Priority Species Officer for @ulsterwildlife. Loves micro moths maybe abit too much. Views my own.
Northern Ireland
Joined May 2013
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Astounded and thrilled to have been shortlisted for a @NatureofScot award for my work as a @Natural_Talent Trainee last year! Congrats to all the other shortlisters. Looking at you @Ally_Lemon ;) #teammoth
Congratulations to @rossmcil for being shortlisted for the @NatureofScot RSPB Young Nature Champion Award- for making a difference to nature and wildlife! #teammoth 🎉🦋🤩 Well done #natureofscotland shortlisters!
As requested Michaela @BBCSpringwatch Small Tortoiseshell “Butterfly”😜 I’ve hardly seen any adults this season, suspect the cold spring and heavy rains scuppered them. Really happy to find this little bundle. Seen at Ulster Wildlife Balloo Wetland reserve #Springwatch
Ross McIlwrath retweeted
Group D:
Anania hortulata
Oncocera semirubella
Alucita hexadactyla
Nymphula nitidulata
Vote for your favourite by clicking on the name of the species in the poll tweet below.
Ross McIlwrath retweeted
Group C:
Catoptria pinella
Alabonia geoffrella
Argyresthia brockeella
Adela reaumurella
Cast your vote in the poll tweet below by clicking on the name of the species you wish to vote for.
Voting open for 4 days!
Ross McIlwrath retweeted
Group B:
Acleris literana
Yponomeuta evonymella
Agapeta zoegana
Lozotaeniodes formosana
Cast your vote in the poll tweet below by clicking on the name of the species you wish to vote for.
Voting open for 4 days!
Ross McIlwrath retweeted
It's the time you've all been waiting here; the Micro Moth World Cup is here!
Over the coming weeks 16 species will battle it out to win this coveted prize.
These beautiful little moths will hopefully lift our spirits in these most challenging of times.
Let the games begin!
Ross McIlwrath retweeted
Parks and green spaces are brilliant for insects & biodiversity. Take a moment a read a fabulous blog from @rossmcil as he introduces us to some of the wonderful butterflies in our local Parklands #GreenFlagAward2020
Read here bit.ly/parklandbutterflies
📷Jonathon Clark
Ross McIlwrath retweeted
We have some amazing news! A comma butterfly has been spotted on the reserve 🦋 😍 Not normally resident in Northern Ireland, this is only the 4th record of a sighting here this year and the 3rd ever for @WWTCastleEspie #WetlandsAreAmazing @savebutterflies @BCNI_ @ANDborough
Ross McIlwrath retweeted
Hands off our newts @BorisJohnson!
Amphibians are a vital part of the wetland ecosystem, eating pests and providing a food source for other animals. Yet widespread loss of wetlands have caused them to decline by 40%.
We need our amphibians!✊🐸👇
wwt.org.uk/discover-wetlands…
I’m missing moths during this #lockdown. Here’s something that made me really happy on my walk to shops. #Moths #MicroMoths youtu.be/Ndrfr7pIX_s via @YouTube
Ross McIlwrath retweeted
Crying 😭What a day in Belfast! We might be a small city but WOW! We raised our voices loud and clear! Amazing!!!!! #ClimateStrike #FridaysForFuture #YouthStrike4Climate @GretaThunberg
Ross McIlwrath retweeted
Humanity must save insects to save ourselves, leading scientist warns theguardian.com/environment/…
Ross McIlwrath retweeted
We have been saddened to learn of the passing of one of our longest standing volunteers at Castle Espie, George Boyd. George was one of a kind, the kindest soul, with the biggest heart and will be sadly missed by staff, volunteers and visitors alike.
Ross McIlwrath retweeted
Time to walk the talk: Restore and conserve wetlands, they are essential for climate action. Happy #WorldWetlandsDay 2019 #KeepWetlands.
Great night out @NatureofScot awards. Congratulations to the joint winners of the Young Nature Champion award Xander and Kathleen! Very well deserved. Both going to be players in Scottish environmental conservation in the future. #Chough Table was the best table 😜 @Ally_Lemon
Important Thread: Natural England has lost much of its indepenace from government bodies and unable to fulfill monitoring duties on protected sites.
Great to #MicroMoths making the headlines in NI news! And an exciting discovery at that! “It shows that we still have much to learn about our native species and demonstrates the value of recording what we see around us." Couldn’t agree more! #teammoth bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-i…
Winter fast approaches but #MicroMoths just don't care. Fresh as a daisy; this Agonopterix arenella with it's spotty speckles was found in our Crannog Hide @WWTCastleEspie. Mysteriously missing a palp as well! Looks rather odd with just the one. #teammoth #MissingMouth
Thoroughly enjoying the Mini Murmuration of Starlings in the late afternoon @WWTCastleEspie. Only a couple of hundred but they roost overnight in our reed beds. Beautiful to watch and they make an extraordinary sound flying overhead #Starlings #Autumn
