A cheeky glimpse of aurora, and a magical night sky over Cairngorm. 13th February 2024.

I'm aiming to finally get to grips with ferns this year, and I started off with a good find last week: Sea Spleenwort (Asplenium marinum) in some very cool sea caves at Covesea, Moray @bsbibotany.bsky.social

First recent chance to get the moth trap out: 17 moths of 7 species on Sun night were all garden regulars, but 8 of 8 last night included new for garden Black-spotted Chestnut and Pale Pinion, and 2nd garden March Moth! Also a rather strikingly-marked Common Quaker. Royston, vc29

I've never caught PBB at home!

It's all relative, and by this month's standards three moths was a comparative bonanza! New for garden Dotted Border, plus Beautiful Plume and Chestnut - Royston, vc29, 28/1. Mothing at this time of year is a particular struggle when you're nowhere near any decent woodland #teammoth

Have run the moth trap on three nights this month for a grand total of one(!) moth - a Common Plume. Hard going! #teammoth

Hang in there - it's only two months until we can enjoy sights like this again (Pasqueflower, Therfield Heath, Hertfordshire).

Short-eared Owls doing their thing. Cambridgeshire Fens, earlier this month.

Better than your average views of a Norfolk Black-throated Diver, from Holme a couple of weeks ago.

Some Cambridgeshire Smew, from earlier in the month.