Wednesday, October 15, 2025

A very late Dark Arches moth.

Wednesday 15th October  2025.



This very late Dark Arches moth took me by surprise this morning.


The high pressure over the UK continued this morning as I awoke to another cloudy overcast start and temperatures  again only just above single figures. The down side is that I have very little time to check the Moth Box and the surrounding  area thoroughly for Moths and so have to resort to checking them properly when I get back from my first shift in Pembroke Road.

Pembroke Road was busy again with the usual traffic and though it was overcast and cold, there was a reasonable number of bird species seen this morning. It did look very bright over in the east and maybe the cloud might be gone a bit later in the day?


My Moth Box:



Some of the Moths present in my Box this morning include Turnip Moths, Feathered Ranunculus, Black Rustic and a Shuttle-shaped Dart.

A total of 26 moths of 14 species were recorded this morning of which nine of those were Turnip Moths; which was probably the highest number I have ever recorded here in my Moth Box. The most unexpected Moth this morning was a Dark Arches. I honestly expected it to be a one of the Brocades, but when I checked on Obsidentify, it came up 100% Dark Arches. Even Obsidentify can be inaccurate occasionally, so I double-checked on a few other sites and had it confirmed as one.



Rush Veneer. Though a common immigrant moth, I have only had a handful of these this year. 


All the other expected moths were present and correct and I was glad I checked the outside egg trays again (I have ordered some more online as the Farm Shop I normally get them from do not use these type of trays anymore!) as out popped both a Double-striped Pug and an L-album Wainscot!

The Moths present this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS

MICRO MOTHS



Dark Arches x1

Rush Veneer x1

Vine’s Rustic x2

Rusty-dot Pearl x2

Turnip Moth x9

Light Brown Apple Moth x1

Shuttle-shaped Dart x1


Black Rustic x1


Lesser Yellow Underwing x2


Large Yellow Underwing x1


Feathered Ranunculus x2


Garden Carpet x1


L-album Wainscot x1


Double-striped Pug x1




Overhead, I heard both Song Thrush and a Redwing flying over, but there was no sighting of either. Again, a Chiffchaff was heard in the neighbouring gardens.


Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:


A familiar sight for this time of year are the Crane Flies. Not only a good source of food for migrant birds, but the many Garden Spiders enjoy them too! This one was behind the Bushes, on the wall of the house.

Eighteen bird species were recorded on my first shift this morning at Pembroke Road. This included a nice flock of 16 Siskins flying east low over my head and then carrying on down the road. The male Sparrowhawk was seen circling high over Governor’s Green, putting up all the Wood Pigeons and then it carried on west over Old Portsmouth. Sadly, no migrant Thrushes to report here this morning and no Chiffchaffs heard either. But one of the Jays was making a right din over on the opposite side of the road by the Bowling Green.



This inquisitive Carrion Crow walked up to me from across the road.



Tuesday, October 14, 2025

A good selection of Moths & Redwing passing overhead.

Tuesday 14th October  2025.



My second Blood-vein moth of the year.


A long period of High Pressure over the UK has resulted in cloudy days and this morning was no exception. I didn’t actually check my Moth Box till 7.20am this morning and even then, it was still relatively dark and I had to use my flash on my mobile phone to take most of the photos. Temperatures were around a cool 12 degrees centigrade this morning and there was a bit of drizzle in the air to contend with on my first shift at Pembroke Road. However, there was a good variety of Moths this morning and another reasonable bird species total over Pembroke Road.


My Moth Box:



My first Black Rustic for my garden this year.

A total of 37 moths of 17 species were present this morning, which I was pleased about considering I moved the Moth Box out into the garden a bit more on Sunday. A real surprise was a Blood-vein moth which I found last night before I retired to bed sitting by the Box. This was my second one in my garden this year, the last being in June. I was also pleased to get my first Black Rustic for my garden this year. This species is annual to my Moth Box around this time of year and hopefully, will pick up a few more as the month progresses.


One of two Golden Twin-spot moths.

Two Golden Twin-spots were present again and other migrant moths included three each of Turnip Moths, White-point and Rusty-dot Pearl.


