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.
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.🪶 🐑
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.🪶
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. 🪶
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
And from yesterday morning (18th November) here's the best I could do with a Snipe in dim light at the ashes pool. 37 Common and a Jack Snipe elsewhere along the valley plus 33 Teal, 16 Lapwing and a record 62 Lesser-black Back Gulls. A Song Thrush in sub-song and Mistle Thrush in full song too. 🪶
November 19, 2025 at 7:13 PM
And from yesterday morning (18th November) here's the best I could do with a Snipe in dim light at the ashes pool. 37 Common and a Jack Snipe elsewhere along the valley plus 33 Teal, 16 Lapwing and a record 62 Lesser-black Back Gulls. A Song Thrush in sub-song and Mistle Thrush in full song too. 🪶
The Jackdaws - hundreds of them - having emerged from their roost a few moments before I arrived on the scene. A few Rooks and Magpies amongst them, but it's mostly a Jackdaw-only affair. Sounds better than it looks. 🪶
November 19, 2025 at 7:03 PM
The Jackdaws - hundreds of them - having emerged from their roost a few moments before I arrived on the scene. A few Rooks and Magpies amongst them, but it's mostly a Jackdaw-only affair. Sounds better than it looks. 🪶
Out at first light this morning. Just missed the mass emergence of Jackdaws (but managed some shoddy video / audio footage - see below). But this is what I was hoping for - a Barn Owl at 7.30 a.m. just round the corner from the house. Further down the valley: 2 Wigeon on the floods & c20 Siskin🪶
November 19, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Out at first light this morning. Just missed the mass emergence of Jackdaws (but managed some shoddy video / audio footage - see below). But this is what I was hoping for - a Barn Owl at 7.30 a.m. just round the corner from the house. Further down the valley: 2 Wigeon on the floods & c20 Siskin🪶
Calling all VC39ers (and mothomaniac VCers the region / country over) - a quick plug for @vc39moths.bsky.social run by the eminent lepidopterist-CMR-guitarist @lesevanshill.bsky.social.
N.B. I didn't intend to platform the machinations of arch-rival @sj84turner.bsky.social whilst I was at it.
N.B. I didn't intend to platform the machinations of arch-rival @sj84turner.bsky.social whilst I was at it.
November 11, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Calling all VC39ers (and mothomaniac VCers the region / country over) - a quick plug for @vc39moths.bsky.social run by the eminent lepidopterist-CMR-guitarist @lesevanshill.bsky.social.
N.B. I didn't intend to platform the machinations of arch-rival @sj84turner.bsky.social whilst I was at it.
N.B. I didn't intend to platform the machinations of arch-rival @sj84turner.bsky.social whilst I was at it.
Fly Agaric. My brother is afflicted by fungophobia. The family story goes that as a child he ran gleefully towards one of these and was about to pick it up when my parents screamed "No! It's poisonous!". To this day he has the interesting impulse to cover his ears when he sees a mushroom. #fungi
November 10, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Fly Agaric. My brother is afflicted by fungophobia. The family story goes that as a child he ran gleefully towards one of these and was about to pick it up when my parents screamed "No! It's poisonous!". To this day he has the interesting impulse to cover his ears when he sees a mushroom. #fungi
Out along the valley this a.m. I'd missed the flooding of a week or so ago but the low-lying area below remains wet for much of the winter. 70 Teal to-ing and fro-ing whilst above a Peregrine just about held a stoop in check, 1 Wigeon, 37 Snipe, 6 Lapwing, 2 Stonechats, 2 Water Rails, 3 Grey Wags.🪶
November 10, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Out along the valley this a.m. I'd missed the flooding of a week or so ago but the low-lying area below remains wet for much of the winter. 70 Teal to-ing and fro-ing whilst above a Peregrine just about held a stoop in check, 1 Wigeon, 37 Snipe, 6 Lapwing, 2 Stonechats, 2 Water Rails, 3 Grey Wags.🪶
A splendid night's mothin' here in Endon, VC39. Top billing goes to my first ever Figure of 8, found mid-evening and promptly potted. 32/17 in total inc. 2 Satellites, Brick, Barred Sallow (having a record-breaking year here), 3 Y-l Quakers (likewise), Feathered Thorn & 8 Juniper Carpets. #TeamMoth
October 28, 2025 at 2:40 PM
A splendid night's mothin' here in Endon, VC39. Top billing goes to my first ever Figure of 8, found mid-evening and promptly potted. 32/17 in total inc. 2 Satellites, Brick, Barred Sallow (having a record-breaking year here), 3 Y-l Quakers (likewise), Feathered Thorn & 8 Juniper Carpets. #TeamMoth
I think it was @claretaz.bsky.social who made my wonder why I wasn't trapping last night. Anyway, by that point (10-ish) I was too inert to do anything more than activate the actinic angle-poise lamp that shines out onto the back garden. Within an hour, this tiny effort earned me a Mottled Umber.
