Dave Wheatley
@wheatersdave.bsky.social
Moths, occasionally birds. Still a grumpy dad, still hoping to mellow with age
Very surprised to get any moths this morning in SE Hants given the conditions. 6/3 with 4 Chestnut, 1 Ypsolopha ustella and an early Oak Beauty 🤩. All 3 species were NFY and the Oak Beauty was the earliest record by 15 days. Also a rather cranky female Minotaur Beetle #teammoth
January 17, 2026 at 8:27 AM
Very surprised to get any moths this morning in SE Hants given the conditions. 6/3 with 4 Chestnut, 1 Ypsolopha ustella and an early Oak Beauty 🤩. All 3 species were NFY and the Oak Beauty was the earliest record by 15 days. Also a rather cranky female Minotaur Beetle #teammoth
Not a garden tick but the best shot I’ve had of one. Vindicates the work and non chemical approach I’ve taken to the garden #hantsbirds
January 16, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Not a garden tick but the best shot I’ve had of one. Vindicates the work and non chemical approach I’ve taken to the garden #hantsbirds
Be honest, how many of you would’ve actually gone looking for the moth rather than obeying this sign? Found during a photo clear out. Also White-shouldered House-moth added to the year list, always watching….. #teammoth
January 14, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Be honest, how many of you would’ve actually gone looking for the moth rather than obeying this sign? Found during a photo clear out. Also White-shouldered House-moth added to the year list, always watching….. #teammoth
A quick check of the garden after the dog walk in the rain, gave final totals of 5/4 in SE Hants. Pale Brindled Beauty, Satellite, T. alternella and 2 Winter Moth. Happy with that lot, but short term the weather looks pants for trapping #teammoth
January 13, 2026 at 10:00 AM
A quick check of the garden after the dog walk in the rain, gave final totals of 5/4 in SE Hants. Pale Brindled Beauty, Satellite, T. alternella and 2 Winter Moth. Happy with that lot, but short term the weather looks pants for trapping #teammoth
Well the rain has finally stopped after 3 hours of the trap being out, it’s quite mild for mid January (I can’t see my breath), though there are zero moths. I hear the sound of an Irish voice in the distance #teammoth
January 11, 2026 at 8:09 PM
Well the rain has finally stopped after 3 hours of the trap being out, it’s quite mild for mid January (I can’t see my breath), though there are zero moths. I hear the sound of an Irish voice in the distance #teammoth
A v breezy and choppy Southmoor produced a goldeneye in flight, but too hard to pin down anything on the sea. Pintail, Teal, Gadwall and Wigeon were plentiful, the Teal and Pintail were hunkered down in the vegetation on the reserve along with some Skylarks. Blk-T Godwit best of the rest #Hantsbirds
January 9, 2026 at 7:16 PM
A v breezy and choppy Southmoor produced a goldeneye in flight, but too hard to pin down anything on the sea. Pintail, Teal, Gadwall and Wigeon were plentiful, the Teal and Pintail were hunkered down in the vegetation on the reserve along with some Skylarks. Blk-T Godwit best of the rest #Hantsbirds
Birding finally off the ground in 2026. Not the most pleasant weather conditions at Hayling, but GN Diver, BN and RN Grebe, Scaup made up for standing in the sleet. No sign of LT Duck or Slav Grebe #hantsbirds
January 6, 2026 at 12:57 PM
Birding finally off the ground in 2026. Not the most pleasant weather conditions at Hayling, but GN Diver, BN and RN Grebe, Scaup made up for standing in the sleet. No sign of LT Duck or Slav Grebe #hantsbirds
Moth stats time Dec 2025, 108 moths in 5 traps, 1 NFY C. stigmatella. 2025 final totals inc gen dets and leafminers (no aggs in sp totals): 13512 moths of 633 species in 122 traps with 101 NFG and one county first, Clepsis peritana. The garden species total is now 754 in 3 yrs of trapping #teammoth
January 5, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Moth stats time Dec 2025, 108 moths in 5 traps, 1 NFY C. stigmatella. 2025 final totals inc gen dets and leafminers (no aggs in sp totals): 13512 moths of 633 species in 122 traps with 101 NFG and one county first, Clepsis peritana. The garden species total is now 754 in 3 yrs of trapping #teammoth
Well I did plan to go birding today, but as I only have access to a rear wheel drive car today, computer says no. Still waiting for the first moth trap of 2026 #teammoth #hantsbirds
