Simon Davies
@ramblinbirder.bsky.social
Birder, butterflies, moths.
Somerset : mostly local (TA4 VC5) and Steart and the Quantocks. More images : flickr.com and my WordPress blog: (simonvyvyandavies/thenovicebirder)
Somerset : mostly local (TA4 VC5) and Steart and the Quantocks. More images : flickr.com and my WordPress blog: (simonvyvyandavies/thenovicebirder)
This autumn, trapping once or twice a week every trap has been markedly different from that preceding it: same last night in VC5 nr Taunton with 48/14 inc. garden records of 7 U. ferrugalis, 7 Feathered thorn. NFG A. sparsana, and only my 2nd Cypress carpet. And a "cross" spider (see ALT). #teammoth
November 6, 2025 at 9:34 PM
This autumn, trapping once or twice a week every trap has been markedly different from that preceding it: same last night in VC5 nr Taunton with 48/14 inc. garden records of 7 U. ferrugalis, 7 Feathered thorn. NFG A. sparsana, and only my 2nd Cypress carpet. And a "cross" spider (see ALT). #teammoth
Late wheatear at Cheddar Res. this morning (thanks AR). Nothing else noteworthy today, despite the large numbers of duck and gulls. #somersetbirding
November 4, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Late wheatear at Cheddar Res. this morning (thanks AR). Nothing else noteworthy today, despite the large numbers of duck and gulls. #somersetbirding
Decent 36/19 overnight despite only 7/7 having arrived by 2230. Baldrick (image) and ferrugalis welcome refugees from the gale. 2 FMcT 🪶🪶crashing about the trap in typical 'coo fashion (image). Micros included a neat looking consimilana. And Merv called in but had left by morning. #teammoth
November 4, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Decent 36/19 overnight despite only 7/7 having arrived by 2230. Baldrick (image) and ferrugalis welcome refugees from the gale. 2 FMcT 🪶🪶crashing about the trap in typical 'coo fashion (image). Micros included a neat looking consimilana. And Merv called in but had left by morning. #teammoth
I spent two hours moth trapping in private woodland at Long Melford in Suffolk this evening. A total of 107 moths of seven species. The amazing thing is that 86 of the moths were the Nationally Scarce PLUMED PROMINENT. I've never trapped anything like that number before. #mothsmatter
November 4, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Reposted by Simon Davies
Searching blackthorn yesterday in a new field near the A1 in VC20 for Brown Hairstreak, yealded 8 Blue-borderedCarpet eggs & 2 Oak Eggar(says Obsidentify)caterpillars + the star of the show 2 Brown Hairstreak eggs ✅ My phone doesn't take photos of eggs very well! @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #teammoth
October 31, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Searching blackthorn yesterday in a new field near the A1 in VC20 for Brown Hairstreak, yealded 8 Blue-borderedCarpet eggs & 2 Oak Eggar(says Obsidentify)caterpillars + the star of the show 2 Brown Hairstreak eggs ✅ My phone doesn't take photos of eggs very well! @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #teammoth
1/2 Final scores on the doors from last night's traps (MV and multi LED actinic, VC5) were 76/26 contingent on one micro. identification (image below ?Adoxophyes orana ). A 2nd pearly underwing with ferrugalis 2, noctuella and white-point all hinting at migration on the southerly airs. #teammoth
October 29, 2025 at 9:18 PM
1/2 Final scores on the doors from last night's traps (MV and multi LED actinic, VC5) were 76/26 contingent on one micro. identification (image below ?Adoxophyes orana ). A 2nd pearly underwing with ferrugalis 2, noctuella and white-point all hinting at migration on the southerly airs. #teammoth
Turns out I was near enough the S coast to get some migrant moths after all: NFY pearly underwing looked well-travelled, White-point, noctuella and 2 ferrugalis made up the numbers. Good night overall with a record 7 MdeJ and lots more potted plus photos to go through later. Birds next! #teammoth
October 29, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Turns out I was near enough the S coast to get some migrant moths after all: NFY pearly underwing looked well-travelled, White-point, noctuella and 2 ferrugalis made up the numbers. Good night overall with a record 7 MdeJ and lots more potted plus photos to go through later. Birds next! #teammoth
We go tonight: may even go multi-trap!! Still avoiding the part of the garden where the wasps have nested under my pride and joy : "giant" Echium grown from seed from Heligan!
2/2 The hope then is that south-westerly winds will bring the migrant influx towards the south coast before a cold front pushes the milder air southwards again. #teammoth
October 28, 2025 at 3:24 PM
We go tonight: may even go multi-trap!! Still avoiding the part of the garden where the wasps have nested under my pride and joy : "giant" Echium grown from seed from Heligan!
