More migrant moths in my garden.

 Monday 1st June 2026.

My first Small Marbled moth of the year was an excellent moth in my garden today.

A fairly bright start to the week with high clouds and a bit of sunshine, though rain is forecast later this afternoon with a light southerly wind. Though there were fewer moths than yesterday, the variety was enormous and it included 4 new species for the year and an insect species that was also new for this year. 

I was back at Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth, again this morning and the week here kicked off with a good species total, with a few unexpected species thrown in too. The rain never materialised this afternoon, but was a pleasant afternoon instead. As I write this up tonight, it certainly has gotten darker due to the clouds and thunderstorms that are predicted this evening. I might put the Moth Box on tonight, but not so many egg trays outside the Box. It was a bit cooler today with temperatures around 18 degrees centigrade.

My Moth Box:

Small Mottled Willow moths have been reported in many places in the UK and in huge numbers in the south and south-west area of the UK. This was the one in my Moth Box this morning.

The rare moths theme continued this morning with my first and only my second ever Small Marbled moth. This particular species could be considered a ‘micro’ moth for being so small, but it is considered to be a ‘macro’ moth for one reason or another. Other migrant moths present included another Small Mottled Willow, Silver Y (which was flying around the flowers) and a Diamondback Moth. 

Above, a Cherrybark Tortrix and below, the Common Slender micro moths.

My first Box Tree Moth of the year.

Moths that were also new for the year included a dark form of Box Tree Moth, the tiny Common Slender (Gracilliaria syringella) and a Cherrybark Tortrix (Enarmonia formorsana). Other notable moths included a differently marked Golden Twin-spot and my first Garden Straw for the garden this year. A good total of 42 moths of 33 species were recorded this morning. The following Moths were seen today:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Small Marbled * x1	White-shouldered House Moth x1
Silver Y x1	Box Tree Moth * x1
Willow Beauty x2	Cypress Tip Moth x1
Yellow-barred Brindle x1	Common Slender * x1
Shuttle-shaped Dart x1	Apple Leaf Miner x1
Golden Twin-spot x1	Blushed Knot-horn x3
Green Pug x1	Cherrybark Tortrix * x1
Marbled Minor agg x1	Bee Moth x2
Riband Wave x4	Mallow Seed Moth x1
Heart & Dart x1	Garden Straw x1
White-point x1	Large Pale Masoner x1
Garden Carpet x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x2
Pale Mottled Willow x1	Diamondback Moth x1
Buff Ermine x1	Rusty-dot Pearl x1
Small Dusty Wave 1	Ruddy Streak x1
	Bramble Shoot Moth x1

Other insects attracted to the Moth Box overnight included a Black Vine Weevil, which was my first one I have seen this year.

The Black Vine Weevil. Plants beware!

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

The Echium plant is getting a lot taller since I had a week off!

I think the parents and some of the kids were happy to see me back in Pembroke Road this morning as the quiet spell between 8 and 8.20am proved quite fruitful when I notched up at least 15 species this morning. The surprise species was an Oystercatcher heard calling somewhere near the Curtain Moat and no, I do not have ‘bionic’ hearing, but at my age, I couldn't be more happier with my hearing!

Another notable bird was a Coal Tit heard calling somewhere in the Holm Oak trees, a species I think I have only ever encountered once in the three years I have been working here. A Jay flying into the footpath between the Bowling Green and Governor’s Green was also unexpected; but at this time of year, no doubt it is after eggs or chicks of other birds. Grumble! Three species of Gull were seen: Great Black-backed, Herring and Black-headed Gull, but no Med Gulls today.

Away from birds, the Echium plants growing in Pembroke Close are getting very tall now and enticing many Bumblebees to their flowers. One of the plants was probably twice my height! No butterflies were seen here today, but plenty of Buff-tailed Bumblebees around the front gardens and, of course, the Echium plants.

During the afternoon, I was driving through Milton, when I saw a big female Peregrine flying low over the road heading south. As I missed all the Springwatch episodes last week as my wife wanted to watch the awful ‘Soaps’, I managed to watch one episode of last week's Springwatch where a Pine Martin was killing the Robin chicks. I still cannot believe that this predator has been released in various areas of the UK. Our UK birds are disappearing at an alarming rate and some idiots decide to make it more difficult for the birds to survive. We are losing important habitats for birds and then throw in a vicious predator to make things worse. I just cannot understand the logic of it and there is Springwatch praising the re-introduction of this species. Mink got a bad name for destroying Water Voles and water birds; so why does the Pine Martin get a hand clap? ‘Makes me seethe, I could throw the phone down!!’