Above, one of three White-points and below, one of three Rusty-dot Pearl.



The Moths present this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS

MICRO MOTHS



White-point x3

Light Brown Apple Moth x6

Black Rustic x1

Narrow-winged Grey x1

Shuttle-shaped Dart x1

Rusty-dot Pearl x3

Lesser Yellow Underwing x6

Tree-mallow Tortrix x1

L-album Wainscot x1

Pale-backed Detritus Moth x1

Golden Twin-spot x2


Turnip Moth x3


Large Yellow Underwing x1


Feathered Ranunculus x1


Double-striped Pug x5


Blood-vein x1


Garden Carpet x1




Overhead, there was not a great deal moving, but a solitary Redwing flew over heading north-east and a Chiffchaff was heard calling in nearby gardens. 


Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:


A grey murky start to the day at Old Portsmouth.

A good count of 17 bird species were recorded this morning on my first shift in Pembroke Road. A male Sparrowhawk was seen to fly into the Holm Oaks for a quick breather and then flew out minutes later and headed off south towards the seafront. Yesterday, another raptor, a Kestrel, was seen hovering between Governor’s Green and Curtain Moat in the afternoon.

The weather here this morning remained cool and overcast with a light north-easterly wind. There seemed to be a small movement of Thrushes this morning here with a small flock of 3 Redwing heading south and a Song Thrush with them also. Another two single Song Thrushes were also flying over and a few high flying Blackbirds could have been migrant birds. A Goldcrest was heard calling deep within the vegetation opposite where I stood and all the usual birds were noted this morning.

Also yesterday, I saw two individual Grey Herons flying over Pembroke Road; one was very high and headed towards Gosport and a second bird flew over Governor’s Green, circled around for a while and then headed north.

This afternoon, on my second shift, it still remained cloudy, though there was a bit of blue sky trying to poke through. Two more bird species were added to my daily total here that included a small flock of three Long-tailed Tits (rare at this site) and a small flock of three Linnets that flew low heading northbound over the houses.

In Hampshire today:

Though no rare birds were seen in Hampshire today that I know of, there were plenty of Winter visitors seen that included a Black-throated Diver off Hill Head and a Merlin was seen carrying prey over the Meadow area of the reserve. Good numbers of Redwing were seen in Hampshire and a handful of Fieldfares were also noted. A large flock of 180+ Golden Plovers were seen at Martin Down and a drake Common Scoter was off Weston Sailing Club.


This Ruff was seen in Norfolk over the weekend. Photo by Emma Parkes.



Sunday, October 12, 2025

A few interesting Moths this morning.

Sunday  12th October  2025.


One of two Plumed Fan-foots.

Overcast again this morning and literally a repeat of yesterday morning regarding the weather. There were not as many moths as yesterday in and around my Moth Box, but not too bad in numbers and a reasonable variety too.


One of two Blair's Mocha's.

There were 31 moths of 13 species recorded this morning of which the two Plumed Fan-foot were probably the rarest of the bunch. It isn't a common moth on the south coast but I seemed to have done well with this species this year. New for the month were an Angle Shades and a Tree-mallow Tortrix and two Blair’s Mocha’s (probably yesterday’s moths) were also present.



My first Angle Shades for October.

The Moths present this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS

MICRO MOTHS



Plumed Fan-foot x2

Rusty-dot Pearl x3

Large Yellow Underwing x3

Narrow-winged Grey x1

Turnip Moth x2

Tree-mallow Tortrix x1

Feathered Ranunculus x5

Light Brown Apple Moth x4

Angle Shades x1

White-shouldered House Moth x1

Double-striped Pug x3


L-album Wainscot x3


Blair’s Mocha x2


Huge Moth increase & trips to Butser and Old Winchester Hills.

Saturday 11th October 2025.



Myself, Andy and Geoff overlooking Old Winchester Hill.

There was another thick blanket of cloud overhead this morning and again, fairly cool with temperatures around 12 degrees, but there was hardly any wind again. Today, seeing that a part of the M27 was closed yet again for the weekend to do repairs to a couple of bridges, I decided to go inland again and try our luck with both Butser Hill and Old Winchester Hill to see if we could find our first Ring Ouzel of the year. Two great locations and what with a lot of ‘Visible Migration’ this week, who knows what could fly over.

