Matt Ames
@mattames6.bsky.social
Obsessed with natural history. Bedfordshire based
Surprisingly still plenty of flowers around for this week's #Wildflowerhour Nice to see Holly (Ilex aquifolium), Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum), Bush Vetch (Vicia sepium) and Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis semperviens) among others on walks on a couple of the less damp and breezy days.
November 9, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Surprisingly still plenty of flowers around for this week's #Wildflowerhour Nice to see Holly (Ilex aquifolium), Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum), Bush Vetch (Vicia sepium) and Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis semperviens) among others on walks on a couple of the less damp and breezy days.
Managed to get out for a brief walk today. A quick look at the Brambles turned up 2 Coleophora potentillae cases. VC30 Bedfordshire
#teammoth
#teammoth
October 25, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Managed to get out for a brief walk today. A quick look at the Brambles turned up 2 Coleophora potentillae cases. VC30 Bedfordshire
#teammoth
#teammoth
Galeruca tanaceti in good numbers on my patch recently. Bucking the trend of many of it's Chrysomelidae 'cousins' in going for a rugged, punctured finish, as opposed to the more usual metallic sheen.
October 14, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Galeruca tanaceti in good numbers on my patch recently. Bucking the trend of many of it's Chrysomelidae 'cousins' in going for a rugged, punctured finish, as opposed to the more usual metallic sheen.
Dark Swordgrass made a nice addition to the 'on the garden Ivy' list this evening, a couple of Common Plume keeping it company.
Bedfordshire VC30
#teammoth
Bedfordshire VC30
#teammoth
October 14, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Dark Swordgrass made a nice addition to the 'on the garden Ivy' list this evening, a couple of Common Plume keeping it company.
Bedfordshire VC30
#teammoth
Bedfordshire VC30
#teammoth
Quite a few to choose from for this week's #Wildflowerhour including Dwarf Mallow (M. neglecta) and Musk Mallow (M. moschata), still some Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) on show, and a single Pale Persicaria (Persicaria lapathifolia) on arable margin, glandular hairs checked. Bedfordshire VC30
October 12, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Quite a few to choose from for this week's #Wildflowerhour including Dwarf Mallow (M. neglecta) and Musk Mallow (M. moschata), still some Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) on show, and a single Pale Persicaria (Persicaria lapathifolia) on arable margin, glandular hairs checked. Bedfordshire VC30
Losiento.. Sorry to point out that there's a problem with the name on this one.
Nice poster though and a really good idea.
Nice poster though and a really good idea.
October 9, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Losiento.. Sorry to point out that there's a problem with the name on this one.
Nice poster though and a really good idea.
Nice poster though and a really good idea.
Cloudy and mild last night with lots of activity on the garden Ivy..
3 Large Yellow Underwing,
2 Green-brindled Crescent,
2 Common Plume,
Ypsolopha mucronella,
Eudonia angustea with Brick being the highlight, new for the garden here in Bedfordshire VC30.
#teammoth
3 Large Yellow Underwing,
2 Green-brindled Crescent,
2 Common Plume,
Ypsolopha mucronella,
Eudonia angustea with Brick being the highlight, new for the garden here in Bedfordshire VC30.
#teammoth
October 8, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Cloudy and mild last night with lots of activity on the garden Ivy..
3 Large Yellow Underwing,
2 Green-brindled Crescent,
2 Common Plume,
Ypsolopha mucronella,
Eudonia angustea with Brick being the highlight, new for the garden here in Bedfordshire VC30.
#teammoth
3 Large Yellow Underwing,
2 Green-brindled Crescent,
2 Common Plume,
Ypsolopha mucronella,
Eudonia angustea with Brick being the highlight, new for the garden here in Bedfordshire VC30.
#teammoth
I was really happy with that one, only seen them in Dorset before. Was fortunate as I only noticed it as I was packing away, it was tucked away outside the trap on a frame I hang the sheet off. Nervous few moments trying to pot it!
