Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 15/09/2026I have seen Anacampsis populella in the Cairngorms in 2018 but this individual in Stockton was was a first for #VC66 on 6th September, confirmed by gen det - thanks to Steve Palmer for this @teesbirds.bsky.social #teammoth 0201
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 13/09/2026A Gold Triangle (Hypsopygia costalis) was a very welcome new moth for me amongst 23 species overnight in Stockton-on-Tees @teesbirds.bsky.social #teammoth 0302
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 05/09/2026Gelechia cuneatella, taken at light in Stockton-on-Tees on 13th August was new to #VC66 a pretty rare moth it seems with one 2015 record from Northumberland and seemingly no modern Yorkshire records. Larval foodplant is believed to be various willow species @teesbirds.bsky.social #teammoth 2281
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 29/08/2026After my first records of Agriphila selasella earlier in the month, another new one for me, Agriphila latistria over night in Stockton. I've been hoping to see either for some years so very happy @teesbirds.bsky.social #teammoth 1282
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 16/08/2026White-point was the highlight of today's Moth Morning at Saltholme. We also had our best count of Small Mottled Willow with 4, a case of Coleophora trifolii and Saltmarsh Plume, netted the night before. I was wrong to say we had A.purpurea today, it was A.heracliana/ciliella @teesbirds.bsky.social 1302
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 15/08/2026Couple of highlights from the 63 spp in the trap this morning at #Saltholme; Agriphila geniculea (x3), Agonopterix purpurea, Mompha epilobiella and Aproaerema anthyllidella. Moth Morning running tomorrow from 9.30 2251
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 12/08/2026Saltmarsh Plume from the intertidal part of Cowpen Marsh was a great recent moth. There's a lot of its foodplant, Sea Lavender, on Greatham Creek and in the last couple of years this has become more frequent on Cowpen. Really good to see @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social ##teammoth 0251
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 12/08/2026A couple of hours well spent looking in ponds at #Saltholme yesterday with @palustris.bsky.social. Really happy to have seen my first water stick insects (very cool) and micro ladybird (Coccidula scutellata I think) amongst plenty of other bits @teesbirds.bsky.social 0294
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 07/08/2026Up to 2026 there are 11 records of 14 individuals of Agriphila selasella in Durham. 2 nights ago at #Saltholme we had 6 to light, part of an 'influx' for VC66 with at least 20 recent records. Also our 2nd Schoenobius gigantella of the year @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social #teammoth 0221
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 30/07/2026Three Phycitodes maritima emerged this week from a spinning on ragwort I collected from Cowpen Marsh on 12th July, containing two larvae and a pupa. Not a common moth in #vc66 #teammoth 080
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 21/07/2026It's the best Painted Lady year I've known, clearly many larvae we saw a while back are now adult - 100s viewable from the SE corner of the Meadow, the Wildflower Walk and the path to Pools hide, it's quite a spectacle! @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social 3262
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 20/07/2026I've seen my first Chrysoesthia sexguttella mines recently on Teesside, at Ormesby Beck, Saltern Wetlands and Saltholme. This one, on fat hen, collected 30.6.26, vacated the mine two days later, pupated and emerged today. A good looking moth (and hard to photograph) @teesbirds.bsky.social #teammoth 0230
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 19/07/2026I stumbled across this last week whilst counting wetland birds...a very young case of Coleophora adjunctella feeding on Saltmarsh Rush. Usually said to be at larval stage in late July. An adult in 2013 was the 1st and last record for #VC66 @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social #teammoth 0131
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 18/07/2026Not the best conditions over night but some nice moths nevertheless at the #Saltholme Moth Morning...Agapeta hamana, Scarce Footman, new for reserve was the delightful Cochylis roseana, and also the nivella form of Calamotropha paludella @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social #teammoth 0281
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 17/07/2026Peach Blossom and Orange Pine Tortrix were highlights from the last Moth Morning at #Saltholme, today, a smart Brown-veined Wainscot was in the trap, presumably breeding, as recorded every year since our first in 2020. Next event tomorrow @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social #teammoth 0171
Reposted by Ed PritchardBirdGuides @birdguides.bsky.social · 02/07/2026A major new report has shown that large-scale investment in nature recovery could provide a significant boost to the UK economy while helping tackle biodiversity loss, climate change and flooding: bit.lyNature investment could create 80,000 jobs and boost UK economy by £80 billionInvesting £5-6 billion annually in nature recovery could generate £80 billion in economic activity and create 80,000 skilled jobs over the next decade, according to a new report by the RSPB. 0126