At last, the Moth numbers bounced back to good numbers at our respective Moth Boxes and I picked up three moth species that were new for the year; all at Cowplain Marsh!


My Moth Box:


This cracking Vapourer Moth was inside the Moth Box this afternoon.

I had to do my Moth Box in two stages today as it was still dark around 6.45am and so I carefully took photos of the Moths on the outside egg trays and also around the Box. I left the inside of the Moth Box when I got home this afternoon of which I had a few surprises waiting for me.



My second Pearly Underwing moth for the year.


Up to 46 moths of 19 species, easily by far the largest total this week, were present today and included some nice moths such as Pearly Underwing (second for the year) and my first Vapourer Moth in my Box this year (I have seen plenty on the wing elsewhere). Four Golden Twin-spots was good (though I doubt certain individuals will believe it!) and my first Jasmine Moth for the month was good too. Two Blair’s Mocha was notable and a late Willow Beauty was a surprise.


The Moths recorded this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS

MICRO MOTHS



Golden Twin-spot x4

Common Plume x1

Vapourer Moth x1

Rusty-dot Pearl x2

Garden Carpet x3

Light Brown Apple Moth x6

Double-striped Pug x11

Narrow-winged Grey x2

White-point x2

Jasmine Moth x1

Blair’s Mocha x2


Pearly Underwing x1


Turnip Moth x1


Lesser Yellow Underwing x2


Large Yellow Underwing x1


L-album Wainscot x3


Feathered Ranunculus x1


Willow Beauty x1





Andy’s Moth Box, Cowplain Marsh:



Above & below, the two forms of Blair's Mocha moths.




An excellent count of 32 moths of 20 species were present here today and considering there was only just the one moth last Saturday here, what a difference a week makes! I picked up three moths that were new for the year: Black Rustic*, Red-lined Quaker* and a moribund Barred Sallow* (only my second ever) among the many moths and with a great supporting cast of 2 Blair’s Mocha (two different forms), Common Marbled Carpets, Cypress Carpets, a Red-green Carpet (second for the year) and a Privet Tortrix; I was more than happy with this haul this morning. Even a late Rosy Tabby was a surprise.


Above, the moribund Barred Sallow moth and below, Black Rustic. Both were new for the year.



Above, a Red-green Carpet and below, my first Red-lined Quaker of the year.




The Moths recorded at Andy’s Moth Box included the following:

MACRO MOTHS

MICRO MOTHS



Red-lined Quaker * x1

Ruddy Streak x1

Square-spot Rustic x1

Privet Tortrix x1

Blair’s Mocha x2

Meal Moth x1

Garden Carpet x1

Light Brown Apple Moth x1

Double-striped Pug x4

Rosy Tabby x1

Common Marbled Carpet x6


Barred Sallow * x1


Shuttle-shaped Dart x1


Pale Mottled Willow x1


Lesser Yellow Underwing x1


Red-green Carpet x1


Turnip Moth x2


Large Yellow Underwing x1


Black Rustic * x1


Cypress Carpet x3




While checking out Andy’s Pond within Cowplain Marsh and enjoying a hot cup of coffee, both Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest were in the trees nearby and a Meadow Pipit flew high over.


Butser Hill, nr Petersfield:


The view from the top of Grandfathers Bottom, Butser Hill, looking north.


Once we parked up within the Car Pak at Butser Hill, a quick look over the fields produced a distant Common Buzzard soaring over the stunning countryside and to the south, there were lots of Pheasants roaming the edge of the fields including some that were albino birds (pure white!). That should make it a bit more easier for the ‘f***wits’ to shoot!



Above, a pair of albino Pheasants in a distant field seen from the Car Park and below, a 'charm' of Goldfinches on Butser. 



Above, a pair of Stonechats and below, a Parasol Toadstool.



