A very good day for insects.

 Friday 5th June 2026.

Yet another Bordered Straw in my garden this morning. I have to say that it has been a record year for this species in my garden. I think I have seen three so far and a few in Devon last month.

The weather is much better today with mostly sunshine all day (just the odd shower) and a breezy southerly wind. I managed to have the white sheet behind the Moth Box overnight and though some of it fell on top of the Moth Box (groan!), there were a few Moths upon it. A reasonable selection of Moths were present this morning and I discovered a few more hidden under the white sheet later in the afternoon.

Pembroke Road was sunny and bright, but that southerly breeze kept the temperatures around 18 degrees centigrade this afternoon (a bit cooler this morning on my first shift) and an average number of bird species seen today. I was taken aback by how many Bumblebees were around and a few Hoverflies present too. Even my garden came under scrutiny this afternoon as there were a few Butterflies and Hoverflies present and the combination of both sunshine and the flowers in bloom within my garden, I quite enjoyed myself taking some photos of the insects.

My Moth Box:

My first Garden Pebble of the year.

There were some more nice Moths this morning that included two more species that were new for the year; both micro moths, the Garden Grass-veneer and a Garden Pebble. Both species are regular to my garden and I should be seeing a lot more of these as the year progresses. Migrant moths  this morning included a smart Bordered Straw, 3 Golden Twin-spots and three Diamondback Moths.

Above, my first Garden Grass-veneer of the year and below, one of three Golden Twin-spot moths.

When I got back from my first shift, another check of the Moths produced two Dark Arches tucked up within the white sheet that had fallen and another White Ermine. Late this afternoon, I found a Twenty-plume Moth sat on the back kitchen door; my first for the garden this year.The Moths present this morning were as follows:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Small Dusty Wave x1	Box Tree Moth x1
Willow Beauty x2	Ruddy Streak x2
Riband Wave x2	Diamondback Moth x3
Heart & Dart x5	Garden Grass-veneer * x1
Marbled Minor agg x2	Common Plume x1
Bordered Straw x1	Garden Pebble * x1
Dark Arches x2	Twenty-plume Moth x1
Large Yellow Underwing x1
Golden Twin-spot x3
Brimstone Moth x1
Green Pug x1
Common Pug x1
White Ermine x3

One of two Candy-striped Spiders in the egg trays.

Other insects attracted to my Moth Box included a Lacewing, a Common Froghopper and two Candy-striped Spiders tucked into one of the egg trays.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

I couldnt help but film these Buff-tailed Bumblebees nectaring on this pot of Lavender while I sat in my car at Pembroke Road.

Up to 13 bird species were recorded from both shifts in Pembroke Road and it was a Swift early this morning that claimed top bird species today. The solitary bird was seen flying west over the Bowling Green and out of view. The pair of Pied Wagtails were on the Bowling Green again early in the morning before the groundsman put a stop to that and the Blue Tits were again going back and forth to their nest site. A Wren was singing close to where I stood and even landed close to where I stood before flying off.

Buff-tailed Bumblebees were abundant around the Heather plants, which, like my garden, are in full flower and smell amazing. I even took some film footage of the Bees while sitting in my car before my second shift started.

In Hampshire today:

The Pectoral Sandpiper on Farlington Marshes today. Photo by Jason Crook.

A Pectoral Sandpiper was found late afternoon by Jason Crook on the Stream at Farlington Marshes, but did not linger long as it was flushed by a couple of Marsh Harriers. A Spoonbill was also on the reserve early this morning. A Gannet was seen from Chilling Cliffs and a Lesser Whitethroat was seen there within the clifftop scrub. Little was reported on the Lazee Birder Whatsapp site, though I had to totally agree with Heather on the group chat about these destructive Pine Martins being released in various areas of the UK. As I wrote, bird species population percentages are on a steep decline in a lot of species and yet, some idiots decide to release another predator to the countryside as seen on the Springwatch series last night when one took a clutch of Blackcap young.

Above, a Marmalade Hoverfly in my garden casting a huge shadow! Below, this anxious male House Sparrow was not happy with a nearby Magpie.

Above, an Early Bumblebee sunning itself on our Acer plant and below, I found two Dark Arches moths under the white sheet.

Above, one of several Batman Hoverflies were in the back of the garden and below, the male House Sparrow was giving off his alarm call.

Above, the first flowering Buddleia in my garden this year. Hopefully, the butterflies and moths will be nectaring on these plants.

