John Preston

A dose of peace in the madness

A wee bit of sketching. #fungi #insects #arachnids #ukfungusday #ukfungusday2026 #sketchbook

@soapywittank.bsky.social a family of ten today, one youngster with no Darvic ring I think. Plumage entering the dirty snow phase

@hannahbournetaylor.bsky.social the Bass Rock yesterday from 2000 foot. It will be there next year waiting for you. Hope you are feeling better

This beautiful common ? Marbled Carpet was the sole moth central Leeds last night. Struck lucky as it dropped off the vanes of the trap and down the funnel as I removed the batteries for the LED. I usually have the ones with the big square orange wing patches #TeamMoth Black and actinic nil !

Spotlight on heron. I got much closer but thel light changed @everyheron.bsky.social

A quiet moth night. Once again the home backyard out numbering the allotments. Total 9 LYUW, LBAM at set up and one Eudonia angustea, feeds on ivy blossom that we have and larva on moss, maybe the log and bike sheds roofs #TeamMoth what are those shirt dangle things on crane fly? Moon competition

I found one in Scotland to mark a recent 80th birthday. I hope they get to sit in it.

@soapywittank.bsky.social heading of town at Redcote Lane today. Are this family one of yours?

Man's simpler response. Don't fancy flying that sky !

Any thoughts on if this is a dotted fan foot #TeamMoth

Highlight of this morning's traps. Plus about 20 large yellow underwing and 5 misc #TeamMoth

@everyheron.bsky.social

@drrjwarren.bsky.social @saocousins.bsky.social

And pause

A bit if a chilly morning, but 22 of 5 which isn't bad, although 15 LYUW. A broad bordered which are just so lush and a bit of a dark mystery, but subtly gorgeous - any suggestions #TeamMoth

A heron prefers their own company. I am not with them, they cheat and go under water - cormorants @everyheron.bsky.social

A waiting for the bus sketch, painted in later. Portpatrick Old Light c1870 in yellow brick. Decommissioned 2900 when Killantrigan, my earlier drawing was lit a few miles north. @drrjwarren.bsky.social @saocousins.bsky.social @indikon.eurosky.social don't think I have ever done two in one day.

I got back to the harbour and sketched another lighthouse. Then rain came, so back at the cottage I tried to paint. A disaster, the wash soaked straight through and isn't drying . A passerby mentioned pointillism. But it wasn't my plan. grrh wish I had finished it in pencil! @drrjwarren.bsky.social

A lunch break en plein air sketch. Killantrigan North of Portpatrick. About 30 mins. I hadn't taken water or a brush so finger smearing had to do @drrjwarren.bsky.social @saocousins.bsky.social @indikon.eurosky.social

@drrjwarren.bsky.social @saocousins.bsky.social @indikon.eurosky.social today's effort is maybe less successful. I nearly opened the ivory black to bring forward the framing trees but feared it would be too brutal. The castle had small gas retorts, scrubbers and a mini c4m gasometer.

If you go down to the woods today! Beware of the 1.2m tall willow heron @everyheron.bsky.social Culzean Castle Ayrshire

Occasional drawing. Dunure Ayr. Despite intentions this is my first and it is evening five! @drrjwarren.bsky.social @saocousins.bsky.social @indikon.eurosky.social other things got in the way. But may feature if I stay in tomorrow as it is a wet day in prospect.

Summer is almost over. Glorious sight and sound of swallows in the valley by Big Fleet viaduct Dumfries and Galloway yesterday evening.

One lovely if oddly proportioned bird.

A couple more micro mysteries. #TeamMoth Allotment. Any help on these ? 5 spp of 9. Glorious morning though, serenaded by a flock.of goldfinches and a gsw.

#TeamMoth I think a new one in me. Maybe Tortricadae. Poss Eupoecilia Augustan I will happily be corrected. Glorious morning here. At home 6 of 7 inc this. Will the allotment traps be equally quiet better cycle up and see.

📝 Field Notes from my Camper-van-camino: The remarkable St. Peter and St. Paul, Lavenham www.digest.andymarsh...

The prospect of rain, glorious rain

A small c20mm moth possibly Anarta any thoughts #TeamMoth many thanks.

Sunburst sky

Is that typical? I think it is enjoying that water slide.

Trees are just ace

Just look at the bone structure

A Passing Storm (1849), by Frederic Edwin Church

Mothing still quite but these rather brightened up the morning. Low teens out of about 20. #TeamMoth plus lots of small water boatmen and the third picture.

Scaly-breasted Manias 12 cm eats mostly grass seeds, lives in open tropical grasslands and farmlands, and builds dome-shaped nests in trees or buildings India and Sri Lanka Indonesia ,Philippines Feral populations : Hawaii, parts of California, Florida, Australia, and parts of the West Indies

@drrjwarren.bsky.social

Maria Golub, Ukrainian artist

Awesome bird and photograph. Remember pulling in by a Newfoundland inlet to eat lunch and watched one catch three flat fish

Stunning, reduction is a method I can't get my head around

Just up on t'ill

Smile thank you @everyheron.bsky.social

A disappointing first home trap session after the Ireland trip 13 of 9, the bycatch was more interesting. 3 traps black light at home, LED and actinic allotment. Have maybe missed the teasel micro moths Rosela this year #TeamMoth

We must do better than this ?

@everyheron.bsky.social

#TeamMoth beware the night time robot mower. Fortunately I caught it only partly entangled in the cable and the damage is superficial. Perils of holiday cottage mothing.

Carlingford Lough after sundown and a gig about how song and art can bring peace and healing @everyheron.bsky.social