iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Andy Mackay

Yvette Schoenmakers - Printmaker @studioschoenmakers.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Now running: ‘The Natural Eye 2026’, Society of Wildlife Artists annual exhibition at Mall Galleries London, 1-10 October. I have 3 linocuts and one field drawing on display here. The show is absolutely fabulous, go see when in London! Online: buyart.mallgalleries.org.uk/swla-2026/

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Steph' Thorpe @stephbirdart.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

As usual I did the front cover for one of my local patches annual report! Ogston Bird Club puts together an excellent report!

Front cover of the Ogston Bird Club annual report for 2025 showing an immature Ring necked Duck

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I didn't expect much when I arrived at Eyebrook Res this afternoon and heard shooting in the fields nearby. But I stuck it out and was rewarded with 2 site year ticks: 8 Golden Plovers flying over and this close Garganey at the inflow. #UKBirding #VC55Birds

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Some of the nicer autumn moths are starting to turn up now amongst the sea of late summer brown: Autumnal Rustic and Orange Sallow both NFG, and Brown-spot Pinion NFY. OK, the latter is still brown, but it's not a yellow underwing or a Square-spot Rustic! #VC55Moths #TeamMoth

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Just went to release last night's moths and found this knackered Bordered Straw sp hiding behind the MV trap. ObsID was split c50/50, but I think it's Scarce. Either would be NFY. Not a lot else of interest apart from a Vestal and the first Black Rustics of the year. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth

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garywright62.bsky.social @garywright62.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Cranes on stubble field, east Norfolk

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Richard Allen @richardallenart.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

My exhibition at the Old Grocery, Wivenhoe starts next Thursday 17th September, a full range of cards, prints and paintings available, I'll be there 10-5 each day @btobirds.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social @essexbirdnews.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Nice to see a Black Tern locally, at Swithland Res this afternoon in the rain. Reasonable numbers of waders as well (for Swithland!): 2 Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Greenshanks, 2 Common Sands, Ringed Plover & Snipe. #UKBirding

Juvenile Black Tern sitting on a barley straw bale in the water.

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

A Vestal lurking behind the MV trap on the shed door was NFY and the only species of any interest last night. Otherwise it's getting to that very brown time of year before the more interesting autumn moths emerge. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth

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Jenny Davies @jennywrendraws.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Some charcoal sketches of Lapwing on old marine charts which I found a happy little combination. #birds #lapwing #wader

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Steve Lister @lufbrabirder.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Almost didn't bother last night when the sky was cloudless but gave it a go. Onlyv12 of 7 but when one of them is your first ever Ni Moth you can't complain. #teammoth #VC55Moths

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Nice comparison (but rubbish photo) of pristine Clifden Nonpareil and Red Underwing in the MV this morning. The Clifden then flew off before I could move them onto something for a better shot! #VC55Moths #TeamMoth

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Two NFG micros last night - 2 Cydia amplana, which was very much on the radar, and Evergestis extimalis, which wasn't! Very few VC55 records of the latter. Also Palpita vitrealis NFY. Garden Leps list is edging towards 600 in just over 4 years: 595 with these two... #VC55Moths #TeamMoth

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Katie Fuller @katiefullerart.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

My #Risograph prints are popular at present! Designed by me (a real human) and printed on recycled paper in Margate. ♻️ I have Woodpigeons, Long-tailed Tits and Green Woodpeckers. All very reasonably priced and ready to fly to you today! katiefullerart.etsy.com

Risograph prints of long-tailed tits and Woodpigeons, ready to go inside a brown envelope with business card and a stamp with ducks on it

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

I should have my mothing licence taken away for this - just went to release last night's catch and found a NFG Pearly Underwing I'd somehow overlooked this morning! No excuse! 😬🙄🫣 #VC55Moths #TeamMoth

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Record pot shot of a Toadflax Pearl, Antigastra catalaunalis from the garden last night. A new moth for me and not many VC55 records. Might get a better shot later, but it's going to be hot again so maybe not! #VC55Moths #TeamMoth

Toadflax Pearl Antigastra catalaunalis in a glass pot on a notebook page.

