Sign in

Dave Emley

@demley.bsky.social
164 followers 47 following 1.2K posts

naturalist, bird report editor

PostsRepliesMedia
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
like that😂
000
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
one resident said her box had recovered. Will be interesting to see what happens next year after all this autumn‘s moths lay their eggs!
110
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
i did this graph for our gardening group.
110
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
My aphid controller :)
1100
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
do they herald the arrival or departure of a front?
100
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
35 Box moths is by far the largest number I have caught - and was the most numerous species last night (SJ93). Also a very worn Clifden. #TeamMoth
180
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
2nd Delicate for the garden (last was in June), otherwise just a Dark Chestnut NFY. #TeamMoth
0200
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
German Wasp making short work of a Large Yellow Underwing!
040
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Nearly didn't put the trap on - glad I did! Clancy's Rustic with supporting cast of Dewick's Plusia, Small Mottled Willow and Rush Veneer. Plus 5 Box Moths. Staffs, SJ93 #TeamMoth
0251
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The distinctive Noon Fly Mesembrina meridiana sunbathing.
050
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
29/8 in SJ93. Red-line Quaker was NFY and surprisingly Autumnal Rustic was NFG! #TeamMoth
080
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Had a walk by the River Trent at Westbridge Park, Stone and came across this wonderful old Beech stump. It had these two fungi and a slime-mould on it. Their names are in the comments.
Giant PolyporeDog Vomit Slime Mould - yep, that's its name!Southern Bracket
010
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Lots of greenfly on our roses but not to worry, Nature's bio-control is at hand in the form of the hoverfly. The larvae of certain species are aphid eaters. This is Eupeodes luniger. She flies around the roses looking for aphids and then lays a few eggs next to them before moving on.
020
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Well the trap failed me - loose connection - but I did get a new plant bug for the garden and for me Stictopleurus punctatonervosus. #TeamMoth
060
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
They are superb insects!
010
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
we’ll see 🤞
010
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Disappointing night in SJ93 considering temp of 19C. Just 10 of 7 species but first Merveille du Jour is always a welcome sight. #TeamMoth
1211
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Giant Puffball growing behind our house. New for the site.
0100
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
May have missed the Osprey at Doxey by 2 minutes 😪but did fluke the Scots Guardsman passing through.
020
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
cheers Andy.
010
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Anyone know this mine? Looks like Stigmella. It's on Cherry-plum Prunus cerasifera. #TeamMoth
130
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
A Hornet patrolling the Asters as Trentham Gardens. What magnificent insects they are.
060
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Pink-barred Sallow - a true colour of autumn. #TeamMoth
0230
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Like Ruth said, promised clouds did not appear so just 15/6 in SJ93. Pink-barred Sallow was NFY. #TeamMoth
070
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Migrant Hawker taking a break from chasing Willow Emeralds!
020
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Apologies for more Willow Emeralds but when they almost land on your hand, you have to photo them!
030
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
The best of last nights moth trapping was this predatory fungus gnat Macrocera phalerata; NFG and new for me too.
0111
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Don't know much about pondweeds. The pond behind us was stripped bare and re-graded last year. It has since filled and this plant has appeared in quantity. Anyone know what it is? @naturelark.bsky.social
001
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
looks like a male too with a hint of orange in the crown.
110
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Did not expect Beautiful Hook-tip last night. #teamMoth
0160
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
A couple more photos of the Green Meshweb spider Nigma walckenaeri that has taken up residence on a rose leaf in the garden. Looks like aphid is on the menu today.
040
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Look who came to check out the moth trap last night :) #TeamMoth
0110
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Thanks Ade. I don’t usually have much luck with flight shots.
010
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
only a handful. Migrants much commoner.
110
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Had fun trying to capture this Southern Hawker in flight. It was extremely inquisitive and came within arm's length - which is no good when you have a 600mm lens!
4173
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Common Darters egg-laying in the small pond behind us.
040
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
A new fungus for me; Hen of the Woods Grifola frondosa aka Maetaki. It was at the base of an old oak tree behind us.
0100
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Noticed this small green spider on a rose leaf. It is Nigma walckenaeri. After it dispatched the hapless fly, it retreated under a sheet of silk spun across the leaf.
150
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Found quite a bit of Gallant/Shaggy Soldier recently. They key mentions the scale-like bracts amongst the disc florets. Hand lens was not much use so took this shot down a microscope. Shows the receptacle bracts clearly and the stalked glands on the stem - Shaggy not Gallant Soldier.
010
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Lovely colours in this male Migrant Hawker.
020
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Wow! Well done Steve.
110
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Found Water-soldier on a local Staffordshire reserve. It has been introduced from a garden pond but seems well-established now.
021
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
A nice male Migrant Hawker on a local Staffordshire reserve.
020
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Have found a number of Willow Emeralds in Staffordshire but not, until today, have I found the egg-laying scars on a willow branch.
0112
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Can't remember a year like this for Clouded Yellows. We have had a number fly over the garden but today one hung around for a while - magic!
091
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Ivy Bees Colletes hederae are out in force now. Worth checking any Ivy blossoms.
050
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Giant Funnel Aspropaxillus giganteus - what a fungus. Must be 40cm in diameter!
030
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
It has been pointed out to that this is Orpine and not Roseroot.
010
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I got them from Natural History Book Service (NHBS). I should add that the ladybird book does not cover the micro species - just the ones most of us are likely to come across.
110
Dave Emley @demley.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Don’t often recommend books but at £7.50 each you can’t go wrong. At A6 and 50 pages these two really are pocket guides but they are filled with ID information. Partic. like the comparisons between similar species like Birch and Hawthorn Shieldbug or white-spotted ladybirds. Congrats to Rob Zloch
1162