Dominic Collins
@dominiccollins.bsky.social
Voluntary bird and butterfly surveyor for BTO, Staffs WT, RSPB, BC (WCBS). Patch-watcher. Moth-er. Green Party, Hope not Hate & Liberty member. Re-awoken political animal. Reader and bibliophile. Poet manque. Cat lover. Endon, Staffordshire.
Pinned
My local patch walk. I do most of my birding, butterflying, mothing and Brown Hare-watching within these precious confines. One day - who knows - I may write 'The Natural History of Endon' in the form of an imaginary and one-sided correspondence with the Endonian Society.
Ran the anglepoise actinic last night in a half-hearted attempt to lure a Winter Moth to our window. No WM, but did find this Mottled Umber tucked in against the window frame.
#TeamMoth
@vc39moths.bsky.social
#TeamMoth
@vc39moths.bsky.social
December 9, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Ran the anglepoise actinic last night in a half-hearted attempt to lure a Winter Moth to our window. No WM, but did find this Mottled Umber tucked in against the window frame.
#TeamMoth
@vc39moths.bsky.social
#TeamMoth
@vc39moths.bsky.social
Out along the valley this a.m: Jack Snipe, 50 Snipe, 3 Wigeon, c40 Lapwing, 35 Teal, 22 Siskin, Green Woodpecker, Chiffchaff.
Ashes Pool: fell into some gorse & flushed a Woodcock, 3 Wigeon, drake Goosander, 2 Snipe, 7 Teal.
In lieu of a picture here's some footage of me expertly herding sheep.🪶 🐑
Ashes Pool: fell into some gorse & flushed a Woodcock, 3 Wigeon, drake Goosander, 2 Snipe, 7 Teal.
In lieu of a picture here's some footage of me expertly herding sheep.🪶 🐑
December 8, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Out along the valley this a.m: Jack Snipe, 50 Snipe, 3 Wigeon, c40 Lapwing, 35 Teal, 22 Siskin, Green Woodpecker, Chiffchaff.
Ashes Pool: fell into some gorse & flushed a Woodcock, 3 Wigeon, drake Goosander, 2 Snipe, 7 Teal.
In lieu of a picture here's some footage of me expertly herding sheep.🪶 🐑
Ashes Pool: fell into some gorse & flushed a Woodcock, 3 Wigeon, drake Goosander, 2 Snipe, 7 Teal.
In lieu of a picture here's some footage of me expertly herding sheep.🪶 🐑
Reposted by Dominic Collins
Russian propaganda in full force for the Witkoff visit: Putin is claiming to have captured Ukrainian cities that he doesn't control, and having himself photographed in military uniform
kyivindependent.com/putin-claims...
kyivindependent.com/putin-claims...
Putin claims Russian capture of Pokrovsk, Vovchansk as Kyiv warns of Kremlin propaganda blitz amid peace talks
"All of this is done exclusively for Western audiences and to raise the stakes in diplomacy," said Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation.
kyivindependent.com
December 2, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Russian propaganda in full force for the Witkoff visit: Putin is claiming to have captured Ukrainian cities that he doesn't control, and having himself photographed in military uniform
kyivindependent.com/putin-claims...
kyivindependent.com/putin-claims...
Reposted by Dominic Collins
He’s gesturing to a sleeping man as he says “He’s the only leader in the world who can help end [the war in Ukraine].”
Trump dozes while Marco Rubio speaks to him directly next to him. Just insane optics.
December 2, 2025 at 7:57 PM
He’s gesturing to a sleeping man as he says “He’s the only leader in the world who can help end [the war in Ukraine].”
