Just a Bird' diary/blog post - July 2025: Trip to UK, day 7 - The New Forest
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/10...
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/10...
New 'Just a Bird' diary/blog post - July 2025: Trip to UK, day 5 - The Brecks
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/10...
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/10...
July 2025 - trip to UK (days 5 & 6) — Just A Bird
On 28th July, breakfast was accompanied with a selection of moths from the trap. New species that we hadn’t had the previous few nights were Ear Moth , Nut-tree Tussock , Catoptria pinella and, ...
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October 29, 2025 at 4:28 PM
New 'Just a Bird' diary/blog post - July 2025: Trip to UK, day 5 - The Brecks
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/10...
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/10...
Sooty Shearwater passing Jaonneuse, Guernsey this morning.
October 26, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Sooty Shearwater passing Jaonneuse, Guernsey this morning.
New 'Just a Bird' diary/blog post - July 2025: Trip to UK, day 4 - Strumpshaw & Great Yarmouth.
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/10...
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/10...
July 2025 - trip to UK (day 4) — Just A Bird
The next day the weather seemed much brighter, albeit on and off, but the moth trap in the garden was quiet, not having any additional species from the day before. We decided to head back to Strumps...
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October 25, 2025 at 6:51 PM
New 'Just a Bird' diary/blog post - July 2025: Trip to UK, day 4 - Strumpshaw & Great Yarmouth.
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/10...
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/10...
Juvenile Hobby over Vau de Monel, Pleinmont yesterday morning.
October 13, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Juvenile Hobby over Vau de Monel, Pleinmont yesterday morning.
New 'Just a Bird' diary/blog post - July 2025: Trip to UK, day 3 - Wheatfen, Strumpshaw, and finding a second for Britain!
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/9/...
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/9/...
July 2025 - trip to UK (day 3) — Just A Bird
The moth trap had been set in the village garden the night before, and in the morning, there was a literal smorgasbord of tasty morsels to pick through, many of which were new for me. It had been good...
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October 5, 2025 at 1:30 PM
New 'Just a Bird' diary/blog post - July 2025: Trip to UK, day 3 - Wheatfen, Strumpshaw, and finding a second for Britain!
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/9/...
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/9/...
The island's first Short-eared Owl of the autumn seen on L'Ancresse Common this afternoon.
September 28, 2025 at 5:08 PM
The island's first Short-eared Owl of the autumn seen on L'Ancresse Common this afternoon.
New 'Just a Bird' diary/blog post - July 2025: Trip to UK, days 1&2 - Pottering round Windsor Park & a Norfolk village
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/9/...
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/9/...
July 2025 - trip to UK (days 1 & 2) — Just A Bird
Late morning on 24th July , I set off on the ferry for a week of wildlife with the BUBO lads in Norfolk. This was the first time that I had been on the new ferry, and I was disappointed to see that...
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September 14, 2025 at 11:39 AM
New 'Just a Bird' diary/blog post - July 2025: Trip to UK, days 1&2 - Pottering round Windsor Park & a Norfolk village
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/9/...
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/9/...
Trap out on the cliffs at Pleinmont this evening in Guernsey, ready to suck in the stream of southern vagrants, streaming in across the sea.
September 6, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Trap out on the cliffs at Pleinmont this evening in Guernsey, ready to suck in the stream of southern vagrants, streaming in across the sea.
My birding card game "Name That Bird" has been updated and new cards have been included. Ideal for long autumn evenings on birding trips.
Download free printouts at the link below:
static1.squarespace.com/static/57652...
Download free printouts at the link below:
static1.squarespace.com/static/57652...
August 31, 2025 at 2:34 PM
My birding card game "Name That Bird" has been updated and new cards have been included. Ideal for long autumn evenings on birding trips.
Download free printouts at the link below:
static1.squarespace.com/static/57652...
Download free printouts at the link below:
static1.squarespace.com/static/57652...
Dusky Scalloped Oak trapped on Corbiere cliffs a couple of nights ago with @andym105.bsky.social
I've been wanting to see this Guernsey speciality for a very long time, but it only lives on the south coast cliffs in small numbers and so is hard to find.
I've been wanting to see this Guernsey speciality for a very long time, but it only lives on the south coast cliffs in small numbers and so is hard to find.
