Current favourites in my ‘caterpillar zoo’ Pebble Hook-tips Drepana falcataria reared from eggs laid by a female caught at light Buckfastleigh Devon 17 July 2026

Years ago I learnt from Adrian Spalding that the Sandhill Rustic moth Luperina nickerlii can swim! Tried this out on Anglesey this week. It lives in coastal dunes and salt marshes and the females rarely fly so presume this helps if caught Out by spring tides.

Sandhill Rustic moths Luperina nickerlii subspecies gueneei Cwyfan Anglesey Wales

Several Orange Swift moths Troidia sylvina attracted to a light in our van at dusk Moelfre Anglesey Wales

An unusual view of a Many Plumed moth Alucita hexadactyla which landed on our van window Llyn Peninsula North Wales

Several Orange Swifts Triodia sylvina attracted to a light in our van at dusk, Moelfre, Anglesey North Wales

Hummingbird Hawkmoth Macroglossum stellatarum pupae found at Nantlle Snowdonia are now colouring up and should emerge this week. Then they will join the tens of thousands migrating south through the UK on their way to the Mediterranean

Current inhabitants of my ‘caterpillar zoo’ Green Silver-lines Pseudoips prasinana - when full grown they spin boat shaped cocoons under Oak leaves then overwinter in the leaf litter and Pebble Hook-tip Drepana falcataria on Birch both from eggs laI’d by females caught at light. Buckfastleigh, Devon

Beautiful early morning light Mynytho Common, Llyn Peninsula, North Wales

Hummingbird Hawk moth Macroglossum stellatarum pupae starting to colour up. Eyes first then will be followed by rest of body and wings as the moth forms inside. Amazing to think that then it will be equipped to fly to the Mediterranea!

Often overlooked in the light trap catch the common Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha has a subtle beauty in shades of grey and brown with zigzag markings Trigonos Pentlle Snowdonia North Wales

A beautiful dawn sky over the lake Trigonos Pentlle Snowdonia North Wales

Two moths I don’t often see on Dartmoor August Thorn Ennomos quercinaria and Antler Moth Cerapteryx graminis Trigonos Pentlle Snowdonia North Wales

A very scenic spot to run my light trap this week with Snowdonia as a backdrop. Canary-shouldered Thorn Ennomos alniaria the commonest of 60 plus species caught Trigonos Pentlle Snowdonia North Wales

Hummingbird Hawkmoth Macroglossum stellatarum larva found at night on Cleavers. Easiest to find with the aid of a UV torch as they are fluorescent in UV. If you would like to find one in the UK there has never been better chance. Find some Bedstraw growing over a south facing wall or bank

Sketches of male and female Scalloped Hook-tip Falcaria lacertinaria A beautiful dead leaf mimic Trigonos, Pentlle, Snowdonia North Wales

The beautiful late summer leaf mimic Canary-shouldered Thorn Ennomos alniaria Trigonos, Pentlle, Snowdonia North Wales

Statuesque Grey Heron Ardea cinerea @sharphamtrust.bsky.social near Totnes, Devon

Statuesque Grey Heron Ardea cinerea @sharphamtrust near Totnes, Devon

Good to see my first Radford's Flame Shoulder Ochropleura leucogaster. @graemelyons.bsky.social I see what you mean calling it a 'stretch limousine' version of the Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta. Modbury, Devon

A fabulous show of Wild Carrot Daucus carota in the Mindful Meadow, @sharphamtrust.bsky.social near Totnes, Devon

Mating pair of the curious Twist-winged Fly Ectophasia crassipennis. The male is huge compared to the female. This fly is a recent addition to the UK list but now common in south Devon. It is a parasitoid of true bugs. Mindful Meadow, Sharpham near Totnes, Devon

Two smart looking caterpillars Grey Dagger Acronicta psi and Lime Hawk moth Mimas tiliae on Alder @rewildingcoombeshead Devon yesterday

An active German Wasp Vespula germanica nest at Wembury Point, Plymouth, Devon this morning. The guard wasps often fanning their wings to regulate the air temperature inside and others busily removing soil to expand the nest cavity. @waspwoman.bsky.social

A beautiful stand of flowering Fennel Foeniculum vulgare at Wembury Point, Plymouth, Devon was the perfect spot for photographing Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris early this morning @waspwoman.bsky.social

First summer Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach feeding on grasshoppers and beetles. Someone saw it catch a vole! Tail feathers in moult. Eastleach Turville, Gloucestershire UK 28 July 2026

Pine Hawk Sphinx pinastri caterpillars on Scots Pine. When they reach their final instar the green and white camouflage amongst the pine needles isn't so effective so they gain a brown central line to blend in. Thanks Barry Henwood #teammoth

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Thunnus thynnus back this week along the south Devon coast. 10 plus seen this evening chasing Garfish Belone belone

I rarely see Long-tailed Tits Aegithalos caudatus in July. They can find enough insect food on the cold, short days of December so life is very easy for them now. Aphids on Pittosporum provide a good meal and I expect they spend much of the day just chilling out in the shade. Buckfastleigh, Devon

I hadn't seen our Garden Snails Cornu aspersum for weeks now in the summer drought conditions but checked the pond the other night to find them all there after dark. Buckfastleigh, Devon