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Tim Blackburn@mothyblackburn.bsky.social |
305 followers 186 following 298 posts
Professor of Invasion Biology at UCL. Amateur father, birder, moth-er. Mainly wildlife photos and shouting into the void.
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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Moth numbers slowly climbing again in Camden, with 46:24 in the trap this morning. Two more NFY, in the attractive micros Acleris forsskaleana and Acrobasis repandana. A hint of migration as well, with singles of Silver Y and Diamond-back Moth. #TeamMoth
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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They're there, just waiting for the right moment...
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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Excellent life choice there.
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Rebekah Higgitt
@rhiggitt.bsky.social
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Part of life when I was living in north London, I think it was in Palermo that I last heard the familiar squawk and spied the flash of green.
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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They're already in Plymouth in numbers - what's wrong with Crystal Palace?!
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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Coming to a park in Edinburgh near you soon...
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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A morning in the lab confirmed two new species for me, both from the Camden roof terrace. An Oegoconia turned out to be male caradjai, and a striking "Eudonia" was a male Scoparia basistrigalis. Amateurish genital dissection shots included as "proof"! #TeamMoth
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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A slight uptick in moth numbers, with 27:18 on the Camden roof terrace this morning. Two NFY in August Thorn (nice to compare with last week's September) and a shiny Roeslerstammia erxlebella. #TeamMoth
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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Thanks Kathleen! Not denying the longer historical interest of parakeets, just focused on where the established population came from.
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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I don’t write the headline but happy to see continued interest in the parakeets and their origin myths. #ukbirding
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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They’re great! We’re a bit further up, so Bull & Last, Parliament Hill farmer’s market, Rosella, the late lamented Lure 😢
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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The rest of the country finally catching up with what us NW5ers have known for years…
www.thetimes.com/article/e7c1...
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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Another disappointing night for moths, with just 19:10 in the Camden trap. However it wasn't all bad, with an unexpected NFG in Light Arches, and a cracking fresh Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing. Hoping for better conditions soon... #TeamMoth
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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A solid 24 hours of rain, a cool and windy night, and so few moths on the Camden roof terrace given the time of year. This Marbled Beauty was the only NFY amongst 16:11, and a species it's always lovely to see. #TeamMoth
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Steve Dudley
@stevedudley.bsky.social
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I’ve been thinking about the role birding media play on issues like this. If they can’t get it right then why do we expect the general media to get it right? And why don’t they get it right? As individuals they’ve been around long enough to know the facts or where to get them 1/3
#lowcarbonbirding
2 replies 3 reposts 7 likes
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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The UK goes to the polls tomorrow. If you're undecided how to vote, this is an incredibly useful resource. Find your constituency, see the various poll results. Vote, and vote wisely!
inglesp.github.io/apogee/
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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Not one but two lifers for me in the Camden moth trap this morning, among 85:30: a long awaited September Thorn, and an unexpected Matilella (Pyla) fusca. The latter is a moth of heathland and moorland, not a common habitat around here! #TeamMoth
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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🤞
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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Four more NFY in the Camden moth trap this morning amongst 56:25. I'd been wondering where the Elephant Hawk-moths were this year, so great to get only my 2nd ever on the roof terrace. Also Dun-bar, Grey/Dark Dagger and an Oegoconia c.f. caradjai, the last two retained. #TeamMoth
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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A good night for moths back on the Camden roof terrace, with a strong 80:32. Clear highlight was a long awaited and gorgeous lifer in Scarce Silver-lines. Buff Arches was NFG, and a further 4 NFY included box-fresh Coronet and European Corn-borer. #TeamMoth
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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Isn’t it just! A real moment when I noticed it sitting amongst the grass stems behind the trap.
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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Thank you! It’s all down to the model.
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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Gosh, I almost forgot to mention that I found my 850th British moth species in Norfolk last week. And it arrived in style in the form of this stunning Bedstraw Hawk-moth. Blakeney Point delivering the goods again! #TeamMoth
2 replies 3 reposts 23 likes
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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Many thanks to local birder Mark Golley for the top tip on where to find Scarlet Tigers in Cley. Five in a five minute stop on the way home, to add another lifer to the trip to Norfolk. #TeamMoth
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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… , Shark, Light Arches, Broad-barred White, and Kent Black Arches. Thanks as always to the Morston seal boat crews and
Blakeney Point wardens for their welcome and help. #TeamMoth
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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The two trap nights on Blakeney Point added a total of 46 species to my moth year list. Highlights amongst these included Buff Arches, Rosy Wave, Common Emerald, Dotted Fan-foot … #TeamMoth
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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Moth trapping on Blakeney Point also turned up a range of specialist micros. Pediasia fascelinella, Platyes cerussella, Anerastia lotella & Eudonia lineola were all new for me, amongst 8 lifers over the two nights. #TeamMoth
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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Back from a short trip to Blakeney Point, and of course moth trapping. A total of 334:69 across two nights included many dune, shingle & saltmarsh specialists, such as Crescent Striped (a lifer), Sand Dart (my 2nd), 23 Archer’s Dart and 13 White Colon. #TeamMoth
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Gavin Haig
@notquitescilly.bsky.social
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Came across this today. Am not great at plants, so can anyone confirm whether this is Ivy Broomrape? Ta.