1/2 Well worth a couple of soakings to pull in 52 moths of 26 species, here in VC5. Only 9 species in common with 6 days earlier, and 10 NFY included red and yellow line Quakers, Dark Chestnut, Feathered Thorn, Blair's shoulder-knot, Figure of Eight (NFG!). (contd) #teammoth
October 20, 2025 at 3:27 PM
1/2 Well worth a couple of soakings to pull in 52 moths of 26 species, here in VC5. Only 9 species in common with 6 days earlier, and 10 NFY included red and yellow line Quakers, Dark Chestnut, Feathered Thorn, Blair's shoulder-knot, Figure of Eight (NFG!). (contd) #teammoth
Sunday night the dryer and calmer of the two on current Somerset weather forecasts : will aim for that. Thanks again for the detailed meteorological heads up, Steve.
There's plenty of migrant potential for Saturday and Sunday. The gusty wind will be a factor at times, although decreasing from the west. Saharan dust possible on Sunday. #teammoth
October 18, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Sunday night the dryer and calmer of the two on current Somerset weather forecasts : will aim for that. Thanks again for the detailed meteorological heads up, Steve.
A good night as for many elsewhere, with 78/25 in and around the MV trap while temperatures held up and cloud thickened. MdeJ (NFY) an early attendee. White-point (2nd ever) noctuella and Small mottled willow: poss migrants? Brindled green, consimilana, lacticolella all NFY. And 23 Vine's! #teammoth
October 14, 2025 at 8:30 PM
A good night as for many elsewhere, with 78/25 in and around the MV trap while temperatures held up and cloud thickened. MdeJ (NFY) an early attendee. White-point (2nd ever) noctuella and Small mottled willow: poss migrants? Brindled green, consimilana, lacticolella all NFY. And 23 Vine's! #teammoth
Clearly squadrons of Mervs silently circling above our heads tonight: "mine"on the (MV, VC5) trap by 2230. Cue a flick through the trap and it's busier than for some time with : Brindled green 2, Clepsis consimilana, Setaceous Hebrew Character 2,
Vine's 5, LYU, LBBYU, Beaded chestnut #teammoth
Vine's 5, LYU, LBBYU, Beaded chestnut #teammoth
October 13, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Clearly squadrons of Mervs silently circling above our heads tonight: "mine"on the (MV, VC5) trap by 2230. Cue a flick through the trap and it's busier than for some time with : Brindled green 2, Clepsis consimilana, Setaceous Hebrew Character 2,
Vine's 5, LYU, LBBYU, Beaded chestnut #teammoth
Vine's 5, LYU, LBBYU, Beaded chestnut #teammoth
Following the lead of @mattames6.bsky.social et al., out with the headtorch last night and lo and behold Pink-barred sallow, Barred sallow and a sparkling will o' the wisp of a NFY Palpita vitrealis. Anyone with ideas as to night photography with the iPhone, gratefully received. #teammoth
October 10, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Following the lead of @mattames6.bsky.social et al., out with the headtorch last night and lo and behold Pink-barred sallow, Barred sallow and a sparkling will o' the wisp of a NFY Palpita vitrealis. Anyone with ideas as to night photography with the iPhone, gratefully received. #teammoth
Apart from a golden night 11th Oct '23 when several migrants and a Clifden nonpareil came in among 44/22 (after days of very mild weather and southerlies), I usually see few moths in mid to late October. So 5/4 overnight but 2 lovely catch-up NFY : Black rustic and Green-brindled crescent. #teammoth
October 8, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Apart from a golden night 11th Oct '23 when several migrants and a Clifden nonpareil came in among 44/22 (after days of very mild weather and southerlies), I usually see few moths in mid to late October. So 5/4 overnight but 2 lovely catch-up NFY : Black rustic and Green-brindled crescent. #teammoth
Reposted by Simon Davies
100+ spoonies again today... wonderful sight to see them feeding actively all over the lagoon 🩵 #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social
October 7, 2025 at 9:28 AM
100+ spoonies again today... wonderful sight to see them feeding actively all over the lagoon 🩵 #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social
Reposted by Simon Davies
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
October 5, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
Pink-barred sallow and Spruce carpet new moths to me trapping at a local mire on Friday evening. Plan to repeat these traps periodically, should be interesting. Meanwhile home LED actinic trap dominated by 34 Lunar underwing (in 67/12). Nomophila noctuella. Otherwise standard fare. #teammoth
