@stevetortrix.bsky.social
Following a tip-off via IRecord, I found several mines of Phyllonorycter pastorella on a small NR near Worcester Uni on Thursday. Image of Crack Willow leaf with typical almost rectangular mine and pupal case protruding. The first adult emerged early afternoon today. Another regional first!
September 27, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Following a tip-off via IRecord, I found several mines of Phyllonorycter pastorella on a small NR near Worcester Uni on Thursday. Image of Crack Willow leaf with typical almost rectangular mine and pupal case protruding. The first adult emerged early afternoon today. Another regional first!
Following on from one at Winyates, Redditch exactly 2 years ago now a true VC37 Clancy's Rustic at Warndon, Worcester O/N - one of 30 species recorded.
September 27, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Following on from one at Winyates, Redditch exactly 2 years ago now a true VC37 Clancy's Rustic at Warndon, Worcester O/N - one of 30 species recorded.
To say that the history of Buttoned Snout in Worcs is puzzling is a understatement! Only 3 records between 1899 and 1975, despite an extensive Hop Growing area west of River Severn. Gap of 43 years and now resident in small numbers. Waited 21 years here at Warndon then 2 come along in one night!
July 31, 2025 at 7:24 PM
To say that the history of Buttoned Snout in Worcs is puzzling is a understatement! Only 3 records between 1899 and 1975, despite an extensive Hop Growing area west of River Severn. Gap of 43 years and now resident in small numbers. Waited 21 years here at Warndon then 2 come along in one night!
It's only taken 20 years to get a Warndon, garden one but it seems they all turn up in the end! Jarrad Tibbett's came round to admire it and brought me the second good migrant in Worcs this month - Small Mottled Willow from Wilden Top last night. VC37
June 13, 2025 at 5:33 PM
It's only taken 20 years to get a Warndon, garden one but it seems they all turn up in the end! Jarrad Tibbett's came round to admire it and brought me the second good migrant in Worcs this month - Small Mottled Willow from Wilden Top last night. VC37
Ian Machin's netting skills and observation came good again with the rediscovery of Phyllonorycter kuhlweiniella - swept off Oak leaves at Hartlebury Common, Worcs yesterday evening. almost 148 years since the last at Old Hills on 14th May 1877
May 6, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Ian Machin's netting skills and observation came good again with the rediscovery of Phyllonorycter kuhlweiniella - swept off Oak leaves at Hartlebury Common, Worcs yesterday evening. almost 148 years since the last at Old Hills on 14th May 1877
Continuing to live the Bluesky handle ! Two more nice-looking Acleris from Warndon Trap last 3 nights. 'Jazzy' A. cristana and 'dark stripy' A. umbrana (only second here but obviously spreading well in VC37 now)
March 9, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Continuing to live the Bluesky handle ! Two more nice-looking Acleris from Warndon Trap last 3 nights. 'Jazzy' A. cristana and 'dark stripy' A. umbrana (only second here but obviously spreading well in VC37 now)
A late afternoon team search along the NNR section of the disused railway line in the Wyre Forest yesterday produced 7 cases of Narycia duplicella on old posts. Netting with head-torches from dusk produced male and female Acleris hyemana near the southern edge of its national range here.
March 7, 2025 at 10:41 PM
A late afternoon team search along the NNR section of the disused railway line in the Wyre Forest yesterday produced 7 cases of Narycia duplicella on old posts. Netting with head-torches from dusk produced male and female Acleris hyemana near the southern edge of its national range here.
The Marbled Duck was relocated by Ian and Lawrence Machin this pm at Longdon Marsh WWT Roadside pool. It is un-ringed and fully winged and can be elusive but was viewed from 5m inside entrance gate. The drake Ring-necked Duck was again at Hill Court Screen. Image by Andy Warr.
March 2, 2025 at 7:13 PM
The Marbled Duck was relocated by Ian and Lawrence Machin this pm at Longdon Marsh WWT Roadside pool. It is un-ringed and fully winged and can be elusive but was viewed from 5m inside entrance gate. The drake Ring-necked Duck was again at Hill Court Screen. Image by Andy Warr.
