Another good haul of Moths and a few extras!

 Wednesday 6th April 2026.

I found this Poplar Hawk-moth while walking the dogs early this morning. It was perched on a Shop window cill. Hopefully, it would have flown off before the public disturbed it.

It was overcast overnight and also the first thing this morning and even the temperatures were not too bad. After last week's clear skies overnight, it certainly was worth putting the Moth Box on last night as I was treated to 25 moths of 16 species of which four were new for the year. It seemed to be a good day for Moths all round, for I found a Poplar Hawk-moth on a Shop window while I was walking the dogs early this morning and within another shop, my first Twenty-plume Moth of the year was sitting near the shop window. I even found my first Knot Grass moth of the year sitting near the front door of a house! 

This was my first Twenty-plume Moth of the year. It was also found while walking the dogs this morning, sitting in a shop near the front window! Below, I found this Knot Grass moth perched by someone's front door.

My Moth Box:

This attractively marked micro moth, the Garden Midget lived up to its name. It really was tiny, but it was new to my Moth Life List.

A good haul of Moths for this time of year in my garden and it included four more moths that were new for the year. The macro moths Heart & Dart and Oak-tree Pug and the micro moths, Black Cloak (Notocelia cynosbatella) and a ‘Lifer’, Garden Midget (Phyllonoycter messaniella). There were two of the latter and a species that is so small, I nearly missed it; but close up, it really is an attractive tiny moth. The Oak-tree Pug was a good record here, but the Heart & Dart is a very common moth here in Southsea.

From top to bottom: Heart & Dart, Oak-tree Pug and Black Cloak.

The moths present this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Shuttle-shaped Dart x2	Ruddy Streak x1
Turnip Moth x2	GARDEN MIDGET * x1
Bright-line Brown-eye x2	Black Cloak * x1
Garden Carpet x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x1
Silver Y x1
Pale Mottled Willow x1
Double-striped Pug x3
Heart & Dart * x1
Angle Shades x1
Cabbage Moth x2
Vine’s Rustic x1
Oak-tree Pug * x1

While enjoying going through a nice haul of Moths, a pair of Swallows flew high overhead and headed off west.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

Up to 13 species were recorded from my shifts here at Pembroke Road and the star bird was an adult Mediterranean Gull flying low over the Bowling Green early this morning, which flew off towards the Curtain Moat area. It remained overcast most of the day and as expected, the temperature climbed a little in the afternoon and at least it remained dry. Even the sun came out occasionally to warrant putting my sunglasses on; but it was short-lived!

In Hampshire today:

The drake Garganey on Titchfield Haven today. Photo by Daz Gorman.

Apart from the usual and expected migrants in Hampshire, the only birds of note included a drake Garganey on Titchfield Haven and a late Great Northern Diver off Weston Shore, Southampton. A Stone-curlew was on Farlington Marshes yesterday evening, but there was no sign of the bird this morning, but a Spoonbill was on the Stream area. 

Above, another excellent photo of the drake Garganey today. Photo by Daz Gorman.

Above and below, this superb Hobby entertained over Titchfield Haven today. Photos by Daz Gorman.

Pembroke Road and a trip with the dogs to Eastney Outfall.

 Tuesday 5th May 2026.

This female Kestrel was hunting at Eastney Point this morning.

After an excellent Bank Holiday, it was back to work again. Today was mostly overcast, though there were a few moments of sunshine, hence, that's why I did the washing today! A very light northerly wind blew over Southsea and it was quite mild in Pembroke Road today, with temperatures hovering around 18 degrees. Between shifts, I took my dogs for a good walk around Eastney Outfall so they could stretch their legs on the beach. Though there were not many birds around the area, there were plenty of plants to look at and I even came across a micro moth that was new for the year and totally by accident too.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

This male Hairy-footed Flower Bee was one of three enjoying nectaring on the Echium plants.

My first Swifts of the year over Pembroke Road were seen on my second shift this afternoon. A pair of birds flew high overhead and I probably would not have seen them if they didn't call. The Green Woodpecker was seen briefly again when it flew out of the nearby Sycamore trees and headed and landed in trees in nearby Penny Street. I did hope it would fly out again, but there was no further sign of the bird. All the usual birds were noted again, but no sign of the Pied Wagtails on the Bowling Green.

