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)
Sooty Shearwater passing Jaonneuse, Guernsey this morning.
October 26, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Sooty Shearwater passing Jaonneuse, Guernsey this morning.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Didn't expect to find something so rare on the BUBO wildlife-weekend in Norfolk. This is Grapholita delineana, the Hemp Tortrix, at only the second location it has ever been recorded in Britain, after first being discovered in Suffolk last year - although more records may surface this summer.
August 5, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Didn't expect to find something so rare on the BUBO wildlife-weekend in Norfolk. This is Grapholita delineana, the Hemp Tortrix, at only the second location it has ever been recorded in Britain, after first being discovered in Suffolk last year - although more records may surface this summer.
Found a superb beetle at the weekend - Elaphrus riparius, one of the Peacock Beetles. There was quite a few running on the bare, dried mud at the Grand Pre nature reserve. I don't think it has been recorded very often in Guernsey before.
July 16, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Found a superb beetle at the weekend - Elaphrus riparius, one of the Peacock Beetles. There was quite a few running on the bare, dried mud at the Grand Pre nature reserve. I don't think it has been recorded very often in Guernsey before.
It may be a little grotty, but this Holly Tortrix (Rhopobota naevana) at the weekend becomes the 700th species of lepidoptera that I have recorded in my garden!
June 25, 2025 at 7:03 PM
It may be a little grotty, but this Holly Tortrix (Rhopobota naevana) at the weekend becomes the 700th species of lepidoptera that I have recorded in my garden!
Pine Processionary caught in the trap in Guernsey last night - a new species for me and only a few records for the island. Also, a Striped Hawk-moth which flew off like the clappers when I went to inspect at 5am. A total of 100+ species recorded.
June 21, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Pine Processionary caught in the trap in Guernsey last night - a new species for me and only a few records for the island. Also, a Striped Hawk-moth which flew off like the clappers when I went to inspect at 5am. A total of 100+ species recorded.
Lesser Puss Moth trapped here in Guernsey last night. Only my second record, no doubt came in on southerly winds. (aka "The Feline" but I find that is an ugly name)
June 13, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Lesser Puss Moth trapped here in Guernsey last night. Only my second record, no doubt came in on southerly winds. (aka "The Feline" but I find that is an ugly name)
Australian Fern Weevils (Syagrius intrudens) at the Garenne, Guernsey yesterday. Seems to be well-established at this nature reserve, but I haven't noticed it elsewhere on the island so far.
June 8, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Australian Fern Weevils (Syagrius intrudens) at the Garenne, Guernsey yesterday. Seems to be well-established at this nature reserve, but I haven't noticed it elsewhere on the island so far.
...and nearby, a new species for me, Scarce 7-spot Ladybird.
May 31, 2025 at 2:18 PM
...and nearby, a new species for me, Scarce 7-spot Ladybird.
A huge nest of Black-backed Meadow Ants (F. pratensis) on the cliff path at Corbiere yesterday, probably the largest I've seen.
May 31, 2025 at 11:58 AM
A huge nest of Black-backed Meadow Ants (F. pratensis) on the cliff path at Corbiere yesterday, probably the largest I've seen.