A sub-adult White-tailed Eagle was located on west side of Clifton Main Pit at 11:00 today. It remained perched in a dead pine tree for 80 mins before heading towards adjacent River Severn. Seemingly un-ringed, un-tagged and no visible transmitter so maybe not English and wild. Images by Andy Warr
December 31, 2024 at 7:00 PM
A sub-adult White-tailed Eagle was located on west side of Clifton Main Pit at 11:00 today. It remained perched in a dead pine tree for 80 mins before heading towards adjacent River Severn. Seemingly un-ringed, un-tagged and no visible transmitter so maybe not English and wild. Images by Andy Warr
An Aproaerema polychromella made it to Worcs overnight last Friday at Malvern Link, apologies for poor record shot - not much light today! First regional record and a long way in from the SW coast where the majority landed.
December 4, 2024 at 4:24 PM
An Aproaerema polychromella made it to Worcs overnight last Friday at Malvern Link, apologies for poor record shot - not much light today! First regional record and a long way in from the SW coast where the majority landed.
When everybody else is getting Scarce Bordered Straw, you start to wonder! Finally one to Actinic in Worcester garden on Sunday 10th
November 14, 2024 at 1:33 PM
When everybody else is getting Scarce Bordered Straw, you start to wonder! Finally one to Actinic in Worcester garden on Sunday 10th
This Dark Sword-grass to MV in Worcester on Monday night had seen better days. More interesting was a pyralid moth potted while sweeping fallen leaves at West Hagley Webbs by Jarrad Tibbets yesterday. Looks good for Worcs 2nd Palm Tabby (Diplopseustis perieresalis). Migrant or adventive ?
November 6, 2024 at 7:58 PM
This Dark Sword-grass to MV in Worcester on Monday night had seen better days. More interesting was a pyralid moth potted while sweeping fallen leaves at West Hagley Webbs by Jarrad Tibbets yesterday. Looks good for Worcs 2nd Palm Tabby (Diplopseustis perieresalis). Migrant or adventive ?
Sods Law - if this was a moth it would be straight on the British List but alas its a dragonlfly, who's list keeper have a more conservative outlook! (Make sense). A female Slender Skimmer emerged from an aquatic tank in Bromsgrove, Worcs and currently at my house
October 13, 2024 at 11:01 AM
Sods Law - if this was a moth it would be straight on the British List but alas its a dragonlfly, who's list keeper have a more conservative outlook! (Make sense). A female Slender Skimmer emerged from an aquatic tank in Bromsgrove, Worcs and currently at my house
Here's one causing a bit of a 'flap' in parts of southern England. Material kindly forwarded from a Devon source and emerged here on Monday PM. Fig Leaf Skeletonizer! Not yet in the West Midlands. I have checked out out 3 Worcs garden centers to no avail.
September 5, 2024 at 6:58 PM
Here's one causing a bit of a 'flap' in parts of southern England. Material kindly forwarded from a Devon source and emerged here on Monday PM. Fig Leaf Skeletonizer! Not yet in the West Midlands. I have checked out out 3 Worcs garden centers to no avail.
No need to haggle over the price or size of house bricks for this one on Saturday night here in Worcester. CN news!
September 2, 2024 at 2:17 PM
No need to haggle over the price or size of house bricks for this one on Saturday night here in Worcester. CN news!
Have just received confirmation that this moth was indeed a male Isophrictis anthemidella (thanks to det by Patrick Clement). Taken on beach at Sandwich Bay on 17th July 2024. The only site in the UK that the species has been recorded!
September 1, 2024 at 6:57 PM
Have just received confirmation that this moth was indeed a male Isophrictis anthemidella (thanks to det by Patrick Clement). Taken on beach at Sandwich Bay on 17th July 2024. The only site in the UK that the species has been recorded!