October 3, 2025 at 10:02 PM
I was really happy with that one, only seen them in Dorset before. Was fortunate as I only noticed it as I was packing away, it was tucked away outside the trap on a frame I hang the sheet off. Nervous few moments trying to pot it!
Decent returns from the moth trap last night, 71 of 31 species. Great variety, autumn species, late (2nd brood) 'summer' moths plus migrants. Highlights inc Sallow ab.flavescens, L-album Wainscot, Barred Sallow and probable Ancylosis oblitella.
Bedfordshire VC30.
#Teammoth
Bedfordshire VC30.
#Teammoth
October 2, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Decent returns from the moth trap last night, 71 of 31 species. Great variety, autumn species, late (2nd brood) 'summer' moths plus migrants. Highlights inc Sallow ab.flavescens, L-album Wainscot, Barred Sallow and probable Ancylosis oblitella.
Bedfordshire VC30.
#Teammoth
Bedfordshire VC30.
#Teammoth
Highlights from my local patch this week include my 1st Clouded Yellow of the year, present for at least 3 days favouring a set aside field, and a patch-tick Grass Snake. Seen sunbathing on a grass verge, I only managed to get a record shot but exciting to see nonetheless. VC30
September 28, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Highlights from my local patch this week include my 1st Clouded Yellow of the year, present for at least 3 days favouring a set aside field, and a patch-tick Grass Snake. Seen sunbathing on a grass verge, I only managed to get a record shot but exciting to see nonetheless. VC30
Still lots in flower around my local patch this week, making the most of it whilst it lasts. Hoary Ragwort (Jacobaea erucifolia) and Common Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) both putting on a fine show here in Bedfordshire VC30
#Wildflowerhour
#Wildflowerhour
September 28, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Still lots in flower around my local patch this week, making the most of it whilst it lasts. Hoary Ragwort (Jacobaea erucifolia) and Common Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) both putting on a fine show here in Bedfordshire VC30
#Wildflowerhour
#Wildflowerhour
A couple of yesterday's finds on patch here in Bedfordshire VC30. Always nice to see Bishop's Mitre Shieldbug, one of my favourite inverts. Also really good to see 2 Whinchat on passage in the usual location I see them each autumn. Both still present today and seemingly feeding well.
September 21, 2025 at 9:26 PM
A couple of yesterday's finds on patch here in Bedfordshire VC30. Always nice to see Bishop's Mitre Shieldbug, one of my favourite inverts. Also really good to see 2 Whinchat on passage in the usual location I see them each autumn. Both still present today and seemingly feeding well.
I think I might have found mines of Phyllocnistis extrematrix on new growth of Black Poplar here in Bedfordshire VC30..
@vc28wildlife.bsky.social
@vc28wildlife.bsky.social
September 21, 2025 at 2:52 PM
I think I might have found mines of Phyllocnistis extrematrix on new growth of Black Poplar here in Bedfordshire VC30..
@vc28wildlife.bsky.social
@vc28wildlife.bsky.social
Good returns from the moth trap last night here in Bedfordshire VC30, 94 of 32spp. Autumnal locals well represented alongside migrants/wanderers. Vestal nfg, Onconcera semirubella, 2 Pediasia contaminella and Pine Carpet. Thanks @migrantmothuk.bsky.social for the forecast.
#teammoth
#teammoth
September 19, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Good returns from the moth trap last night here in Bedfordshire VC30, 94 of 32spp. Autumnal locals well represented alongside migrants/wanderers. Vestal nfg, Onconcera semirubella, 2 Pediasia contaminella and Pine Carpet. Thanks @migrantmothuk.bsky.social for the forecast.
#teammoth
#teammoth
Feels like crazy conditions for the time of year.. let's see what's out there!
Good luck everyone :)
Good luck everyone :)
September 18, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Feels like crazy conditions for the time of year.. let's see what's out there!
