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sconzani.bsky.social
Walker, birder, butterflier, leaf-fossicker, knitter, genealogist Daily nature blogger : earthstar.blog
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Yesterday I moved flats. I'm quite pleased to have left behind the Carpet beetles (Anthrenus verbasci) and the False widow spider (Steatoda nobilis) I was apparently sharing with. And the views from my new windows aren't too shabby either. :-)

submitted 3 hours ago • 1 comment

Cicadellidae nymphs on Poplar today. I so wish there was a resource that showed all the instars for all our #Cicadellidae species - they appear not to be well studied or documented, yet are so fascinating.

submitted 3 days ago • 2 comments

I don't often find adult and nymph bugs on a tree at the same time so these Cyllecoris histrionius were a nice surprise, with 1 adult and 3 of the very cool-looking nymphs on Oak.

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

Quite a few fledglings out and about already. This young Jay was flapping for its parent to bring food, and, where I was walking, there were a couple of family groups of Long-tailed tits. #birdingWales

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

The Canada geese were taking their goslings for a tour of Cardiff Bay this morning. The first pair had 3, the second 8, & the third also 3, all adorable. Swan, Great crested grebe & Coot all on nests; Sand martin activity almost frantic; a very surprising Common sandpiper fly past. #BirdingWales

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

From a meander around Cosmeston today: my first Azure damselflies and the first time I've seen a nymph Roesel's bush-cricket.

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

Today was full of weevils & leafhoppers but the most amazing & surprising creatures were these bagworms, Luffia lapidella. First I saw 3, then I realised there were at least 20, probably a lot more, all feeding on lichen on the undersides of these railings by the River Ely. #TeamMoth

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

It was truly magical at Lavernock NR this morning, with more Marsh fritillaries than I've ever seen before, flitting up briefly from their perches as I walked the paths. These may have been illegally introduced a few years ago but they are still a joy to watch. #UKButterflies

submitted 9 days ago • 1 comment

It's peak Spindle ermine larvae time, all the Spindle trees draped with webs, leaves devoured by the hungry wriggling masses. It amazes me any Spindle trees survive.

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

Oh, happy day when the Figwort is flowering & the Figwort weevils come out to play, though a few were rather frisky & feisty! And this was a new location with lots of Figwort, so ever better. #weevils

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

From today's local meander: the first Mallard ducklings I've seen, though they're quite well grown; what I think is the tiny Cocksfoot Moth (Glyphipterix simpliciella); & another new beetle, a very tolerant Cantharis decipiens.

submitted 11 days ago • 0 comments

Some of the Lepidoptera in Casehill Woods today : one of the many lekking Green long-horn moths; and male and female Brimstones refuelling from Red campion. #lepitdoptera #TeamMoth #UKButterflies

submitted 12 days ago • 1 comment

A selection of bugs & beetles from today's walk in Casehill Woods: as yet unidentified tiny weevils; a Red-headed soldier beetle (Rhagonycha fulva); a Striped oak bug (Rhabdomiris striatellus)& & a stunning Wasp beetle (Clytus arietis)

submitted 12 days ago • 0 comments

From today's walk around Cosmeston: a wriggling ball of Araneus diadematus spiderlings; my first Small copper, a week earlier than my previous earliest sighting; the heart-stirring sound & sight of 6+ Swifts over the woods; & my first Common blue damselfly of 2025. #UKWildlife

submitted 13 days ago • 0 comments

More leaf fossicking today. On a single Hawthorn, all quite close together, were these 4 cases. I'm wondering if these might be the first & final cases of Coleophora hemerobiella, though there are very few Welsh records so I'm a bit doubtful. Rob @vc28wildlife.bsky.social can you take a look please?

submitted 14 days ago • 1 comment

Another star from today's leaf fossicking was this miniscule moth. I'm thinking it might be Phyllonorycter rajella. I've seen the leafmine but never the adult moth. #TeamMoth

submitted 15 days ago • 0 comments

Another day, more weevils & rather a lot of them, all munching on Poplar. Working through the keys: long front legs, long scape, long fringe hairs beyond the edge of the pronotum, strongly arched rostrum. I'm thinking Dorytomus longimanus. Expert opinion very welcome! #weevils

submitted 15 days ago • 0 comments

I walked across to Cwm George this morning, where my nose was assailed by peak Wild garlic season. I spotted lots of the little hoverfly, Portevinia maculata, associated with that plant. And, to my delight, it was also peak Herb Paris flowering.

submitted 16 days ago • 0 comments

Some snippets from a walk at Cosmeston earlier: one of many Blackcap males giving it their all; Ratty out for more food; one of the first brood of Moorhens & they're already building their next nest; one of my first two Common blues of the year, a week earlier than usual.

submitted 17 days ago • 0 comments

As well as today's leafmining successes, I also saw my first Dingy skipper of the year (I adore these little guys! 💚 ) and I found some new bugs, these colourful little Rhopalus subrufus. #lepidoptera #UKButterflies #Heteroptera

submitted 18 days ago • 0 comments

A little leaf fossicking during today's walk turned up a Coleophora gryphipennella case on Field rose &, nearby, several mines caused by larvae of the weevil Orchestes alni, a new one for me. Most mines were empty but I opened one to see the larva. #leafmining #coleophora #weevil

submitted 18 days ago • 1 comment

I'm thinking this might be a White-letter hairstreak caterpillar but I wonder if Peter @ukbutterflies.bsky.social could take a look please? Found on park railings under Wych elm at a know location for that butterfly - perhaps blown, rained, knocked out of its tree. Not great photos, sorry.

submitted 18 days ago • 1 comment