Out along the valley this lovely, low-lit afternoon. Notable mainly for the increase in Snipe (63 - recent counts have been consistently in the mid 30s). Plus: Jack Snipe, 16 Lapwing, 28 Teal, 2 Stonechats, Green Woodpecker, Water Rail, 5 Siskin, Raven, Kestrel, 40 Redwing and 17 Fieldfare.🪶
December 3, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Out along the valley this lovely, low-lit afternoon. Notable mainly for the increase in Snipe (63 - recent counts have been consistently in the mid 30s). Plus: Jack Snipe, 16 Lapwing, 28 Teal, 2 Stonechats, Green Woodpecker, Water Rail, 5 Siskin, Raven, Kestrel, 40 Redwing and 17 Fieldfare.🪶
From the Wall of Sound to the Cathedral of Sound. I hear they were handing out earplugs to the attendees.
My Bloody Valentine - 'Soon', Wembley OVO Arena, 25/11/2025
Take a look at this video, 'my bloody valentine live 2025' share.google/EiC2LBYJmlxe...
My Bloody Valentine - 'Soon', Wembley OVO Arena, 25/11/2025
Take a look at this video, 'my bloody valentine live 2025' share.google/EiC2LBYJmlxe...
share.google
November 29, 2025 at 1:16 AM
From the Wall of Sound to the Cathedral of Sound. I hear they were handing out earplugs to the attendees.
My Bloody Valentine - 'Soon', Wembley OVO Arena, 25/11/2025
Take a look at this video, 'my bloody valentine live 2025' share.google/EiC2LBYJmlxe...
My Bloody Valentine - 'Soon', Wembley OVO Arena, 25/11/2025
Take a look at this video, 'my bloody valentine live 2025' share.google/EiC2LBYJmlxe...
Alright there people. Am excited to announce the launch on this my Bluesky channel of "My Song of the Week", each filtered through the battered box of my sensibility and having taken up residence in my mind's ear, for good reasons only, during the previous 7-day period. No <likes> necessary.
November 28, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Alright there people. Am excited to announce the launch on this my Bluesky channel of "My Song of the Week", each filtered through the battered box of my sensibility and having taken up residence in my mind's ear, for good reasons only, during the previous 7-day period. No <likes> necessary.
Reposted by Dominic Collins
NFG Macros from the first 6 months of trapping in 2025, SE Hants. A combination of the most wanted, best looking and most surprising. A welcome distraction from sorting photos, 800 deleted today, still another 9000ish to go 🫣😬 #teammoth
November 23, 2025 at 4:46 PM
NFG Macros from the first 6 months of trapping in 2025, SE Hants. A combination of the most wanted, best looking and most surprising. A welcome distraction from sorting photos, 800 deleted today, still another 9000ish to go 🫣😬 #teammoth
Reposted by Dominic Collins
NFG Micros from the first 6 months of trapping in 2025, SE Hants. A combination of the most wanted, best looking and most surprising. I’ve also redone yesterday’s macro collage with the correct moth in the top right. Technically there’s also a micro in it, but it’s an ‘honorary’ macro 🤔 #teammoth
November 24, 2025 at 11:38 AM
NFG Micros from the first 6 months of trapping in 2025, SE Hants. A combination of the most wanted, best looking and most surprising. I’ve also redone yesterday’s macro collage with the correct moth in the top right. Technically there’s also a micro in it, but it’s an ‘honorary’ macro 🤔 #teammoth
Reposted by Dominic Collins
Not as pretty as the macros, but some significant micro records from the garden this year.
Cadra figulilella (Raisin Moth) and Phycitodes saxicola (Lesser Clouded Knot-horn) both new for VC39, with at least four specimens of the latter recorded & confirmed by gen det.
#TeamMoth
Cadra figulilella (Raisin Moth) and Phycitodes saxicola (Lesser Clouded Knot-horn) both new for VC39, with at least four specimens of the latter recorded & confirmed by gen det.
#TeamMoth
November 21, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Not as pretty as the macros, but some significant micro records from the garden this year.
Cadra figulilella (Raisin Moth) and Phycitodes saxicola (Lesser Clouded Knot-horn) both new for VC39, with at least four specimens of the latter recorded & confirmed by gen det.
#TeamMoth
Cadra figulilella (Raisin Moth) and Phycitodes saxicola (Lesser Clouded Knot-horn) both new for VC39, with at least four specimens of the latter recorded & confirmed by gen det.