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

The Leics & Rutland Bird Report has arrived, with my Roseate Tern artwork on the cover. Thanks to @daleivor.bsky.social once again for all his hard work putting it together. #UKBirding #WildlifeArt #BirdArt

Cover of the 2024 Leics & Rutland Bird Report with my coloured pencil (and a bit of gouache) illustration of the Eyebrook Res Roseate Tern. Bird is flying left to right against a blue/greyish background.

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Not many moths again last night, but who cares when one of them was this pristine Striped Hawk-moth! 😃 My second macro lifer in 4 days. #TeamMoth #VC55Moths

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Also had this Tineid last night, which I think is Nemapogon koenigi, unless anyone has any other ideas? Not a great photo, but probably the best I can do without risking losing it! #TeamMoth #VC55Moths

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Moth numbers and species still fairly low for the time of year (184/57), but included my first ever Ni Moth in the MV trap! One I've always wanted to see. Striped Hawk-moth next please... #TeamMoth #VC55Moths

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Quick pot shot of last night's NFG Mere Wainscot. Wainscots are well known for wandering, presumably to ensure they find new sites if their wetland habitat dries out or scrubs over, but this one has come a long way from the nearest known colonies. #TeamMoth #VC55Moths

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Very unexpected NFG last night - a Mere Wainscot, currently chilling in the fridge for hopefully a photo later. Only ever seen this in the east of VC55 (Rutland). #TeamMoth #VC55Moths

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

3 NFG last night out of a total of 92sp: Scallop Shell (which I've only ever seen once before, about 20 years ago), Bordered Sallow and Hedya salicella. The latter two also new for the tetrad. #TeamMoth #VC55Moths

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

97 species last night, but not a lot of interest apart from Gypsonoma dealbana NFG. Distinct lack of Geometers at the moment, especially pugs. Just one Double-striped, and one Foxglove the night before. 🤔 Anyone else seeing this? #TeamMoth #VC55Moths

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Privet Hawk-moth last night was my first NFG since May (missed the last heatwave as I was away). Also 2 Silky Wainscots & the first Small Mottled Willow for a while (23 for the year). 85 sp, commonest were Smoky Wainscot, Common Footman & culmella. #TeamMoth #VC55Moths

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

A couple more recent illustrations for my Eyebrook Reservoir book. Kingfisher and Barn Owl, both gouache and watercolour pencil on paper. #BirdArt #SciArt #UKBirding #Birds #Art

An illustration of a Kingfisher perched on a thin branch with other branches behind. The image is portrait in format with the bird at the top, looking down, and the background shading from brown at the top to green/grey lower down. Size of the original artwork is 10 x 20cm.

An illustration of a Barn Owl flying right to left over a field of golden-brown grass. Size of the original drawing is 19 x 7cm.

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Steph' Thorpe @stephbirdart.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Realised I never posted this one from a good while ago! I did the front cover for the 2021 Filey Bird Report.

A bird report with an illustration of birds on the beach. 2 Dunlins at feeding with 2 Oyster archers and a first winter Long-tailed Skua is flying over the sea behind.

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Emma @emmasartworks.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

While I’m waiting for some local outlets to get back to me, I’ve set up an Etsy (UK only) for the seaside bird booklet. It’s A5, 14 pages, 36 birds; any profits will go to Tees Valley Wildlife Trust. www.etsy.com/shop/EmmaPri... #NEbirding #LowCarbonBirding

Photo of a book cover called Hartlepool’s Seaside Birds

Page showing illustrations of lapwing, curlew and oystercatcher

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Reposted by Andy Mackay

Steph' Thorpe @stephbirdart.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Playing with pen and ink on iPad. WIP Sedge Warbler.