Mike Southall light-trapped what looks like a Worcs and Regional first in the form of Jersey Mocha last night at Norchard (tbc)
August 28, 2024 at 11:30 AM
Mike Southall light-trapped what looks like a Worcs and Regional first in the form of Jersey Mocha last night at Norchard (tbc)
The second male Gypsy Moth to my Worcester garden overnight and maybe still only the 3rd VC37 record following the first on 23rd August 2023, exactly a year ago!
August 24, 2024 at 8:45 PM
The second male Gypsy Moth to my Worcester garden overnight and maybe still only the 3rd VC37 record following the first on 23rd August 2023, exactly a year ago!
A first for Worcs Micromoth mid-week - a Vine Moth to light at Upper Rochford (c/o Danny Arnold) presumably a migrant and Palpita vitrealis at Worcester an annual visitor...
August 17, 2024 at 3:11 PM
A first for Worcs Micromoth mid-week - a Vine Moth to light at Upper Rochford (c/o Danny Arnold) presumably a migrant and Palpita vitrealis at Worcester an annual visitor...
First Worcs Mullein Wave away from the 'northern conurbation' last night at Malvern Link photographed by Nicky Rowberry. Other recent southern species making progress in county include Tree Lichen Beauty and Jersey Tiger this last few days
August 13, 2024 at 5:58 PM
First Worcs Mullein Wave away from the 'northern conurbation' last night at Malvern Link photographed by Nicky Rowberry. Other recent southern species making progress in county include Tree Lichen Beauty and Jersey Tiger this last few days
When looking for Tortrixes in some oak woodland in East Worcs yesterday, I netted a small pale moth that for once was an easy micro to ID; Povolyna leucapennella. Included by Barrett in his historical list, was then omitted from the Atlas of 2001 due to lack of data (TS). Well its back on there now!
July 6, 2024 at 2:35 PM
When looking for Tortrixes in some oak woodland in East Worcs yesterday, I netted a small pale moth that for once was an easy micro to ID; Povolyna leucapennella. Included by Barrett in his historical list, was then omitted from the Atlas of 2001 due to lack of data (TS). Well its back on there now!
Hawk-eyed Jared Tibbetts does it again. Whilst tending cactus plants at West Hagley Webbs he potted up a tiny moth which looks like Yellow V Moth. The first Worcs (VC37) record and only the 2nd West Midlands regional moth since one in Shropshire in 1929.
July 5, 2024 at 9:13 AM
Hawk-eyed Jared Tibbetts does it again. Whilst tending cactus plants at West Hagley Webbs he potted up a tiny moth which looks like Yellow V Moth. The first Worcs (VC37) record and only the 2nd West Midlands regional moth since one in Shropshire in 1929.
Elachista scirpi in sight of the old Severn Bridge yesterday evening, flying from stem to stem below Sea Clubrush flowers. Only discovered as new to Glos earlier this spring!
June 7, 2024 at 4:59 PM
Elachista scirpi in sight of the old Severn Bridge yesterday evening, flying from stem to stem below Sea Clubrush flowers. Only discovered as new to Glos earlier this spring!
Ian Machin's on going daytime efforts at Hartlebury Common now hitting the Jackpot with a regional first. Netted mid-evening yesterday and awaiting full verification but undoubtedly a Bryotropha umbrosella. From a sandy tract with Ragwort & grasses. The closest breeding colony is at Bridgwater Bay.
June 4, 2024 at 4:43 PM
Ian Machin's on going daytime efforts at Hartlebury Common now hitting the Jackpot with a regional first. Netted mid-evening yesterday and awaiting full verification but undoubtedly a Bryotropha umbrosella. From a sandy tract with Ragwort & grasses. The closest breeding colony is at Bridgwater Bay.
Walking in the Wyre Forest on Monday morning I was pleased to see many Orthotaenia undulana flying between bilberry and bracken fronds. Minimum of 12 but would imagine 1000's at large throughout.
May 29, 2024 at 6:02 PM
Walking in the Wyre Forest on Monday morning I was pleased to see many Orthotaenia undulana flying between bilberry and bracken fronds. Minimum of 12 but would imagine 1000's at large throughout.