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gyrcrakes.bsky.social
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
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
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)
November 9, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Sooty Shearwater passing Jaonneuse, Guernsey this morning.
October 26, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Juvenile Hobby over Vau de Monel, Pleinmont yesterday morning.
October 13, 2025 at 4:29 PM
The island's first Short-eared Owl of the autumn seen on L'Ancresse Common this afternoon.
September 28, 2025 at 5:08 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.
September 6, 2025 at 8:13 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...
August 31, 2025 at 2:34 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.
August 28, 2025 at 7:04 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.
August 24, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Greater White-toothed Shrew out in the open yesterday at Jaonneuse, Guernsey.
August 19, 2025 at 7:46 PM
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
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
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
Sunset off the Guernsey cliffs last night.
August 10, 2025 at 9:32 AM
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
...and nearby, a new species for me, Scarce 7-spot Ladybird.
May 31, 2025 at 2:18 PM
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