#TeamMoth
Reposted by Dominic Collins
Reposted by Dominic Collins
It’s freezing cold & I’m bored. So here’s a selection of the 34 macro NFGs from this year’s efforts in the garden. A few details in ALT text.
Micros to follow in a separate post!
A total of 95 NFGs pushed the garden total up to 603. A pretty crazy year all round.
#TeamMoth
Micros to follow in a separate post!
A total of 95 NFGs pushed the garden total up to 603. A pretty crazy year all round.
#TeamMoth
November 21, 2025 at 6:13 PM
It’s freezing cold & I’m bored. So here’s a selection of the 34 macro NFGs from this year’s efforts in the garden. A few details in ALT text.
Micros to follow in a separate post!
A total of 95 NFGs pushed the garden total up to 603. A pretty crazy year all round.
#TeamMoth
Micros to follow in a separate post!
A total of 95 NFGs pushed the garden total up to 603. A pretty crazy year all round.
#TeamMoth
Fifteen of the sixteen* December Moths lured to my trap last night by a combination of UV light and female pheromones. Certainly a record for me. In addition: 1 Mottled Umber, 1 Feathered Thorn and 2 LBAMs.
*I'm afraid the 16th was taken by a spider and crudely taxidermied.
#TeamMoth
*I'm afraid the 16th was taken by a spider and crudely taxidermied.
#TeamMoth
November 28, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Fifteen of the sixteen* December Moths lured to my trap last night by a combination of UV light and female pheromones. Certainly a record for me. In addition: 1 Mottled Umber, 1 Feathered Thorn and 2 LBAMs.
*I'm afraid the 16th was taken by a spider and crudely taxidermied.
#TeamMoth
*I'm afraid the 16th was taken by a spider and crudely taxidermied.
#TeamMoth
Floodwater along the valley bottom early this p.m. A bitter westerly blew up and blunderbussed me with hail. Pretty quiet bird-wise: 35 Snipe, 10 Lapwing, 22 Teal, 24 Fieldfare, 11 Redwing plus 6 Snipe & the long-staying Cormorant (a rarity) at the Ashes Pool. Song & Mistle Thrushes singing too. 🪶
November 28, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Floodwater along the valley bottom early this p.m. A bitter westerly blew up and blunderbussed me with hail. Pretty quiet bird-wise: 35 Snipe, 10 Lapwing, 22 Teal, 24 Fieldfare, 11 Redwing plus 6 Snipe & the long-staying Cormorant (a rarity) at the Ashes Pool. Song & Mistle Thrushes singing too. 🪶
Reposted by Dominic Collins
Steve Witkoff isn’t promoting peace. His interventions are helping Vladimir Putin and prolonging the war
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
What Is Steve Witkoff Trying to Do?
Trump’s envoy isn’t promoting peace. His interventions are helping Vladimir Putin and prolonging the war.
www.theatlantic.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Steve Witkoff isn’t promoting peace. His interventions are helping Vladimir Putin and prolonging the war
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Dominic Collins
The war will end when Russia stops fighting. Therefore, pressure has to be put on Russia, so that they stop believing that they will win. Why is that so hard to understand?
November 27, 2025 at 1:49 AM
The war will end when Russia stops fighting. Therefore, pressure has to be put on Russia, so that they stop believing that they will win. Why is that so hard to understand?
Reposted by Dominic Collins
"a Russian military victory in Ukraine is not inevitable, and a rapid Russian seizure of the rest of Donetsk Oblast is not imminent"
and the US officials who keep saying so are repeating Russian propaganda
and the US officials who keep saying so are repeating Russian propaganda
NEW: Data on Russian forces’ rate of advance indicates that a Russian military victory in Ukraine is not inevitable, and a rapid Russian seizure of the rest of Donetsk Oblast is not imminent. Russian advances elsewhere on the frontline have been opportunistic and exploited seasonal weather. ⬇️🧵
November 27, 2025 at 10:44 AM
"a Russian military victory in Ukraine is not inevitable, and a rapid Russian seizure of the rest of Donetsk Oblast is not imminent"
and the US officials who keep saying so are repeating Russian propaganda
and the US officials who keep saying so are repeating Russian propaganda
Well worth an hour of your time if you want to understand the latest travesty of a Ukrainian "peace process" and what happens when Trump's son-in-law (no other qualification) and a strip-mall developer (Steve Witkoff) decide to do "diplomacy" with the head of a Russian sovereign wealth fund.
