David Cousins

On 21st September I found some larval spinnings of Tebenna micalis (Beautiful Twitcher) on Fleabane at Pembrey (Carmarthenshire). I collected a few for rearing and over the last few days three of the beautiful little jewel-like adults have emerged. #TeamMoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

I know flight times are all over the place at the moment but I was very surprised to catch a Brick here in Essex last night. Normally don’t see one until October! #teammoth

A really good night mothing in Essex for NT with @rahtringbirder.bsky.social @dcousins85.bsky.social and TG. 168 species without the yet to be added smalls. Some excellent moths and an impressive list for the time of year. #TeamMoth.

This amazing week shows no signs of stopping. The first Death’s-head Hawk-moth I’ve caught myself was in the actinic this morning here on Dartmoor. Going home today, but will definitely book this Airbnb again! @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #teammoth

Down to Dartmoor this week for a weekend with my family. Of course the moth trap comes with me - I had hoped for but didn’t really expect the amazing week to continue but my first Striped Hawkmoth arrived as one of four species of Hawks. Fun for all the family! #teammoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

I can’t quite believe this but I think this is Enolmis acanthella that was in my trap in Dunmow, Essex overnight. ObsID suggests so and a check of Lepiforum backs that up. Apparently expanding its range in Europe but maybe the first UK record if the ID is right? @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #teammoth

Another lifer for me were Scythris subcinctella (Rock-rose Runner), quite common at Lydden Temple Ewell reserve which is full of Rock-rose. #teammoth

Just starting to return to a normal sleep pattern after an intense weekend’s mothing in Kent with @wjrpb.bsky.social Lots of highlights but one real standout - Epiblema Graphana (Yarrow Root-borer), for which I can only see 2 previous UK records, trapped on Sandwich Beach Saturday night #teammoth

Three new attractive micros to my Essex garden over these last few warm nights. Telechrysis tripuncta the best of them, a lifer for me and very scarce in the county (and a gorgeous little moth to boot) #teammoth

Some #teammoth goodies from over the weekend in all forms here in Essex. Garden list now at #649 with a totally unexpected and gorgeous Mocha to light on Sunday night. Spuleria flavicaput (Yellow Cap) netted over flowering Hawthorn. Coleophora kuehnella (Cloaked Case-bearer) case on Oak. And Puss!

Whilst searching for bugs in the Brecks yesterday I disturbed numerous Aroga velocella (Striped Sorrel Moth). Smart little micros when fresh #teammoth

Tried a Suffolk Heath yesterday for the second of the Heather feeding Coleophora after finding C juncicolella last week in Essex. A lot of sweeping with nothing and then one last swish of the net turned up Coleophora pyrrhulipennella (Heath Case-bearer). #teammoth

Some targeted sweeping of Heather at Tiptree Heath in Essex provided me with my first new Coleophora of the year yesterday - Coleophora juncicolella (Least Case-bearer). Very few Essex records (but equally very little heathland in the county). #teammoth

A nice find as bycatch to our moth traps on the Essex coast on Friday with @wjrpb.bsky.social and @jonnywhu.bsky.social I’m no spider expert but this stood out as different and it’s looking good for Phaeocedus braccatus, a spider of sparsely vegetated coastal areas. Only the 2nd county record.

Happy bunny! Just found Coleophora albitarsella at baggeridge. Case on underside of Ground I've. Could see the pale feeding window so.looked underneath, bingo 😊 looks like 1 other record in staffs, Dovedale 1950! #teammoth @vc39moths.bsky.social

Another good find from Roman River Valley NR yesterday was a new moth for me - Proutia betulina (Birch Bagworm). #teammoth

Some superb Purple Toothwort (Lathraea clandestina) and Moschatel (Adoxa moschatellina) at Roman River Valley NR today in Essex. The rust Puccinia adoxae on one of the Moschatel too. A huge stand of Red Currant (Ribes rubrum) should host some interesting moth larvae before long. #wildflowerhour

Not many nights that have been suitable for trapping here in Essex over the last week or 2, but better conditions Monday night so gave it a go. Really pleased to get my first Caloptilia falconipennella (Dark Alder Stilt). Garden list now 646 in 3 years #teammoth

Popped across the border into Suffolk this morning to see a lovely patch of Green Hellebore (Helleborus viridis) near to Haverhill. Just one flower; but what a flower! Also, a bonus Engrailed (Ectropis crepuscularia) resting on a nearby trunk.

