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Mike Hetherington

@mikemoths.bsky.social

2K followers 470 following 360 posts

Moths, birds, herps & other wildlife. My own photos. Dorset, UK or travelling. MSc Biological Recording Dorset Moths https://www.dorsetmoths.co.uk/ Wildlife blog https://vitrealis.blogspot.com/ FSC Associate Tutor RSPB volunteer. MCIEEM

www.dorsetmoths.co.uk

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 3d

Red Admiral larva crossing the road (slowly), West Dorset UK.
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 7d

Always exciting to see the massive Convolvulus Hawk-moth, one of our most spectacular migrant #moth arrivals. Last night in West Dorset (VC9).
@dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
#teammoth

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 12d

Wetland birding off the beaten track in Costa Rica.
Blog at vitrealis.blogspot.com/2025/09/expl...
#naturewriting #costarica #birding #birds

Exploring Costa Rica's Undiscovered Wetland

Pinnated Bittern - Medio Queso Mention Costa Rica as a birding destination and you'll quickly start hearing about cloud forests like Monteve...

vitrealis.blogspot.com

Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 17d

Our local cattle seem to have adopted a young Sika Deer. West Dorset, UK. Thanks to @lukephillips.bsky.social for the revised identification!
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 17d

Good call Luke. I was so surprised to see it that I didn’t look closer.

Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 20d

An arrival of autumn moths here in West Dorset, UK last night including Frosted Orange, Black Rustic, Feathered Brindle and Dusky Thorn. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
#teammoth

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 20d

It wasn't only moths that were attracted to the light last night. Nice to see this small Common Toad - West Dorset, UK.

Reposted by Mike Hetherington

Markus Eichhorn @markuseichhorn.bsky.social · 21d

Saving the bees does not include honeybees. Honeybees are effectively livestock and part of the problem.

The island that banned hives: can honeybees actually harm nature?

On a tiny Italian island, scientists conducted a radical experiment to see if the bees were causing their wild cousins to decline

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Mike Hetherington

Butterfly Conservation (Dorset Branch) @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social · 29d

Fantastic sighting of Death's-head Hawk-moth in Swanage, apparently one playing a tune through its proboscis! www.dorsetbutterflies.com/2025/09/deat...

Death’s-Head Hawkmoth, Swanage

Brian had surprise when on 8/09/25 this huge scary looking moth (though harmless) landed in his garden and he tells us: Crash landed in Swanage overnight! It squeaked when I picked it up!! A Death&…

www.dorsetbutterflies.com

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · Sep 6

‘of’ not ‘or’!

Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · Sep 6

Good numbers of moths here in West Dorset, UK last night (181 or 46 species). New for the year included Lilac Beauty, Pale Eggar, Nutmeg and Centre-barred Sallow.
@dorsetmoths.bsky.social

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · Sep 4

Painted Lady basking in the sun between rain showers this morning. West Dorset, UK.
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · Aug 15

Canary-shouldered Thorn. What's not to like? West Dorset, UK. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
#teammoth

Looking into the face of a Canary-shouldered Thorn moth - dark eyes and spreading antennas stand out in front of its yellow, fluffy thorax

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · Aug 12

Orca pod and Humpback Whale in the Johnstone Strait, off Vancouver Island BC Canada 🇨🇦. The seas here host a remarkable diversity of marine mammals. #canada #wildlife

Three Orcas (one large adult and two smaller individuals) surfacing, one blowing a spout of spray.

Tail of diving Humpback Whale close to a rocky shore.

Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · Aug 11

Grizzly Bear female searching for food on the shore of Knight Inlet BC Canada 🇨🇦. A few weeks to wait before the salmon arrive.
#Canada #wildlife

Grizzly Bear female foraging for food on seaweed-covered rocks on the shore of Knight Inlet, British Columbia, Canada.

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · Jul 27

Orcas, Steller’s Sea-lion and Humpback Whale. Just a typical afternoon in the Johnstone Strait, Bc, 🇨🇦

Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · Jul 27

Boat into Knight Inlet, Great Bear Rainforest BC 🇨🇦. Two Grizzly Bear mums with cubs, watched from a respectful distance. Magical. #biodiversity

Female Grizzly Bear on a rocky shoreline with a small bear cub peering out behind her.

Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · Jul 27

Cedar Waxwing may be a common resident species on Vancouver Island BC 🇨🇦, but it’s an exciting bird to see for a visiting UK birder.
#BirdsofCanada

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · Jul 23

Kinney Lake, Mount Robson Provincial Park, BC, Canada 🇨🇦

Worth the hike.

Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · Jul 11

Great images.

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · Jul 8

My first Bee Wolf (Philanthus triangulum), filmed entombing its latest bee victim near heathland at @rspb.bsky.social Arne, Dorset UK today. Previously a rarity in England, its range has expanded significantly.
#Buglife
(Apologies to
@davegoulson.bsky.social!)

Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · Jul 7

Worth crossing the border for!

Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · Jul 6

Double Line, very much a moth of SW England’s woodlands, was the highlight of trapping at Killerton, Devon @nationaltrust.org.uk on Friday night.
@richardfoxbc.bsky.social
#teammoth

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · Jul 2

Great photo!

Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · Jul 2

I'd be tempted just to record it as janthe if you're not going to investigate the 'wing thing'. But it depends on the view of your CMR I guess.