Definitely follow this important reporting. And listen to the long, funny, revealing conversation Michael and I had on Thinking Live:
snyder.substack.com/p/oligarchs-...
snyder.substack.com/p/oligarchs-...
Stay tuned for the @theins.press story, in collaboration with @spiegel.de, about how we knew Kirill Dmitriev was the architect of this “peace plan.” Drops tomorrow at 5am EST.
November 27, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Well worth an hour of your time if you want to understand the latest travesty of a Ukrainian "peace process" and what happens when Trump's son-in-law (no other qualification) and a strip-mall developer (Steve Witkoff) decide to do "diplomacy" with the head of a Russian sovereign wealth fund.
Reposted by Dominic Collins
Definitely follow this important reporting. And listen to the long, funny, revealing conversation Michael and I had on Thinking Live:
snyder.substack.com/p/oligarchs-...
snyder.substack.com/p/oligarchs-...
Stay tuned for the @theins.press story, in collaboration with @spiegel.de, about how we knew Kirill Dmitriev was the architect of this “peace plan.” Drops tomorrow at 5am EST.
November 26, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Definitely follow this important reporting. And listen to the long, funny, revealing conversation Michael and I had on Thinking Live:
snyder.substack.com/p/oligarchs-...
snyder.substack.com/p/oligarchs-...
I'd all but retired from mothing for the year. My traps were decomissioned. Then an hour ago I remembered that last night, on a whim, I'd flicked on the anglepoise actinic sometime after 1 a.m. And there, stickered on the outside of the glass above the still-lit lamp was this moth. #TeamMoth
November 27, 2025 at 4:18 PM
I'd all but retired from mothing for the year. My traps were decomissioned. Then an hour ago I remembered that last night, on a whim, I'd flicked on the anglepoise actinic sometime after 1 a.m. And there, stickered on the outside of the glass above the still-lit lamp was this moth. #TeamMoth
Reposted by Dominic Collins
"We’re only at the end of the beginning of the Trump administration’s Epstein drama. And we’re only at the end of the beginning of a broader reckoning of the meaning of Epstein: 'Are you on the side of the forgotten Americans or on the side of the Epstein class?'”
www.thebulwark.com/p/the-epstei...
www.thebulwark.com/p/the-epstei...
The Epstein Saga Has Only Just Begun
The next phase will involve ensuring Trump complies with the disclosures. Let us distrust and verify.
www.thebulwark.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:53 PM
"We’re only at the end of the beginning of the Trump administration’s Epstein drama. And we’re only at the end of the beginning of a broader reckoning of the meaning of Epstein: 'Are you on the side of the forgotten Americans or on the side of the Epstein class?'”
www.thebulwark.com/p/the-epstei...
www.thebulwark.com/p/the-epstei...
Reposted by Dominic Collins
“'Are you on the side of the forgotten Americans or on the side of the Epstein class?' That seems to me a powerful challenge and a fair question. What comes after Trump? A party, a movement, and a candidate with a compelling answer to this challenge and question." www.thebulwark.com/p/the-epstei...
The Epstein Saga Has Only Just Begun
The next phase will involve ensuring Trump complies with the disclosures. Let us distrust and verify.
www.thebulwark.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:55 PM
“'Are you on the side of the forgotten Americans or on the side of the Epstein class?' That seems to me a powerful challenge and a fair question. What comes after Trump? A party, a movement, and a candidate with a compelling answer to this challenge and question." www.thebulwark.com/p/the-epstei...