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 03/07/2026Painted Ladies have been fairly abundant at #Saltholme this year. Creeping and Spear Thistle have also done well. Put them together and you get a lot of larvae...i would estimate tens of thousands present on the wet grassland now, quite a sight! @teesbirds.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social 0242
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 30/06/2026Schoenobius gigantella was the best of the last Saltholme trap. New to Durham in 2021, it was also recorded in 2025, both records from #Saltholme. I believe they're the most northerly in the UK. The next public event is Saturday morning @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social #teammoth 0171
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 29/06/2026Dichrorampha sedatana, new to #VC66 (confirmed by gen det). This nationally scarce sp was seen flying late afternoon in early May, at the Haverton scrub area of #Saltholme - larvae feed in the roots of Tansy, probably quite tricky to find @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social #teammoth 0191
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 20/06/2026Several Crambus perlella flying on the saltmarsh behind Teesside Park, all seen were very smart, f. warringtonellus. Was looking for larvae, specifically of Gynnidomorpha vectisana on Sea Arrowgrass, but none found. Maybe next week #teammoth 0130
Reposted by Ed PritchardAmbroise Baker @ambroisebaker.bsky.social · 08/06/2026Few places left in June: • 13th Poaceae Walk @bsbibotany.bsky.social • 20-21st Botany for ecologists @fieldstudiesc.bsky.social • 24-26th Plant and habitat @teessideuni.bsky.social • July 4-5th Grass, rush and sedge (FSC) Booking links: plantsbiodiversityecosystems.wordpress.com/2025/11/24/b...plantsbiodiversityecosystems.wordpress.comBotanical training offered in 2026In 2026 I am offering an even greater range of opportunities to skyrocket your botanical skills: Plant and Habitat Identification Skills short course at Teesside University: Three-day Course / 24th… 0103
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 07/06/2026A quieter night despite 2 traps running. Still a really good turn out to the #Saltholme moth morning and some fab moths to show, the highlight was the nationally scarce Bactra robustana recently shown to be breeding locally. This was the fourth adult seen in VC66 @teesbirds.bsky.social #teammoth 0282
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 06/06/2026Lots of the longhorn moth Nemophora degeerella lekking on the path near the Phil Stead hide at #Saltholme, 42 at lunchtime was quite a spectacle, mostly males but at least one female seen. Great to hear Quail on the Meadow today as well @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social #teammoth 2421
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 04/06/2026Last Saturday's #teammoth trap was the best May night I've had with a long-awaited 64spp. A couple of highlights were Beautiful Hook-tip, and Shoulder-striped Wainscot...next Moth Morning is on Sunday at #Saltholme ...hoping it comes close @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social 1362
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 03/06/2026A couple from #Saltholme this morning...Nemophora degeerella - nine of these fabulous longhorn moths (check out those antennae!) seen lekking between the Phil Stead hide and the Fire Station Screen, under the cafe balcony Small Ranunculus @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social #teammoth 1170
Reposted by Ed Pritchardianfouk.bsky.social @ianfouk.bsky.social · 02/06/2026Bee orchids this morning at RSPB Saltholme. @teesbirds.bsky.social 0615
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 30/05/2026Saw my first bee orchids of the year around #Stockton including outside the police station and the Fusion Hive building. I tried unsuccessfully to persuade a later mow outside Fusion, but still eleven plants flowering (out of maybe thirty seen in feb) @teesbirds.bsky.social @plantlifeuk.bsky.social 0121
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 27/05/2026Warm weather brought quite good numbers to the #Saltholme trap this week...129 of 46spp, highlights included the first #VC66 Lampronia morosa in 23yrs and an unidentified Etainia sp. Temperatures look good for the first Moth Morning event of 2026 this Sunday #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social 2172
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 25/05/2026Finally confirmed Bactra robustana as breeding with occupied mines on Cowpen Marsh after almost a handful of records from #Saltholme over the last ten years. This nationally scarce moth feeds within sea clubrush, a common plant on Teesside #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social 0230
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 24/05/2026Calamotropha paludella was first recorded in #VC66 in 2021. I saw it a year later at #Saltholme. There have been several records since in the eastern half of VC66 and as far north as South Shields. I caught up with the Typha feeding larva on Cowpen Marsh recently #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social 0221
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 21/05/2026I recently went back to a patch of Black Horehound where I found Coleophora lineolea last year. On Sunday I counted a very decent 63 larval cases. The sp also feeds on Hedge Woundwort and Lamb's Ear @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social #teammoth 0181