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Decent numbers last night, 252/69, although 91 of them were Heart & Dart. Nothing terribly exciting, first Scarlet Tiger of the year the highlight, and another 5 Small Mottled Willow brings the total for the year to 22. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth

Scarlet Tiger moth on top of the MV trap. Hopefully garden-bred as there were caterpillars on the Comfrey earlier in the year.

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

168/48 last night. Small Clouded Brindle NFG, 2nd ever Pale Oak Beauty & Cherry Bark Moth. One Small Mottled Willow & 5 Silver Y the only migrants. Running out of time for something decent before the weather changes completely after this weekend... #VC55Moths #TeamMoth

Small Clouded Brindle moth on an egg box. Surprisingly new for the tetrad as well as the garden list.

Pale Oak Beauty moth on the inside of a dusty moth trap. Tried (but obviously not very hard 🤪) to get a better pic outside the trap but it flew off.

Cherry Bark Moth photographed where found, sitting on the slats of an old green plastic garden chair behind the MV trap.

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Temperature dropped 20 degrees last night, from 33.6 to 13.4 and consequently far fewer moths, 11/45. Assara terebrella is NFG and tetrad - a very scarce and local resident so this may be a migrant. Not many county records (see alt text). Also another 3 Small Mottled Willow. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth

Assara terebrella in a pot as it was rather active. I had the first VC55 record of this species in a previous garden (Evington) in 2014, but there have only been another 2 or 3 county records since as far as I know.

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

198/65 last night, but nothing terribly exciting despite the insane temperatures. Highlights were my second ever Red-necked Footman, FOUR Small Mottled Willow (only one previous record before the one yesterday!), and Small Elephant Hawk-moth is always nice to see. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth

Small Elephant Hawk-moth on honeysuckle leaves.

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

I was only saying yesterday that I'd never had Bird's Wing in this garden, and that was enough to conjure one up! Also Small Mottled Willow (flew off before photo 🙄) and a very worn Dark Sword-grass. 163/55 in total. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth

Bird's Wing moth on a honeysuckle leaf. A dark brown moth with lighter 'bird's wing shapes on each wing.

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Minimum 15.8C last night; 215/67. Grass Rivulet I think is NFG but need to check on the spreadsheet later, ditto Ptycholoma lecheana. Another Dwarf Pug, Sallow Kitten and Latticed Heath amongst the scarcer stuff. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth

Grass Rivulet moth on a honeysuckle leaf.

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

A good 148/49 last night, with 5 NFG: Dwarf Pug, Bucculatrix ulmella, Teleiodes luculella, Glyphipterix fuscoviridella & Nematopogon schwarziellus. Also Eyed & Pine Hawks, Marbled Brown, Small Angle Shades & Toadflax Brocade. Tonight should be even better... #VC55Moths #TeamMoth

Dwarf Pug - indoor shot on a table top in case it escaped! My 26th pug species in just under 4 years trapping in this garden.

A pristine Eyed Hawk-moth on bramble leaves.

Marbled Brown moth on an Acer branch. One I don't get very often here - Lunar Marbled Brown is much commoner.

Small Angles Shades moth on honeysuckle leaf. Wing tips out of focus as it was revving up ready to fly off! Another one I don't get many of here.

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

First trapping for 11 days last night; 44/25 from two traps was reasonable given the weather we've had. Green Silver-lines and Agonopterix propinquella both NFG and tetrad, White-pinion Spotted only the second for the garden. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth

Green Silver-lines moth on a honeysuckle leaf. Well-named as it's green with several silvery lines across the wings. Slightly worn on the thorax, but new for the garden so I'll take it!

An in-the-pot photo of Agonopterix propinquella, a small brown moth with a faint blackish blob on each wing. Exciting stuff!

White-pinion Spotted Moth on a honeysuckle leaf. A white moth with two small brown marks along the leading edge of each wing.

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Matt D @mattdenial.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

I didn’t know you could mute particular words in Bluesky.. Settings > Moderation > Muted Words & Tags. You can choose ‘Forever’ for the duration also. Good stuff.