In my garden this afternoon, a very unwelcome Magpie was sniffing around near a House Sparrows nest and the male bird was giving off its alarm call nearby and trying to entice the Magpie away. From what I could tell, the House Sparrow was successful as I think the Magpie flew off eventually. The late afternoon sunshine brought out a number of 'winged insects' including Batman Hoverflies and a smart looking Early Bumblebee. Holly Blue butterflies flew around the plants at the back of the garden, but would not settle long enough for a photo. I am going to give the back of the garden a bit of a tidy up as the Wisteria is a little bit out of control and not flowering anymore, but on a positive note, my Buddleia is growing very nicely and even now in flower.

Red-barred Tortrix moth saved the morning.

 Thursday 4th June 2026.

The Red-barred Tortrix micro moth was the only new moth for the year this morning.

I never had the Moth Box on Tuesday evening as the weather was very poor with strong winds and heavy rain showers, however, I took a gamble last night, despite the windy and wet conditions, which seem to be the theme this week here in the south. The strong westerly winds show no sign of abating just yet though tomorrow looks more promising. There was plenty of sunshine this morning, but also some heavy showers around.

Above and below, while walking the dogs early this morning, I took these photos from my mobile phone passing Highland Road Cemetery.

The dogs got their early morning walk today and it was back to Pembroke Road this morning for another check on the wildlife there. This morning, on the BBC Southern news, it highlighted the broken Sluice gate down at Farlington Marshes again. Despite supposedly having been mended, it broke yet again and the sea water from Langstone Harbour broke through and now the Lake area is flooded once more. All they mentioned was the many millions to repair the seawall itself and nothing about the Sluice gate. Typically crap journalism!

My Moth Box:

A Light Brown Apple Moth (top) and a Diamondback Moth within one of the egg trays.

There were just 20 moths of 14 species recorded this morning, which was very disappointing for this time of year, but last night's poor weather didn't help either. I was in the garden at 5.30am this morning and I was glad I did as a male House Sparrow was searching for the Moths around my Moth Box and probably snatched a few too! I have had trouble with the Sparrows over the years, but their numbers have decimated here in our back gardens and I was really surprised to see this male bird in my garden.

One of two Heart & Dart moths.

The only new moth for the year was the micro moth Red-barred Tortrix (Ditula angustiorana); an annual species I get in my Moth Box several times a year. Migrant moths included a very worn Turnip Moth and two Diamondback Moths. The Moths present this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Garden Carpet x1	Common Plume x1
White Ermine x3	Red-barred Tortrix * x1
Turnip Moth x1	Diamondback Moth x2
Vine’s Rustic x2	Box Tree Moth x1
Heart & Dart x2
Shuttle-shaped Dart x1
L-album Wainscot x1
Riband Wave x1
Large Yellow Underwing x1

This Marmalade Hoverfly was sat inside the Box.

Other wildlife attracted to my Moth Box overnight included a Marmalade Hoverfly and a Crane Fly; both of which were in the Box itself. A Greenhouse Slug was making its way up the side of the Moth Box. There are between 40 to 46 species of Slug in the UK and this Greenhouse Slug is one I have never seen before!

A Greenhouse Slug was trying to get inside the Moth Box (no chance!). My first sighting of this species.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

The blustery conditions in Pembroke Road showed no mercy to the Echium plants in nearby Pembroke Close.

Another blustery morning here in Old Portsmouth with the occasional shower coming in on the back of that strong westerly wind. The pair of Pied Wagtails were on the Bowling Green once again and the best of the 12 bird species seen or heard this morning was the Jay, which flew low over my head and flew off over the rooftops. The Blue Tits were going back and forth to their nest hole in a nearby tree and I could hear the youngsters calling from across the road.    

This afternoon, the wind did not let up and in fact, it was a bit more windier than this afternoon. However, it remained dry during my second shift here and another species was added when an adult Mediterranean Gull flew high south over the road.

The BBC had coverage of the situation at Farlington Marshes where the main Sluice gate that had recently been mended had failed again. The situation there on the reserve is dire and when the Envirement Agency claims that the whole sea wall needs to be mended at a cost of £90 million, I really had to laugh. The 'EA' tend to be mostly hot air, though they said they will try to get the Sluice Gate fixed again soon. Too late for the wildlife this year on the main lake and further up the reserve! 

A screenshot of the main Lake on Farlington Marshes taken from tonights episode of BBC South Today.

A few photos from our last day at Chittlehampton.

Tuesday 2nd June 2026.

The Nuthatch within the Silver Birch tree in the garden.

