Marcus Lawson
@mjlbirder.bsky.social
Birds, moffs and CPFC. Currently residing in the Kingdom of Fife.
On Shetland for the weekend to do some jobs in & around the house but kept getting distracted by birds in the garden! Started with a Coues's Arctic Redpoll then Rory Tallack had brief views of a pipit which eventually gave itself up as a Pechora. Lastly, a Bullfinch was a most welcome addition.
November 8, 2025 at 6:51 PM
On Shetland for the weekend to do some jobs in & around the house but kept getting distracted by birds in the garden! Started with a Coues's Arctic Redpoll then Rory Tallack had brief views of a pipit which eventually gave itself up as a Pechora. Lastly, a Bullfinch was a most welcome addition.
A fairly quiet moth trap this morning in Cupar, Fife, was enlivened by an Olive-tree Pearl (Palpita vitrealis) which bolted upon opening but thankfully settled nearby. Also, nice to get a couple of Brown-spot Pinion and a Brindled Green #teammoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
September 7, 2025 at 9:06 PM
A fairly quiet moth trap this morning in Cupar, Fife, was enlivened by an Olive-tree Pearl (Palpita vitrealis) which bolted upon opening but thankfully settled nearby. Also, nice to get a couple of Brown-spot Pinion and a Brindled Green #teammoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
A poor catch in the trap this morning in Cupar (Fife) but delighted that amongst it was a new moth for me in the form of a male Anomalous.
I'd expected to have seen this species before when up on the moors but hadn't. So I suppose getting one in the garden explains why it is so called. #teammoth
I'd expected to have seen this species before when up on the moors but hadn't. So I suppose getting one in the garden explains why it is so called. #teammoth
August 31, 2025 at 9:57 PM
A poor catch in the trap this morning in Cupar (Fife) but delighted that amongst it was a new moth for me in the form of a male Anomalous.
I'd expected to have seen this species before when up on the moors but hadn't. So I suppose getting one in the garden explains why it is so called. #teammoth
I'd expected to have seen this species before when up on the moors but hadn't. So I suppose getting one in the garden explains why it is so called. #teammoth
I use Birdguides Martin, I've attached some screenshots which hopefully explain what you can do. There's more details in the alt text.
August 28, 2025 at 6:27 PM
I use Birdguides Martin, I've attached some screenshots which hopefully explain what you can do. There's more details in the alt text.
A flying visit to Poole at the start of the week gave me the opportunity to deploy the Golden Twin-spot pheromone. Absolutely thrilled to find two of these stunners in the trap on Wednesday morning. Must be breeding locally? #teammoth
August 28, 2025 at 11:20 AM
A flying visit to Poole at the start of the week gave me the opportunity to deploy the Golden Twin-spot pheromone. Absolutely thrilled to find two of these stunners in the trap on Wednesday morning. Must be breeding locally? #teammoth
August 21, 2025 at 3:05 PM
I've just done that. Again, a lovely idea with lots of "empowering" statements but what happens when these new/renovated houses come onto the market in the future? Will they still be affordable?
We need more 1-2 bedroom properties not the glut of 3/4/5 bedroom houses being built everywhere.
We need more 1-2 bedroom properties not the glut of 3/4/5 bedroom houses being built everywhere.
August 20, 2025 at 10:56 AM
I've just done that. Again, a lovely idea with lots of "empowering" statements but what happens when these new/renovated houses come onto the market in the future? Will they still be affordable?
We need more 1-2 bedroom properties not the glut of 3/4/5 bedroom houses being built everywhere.
We need more 1-2 bedroom properties not the glut of 3/4/5 bedroom houses being built everywhere.
Delighted to attend the @savebutterflies.bsky.social event at RSPB Loch Insh this morning to have the opportunity to see Dark-bordered Beauty. Good numbers recorded with around 50 trapped across the site. Good to meet lots of new people & catch up with old pal @dartfordtrapper.bsky.social #teammoth
July 26, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Delighted to attend the @savebutterflies.bsky.social event at RSPB Loch Insh this morning to have the opportunity to see Dark-bordered Beauty. Good numbers recorded with around 50 trapped across the site. Good to meet lots of new people & catch up with old pal @dartfordtrapper.bsky.social #teammoth
Here's one this morning from a typically soggy Kintyre:
#ukbutterflies
#ukbutterflies
July 23, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Here's one this morning from a typically soggy Kintyre:
#ukbutterflies
#ukbutterflies
Do you think this is some sort of photographic artefact Jon?
July 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Do you think this is some sort of photographic artefact Jon?
Making some room on the book shelves so have put the attached books on eBay. Have a look here: ebay.us/m/Ml27pG
#birdinggear
#odonata #dragonflies
#coleoptera #beetles
#birdinggear
#odonata #dragonflies
#coleoptera #beetles
July 5, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Making some room on the book shelves so have put the attached books on eBay. Have a look here: ebay.us/m/Ml27pG
#birdinggear
#odonata #dragonflies
#coleoptera #beetles
#birdinggear
#odonata #dragonflies
#coleoptera #beetles
This is in Wareham, Dorset.
