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Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 2d

Photos of five micro moths from local recording over the last week. I do like the first one.
1. Stigmella catharticella on Purging Buckthorn.
2. Diurnea lipsiella.
3. Phyllonorycter klemannella and Caloptilia elongella on Alder.
4. Stigmella basiguttella on oak.
#mothsmatter

Stigmella catharticella (Buckthorn Dot). Great Waldingfield, Suffolk.

Diurnea lipsiella (Late Reveller). Long Melford, Suffolk.

Phyllonorycter klemannella (Shining Alder Leaf-miner) and Caloptilia elongella (Alder Stilt). Foxearth, Essex

Stigmella basiguttella (Shoulder-spot Dot). Foxearth, Essex.

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Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 4d

Suffolk: 1st winter BROWN SHRIKE still present at Upper Hollesley Common at 12.25. #suffolkbirding

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Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 13d

Some photos from this week's micro moth recording.
1. Diplodoma laichartingella (Yellow-headed Bagworm).
2. Ectoedemia atricollis (Barred Fruit-tree Dot).
3. Stigmella regiella (Purple-shot Dot).
4. Ectoedemia occultella (Large Birch Dot).
#suffolk #mothsmatter

Diplodoma laichartingella (Yellow-headed Bagworm). Long Melford, Suffolk.

Ectoedemia atricollis (Barred Fruit-tree Dot) on Hawthorn. Assington, Suffolk.

Stigmella regiella (Purple-shot Dot) on Hawthorn. Assington, Suffolk.

Ectoedemia occultella (Large Birch Dot) on birch. Assington, Suffolk.

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Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 16d

Hello Simon. Searching Ivy blossom has been really productive around here this autumn. Most of the moths are first spotted by their red eye shine in the torchlight.

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Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 17d

That should say Nonpareil. 😶

Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 17d

Still quite good numbers of moths present locally (especially on Ivy blossom). Three highlights from this week were Tawny Pinion, a fairly late Clifden Nonpariel and Autumnal Rustic.
#longmelford #suffolk #mothsmatter

Clifden Nonpariel. Long Melford, Suffolk.

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Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 25d

Nice photo Matthew. Good to see you today. 👍

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Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 26d

An hour and a half spent searching Ivy blossom in Long Melford (Suffolk) last night produced a total of 104 moths of 20 species, including Clancy's Rustic, Pink-barred Sallow, Rusty-dot Pearl, L-album Wainscot (2), Dark Chestnut (3), Black Rustic (2) and Brick (23). Very enjoyable. #mothsmatter

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Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · Sep 28

Moth trapping on the edge of ancient woodland in Long Melford, Suffolk last night produced 19 species, including Pale Pinion (2), Clancy's Rustic, a migrant Pearly Underwing and a Green-brindled Crescent. Several species were only found on Ivy blossom. #mothsmatter

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Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · Sep 23

I get a few winter records now as well. 👍

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Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · Sep 23

One of two STONECHATS at Long Melford this afternoon. Having increased over recent years, these are just about annual here now. #suffolkbirding

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Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · Sep 14

Two leaf mines of Stephensia brunnichella (Basil Blotch-miner) on Wild Basil. An excellent find during a Suffolk Moth Group visit to Great Waldingfield yesterday. #mothsmatter

Stephensia brunnichella (Basil Blotch-miner). Mine on Wild Basil. Great Waldingfield, Suffolk.

Stephensia brunnichella (Basil Blotch-miner). Habitat with Wild Basil. Great Waldingfield, Suffolk.

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Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · Sep 10

Four more leaf mines from this last week.
1. Stigmella hybnerella (Shining Hawthorn Dot).
2. Phyllonorycter comparella (Poplar Leaf-miner).
3. Phyllonorycter pastorella (Royal Leaf-miner).
4. Stigmella malella (Apple Dot).
Finding leaf mines is quite satisfying. 🙂 #mothsmatter

Stigmella hybnerella (Shining Hawthorn Dot). on Hawthorn. Little Cornard, Suffolk.

Phyllonorycter comparella (Poplar Leaf-miner). On White Poplar. Long Melford, Suffolk.

Phyllonorycter pastorella (Royal Leaf-miner). On Smooth-leaved willow species. Long Melford, Suffolk.

Stigmella malella (Apple Dot). On apple. Acton, Suffolk.

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Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · Sep 5

Essex: ARCTIC WARBLER still present at Great Wigborough, near Abberton Reservoir at 18.30. In hedge along public footpath just south-east of the church. TL968155. Parking at the church is limited.

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Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · Sep 1

It was good to see two SWIFTS over Long Melford this morning (having not seen any for over a week). My first September sighting here since 2020. #suffolk

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Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · Aug 31

That sounds like an exciting seawatch Tim. 👍

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Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · Aug 27

A few micro moths from the last few days:
1. Chrysoesthia drurella (Fiery Miner) on Fat Hen.
2. Chrysoesthia sexguttella (Orange-spotted Miner) on Fat Hen.
3. Fig-leaf Skeletoniser (Choreutis nemorana) on Fig.
4. Stigmella hybnerella (Shining Hawthorn Dot) on Hawthorn.
#suffolk #mothsmatter

Chrysoesthia drurella (Fiery Miner) on Fat Hen. Long Melford, Suffolk.

Chrysoesthia sexguttella (Orange-spotted Miner) on Fat Hen. Long Melford, Suffolk.

Fig-leaf Skeletoniser (Choreutis nemorana) on Fig. Stoke-by-Nayland, Suffolk.

Stigmella hybnerella (Shining Hawthorn Dot) on Hawthorn. Stoke-by-Nayland, Suffolk.

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Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · Aug 26

This juvenile MANDARIN was an interesting sighting at Long Melford (Suffolk) today. Assume they must have bred somewhere locally this year. #suffolkbirding

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Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · Aug 18

Phyllocnistis extrematrix larval mines found today on Black Poplar at Long Melford in Suffolk. Thanks to Neil Sherman (CMR) for confirming.
#mothsmatter

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Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · Aug 16

It's been nice to record some inland migrant moth activity over four evenings this week with totals of Vestal (2), Bordered Straw (2) and Dark Sword-grass (10). Also, another 19 Marbled Clovers and a Four-spotted. Amazing! 😀 #suffolk #mothsmatter @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

Vestal. Long Melford, Suffolk (15/08/25).

Bordered Straw. Long Melford, Suffolk (10/08/25)

Dark Sword-grass. Long Melford, Suffolk (12/08/25).

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Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · Aug 12

Thanks Mark. Be really interesting to see if they are caught locally again next year (along with Four-spotted). 👍

Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · Aug 12

Have you ever had them before Mark? Wonder what's triggered the current 'expansion'.

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Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · Aug 11

Hello Stephen. There certainly seems to be something going on with them this year. Never had a sniff of one in this part of Suffolk before. 👍

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Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · Aug 11

MARBLED CLOVER. I caught 5 last night - a long way from their Breckland stronghold. That's now 7 from three locations on two farms over the last month, all by fields managed under Countryside Stewardship. I hope they've colonised. #longmelford #suffolk #mothsmatter

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Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · Aug 10

Brilliant. Thanks Mark.