I still had some photos left over from last week and just before we left Chittlehampton, I had time to take a few photos of some of the birds early in the morning once I had finished checking my Moths. This included a fine Nuthatch showing well high up in a Silver Birch tree and even the Spotted Flycatcher even put in a brief appearance in the Ash tree. A Robin perched on the wooden railings at the back of the garden, just a few feet from where I was sitting and a Jackdaw was on the neighbouring Chimney to round off a pleasant week. 

Above, some of the birds that showed well in the garden after I checked the Moth Box. From top to bottom: Robin, Nuthatch, Common Buzzard, Jackdaw, Nuthatch and Spotted Flycatcher.

Heavy rain showers here in Southsea, but the Moths still arrive.

 Tuesday 2nd June 2026.

One of three L-album Wainscot moths this morning. My first of the year.

There was heavy rain overnight (woke me up a few times!), but no thunder that was predicted by the weather forecasters. I was very lucky that a break in the rain was just about time to check my Moth Box at 5.30am this morning, but only just as another large batch of rain came in. With so many migrant moths coming through, I thought I would take a gamble and try my luck again and it paid off with a few migrant moths and another ‘macro’ moth to add to my year list.

The weather started off fairly OK when I got to Pembroke Road, but the heavens opened from around 8.20am onwards and a good soaking was had arriving at the school including my good self! Haroo! However, I still managed to notch up 14 species of birds during that wet hour.

The wind was from the west again and it was fairly mild too, ranging from about 15 degrees centigrade. More showers are predicted this afternoon, however and so my wet weather gear will be put on after it has dried out this morning!

My Moth Box:

My first Rufous Tortrix of the year.

The race for the highest moth total for the day goes on and on with a whopping 61 moths of 31 species this morning, despite the poor weather. Migrant Moths included another Small Mottled Willow (easily the highest total of this species I have seen in one year), Silver Y, Diamondback Moth and Rusty-dot Pearl. Moths that were new for the year included up to 3 L-album Wainscot and the micro moth, Rufous Tortrix (Clepsis consimilana).

Above, yet another Small Mottled Willow was present this morning and below, the first Common Plume for June.

My first Common Marbled Carpet for the year in my garden was in one of the egg trays and a good total of both Dark Arches and Heart & Darts this morning. A Treble Brown Spot was my second for the year. Sadly, no other insects, bar a small Ladybird, were in the Moth Box today. The Moths present this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Garden Carpet x1	Rufous Tortrix * x1
Willow Beauty x3	Box Tree Moth x2
Riband Wave x1	Rusty-dot Pearl x4
Green Pug x2	Apple Leaf Miner x2
Common Pug x1	Beautiful Plume x1
Pale Mottled Willow x3	Common Plume x1
Small Mottled Willow x	Diamondback Moth x1
White Ermine x4	Bramble Shoot Moth x1
Brimstone Moth x1	Large Pale Masoner x1
Vine’s Rustic x1
Common Marbled Carpet x1
Shuttle-shaped Dart x3
Yellow-barred Brindle x1
L-album Wainscot * x3
Heart & Dart x6
Large Yellow Underwing x1
Treble-lines x4
Marbled Minor agg x2
Dark Arches x6
Silver Y x1
Treble Brown Spot x1

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

Some of the flowering plants that are attracting the insects in Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth, currently.

As mentioned, the weather turned poor this morning as heavy rain fell for around 15 minutes, soaking all those poor parents and kids on their way to school. Despite the rain, a Cormorant flew over as I notched up 14 bird species in all and that included a pair of Pied Wagtails on the Bowling Green and a pair of Blue Tits going to and fro to their nest hole in one of the nearby trees. More rain is to follow later today it seems from around 4pm onwards. Hopefully, I will miss it?!

The Bowling Green early this morning. This afternoon, the Bowlers had to abandon their game due to the heavy rain coming down. The Pied Wagtails enjoyed it this morning.

But sadly I didn't, although I missed the worst of it as thunder and lightning passed overhead during my second shift! Thank goodness I had my wet weather gear for the shift. But despite the weather, the Blue Tits were going back and forth to their nest hole and a few high flying Herring Gulls sailed overhead below the very dark clouds. The rain eventually fizzled out as the dark clouds headed off west.

In Hampshire today:

This lovely photo of a Tawney Owl in the New Forest was taken by Pete Appleton recently.

A Bluethroat was reported today in a Southampton garden (re-identified by photographs), but apparently flew off and not seen again, though very little reported today on the various Social Media sites for Hampshire.