iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 3h

Apart from Fin Whales the undoubted highlight of the #Scilly pelagic today was the incredible sight of at least 180 Grey Phalaropes in groups of up to 35 scattered across the sea. Just stunning 😳 With @aravindramesh19.bsky.social @matthall95.bsky.social @oscardewhurst.bsky.social #ukbirding #birds

060

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 3h

Also seen from the Bishop Rock #Scilly pelagic today at least 600 Cory's Shearwater in rafts close inshore with @aravindramesh19.bsky.social @matthall95.bsky.social @oscardewhurst.bsky.social #ukbirding #birds

050

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 4h

Today an extraordinary pelagic around Bishop Rock #Scilly. Staying close inshore the highlight was 2 Fin Whale surface feeding - on a (Herring?) bait ball with 100s Gannets, c100 Common Dolphin and 2 Minke Whale w/ @matthall95.bsky.social @aravindramesh19.bsky.social @oscardewhurst.bsky.social

Fin Whale surface feeding with mouth open and pectoral fin out of the water

The dorsal surface and fin of a Fin Whale

020

Reposted by Matt Hobbs

Matt Hall @matthall95.bsky.social · 7h

What a day on Scilly🤯. Feeding frenzy of Fin Whale, Minke + 100 C Dolphin. Then 180(!) Grey Phalarope, 600 Cory's Shear, 2 Bonxie, ringtail Harrier sp, Glossy Ibis, Red-backed Shrike, 2 YBW + point blank Sora at dusk @oscardewhurst.bsky.social @aravindramesh19.bsky.social @migrationmatt.bsky.social

0446

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 20h

First thing yesterday walking up to the airport with @aravindramesh19.bsky.social talking about how we should check the starlings at Old Town. Then this appeared with the first starlings we saw. Birders spend most of their time talking about this stuff and occasionally it happens 😀 #ukbirding #birds

1270

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

#Scilly magic - Short-toed lark and Lapland Bunting hanging out at Penninis, St. Mary's yesterday with @aravindramesh19.bsky.social @matthall95.bsky.social @oscardewhurst.bsky.social #ukbirding #birds

1503

Reposted by Matt Hobbs

James Dickinson @kidphotographer24.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

A Brilliant day birding with @andy-1963.bsky.social! Started early at Lodmoor RSPB and had the Spotted Crake✅️! Plus Water Rail, Bearded tits and marsh harrier! Then to Morden bog where we had singing woodlark✅️! And Dartford Warblers! Last we stopped at RSBP Winterboune to see Stone Curlew, another✅️

0242

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Thanks Cliff. We'll certainly try. You have a great trip too 😊

010

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

An amazing start to our now annual week on Scilly. Sora at Porthellick right in front of the hide 😍 with @matthall95.bsky.social @aravindramesh19.bsky.social and @oscardewhurst.bsky.social #Scilly #ukbirding #birds @birdguides.bsky.social

2803

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Nice trap last night in #Bristol 27sp. Two long-awaited NFG Scarce Bordered Straw and Gem - both quite fresh. Also L-album, Angle Shades, Vestal, 7 Turnip, 11 Rush Veneer, RDP of the migrants. I tend to do well in rain as my trap is under cover #teammoth #moths @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

0212

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

From an otherwise unremarkable trap today came a remarkable 7 Vestal in #Bristol All were this pink-flushed form (6/7 in pics) that are more common this year but I've not caught before - apparently the flushing caused by pupal stage heat. Where are they coming from? @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #moths

0313

Reposted by Matt Hobbs

Annie Leymarie @annieleymarie.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

"Burnham’s buckling on this issue... has immense implications for democracy, for policy formation and for every other aspect of civic life. What it means is that the ultra-rich will continue to own our politics and our country... Get this wrong and every other wrong thing follows."👇

1165

Reposted by Matt Hobbs

Annie Leymarie @annieleymarie.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

"Despite the UK's best efforts" it will require gas..."primarily to heat hard-to-electrify homes (...)" "Best efforts" have been pitiful in this respect: we're worse than most other European countries for heat pump adoption, with confusing info/policies, new-builds haven't required roof solar, etc.

1154

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

They are also a migrant from the continent that are clearly arriving with good migration conditions this year like so many other climate change driven colonists. There were two records in Avon this week after none for 30 years.

110

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

The Small Brindled Tortrix Gysonoma minutana I caught today had already been caught by a Zebra Spider - which I've not seen before at a moth trap. The moth is still pretty scarce in Avon after the first record in 2010 so I rescued it - sorry Zebra Spider !! #moths

050

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Sorry should have said - in Henleaze #Bristol

000

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

An excellent moth trap today w/ some great migrants - 4 Vestal 😳 , Saltmarsh Knot-horn Ancylosis oblitella (NFG ca. 3rd for Avon) + L-album Wainscot. Plus another 3 micros NFG Hypatima rhomboidiella, Gypsonoma minutana, and Heather Tortrix - pretty crazy 😀 #moths @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

191

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Nice to meet you there Ewan. Lovely pics. I did a double take when I saw your photos as the top two are almost identical to two I took (see my posts) but then we were stood right next to each other 😂

110

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

The last two (I promise ...) of the beautiful Long-tailed Shrike in the evening sun yesterday 🥰 #birds #ukbirding #wildlifephotography

0120

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

And some perched shots of the Long-tailed Shrike in #Gloucs yesterday. One of the best birds I've seen - just beautiful #birds #ukbirding #wildlifephotography

0201

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

A couple more of the Long-tailed Shrike in #Gloucs yesterday. This time in flight and taking off #birds #ukbirding #wildlifephotography @birdguides.bsky.social

1150

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Paid a visit to the Long-tailed Shrike yesterday after my wife decided to visit a friend in Swindon. What a stunning bird - an absolute joy to watch 😍 Completely unconcerned by the small group watching it and flying down to feed on insects feet away #ukbirding #birds #wildlifephotography

0281

Reposted by Matt Hobbs

Neil Miles @neilsmiles.com · 17/08/2026

29th August 1985 - An excited Michael Fish gets to deploy the rarely seen red number as the temperature gets up to an incredible 26 degrees in London!