January 5, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Well I did plan to go birding today, but as I only have access to a rear wheel drive car today, computer says no. Still waiting for the first moth trap of 2026 #teammoth #hantsbirds
Final bit, NFG micros of the 2nd half 2025. My favourite was the little stunner Chrysoesthia drurella, an astonishing colour pattern for something so small. The most interesting was the Anarsia, potted in da house, looked odd for innoxiella. Confirmed by gen det, sometimes hunches pay off! #teammoth
December 31, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Final bit, NFG micros of the 2nd half 2025. My favourite was the little stunner Chrysoesthia drurella, an astonishing colour pattern for something so small. The most interesting was the Anarsia, potted in da house, looked odd for innoxiella. Confirmed by gen det, sometimes hunches pay off! #teammoth
Round up of the 2nd part of 2025, the macros. Best without doubt was the Striped Hawk, very surprising in a suburban garden as was the Latticed Heath! Of the 10 NFG macros, Large Wainscot and Scarce Umber were rewards for specifically targeting them, Large W being the gardens 750th moth sp #teammoth
December 27, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Round up of the 2nd part of 2025, the macros. Best without doubt was the Striped Hawk, very surprising in a suburban garden as was the Latticed Heath! Of the 10 NFG macros, Large Wainscot and Scarce Umber were rewards for specifically targeting them, Large W being the gardens 750th moth sp #teammoth
Well that’s it for 2025, I’m done! 11/5 in SE Hants with the best being a Brick, surprised to see an Acleris notana/ferrugana given the inclement weather. Dec stats incoming. #teammoth
December 22, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Well that’s it for 2025, I’m done! 11/5 in SE Hants with the best being a Brick, surprised to see an Acleris notana/ferrugana given the inclement weather. Dec stats incoming. #teammoth
The end of year wrap up continues as it looks like nothing else will be trapped. My favourite group of micro moths, the Ypsolopha. I’ve been lucky enough to add 2 species to the garden total this year, definitely the weird bunch when it comes to looks. Or lack of them 🫣 #teammoth
December 21, 2025 at 5:26 PM
The end of year wrap up continues as it looks like nothing else will be trapped. My favourite group of micro moths, the Ypsolopha. I’ve been lucky enough to add 2 species to the garden total this year, definitely the weird bunch when it comes to looks. Or lack of them 🫣 #teammoth
Reposted by Dave Wheatley
A lesser known impact of picking up #litter is the huge boost it gives to #mentalhealth
You can immediately see the difference made! Plus have the satisfaction knowing that litter won’t harm an animal, end up in the sea,or be someone’s excuse to drop more litter.Try it & see! 🐾
You can immediately see the difference made! Plus have the satisfaction knowing that litter won’t harm an animal, end up in the sea,or be someone’s excuse to drop more litter.Try it & see! 🐾
December 17, 2025 at 7:18 AM
A lesser known impact of picking up #litter is the huge boost it gives to #mentalhealth
You can immediately see the difference made! Plus have the satisfaction knowing that litter won’t harm an animal, end up in the sea,or be someone’s excuse to drop more litter.Try it & see! 🐾
You can immediately see the difference made! Plus have the satisfaction knowing that litter won’t harm an animal, end up in the sea,or be someone’s excuse to drop more litter.Try it & see! 🐾
11/7 moth trapping in SE Hants. Best was a Diamond-backed Moth. A large Winter Moth is worth a second look at just in case it’s a Northern #teammoth
December 16, 2025 at 8:07 AM
11/7 moth trapping in SE Hants. Best was a Diamond-backed Moth. A large Winter Moth is worth a second look at just in case it’s a Northern #teammoth
A stomp round Matley Wood area NF for the winter bird survey was surprisingly productive. 1x Dartford and 4x Stonechat was a real surprise, the cold has normally displaced them by now. Approx 300 Redwing and maybe 50 Fieldfare in very vocal feeding flocks. Best was a Snipe. No raptors. #hantsbirds
December 15, 2025 at 2:30 PM
A stomp round Matley Wood area NF for the winter bird survey was surprisingly productive. 1x Dartford and 4x Stonechat was a real surprise, the cold has normally displaced them by now. Approx 300 Redwing and maybe 50 Fieldfare in very vocal feeding flocks. Best was a Snipe. No raptors. #hantsbirds
Reposted by Dave Wheatley
Interested in moth trapping?