2 replies 1 reposts 5 likes
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@christhebarker.bsky.social
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If you’re passing a newsagent today don’t forget there’s a version of my election wipeout bingo on the centre spread of this week’s new European. Be quick though, they’re going to disappear quicker than a Tory election promise…
1 replies 26 reposts 44 likes
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Tim Allwood🇵🇸
@timallwood.bsky.social
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#lowcarbonbirding
The only thing that changes this is emitting less and less carbon as rapidly as possible.
Everything else is window dressing.
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Tim Allwood🇵🇸
@timallwood.bsky.social
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Four things you can do to help keep Earth habitable:
Stop flying
Stop eating meat
Drive as little as possible
Talk about the above
It’s that simple.
#lowcarbonbirding
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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A total of eight moths NFY today, with four micros adding to the four macros: Breckland Plume, Homoeosoma sinuella, Pyrausta despicata and Agriphila inquinatella. Well earned curry and wine at Fakenham Spoons. Keeping it classy. #TeamMoth
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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A great start to a week on Blakeney Point, with a drive up through the Brecks to Fakenham. Two macro-moth lifers in Forester & Currant Clearwing, the latter to the lure & my third Clearwing lifer in 7 days. Back up cast including Oblique Striped & Burnet Companion. #TeamMoth
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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Moth numbers up again a bit in Camden this morning, with 47:24. Another 3 NFY were Common Footman, Bird-cherry Ermine and Crassa unitella. Some nice bycatch in a Lesser Stag Beetle. Now off for a few days to see what Blakeney Point has to offer... #TeamMoth
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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A small (35:13) but nicely formed catch in the Camden moth trap this morning. The first Acrobasis of the year, and it looks to be a lifer in the scarce migrant tumidana. Also only my 3rd Nutmeg (which I catch alternate years here), with Scalloped Oak and Bee Moth amongst 6 NFY. #TeamMoth
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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Another day, another Clearwing, this time Red-tipped to the FOR lure in the wet woodland in East London's Olympic Park. A rather descaled and angry individual, it didn't want to hang around for the photoshoot. A lifer nonetheless 😀 #TeamMoth
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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Moth numbers in the Camden trap down again, despite the warm days, with just 21:14 this morning. Two micros NFY, in Gypsonoma dealbana and a tatty Mompha subbistrigella. #TeamMoth
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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Having tried and failed a couple of times this week with the lure, what should I find bouncing around the base of a local London street tree than this Red-belted Clearwing. Looks mainly black to the naked eye, but how it glitters under the flash. #TeamMoth
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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I don’t know. It concerns me that these animals have more comprehension of the world than one might think.
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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🥳
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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But what do the moths get out of looking so fabulous, do you think?
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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Just, why?!
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Stephen Heard
@stephenbheard.bsky.social
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This one's for you and the jewel box, @mothyblackburn.bsky.social! Pink-shaded fern moth, Callopistria mollissima, visiting our screen porch. Our yard has abundant ostrich fern and several other ferns, so this is likely a local.
Sure, some birds are pretty, but LOOK AT THIS GUY.
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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At last moth numbers and diversity picking up in the London trap, with 45:26 this morning. "Highlight" was a lifer in the (underwhelming) Lesser Wax Moth. Four more NFY included Ethmia quadrilella, Codling Moth and Zeiraphera isertana. Past 250 species for the year now. #TeamMoth
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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Now that's the way to start the day. A Hornet Moth on
Hampstead Heath in London this morning, an incredible mimic and simply one of the UK's best insects. And a lifer for me on top 😎. #TeamMoth
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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Panic when Zoe showed me the photo on her phone, and I had to rush across the site to see if it was still there!
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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Happy Father's Day, Dad. Miss you.
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Tim Blackburn
@mothyblackburn.bsky.social
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🍻
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Tim Allwood🇵🇸
@timallwood.bsky.social
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0 replies 6 reposts 8 likes