August 28, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Dusky Scalloped Oak trapped on Corbiere cliffs a couple of nights ago with @andym105.bsky.social
I've been wanting to see this Guernsey speciality for a very long time, but it only lives on the south coast cliffs in small numbers and so is hard to find.
I've been wanting to see this Guernsey speciality for a very long time, but it only lives on the south coast cliffs in small numbers and so is hard to find.
New 'Just a Bird' diary/blog post - July 2025 part i - Echium Stilt and Peacock Beetles :
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/8/...
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/8/...
July 2025 part i — Just A Bird
Mid-summer and it is all insects, with no birds of interest turning up. A highlight was the Entomology Section setting up a series of moth traps in the reedbeds at Grand Pre on 12th. We had the usual ...
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August 25, 2025 at 1:19 PM
New 'Just a Bird' diary/blog post - July 2025 part i - Echium Stilt and Peacock Beetles :
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/8/...
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/8/...
Saw a Dotterel this morning fly in off the sea over the cliffs at Pleinmont, Guernsey. I found it again an hour later in a nearby field.
August 24, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Saw a Dotterel this morning fly in off the sea over the cliffs at Pleinmont, Guernsey. I found it again an hour later in a nearby field.
Greater White-toothed Shrew out in the open yesterday at Jaonneuse, Guernsey.
August 19, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Greater White-toothed Shrew out in the open yesterday at Jaonneuse, Guernsey.
Phyllonorycter scopariella beaten off Broom at the weekend - a rarely-seen species it seems, and new to me.
August 18, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Phyllonorycter scopariella beaten off Broom at the weekend - a rarely-seen species it seems, and new to me.
Dusky Hook-tip to light in Guernsey on night of 13th - a new sp for me and only, I think, the 3rd record for the island.
August 15, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Dusky Hook-tip to light in Guernsey on night of 13th - a new sp for me and only, I think, the 3rd record for the island.
New 'Just a Bird' diary/blog post - June 2025 - the 700th moth species for the garden:
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/8/...
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/8/...
June 2025 — Just A Bird
June was all about the moths. A few really hot, sticky nights producing some superb catches and a number of rarities. My current policy of only setting the trap when the conditions look really good me...
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August 15, 2025 at 6:11 PM
New 'Just a Bird' diary/blog post - June 2025 - the 700th moth species for the garden:
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/8/...
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/8/...
Light Crimson Underwing caught in my trap in Guernsey last night. A rare visitor, the first for Guernsey afaik. Also new for the garden, an Oak Processionary.
August 12, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Light Crimson Underwing caught in my trap in Guernsey last night. A rare visitor, the first for Guernsey afaik. Also new for the garden, an Oak Processionary.
Sunset off the Guernsey cliffs last night.
August 10, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Sunset off the Guernsey cliffs last night.
The outstanding and very rare fungus Artomyces pyxidatus (Crown-tipped Coral) at Strumpshaw last week. I'd like to say that we discovered this ourselves, but we were shown it by the warden Ben.
August 8, 2025 at 8:40 PM
The outstanding and very rare fungus Artomyces pyxidatus (Crown-tipped Coral) at Strumpshaw last week. I'd like to say that we discovered this ourselves, but we were shown it by the warden Ben.
I netted this Diamsemiopsis ramburialis last Wednesday in the daytime beside Hatchet Pond, New Forest. They are generally a rare migrant but perhaps they are breeding at the pond?
August 7, 2025 at 4:59 PM
I netted this Diamsemiopsis ramburialis last Wednesday in the daytime beside Hatchet Pond, New Forest. They are generally a rare migrant but perhaps they are breeding at the pond?
New 'Just a Bird' diary/blog post - May 2025 pt ii - Black Kite
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/8/...
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/8/...
May 2025 part ii — Just A Bird
The bird of the second half of May was bumped into whilst in the car on a family outing. There were lots of birds of prey in the sky on the sunny afternoon of 18th May and, as well as plenty of Buzza...
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August 6, 2025 at 11:19 AM
New 'Just a Bird' diary/blog post - May 2025 pt ii - Black Kite
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/8/...
www.gyrcrakes.com/blog/2025/8/...