There are up to three Giant Tree Echium plants growing in Pembroke Close and now that is the tallest plant (about 9ft tall now!), held at least three male Hairy-footed Flower Bees nectaring on the flowers. As the temperature rises as Summer nears, I expect to see a lot more Bees using these amazing plants.

Eastney Outfall:

This adult Mediterranean Gull was in the Car Park at Eastney Beach. They really are quite stunning birds.

Parking up in Ferry Road Beach Car Park, almost immediately, I came across a mixed flock of Linnets and Greenfinches by the Brambles, though they did not linger, they soon flew off towards the compound behind the Car Park. A large gathering of Black-headed Gulls along with a single juvenile Herring Gull were joined by an adult Mediterranean Gull; but they all were flushed by a car pulling into the Car Park. Thankfully, the Med Gull landed on the beach nearby and posed nicely in a brief spell of sunshine.

Above, Wild Fennel growing abundantly at Eastney Point and below, I accidentally discovered this Cocksfoot Moth while checking out my photos this evening.

This Soft-winged Flower Beetle was nectaring on a Beaks-hawksbeard plant and below, the Med Gull settling on the beach.

I checked the area within the Perimeter fence for a possible Wheatear, but apart from a few perched Stock Doves, it was near empty. A flock of around a dozen Starlings were around the Brambles and perching on the Perimeter fence and I could also hear a Common Whitethroat singing somewhere in the distance. A much closer bird was heard again, but not seen. There were a lot of Small White butterflies around the Brambles and while taking a photo of a Soft-winged Flower Beetle sat on a Beaked Hawks-beard, later in the evening, while checking the photos carefully; I found a very small moth on the Hawkweed that turned out to be the micro moth Cocksfoot Moth (Glyphipterix simpliciella). I never saw the moth while I was taking the photo, so that was a bonus in finding another Moth ‘year-tick’!

Above and below, a Small White butterfly by Wild Radish.

Above, another photo of the female Kestrel and below, this male Greenfinch was seen in the Brambles.

Above, a male Linnet and below a female Greenfinch.

There were plenty of Wild Radish, Wild Fennel and Periwinkle were all abundant plants here at Eastney Outfall and I even found my first Birds-foot Trefoil for the year. I took the dogs along the beach west of the Pier and seeing it was low tide, I made my way west along the shoreline with my dogs until I got up to the old spit. I was hoping a Wheatear might be perched on the rocks, but there was no sign of any, but a female Kestrel was hovering close by up on the grassy area near the Water Treatment Works and showed very well until flying off north.

Above, a large showing of Common Honeysuckle and below, Buddy and Ted enjoying their seaside adventure.

Above, the Small Dusty Wave moth on a shop window.

Later today, after getting my haircut, I was making my way back to my parked car when a small moth caught my eye that was perched on the window pane of a shop. It was my second Small Dusty Wave for the year. It just goes to show that they can turn up absolutely anywhere.

In Hampshire today:

Above, the Osprey at Fishlake Meadows today. Photo by Andy Tew.

Birding buddy, Matt Parkes was driving to work this morning and he came across a Quail running across the road near Corhampton! Incredible as it sounds, the exact situation happened again two years ago. What are the odds? 

The Tawny Owl at Fishlake Meadows. Photo by Andy Tew.

An Osprey was at Fishlake Meadows as was a showy Tawny Owl from the Canal Path. A Common Sandpiper was at Southmoor along with 7 Avocets, 5 Greenshank and 6 Whimbrel. In nearby East Sussex, the Spotted Sandpiper was still present by the River Ouse at Piddinghoe and seen well yesterday by Matt & Emma Parkes (see photos). The ‘big rare’ in the UK currently is the male Lesser Kestrel at Goonhilly Down in Cornwall. I have never seen this species in the UK and unsuccessfully ‘twitched’ one many years ago at Minsmere.

Above, the Spotted Sandpiper by the River Ouse in East Sussex. Photos by Emma Parkes.

An excellent selection of Moths today.

 Monday 4th May 2026.

Rustic Shoulder-knot.

An overcast start to the morning with a very light northerly wind and relatively mild at 6am. I was back out in the garden early this morning to check on my Moth Box and I was actually pleased that there was a good variety of Moths present that included 7 moths that were new for the year.

My Moth Box:

The micro moth Brassy-Y (Argyresthia goedartella). A very small micro and not too easy to get a sharp photo of this attractive moth.