A few good nights recently at the garden actinic here in Essex. Mostly the expected early Spring fare but pleased to get my first lifer of the year - Acleris umbrana (Dark-streaked Tortrix) with 2 on 22nd. #teammoth

Brief sunshine yesterday so over to the chalk stream section of the Flitch Way via some very muddy woods. Two-spot Ladybird, a Mayfly nymph (prob Cloeon dipterum), the 1st time I’ve seen a Stonefly nymph (I have had adults of Nemoura cinerea here) and a lovely Spider - Platnickina tincta.

3 new moths for the year on Saturday night. Always pleased to get an Early Moth, and this was a nice fresh one. A fairly early March Moth and a Chestnut took my nascent year list to 11 species so far with 9 of those in the garden. #teammoth

2 nights of trapping in much more mild conditions here in W Essex with 2 species each night. They are the 4 I’d expect in January but welcomed them like old friends all the same. #teammoth

The Coleophora sp. larval cases I found on sea purselane by the Humber Estuary last October turned out to be C. salinella! Only recorded in Yorkshire for the first time in August last year (I suspect it's been there a while though). #TeamMoth #YorkshireMoths @doublekidney.bsky.social

F*ck me! #TeamMoth

I gendetted the 2nd Jersey Mocha for Essex last year (caught by @jonnywhu.bsky.social), and such has been their increase this year in the county (I know of at least 5 others) I now have caught one myself last night in the garden (in fact, likely 2!). Also some fresh autumn favourites. #teammoth

A lifer for me in the garden the night before last with a very unexpected Heath Rustic. Must be a migrant of sorts because I am a fair distance from any heathland. #teammoth

Back from my French holiday and delighted that the Cisticola (+family!) was still on site at Walberswick. Went over early this morning with my eldest and we both had good views (but too far for my photography skills). Also a nice selection of seaside plants - Sea Pea being a new one for me.

If you’re interested in any of Nature, health, biodiversity, climate, philosophy, geology, sustainability, evolution… …or even how an individual bird duets with itself… …then you might enjoy Nature Within. 🦋 🐛 🍁 🐜 🦢 🍄 🌳 🐝 🐞 🦔 🦎 🌸 🦜 🦒 🪱 🦉 🐦‍⬛ 🌿 You can pre-order here: tinyurl.com/Nature-Within

This cranefly arrived on the side of the trap last night. Ctenophora ornata. It had obviously been in wars as two legs are missing. Stunning looking creature all the same. New Forest garden moth trap. #diptera.

Some quality garden additions over the last few days taking me to 605 in 2 years and about 3 months. Both Ethmia dodecea and Eudemis porphyrana very scarce in Essex with less than 12 records of each. #teammoth

Last night I went to Colchester with @dcousins85.bsky.social on the Essex Moth trip. We saw the Strawberry Moon rising over Colchester from the meadow. Highlights for me, the Sloe Pug and uncommon Eidophasia messingiella (Bitter-cress Smudge). #TeamMoth.

Some cracking Coleophora from the Brecks last week with @wjrpb.bsky.social Coleophora pennella, a Vipers Bugloss feeder and Coleophora albicosta, a gorse feeder. #teammoth

Festoon, Alder Kitten, Marbled Coronet and Wood Carpet from the Brecks on Thursday night... @wjrpb.bsky.social @dcousins85.bsky.social #TeamMoth

17/05. A field trip with Essex Field Club & @dcousins85.bsky.social. Turned into a Coleophora day. I think 9 types recorded, two as aggs. #TeamMoth.