Good luck everyone :)
Good luck everyone :)
Almost impossible to choose a single favourite find for this week's #Wildflowerhour but high on the list has to be what I'm fairly certain are Northern Marsh Orchids from Orrell Water Park near Wigan back in May.
September 14, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Almost impossible to choose a single favourite find for this week's #Wildflowerhour but high on the list has to be what I'm fairly certain are Northern Marsh Orchids from Orrell Water Park near Wigan back in May.
A potential new species for me today, what i believe are Obolodiplosis robinae galls on Black Locust Tree (Robinia pseudoacacia), a garden escape growing on the edge of a footpath. VC30 Bedfordshire
September 14, 2025 at 3:43 PM
A potential new species for me today, what i believe are Obolodiplosis robinae galls on Black Locust Tree (Robinia pseudoacacia), a garden escape growing on the edge of a footpath. VC30 Bedfordshire
Corizus hyoscyami and Hairy Shieldbug in the margins of a conservation stewardship scheme arable field today here in Bedfordshire VC30
September 14, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Corizus hyoscyami and Hairy Shieldbug in the margins of a conservation stewardship scheme arable field today here in Bedfordshire VC30
I think these Sawfly larvae found on a Birch sapling in the garden might be Nematus septentrionalis. Bedfordshire VC30
September 3, 2025 at 1:03 PM
I think these Sawfly larvae found on a Birch sapling in the garden might be Nematus septentrionalis. Bedfordshire VC30
Noticed a couple of migrant moths on a walk through arable land today, a nicely marked Rush Veneer (Nomophila noctuella) and a Diamond-back Moth (Plutella xylostella). Hummingbird Hawkmoth paid the garden a very brief visit yesterday, too quick to photograph. VC30 Bedfordshire #teammoth
August 31, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Noticed a couple of migrant moths on a walk through arable land today, a nicely marked Rush Veneer (Nomophila noctuella) and a Diamond-back Moth (Plutella xylostella). Hummingbird Hawkmoth paid the garden a very brief visit yesterday, too quick to photograph. VC30 Bedfordshire #teammoth
On 12/viii/25 I found an adult Parent Shieldbug (Elasmucha grisea) guarding her eggs on Italian Alder. Today I checked the same area and found a few 4th and 5th instar nymphs, and nearby a large group of adults. VC30 Bedfordshire
August 23, 2025 at 3:21 PM
On 12/viii/25 I found an adult Parent Shieldbug (Elasmucha grisea) guarding her eggs on Italian Alder. Today I checked the same area and found a few 4th and 5th instar nymphs, and nearby a large group of adults. VC30 Bedfordshire
Choreutis nemorana feeding signs on Fig down the allotment, first time I've found this after many years of looking. Not many previous Bedfordshire records either so good to be adding to the data. VC30 #teammoth
August 21, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Choreutis nemorana feeding signs on Fig down the allotment, first time I've found this after many years of looking. Not many previous Bedfordshire records either so good to be adding to the data. VC30 #teammoth
c230 moths of c50 species to the actinic last night here in Bedfordshire, half of which were Common Wainscot. 12 Jersey Tigers highest count so far. Several nfy inc Tawny-speckled Pug and Epiblema foenella. Red Underwing and Old Lady on the wine ropes. VC30
August 13, 2025 at 9:05 PM
c230 moths of c50 species to the actinic last night here in Bedfordshire, half of which were Common Wainscot. 12 Jersey Tigers highest count so far. Several nfy inc Tawny-speckled Pug and Epiblema foenella. Red Underwing and Old Lady on the wine ropes. VC30
Dark area on the underside of the upperwing seems to fit too.
August 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Dark area on the underside of the upperwing seems to fit too.
Good candidate for Langmaids Yellow Underwing in the trap last night here in Bedfordshire VC30.
August 13, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Good candidate for Langmaids Yellow Underwing in the trap last night here in Bedfordshire VC30.