Darren Underwood
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dku1000.bsky.social
Darren Underwood
@dku1000.bsky.social
Mostly birds and moths (and other wildlife)! 🦋
Suffolk, England
Having recently purchased the @fieldstudiesc.bsky.social AIDGAP key to woodlice, I managed to find and identify six species today. As well as the four in the photos (see ALT text), there were Common Striped Woodlouse (Philoscia muscorum) and Porcellionides pruinosus. #isopoda
November 27, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Hibernating HARLEQUIN LADYBIRDS (Harmonia axyridis) at Long Melford in Suffolk. This cluster really shows off the amazing variety of colours and patterns (and size) shown by this species.
November 20, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Suffolk: male GREEN-WINGED TEAL still on The Slough at Lackford Lakes SWT Reserve mid afternoon. #suffolkbirding
November 18, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Still three species of butterfly on the wing at Long Melford in Suffolk this morning: Red Admiral, Peacock and what was probably my latest ever Clouded Yellow.
November 13, 2025 at 2:27 PM
A PLUMED PROMINENT from last night in West Suffolk - one of three trapped in a new 10km square. 😀 #mothsmatter
November 6, 2025 at 10:07 AM
I spent two hours moth trapping in private woodland at Long Melford in Suffolk this evening. A total of 107 moths of seven species. The amazing thing is that 86 of the moths were the Nationally Scarce PLUMED PROMINENT. I've never trapped anything like that number before. #mothsmatter
November 3, 2025 at 9:27 PM
My first local patch walk of November produced a total of 46 birds species with the highlight being a male Stonechat. Also, Nuthatch, Siskin, Grey Wagtail, 20+ Sky Larks and a Red Kite.
#longmelford #suffolkbirding
November 1, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Photos of five micro moths from local recording over the last week. I do like the first one.
1. Stigmella catharticella on Purging Buckthorn.
2. Diurnea lipsiella.
3. Phyllonorycter klemannella and Caloptilia elongella on Alder.
4. Stigmella basiguttella on oak.
#mothsmatter
October 27, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Suffolk: 1st winter BROWN SHRIKE still present at Upper Hollesley Common at 12.25. #suffolkbirding
October 25, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Some photos from this week's micro moth recording.
1. Diplodoma laichartingella (Yellow-headed Bagworm).
2. Ectoedemia atricollis (Barred Fruit-tree Dot).
3. Stigmella regiella (Purple-shot Dot).
4. Ectoedemia occultella (Large Birch Dot).
#suffolk #mothsmatter
October 16, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Still quite good numbers of moths present locally (especially on Ivy blossom). Three highlights from this week were Tawny Pinion, a fairly late Clifden Nonpariel and Autumnal Rustic.
#longmelford #suffolk #mothsmatter
October 12, 2025 at 2:12 PM
An hour and a half spent searching Ivy blossom in Long Melford (Suffolk) last night produced a total of 104 moths of 20 species, including Clancy's Rustic, Pink-barred Sallow, Rusty-dot Pearl, L-album Wainscot (2), Dark Chestnut (3), Black Rustic (2) and Brick (23). Very enjoyable. #mothsmatter
October 3, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Moth trapping on the edge of ancient woodland in Long Melford, Suffolk last night produced 19 species, including Pale Pinion (2), Clancy's Rustic, a migrant Pearly Underwing and a Green-brindled Crescent. Several species were only found on Ivy blossom. #mothsmatter
September 28, 2025 at 1:08 PM
One of two STONECHATS at Long Melford this afternoon. Having increased over recent years, these are just about annual here now. #suffolkbirding
September 23, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Two leaf mines of Stephensia brunnichella (Basil Blotch-miner) on Wild Basil. An excellent find during a Suffolk Moth Group visit to Great Waldingfield yesterday. #mothsmatter
September 14, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Four more leaf mines from this last week.
1. Stigmella hybnerella (Shining Hawthorn Dot).
2. Phyllonorycter comparella (Poplar Leaf-miner).
3. Phyllonorycter pastorella (Royal Leaf-miner).
4. Stigmella malella (Apple Dot).
Finding leaf mines is quite satisfying. 🙂 #mothsmatter
September 10, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Essex: ARCTIC WARBLER still present at Great Wigborough, near Abberton Reservoir at 18.30. In hedge along public footpath just south-east of the church. TL968155. Parking at the church is limited.
September 5, 2025 at 5:37 PM
It was good to see two SWIFTS over Long Melford this morning (having not seen any for over a week). My first September sighting here since 2020. #suffolk
September 1, 2025 at 9:22 AM
A few micro moths from the last few days:
1. Chrysoesthia drurella (Fiery Miner) on Fat Hen.
2. Chrysoesthia sexguttella (Orange-spotted Miner) on Fat Hen.
3. Fig-leaf Skeletoniser (Choreutis nemorana) on Fig.
4. Stigmella hybnerella (Shining Hawthorn Dot) on Hawthorn.
#suffolk #mothsmatter
August 27, 2025 at 5:58 PM
This juvenile MANDARIN was an interesting sighting at Long Melford (Suffolk) today. Assume they must have bred somewhere locally this year. #suffolkbirding
August 26, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Phyllocnistis extrematrix larval mines found today on Black Poplar at Long Melford in Suffolk. Thanks to Neil Sherman (CMR) for confirming.
#mothsmatter
August 18, 2025 at 7:44 PM
It's been nice to record some inland migrant moth activity over four evenings this week with totals of Vestal (2), Bordered Straw (2) and Dark Sword-grass (10). Also, another 19 Marbled Clovers and a Four-spotted. Amazing! 😀 #suffolk #mothsmatter @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
August 16, 2025 at 11:00 AM
MARBLED CLOVER. I caught 5 last night - a long way from their Breckland stronghold. That's now 7 from three locations on two farms over the last month, all by fields managed under Countryside Stewardship. I hope they've colonised. #longmelford #suffolk #mothsmatter
August 11, 2025 at 11:55 AM
A few more photos of the juvenile BLACK STORK at Boyton, Suffolk which continued to show well again yesterday. #RareBirdsUK #suffolkbirding
August 3, 2025 at 7:49 AM
A few leaf mines from around Long Melford in Suffolk this week. Quite a diversity.
Caloptilia fidella (Hop Stilt) on Hop.
Fomoria septembrella (Hypericum Dot) on St John's-wort.
Stigmella incognitella (Grey Apple Dot) on Crab Apple.
Phyllocnistis xenia (Kent Maze-miner) on White Poplar.
#mothsmatter
August 1, 2025 at 3:20 PM