Wondering which trap to use? Or if different bulbs collect different species?
Using 100k samples from @gardenmothscheme.bsky.social our new paper looks at these questions and more! With with Bill Kunin and @katatrepsis.bsky.social
#mothsmatter #teammoth
Wondering which trap to use? Or if different bulbs collect different species?
Using 100k samples from @gardenmothscheme.bsky.social our new paper looks at these questions and more! With with Bill Kunin and @katatrepsis.bsky.social
#mothsmatter #teammoth
Effect of bulb type on moth trap catch and composition in UK gardens
We analyse 10 years of records Garden Moth Scheme (GMS) to estimate the effect of bulb and trap type on the number of moths caught by moth traps. We find that brighter, higher wattage bulbs collect ...
resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 13, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Interested in moth trapping?
Wondering which trap to use? Or if different bulbs collect different species?
Using 100k samples from @gardenmothscheme.bsky.social our new paper looks at these questions and more! With with Bill Kunin and @katatrepsis.bsky.social
#mothsmatter #teammoth
Wondering which trap to use? Or if different bulbs collect different species?
Using 100k samples from @gardenmothscheme.bsky.social our new paper looks at these questions and more! With with Bill Kunin and @katatrepsis.bsky.social
#mothsmatter #teammoth
Well the Caloptilia did turn out to be stigmatella and is a NFY. The Blastobasis I’m a little less certain of. It doesn’t show any of the features I look for, the white X on the back or white shoulders, but not all specimens do. I’m still leaning towards vittata but less sure now #teammoth
December 13, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Well the Caloptilia did turn out to be stigmatella and is a NFY. The Blastobasis I’m a little less certain of. It doesn’t show any of the features I look for, the white X on the back or white shoulders, but not all specimens do. I’m still leaning towards vittata but less sure now #teammoth
40/10 in SE Hants last night. 21 December Moth. Best of the rest, singles of Brick, and what look likes B. vittata and C. stigmatella. 3 RDP possible signs of migration. A wide array of Mottled Umbers in the 7 trapped. It’s also highlighted that I need to clean my pots 😳
#teammoth #migrantmothuk
#teammoth #migrantmothuk
December 12, 2025 at 10:08 AM
40/10 in SE Hants last night. 21 December Moth. Best of the rest, singles of Brick, and what look likes B. vittata and C. stigmatella. 3 RDP possible signs of migration. A wide array of Mottled Umbers in the 7 trapped. It’s also highlighted that I need to clean my pots 😳
#teammoth #migrantmothuk
#teammoth #migrantmothuk
20/9 in SE Hants last night, a not too shabby return. 2x RDP and Brick, 1x Pine Carpet and Ypsolopha ustella were the best. 2 of the 4 Mottled Umber were the darker form #teammoth
December 9, 2025 at 8:47 AM
20/9 in SE Hants last night, a not too shabby return. 2x RDP and Brick, 1x Pine Carpet and Ypsolopha ustella were the best. 2 of the 4 Mottled Umber were the darker form #teammoth