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 18/05/2026I love Garlic Mustard this time of year...Orange-tip butterflies lay eggs on it and the splendid Cauchas rufimitrella also uses it as a larval foodplant. Neither use it exclusively and both also use Cuckooflower. Both present currently in the Pollinator Garden at #Saltholme @teesbirds.bsky.social 1261
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 17/05/2026I checked some alder buckthorn, planted 5yrs ago at #Saltholme and was happy to find my first eggs, (93 on 4 plants). I read females usually lay a single egg on the underside of a young leaf. If there's more than one it could mean more than one female. Very much looking forward to the caterpillars. 0150
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 12/05/2026Glossy ibis present at Dorman's this morning, great white egret at Watchpoint and Bittern booming, heard from the hide as well @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social 1181
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 10/05/2026Brimstone in the pollinator garden just now at #Saltholme also Red Admiral and Holly Blue @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social 0161
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 08/05/2026Visiting a slither of saltmarsh by Teesside Park this week to collect foodplant for larvae I'm rearing, I was lucky enough to come across a population of Gynnidomorpha vectisana, a species not recorded in #VC66 since 1905. Sea Arrowgrass is their foodplant #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social 3423
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 07/05/2026I've finally caught up with Endothenia marginana. One emerged today from teasel heads saved from cut and collect machinery in Sept and collected yesterday. It's 2nd #VC66 record this century. Two E.gentianaeana have also emerged - the size difference was a surprise #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social 1301
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 05/05/202640 Dingy Skipper recorded on the first survey of the year at Dorman's yesterday, in less than perfect weather and a new moth for #Saltholme in Pyrausta despicata, only the 17th #VC66 record #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social 0381
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 04/05/2026Feeding signs of Epinotia abbreviana on Wych elm from #Saltholme today. The larva feeds on a leaf before it unfurls from the bud, leaving a distinctive, rather fab pattern of holes, though it's not always that neat. The larva then feeds nearby between spun leaves #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social 27315
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 21/04/2026Had my first ever emperor moths this week, to a lure near Gribdale Gate, Great Ayton. Also, my first green hairstreaks of the year and lots of green tiger beetle activity #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social 2421
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 20/04/2026Two black-tailed godwits in front of the fire station screen at #Saltholme this morning @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social 0171
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 18/04/2026If correct, I had my first Coleophora lusciniaepennella on willow this week at #Saltholme. The first I saw, 2023, was feeding on Rosa sp., assumed to have blown off a nearby goat willow but clearly having fed on the rose. About 40 records in #VC66, underrecorded? #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social 1191
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 08/04/2026Four wheatear on the Wildflower Walk at #Saltholme this morning. Cowslips looking good there as well @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social 0181
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 08/03/2026Fifty moths of five species over night at #Saltholme was more than expected with the temperatures we had...Common Quaker, Clouded Drab, Dotted Border and Twin-spotted Quaker (only 2nd site record) all pictured. Also had Hebrew Character #teammoth @teesbirds.bsky.social 1312
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 07/03/2026Adult Med gull on the Main Lake at #Saltholme about 15.50 today @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social 0171
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 25/02/2026The sun was out today at #Saltholme and I had a look for caterpillars on alder but wasn't the only one with that idea...I think the larva is Epinotia immundana or Argyresthia goedartella, it's been feeding on catkins and was probably on its way to pupate somewhere safe #teammoth and, er, #teamspider 0180
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 23/02/2026My first trap of the year at #Saltholme this weekend with five moths of five species. Acleris cristana the stand out was new to site and one I've not seen before. Also March moth, Chestnut and Oak Beauty. I didn't photograph the Hebrew Character @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social 0251
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 12/02/2026Flock of siskin fifty strong this afternoon at #Saltholme feeding in the alders along from the Phil Stead hide, five at the entrance to Huntsman drive also @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social 0100
Ed Pritchard @edpritchard.bsky.social · 03/02/2026Counted at least 35 bee orchid rosettes where i spotted them last year on the lawn outside Fusion Hive in Stockton. Will try and speak to someone so they might avoid being mown 070