June 30, 2025 at 5:02 PM
This is in Wareham, Dorset.
Successful visit to Ben Lawers NNR to see my last resident British butterfly: Mountain Ringlet. At least 5 seen but difficult to get clear views as they were keeping low in the strong wind.
That said, as it appears that Large Tortoiseshell is now resident in Kent I still need to see a wild one...
That said, as it appears that Large Tortoiseshell is now resident in Kent I still need to see a wild one...
June 28, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Successful visit to Ben Lawers NNR to see my last resident British butterfly: Mountain Ringlet. At least 5 seen but difficult to get clear views as they were keeping low in the strong wind.
That said, as it appears that Large Tortoiseshell is now resident in Kent I still need to see a wild one...
That said, as it appears that Large Tortoiseshell is now resident in Kent I still need to see a wild one...
Does that include the one I caught on 24/06/17 in Poole? I think the CMR at the time didn't include it for reasons known only to himself.
June 27, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Does that include the one I caught on 24/06/17 in Poole? I think the CMR at the time didn't include it for reasons known only to himself.
Working up around Oban this week and in spite of the rather miserable weather I managed to find a couple of Transparent Burnet after a fair bit of searching. Also nearby were 4 Six-spot Burnet #teammoth
June 24, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Working up around Oban this week and in spite of the rather miserable weather I managed to find a couple of Transparent Burnet after a fair bit of searching. Also nearby were 4 Six-spot Burnet #teammoth
Up on Shetland for two days to do some maintenance in the garden & heard an unfamiliar song from the adjacent paddock on Monday morning. Delighted to see an immaculate adult male Red-backed pop up right in front of me for a few seconds before it disappeared into neighbouring gardens. #ukbirding
June 17, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Up on Shetland for two days to do some maintenance in the garden & heard an unfamiliar song from the adjacent paddock on Monday morning. Delighted to see an immaculate adult male Red-backed pop up right in front of me for a few seconds before it disappeared into neighbouring gardens. #ukbirding
Happy 37th anniversary to all those lucky enough to be on Hoy to marvel in the splendour of the White-throated Needletail.
June 4, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Happy 37th anniversary to all those lucky enough to be on Hoy to marvel in the splendour of the White-throated Needletail.
Delighted to see only my second ever Thrift Clearwing today on the north Aberdeenshire coast (to HYL lure). Always an absolute treat to see any member of this enigmatic family of #teammoth
May 28, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Delighted to see only my second ever Thrift Clearwing today on the north Aberdeenshire coast (to HYL lure). Always an absolute treat to see any member of this enigmatic family of #teammoth
Fortuitously I'm in the Fraserburgh area for the next couple of days so I dropped in to see the rather lovely Pectoral Sandpiper at Cairnbulg this evening. Pleasantly surprised by just how well it showed and in great light #ukbirding
May 27, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Fortuitously I'm in the Fraserburgh area for the next couple of days so I dropped in to see the rather lovely Pectoral Sandpiper at Cairnbulg this evening. Pleasantly surprised by just how well it showed and in great light #ukbirding
Cheers Steve, still in state of shock but the medicine is helping 😉
Really hope you win on Wednesday 🙏
Really hope you win on Wednesday 🙏
May 17, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Cheers Steve, still in state of shock but the medicine is helping 😉
Really hope you win on Wednesday 🙏
Really hope you win on Wednesday 🙏
I'm not sure looking at eBird for sightings just for this year paints the whole picture. If it is a wild bird it's likely reorientating after crossing last autumn, such as this week's Spotted Sandpiper, BW Teal etc.
Attached is a map of this year's Varied Thrush sightings as an example.
Attached is a map of this year's Varied Thrush sightings as an example.
May 3, 2025 at 9:49 AM
I'm not sure looking at eBird for sightings just for this year paints the whole picture. If it is a wild bird it's likely reorientating after crossing last autumn, such as this week's Spotted Sandpiper, BW Teal etc.
Attached is a map of this year's Varied Thrush sightings as an example.
Attached is a map of this year's Varied Thrush sightings as an example.
One of the advantages of doing Black Grouse surveys is that occasionally you get to see Black Grouse 😁
These photos were taken from the vehicle a couple of weeks ago where there was a total of 7 leks across the survey site with close to 100 males.
These photos were taken from the vehicle a couple of weeks ago where there was a total of 7 leks across the survey site with close to 100 males.
April 21, 2025 at 6:47 PM
One of the advantages of doing Black Grouse surveys is that occasionally you get to see Black Grouse 😁
These photos were taken from the vehicle a couple of weeks ago where there was a total of 7 leks across the survey site with close to 100 males.
These photos were taken from the vehicle a couple of weeks ago where there was a total of 7 leks across the survey site with close to 100 males.
Here's a link Neil but if it doesn't work I've attached a screenshot of the photo. ebird.org/checklist/S2...
April 2, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Here's a link Neil but if it doesn't work I've attached a screenshot of the photo. ebird.org/checklist/S2...