September 28, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Pink-barred sallow and Spruce carpet new moths to me trapping at a local mire on Friday evening. Plan to repeat these traps periodically, should be interesting. Meanwhile home LED actinic trap dominated by 34 Lunar underwing (in 67/12). Nomophila noctuella. Otherwise standard fare. #teammoth
Ninja campsite mothing turned up an interesting crambid tonight : pretty sure this is Evergestis limbata. I've emailed Bucks. county recorder. Anyone else know this moth? New to me (and not seen in Somerset I don't think). #teammoth
September 17, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Ninja campsite mothing turned up an interesting crambid tonight : pretty sure this is Evergestis limbata. I've emailed Bucks. county recorder. Anyone else know this moth? New to me (and not seen in Somerset I don't think). #teammoth
One of a pair of Hummingbird Hawk-moths seen nectaring on the kaleidoscope of salvias at Kingston Lacy NT garden yesterday, near Wareham, Dorset. OM-1/PanaLeica 100-400, ISO1000, f6.3 1/2000 sec #teammoth
September 11, 2025 at 8:00 PM
One of a pair of Hummingbird Hawk-moths seen nectaring on the kaleidoscope of salvias at Kingston Lacy NT garden yesterday, near Wareham, Dorset. OM-1/PanaLeica 100-400, ISO1000, f6.3 1/2000 sec #teammoth
A bevy of Beauties in last nights trap included a NFG Lilac Beauty that took my breath away. The migrants were mainly imagined whistling overhead in the southerly, heading for Minehead it seems. ECB, ferrugalis and a tired (?retrapped) Vestal consoled. Next, a camping (&ninja #teammoth ing!) break.
September 7, 2025 at 10:24 PM
A bevy of Beauties in last nights trap included a NFG Lilac Beauty that took my breath away. The migrants were mainly imagined whistling overhead in the southerly, heading for Minehead it seems. ECB, ferrugalis and a tired (?retrapped) Vestal consoled. Next, a camping (&ninja #teammoth ing!) break.
Some of the 2500+ shelduck at Stert Point in the strong westerly over high tide earlier this evening. A single Manx shearwater in the channel between the north end of Stert Island and the Point was a Somerset first for me. 4 Wheatears between North breach and Stert point. #somersetbirds
September 4, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Some of the 2500+ shelduck at Stert Point in the strong westerly over high tide earlier this evening. A single Manx shearwater in the channel between the north end of Stert Island and the Point was a Somerset first for me. 4 Wheatears between North breach and Stert point. #somersetbirds
September 4, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Some of the 2500+ shelduck at Stert Point in the strong westerly over high tide earlier this evening. A single Manx shearwater in the channel between the north end of Stert Island and the Point was a Somerset first for me. 4 Wheatears between North breach and Stert point. #somersetbirds
1/2 Trapped 2130-0400 TA4 VC5 Somerset and missed most of the showers. Temp down to 12degC, however. Trickle of migrants with 5 N. noctuella, 1 U. ferrugalis and a Vestal . Autumnal colours with Frosted Orange (NFY), Barred and Centre-barred sallow and some tired hornets. (contd .) #teammoth
September 2, 2025 at 8:59 PM
1/2 Trapped 2130-0400 TA4 VC5 Somerset and missed most of the showers. Temp down to 12degC, however. Trickle of migrants with 5 N. noctuella, 1 U. ferrugalis and a Vestal . Autumnal colours with Frosted Orange (NFY), Barred and Centre-barred sallow and some tired hornets. (contd .) #teammoth
This afternoon's Osprey at Noah's, Shapwick. Fishing in a very shallow Noah's Lake. Seems it's been here a few days. #somersetbirding
September 1, 2025 at 2:24 PM
This afternoon's Osprey at Noah's, Shapwick. Fishing in a very shallow Noah's Lake. Seems it's been here a few days. #somersetbirding
Required reading for wet Sundays when the trap is empty #teammoth
'Dear reader,
this morning the poet
has gone to his shed
to tease
last night’s moths
from crannies and knots,
to tip the lampshade’s
treasure chest
onto an empty desk....'
observer.co.uk/culture/book...
this morning the poet
has gone to his shed
to tease
last night’s moths
from crannies and knots,
to tip the lampshade’s
treasure chest
onto an empty desk....'
observer.co.uk/culture/book...
Simon Armitage makes peace with the dead | The Observer
In New Cemetery, the poet laureate draws on the wonder of moths and the death of his father to produce a haunting sequence of poems
observer.co.uk
August 31, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Required reading for wet Sundays when the trap is empty #teammoth