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

At Charnwood Lodge NNR in Leics this afternoon, 4 species that are getting very hard to find elsewhere in the county: 5 singing Tree Pipits, 2 Cuckoos, a Mistle Thrush, and rarest of all a Wall butterfly. Appropriately on a wall! #ukbirding #butterflies

A singing Tree Pipit on twigs with emerging leaves.

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Steph' Thorpe @stephbirdart.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Spotted Crake from a couple of years back. Front cover for a local bird club.

A Spotted Crake standing in water facing the viewer.

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

I think "wholly unconfirmed report of possible" is my all-time favourite bird news phrase. Basically means "we don't believe a word of this"! 😂

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Darren (George) Best @wildlifegeekpix.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

#Swinemoor a bonkers 18 Wood Sand (possibly more, with birds hidden in vegetation in other areas) this morning as well as 5 Greenshank, 3 Redshank, Ruff, 2 LRP, 2 PFG. Video shows some of the birds (a couple of other birds in the mix) #patchbirding #PWC2026 #eastyorksbirding

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Just releasing last night's moths and this was on the edge of one of the traps, missed this morning. Incurvaria masculella, the first NFG of the year! #VC55Moths #TeamMoth

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Colder than forecast last night (6.3 vs 10) and consequently not too many moths, but more than some people are getting! 21/12 inc 5 NFY: 2 Chocolate-tip, White-spotted Pug, Scalloped Hook-tip, Foxglove Pug & Common Pug. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Traps out for the first time in 10 nights (I don't bother when it's cold!). 47/22, 8 NFY inc Seraphim, Brimstone, Pale Tussock & Orange Footman. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth

Seraphim moth on a green painted wooden shed wall.

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Steph' Thorpe @stephbirdart.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Finally remembered to photograph the sketches of the Speke Hall Great-tailed Grackle! As usual with Great-tailed Grackles it looked completely deranged 😂 #UKbirding #birds #birdart #sciart

Set of sketches of a Great tailed Grackle I saw at Speke Hall Liverpool. The bird is mainly black with blue and green tones, which is iridescent. It has a ridiculous long tail and a completely mad expression caused by a staring pale eye!

Set of sketches of a Great tailed Grackle I saw at Speke Hall Liverpool. In these it is perched in a tree with Magpies. The bird is mainly black due to the flat light showing some blue and green tones, which is iridescent. It has a ridiculous long tail and a completely mad expression caused by a staring pale eye!

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

I was surprised to see around 15 Scarlet Tiger moth caterpillars on our three small Comfrey plants today, as I've only ever had one adult in the garden traps! Not too long ago these were confined to the far east of Rutland in VC55, but the range has expanded a lot recently. #TeamMoth #VC55Moths

Scarlet Tiger moth - a strikingly marked caterpillar with black and yellow longitudinal stripes and tufts of black hairs along its sides.

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Steph' Thorpe @stephbirdart.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Got my copy of The New Birds of the Sheffield Area a few days ago. It’s seriously good. I can see I am going to lose hours😉 Gratuitous photo of one of the illustrations I did for it too. #Birds #UKbirding #sciart

Photograph of the book The New Birds of the Sheffield Area. There is a photograph of a singing Wood Warbler on the cover.

A photograph of a page of The New Birds of the Sheffield Area detailing Franklin’s Gull with my watercolour of a winter plumaged Franklins Gull with Black-headed Gulls.

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

I haven't posted anything about it for a while, but I'm still plodding on with writing and illustrating my Birds of Eyebrook Reservoir book with a view to hopefully publishing next year. Here are a few more illustrations from it. #art #WildlifeArt #birds #UKBirding

Illustration of 3 swimming Pink-footed Geese. Gouache on white paper.

Illustration of two swimming male Pintails. Coloured pencil and gouache on white paper.

Illustration of a first-winter Mediterranean Gull standing in wet mud. Coloured pencil (actually almost monochrome apart from a bit of brown in the wings!) on white paper.

Illustration of 6 adult LittleGulls flying right to left. Coloured pencil on white paper.

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