521656712

Reposted by Matt Hobbs

James Murray @james-bg.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

This does need saying again and again. Any discussion about land use and food security that doesn’t start with ‘please consider eating a little less meat’ is fundamentally unserious.

25813

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

A few nice moths from 3 mornings trapping in my garden in #Henleaze #Bristol last week - including two overdue lifers for me - Sallow Kitten and Beet Moth and a NFG - Cydia amplana #moths diversity was between 42 and 50 sp. per night

030

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

No just saying that this is a recent colonist everywhere but Leics. I think it's colonising from the continent not spreading out from Leics or at least I assume so.

000

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Perhaps a recent colonist everywhere but Leics? This is like other previous nationally scarce sp. like semirubella that are spreading all over now.

100

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

I think that almost all of these new colonists are common + generalist (in their usual range) migrant species pushing north with climate change. And this year has been exceptional for most of them. The big question is whether many of them can now overwinter in the uk as well as breed.

100

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Black-winged stilt giving a mallard what for at Suscinio #Brittany #France #birds #naturephotography

050

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Black-winged Stilt from Suscinio #Brittany #France last week. Just look at that eye 😍 - oh and the legs ... #birds #naturephotography

050

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

I had a lovely couple of mornings at Suscinio #Brittany last week. A superb place for waders, terns and gulls. Images here are of green, wood and common sandpiper, spoonbill, and willow warbler #birds #naturephotography

050

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Hummers in action from last week in #Brittany #France #moths so many around this year

070

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Sorry yes. I was surprised I caught three of them. I've only caught 1 in SW France before - never in northern france from trapping in the Vosges, Brittany, Baie de Somme, Champagne in previous years. I wonder if they are spreading north like everything else.

010

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Over the three nights I trapped at the Golfe de Morbihan #Brittany last week with a 40w actinic, I caught a nice range of migrants, some of which are colonising and breeding in Britain and some of which are still very rare. Here's a selection @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #moths

1121

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

I did some moth trapping at the Golfe de Morbihan #Brittany last week. Most species were migrants with my personal highlight this Striped Hawkmoth, the 1st I've caught, on 4th August @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

080

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

As well as the dolphins already posted about from a pelagic with Faune Océan in the Mor Braz area of #Brittany #France on 1 August were ca. 300 Balearic Shearwater (an important summer feeding area), 1 Manx, 17 Euro Storm Petrel and an unexpected Guillemot #birds #ocean #wildlifephotography #Nikon

190

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Also seen from a pelagic with Faune Océan in the Mor Braz area of southern #Brittany #France on 1 August were a small group of Short-beaked Common Dolphins#cetaceans #ocean #wildlifephotography #Nikon

030

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Just got from a wonderful week around Le Golfe de Morbihan in #Brittany #France. On my first full day I took a pelagic with Faune Océan in the Mor Braz area. Fantastic view of Bottlenose Dolphins were one of the highlights of an excellent trip #cetaceans #ocean #wildlifephotography #Nikon

040

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Also from the 80w MV this morning a likely Golden-rod Pug, which is <10 records from Avon but which may need gen-det to confirm given it's rarity and it's similarity to Grey Pug #moths

040

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Another great trap with two NFG migrants - Tree-lichen Beauty and Ni Moth - both rare in Avon until 2026. Both exciting and worrying given context of successive climate-change driven heatwaves driving rapid colonisation of many migrant insect sp. #moths #climatechange @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

0192

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Yes - amazing isn't it. I discovered these by chance last year when high water in a storm was flushing some. I can't find any records of them roosting in these numbers except for a record of 700 along a river valley in Yorkshire

020

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

A crazy morning spent soaking wet under two bridges in #Bristol counting roosting Old Lady moths. Found 44 clusters of up to 120, with a total of 1760 moths 😳 often exquisitely arranged into overlapping tiles of lacework wings. Thanks 4 the pics Lior Kestenberg! #moths @savebutterflies.bsky.social

1231

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Beautiful fresh Ni Moth in the traps at Henleaze Lake this morning among 61 other species was a new UK moth for me #moths #naturephotography @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

0211

Reposted by Matt Hobbs

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

If you're worried about our future - Andy Burnham is very clearly signalling nothing will change. But we can still turn this around with the Green Party getting even bigger. No new oil & gas so we can all have a liveable future. We need your help. Join.greenparty.org.uk

Burnham to announce plans for new north sea oil and gas drilling

27744215

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

The Sparrowhawk family in #Badock'sWood @bristolbirding.bsky.social are moving around near the nest now with both adults (it was just the male up to now) hunting and bringing food to perches for the fledglings. This female has just had a meal and life is pretty good 😎 #ukbirding #birds

091

Matt Hobbs @migrationmatt.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Another day another lifer moth ! This time it was the first moth I saw out of the kitchen window at 0530 - another beautiful migrant, the Sulphur Pearl (Sitochroa palealis) among 'only' 50 species this morning - other pics are of orchard ermine (prob.) + ruby tiger #moths @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

Sulphur Pearl (Sitochroa palealis) - this one likely to be a migrant but does breed in the UK with larvae feeding on wild carrot principally.

Probably orchard ermine given how grey it is but orchard/apple and spindle ermines usually aggregated unless dissected to identify

0251