October 25, 2025 at 7:19 AM
I think it was @claretaz.bsky.social who made my wonder why I wasn't trapping last night. Anyway, by that point (10-ish) I was too inert to do anything more than activate the actinic angle-poise lamp that shines out onto the back garden. Within an hour, this tiny effort earned me a Mottled Umber.
Out along the valley this afternoon. Gloomily quiet for the most part, but the winter marsh is water-logging nicely and I duly found my first Jack Snipes (2) of the season together with 13 Common. Elsewhere c120 Fieldfare and 50 Redwing were gathered in field boundary treetops. 🪶
October 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Out along the valley this afternoon. Gloomily quiet for the most part, but the winter marsh is water-logging nicely and I duly found my first Jack Snipes (2) of the season together with 13 Common. Elsewhere c120 Fieldfare and 50 Redwing were gathered in field boundary treetops. 🪶
Recently discovered on the driveway wall - a growth of Vapourer eggs. Would have loved to watch these being pumped out by the female, but wasn't even aware she was there. #TeamMoth
October 24, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Recently discovered on the driveway wall - a growth of Vapourer eggs. Would have loved to watch these being pumped out by the female, but wasn't even aware she was there. #TeamMoth
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.
October 23, 2025 at 8:54 AM
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.
Last night's moths. A Feathered Thorn appeared on the window at 7.45 p.m. At about 4 a.m. (awoken repeatedly by my own snoring / wife berating me for snoring. Decided to abandon the bed and join the moths) discovered a NFY Mottled Umber on the doorstep - later re-encountered on a wall. Plus: ...
October 22, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Last night's moths. A Feathered Thorn appeared on the window at 7.45 p.m. At about 4 a.m. (awoken repeatedly by my own snoring / wife berating me for snoring. Decided to abandon the bed and join the moths) discovered a NFY Mottled Umber on the doorstep - later re-encountered on a wall. Plus: ...
I'm afraid I am guilty of hoarding Mervs. But I think there's plenty to go round. Just popped out and lo-and-behold:
October 22, 2025 at 3:48 AM
I'm afraid I am guilty of hoarding Mervs. But I think there's plenty to go round. Just popped out and lo-and-behold:
This morning's moths. Nothing N, but I did manage my second Feathered Thorn of the year (the first turning up a month ago on 20th Sept). Also notched up my 37th Merv of the year thus far. Truly, I am blessed with Mervs. 6 Juniper Carpets was a seasonal high too. #TeamMoth
October 21, 2025 at 1:30 PM
This morning's moths. Nothing N, but I did manage my second Feathered Thorn of the year (the first turning up a month ago on 20th Sept). Also notched up my 37th Merv of the year thus far. Truly, I am blessed with Mervs. 6 Juniper Carpets was a seasonal high too. #TeamMoth
Am afflicted with mothing ennui lately, seeming only able to attract varying numbers of the same species (8 Mervs was a record). Had a tantrum yesterday and vowed not to moth again this year. But I'm out again tonight, like a sucker, like a schmuck, like a lamb to the slaughter. #TeamMoth
October 20, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Am afflicted with mothing ennui lately, seeming only able to attract varying numbers of the same species (8 Mervs was a record). Had a tantrum yesterday and vowed not to moth again this year. But I'm out again tonight, like a sucker, like a schmuck, like a lamb to the slaughter. #TeamMoth
Quite dismally quiet on the patch this morning but managed to eke out a female Pintail at the Ashes Pool with 2 Little Grebes, a Cormorant (uncommon here) and 3 Snipe. Elsewhere: 4 Snipe, 4 Fieldfare and 12 Redwing. The juve. Peregrine absent from the Peregrine Pylon this morning. Pictured anyway. 🪶
October 20, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Quite dismally quiet on the patch this morning but managed to eke out a female Pintail at the Ashes Pool with 2 Little Grebes, a Cormorant (uncommon here) and 3 Snipe. Elsewhere: 4 Snipe, 4 Fieldfare and 12 Redwing. The juve. Peregrine absent from the Peregrine Pylon this morning. Pictured anyway. 🪶
Probably my favourite photo from the day so far.
September 17, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Probably my favourite photo from the day so far.