We made our way to the top of ‘Grandfathers Bottom’ (who the hell named it that??!!) to view the scrubby bushes and valley below, took out our respective flasks for a hot drink and simply waited for anything to show. Though Ring Ouzel was our target bird, the nearest we got was something very similar to a Ring Ouzel calling below us but out of view. However, though we had no sightings of this species, there were a good number of Song Thrushes around and probably migrant birds too. Several Blackbirds had us reaching for our binoculars double quick, but that was what they were.



Above, one of many Yellowhammers on Butser.




A Kestrel perched in this Yew Tree overlooking the valley below.


Despite a Ring Ouzel no show, we did have a variety of birds flying over that included a Woodlark among the the many Skylarks; Meadow Pipits galore and finches that included Linnets, Goldfinches, Siskin, Chaffinch, one Redpoll that was heard only and a pair of Bullfinches that showed briefly. Both Chiffchaff and Blackcap were heard deep within the scrub and there were good numbers of Yellowhammers around too.



Above, a Great Spotted Woodpecker seen distantly and below, a female Stonechat on the Hill.



Andy searches for the possible Ring Ouzel while the Kestrel looks on.


There were a few raptors around that included a couple of Red Kites, seen soaring over the countryside and a male Kestrel perched up in a Yew Tree before eventually flying off to hunt over the valley below. A male Sparrowhawk flushed a lot of small birds from the scrub as it sailed close to the ground in front of us and overhead, a Green Woodpecker flew over as did a single Raven.



Above, a male Stonechat and below, one of the Red Kites drifting over.





Over the other side, behind the Radio Mast, a pair of Stonechats were on the brambles and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen briefly in one of the dead trees. I did flush a Rush Veneer moth, but it was proving too difficult to get a decent photo and so we carried on to the small Cafe nearby, where Geoff bought us a hot drink. Good man.


Old Winchester Hill, Meon Valley:


A large amount of scrub has been cleared away on top of the Hill.


There was a report on the Hants Birding website that a Ring Ouzel had been seen at 8am at Old Winchester Hill, but to cut a long story short, we did not see it! Our trip here kicked off with a Mistle Thrush flying high overhead from the Car Park and a Chiffchaff calling near the entrance gate. Again, not a drop of wind here and even the sun eventually came out and to be honest, it got rather warm in the sunshine!


Above, a large number of Common Gulls were in one of the ploughed fields seen from the south slope. Below, a rare plant in the UK, this Round-headed Rampion is one of the specialities here on Old Winchester Hill.




As we made our way to the Fort area, overhead, we encountered a group of raptors flying high and picked out a pair of Common Buzzards and a pair of Red Kites. A Marsh Tit was calling among a small flock of Blue and Great Tits, but the sighting of the bird was brief as we enjoyed a hot drink from our respective flasks from the bench overlooking the valley below. To be honest, a lot of other people were making the most of the calm conditions here with a lot of walkers and family groups out and about here and the birdlife was somewhat sparse. 


Above, the 'Mitchell Brothers' made a guest appearance! Below, Greenfinches on one of the dead Ash trees.




On reaching the Fort area, we walked anticlockwise around the Fort for a change, hoping to find where the last sighting of the Ouzel was, but all we could pick up were a few Goldfinches and Greenfinches perched up on the dead Ash trees. A Common Buzzard was seen perched in one of the dead trees in the distance, but even that flew off and so we made our way down to the south slope where we encountered a few more birds (thankfully). Both Chiffchaff and Blackcap were heard calling down in the trees and bushes below and a large flock of Starlings were resting in the same vegetation and the noise of their chattering was quite loud in the still air.





Our second sighting of a Woodlark flying over for the day then took place as the bird headed up towards the Fort area and then out of view. A large flock of at least 250 Common Gulls (and around 50 Black-headed Gulls among them) were in one of the ploughed fields and all took off when a Common Buzzard flew low overhead. A male Sparrowhawk flew low over the vegetation in front of us and then sped off north over the hill. A couple of Goldcrests were seen back in the Fort area within a small bush and a small flock of 3 Siskins flew over to round off a pleasant trip for today.

A very late Dark Arches moth.

Wednesday 15th October  2025. This very late Dark Arches moth took me by surprise this morning. The high pressure over the UK continued this...