On the white sheet behind the Moth Box, there was a Willow Beauty and my first Rustic Shoulder-knot of the year. A second Willow Beauty sat on my neighbours kitchen roof panel nearby. Within the Moth Box, upon the egg trays, I found my first Cabbage Moth and Vine’s Rustic of the year; while outside the Moth Box, my first Treble-lines was sat on the fence panel behind the Box. On the Moth Box rainguard, new moths present included a Least Black Arches, though I had to rescue it as it sat on a puddle of rain water. Two more micro moths on the rainguard included the tiny Brassy-Y, Dark Moss-moth and a Brown House Moth, all new for the year.

Above, Treble-lines and below, the micro moth Dark Moss-moth.

Above, a Cabbage Moth and below, a Vine's Rustic; both new for the year.

The Moths present this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Bright-line Brown-eye x2	Light Brown Apple Moth x1
Rustic Shoulder-knot* x1	Ruddy Streak x4
Cabbage Moth* x1	Brown House Moth* x1
Double-striped Pug x2	Rusty-dot Pearl x1
Treble-lines* x1	Dark Moss-moth* x1
Angle Shades x1	Brassy-Y * x1
Willow Beauty x2
Vine’s Rustic* x1
Shuttle-shaped Dart x5
Pale Mottled Willow x1
Least Black Arches* x1

Above, the Cockchafer Beetle in the Moth Box.

Other notable sightings here this morning included a Cockchafer Beetle and a Batman Hoverfly within the Moth Box and overhead, up to 9 Swallows were heard and then seen and a pair of Goldfinches flew south over my garden. A Linnet was heard flying over and four Swifts whizzing past overhead chasing each other.

A Great Northern Diver and Peregrine on a very quiet morning.

 Sunday 3rd May 2026.

Buoyed with the news of potential thunderstorms in Hampshire, I decided to take the plunge and go down to Southsea seafront for another ‘sea-watch’. However, the three hours planned was reduced to just two hours as it was simply too slow and with a 3mph westerly wind and looking very murky out in the Solent, it was a tough one this morning. I was there at 5.45am and although very quiet with a flat calm sea, it wasn't all that bad, though decent sightings were far and few between. On arrival, some disgusting individuals had left a load of rubbish laying on the new Promenade in front of my usual shelter and so I picked it all up and put it in a nearby bin before I started searching the Solent.

The Solent, Southsea seafront:

The Great Northern Diver was one of only two really notable birds seen this morning

There were two sightings that easily stood out from the rest in those two hours: a Great Northern Diver flying east low over the Solent and a male Peregrine flying low over the beach with what looked like a Pigeon in its talons. I think there were no migrating birds going through whatsoever, bar the Great Northern Diver all the time I was there. Behind me within the Rock Gardens, a Chiffchaff was in song along with a Robin and a Dunnock. A Serin was found within the Gardens a few weeks back!

Above, an adult Shag heading west as was this pair of Med Gulls below.

Above, a pair of Sandwich Terns were fishing just offshore and below, these three Feral Pigeons were searching for food by my feet!

The other sightings recorded this morning included the following:

Sandwich Tern: Most were flying west along the shoreline, with possibly around 20 birds counted in all, though none were seen heading east.

Whimbrel: Just the one bird was seen during those two hours and it was a westbound bird!

Med Gull: There were only 5 birds seen which consisted of two pairs and a singleton.

Shag: A flock of 5 birds were first seen distantly heading east and around 5 minutes later, a flock of 7 birds then flew west and headed off over the sea distantly. A single adult bird was seen about 30 minutes later heading close in west towards Southsea Castle.

Oystercatcher: A single bird flew high over the Solent heading east.

Pied Wagtail: A male bird flew in off the sea calling and headed off over the Shelter northbound.

Swallow: Only the one bird seen and that was flying west over the beach.

Above and below, the Great Northern Diver speeding over the Solent. There has been a bird off Southampton Water and possibly could be that bird passing through.

Above, a Sandwich Tern flying over a group of loafing Gulls. OK, it might have been a very quiet 'sea-watch', but just being there where anything could fly past is always possible. But you have to be made of stern stuff when it goes very quiet.

During the time I was there, a text came through from Hill Head that a Manx Shearwater was seen distantly among a feeding flock of Gulls and a Black Tern was seen distantly off Lee on Solent. But it was soon lost to view in the murky conditions out in the Solent. I checked the Solent thoroughly through the scope, but no sign of the bird.