In Hampshire today:

Fairly quiet in Hampshire today, though a Quail was heard calling on Martin Down again along with two singing Tree Pipits. A late Wheatear was on Farlington Marshes early this morning, a species I have still not seen this year and probably will not now until the Autumn! One of the ‘Lazee Birders’ saw a singing Great Reed Warbler over at the Little Deeps last night on Thorney Island! No report of it today though.

EASTERN BORDERED STRAW heads the cast of a good selection of Moths.

Sunday 31st May 2026.

Sometimes, I am blessed with something really special in my Moth Box and this morning, this EASTERN BORDERED STRAW moth was present in one of the outside egg trays. A very rare moth from eastern Europe.

It was back to dear old Southsea where it was overcast first thing this morning at 5.15am. After watching a good gig last night (Toyah Wilcox) at the Thornden Hall, Eastleigh, when I got home, I put my Moth Box on and after the good variety of migrant moths coming through, I was a bit optimistic in getting something interesting this morning and I certainly did! I had only switched the Box on for about five minutes and already, a Large Yellow Underwing, Bee Moth and a Pug species had arrived! So the signs looked good. A breezy start with westerly wind blowing and temperatures around 15 degrees centigrade. 

My Moth Box:

My second Twin Gold-spot of the year.

Though I never joined the ‘Striped Hawk-moth club’ yet this morning, I think I had the next best thing, my first ever EASTERN BORDERED STRAW moth! I have read that some guys have had this very rare moth to their traps all over the UK and amazingly, I was now among them. Having got the Bordered Straw moth this week twice in Devon, to get the Eastern species is something special. It was perched on one of the outside egg trays and remains there while I write this up early this morning.

Above, new for the year was this Diamondback Moth, another migrant moth that had made it to my garden. Below, the common Blushed Knot-horn was also new for the year and in good numbers too.

Above, a Codling Moth and below, the Bramble Shoot Moth. Both new for the year.

Other moths new for the year included the ‘Macro’ moth Treble Brown Spot and Dark Arches and the ‘Micro’ moths Bramble Shoot Moth (Notocelia uddmanninana), Blushed Knot-horn (Ephestia woodiella), the migrant Diamond-back Moth (Plutella xylostella) and the Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella). The Golden Twin-spot was again in my garden, on the same egg tray as the Eastern Bordered Straw and up to 5 Green Pugs and 2 Riband Waves were new to my garden this year having seen both species in Devon this week.

Treble Brown Spot was a nice moth for the year. Below, this Dark Arches was new for the year.

A cracking 54 moths of 28 species were recorded this morning; my highest total for the year so far. How long this heatwave is going to continue, I don't know; but the rare moths are still turning up. The following Moths were recorded this morning:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
EASTERN BORDERED STRAW * x1	Bramble Shoot Moth * x1
Golden Twin-spot x1	Bee Moth x2
Small Dusty Wave x3	Apple Leaf Miner x2
White Ermine x1	Brown House Moth x2
Treble Brown Spot * x1	Blushed Knot-horn * x8
Riband Wave x1	Diamondback Moth * x1
Large Yellow Underwing x2	Light Brown Apple Moth x1
Marbled Minor agg. x1	Codling Moth * x1
White-point x1	Cypress Tip Moth x1
Shuttle-shaped Dart x1	Large Pale Masoner x1
Heart & Dart x2
Pale Mottled Willow x3
Green Pug x6
Brown-line Brown-eye x1
Dark Arches * x1
Common Pug x1
Yellow-barred Brindle x1

Other insects attracted to the Moth Box overnight included a Lacewing, a small Ladybird species, Marmalade Hoverfly and my first ever Green Immigrant Leaf Weevil! It really was a tiny little Beetle. A pair of Med Gulls flew over while I was checking the Moth Box.

My first ever Green Immigrant Leaf Weevil was on my Moth Box.

Mr Geoff Farwell texted me last night to say he went birding around the Hazeley / Twyford Down area and heard a Quail calling there. He also saw 2 Red Kites, Common Buzzard, 2 singing Corn Buntings, Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Common Whitethroats, 8 singing Blackcaps, 5 singing Chiffchaffs and 2 Stonechats tending to 2 fledglings.

Back home today, but not without a 'year-tick'!

 Saturday 30th May 2026.

Though a bright start at 6am this morning, it was around 9 degrees centigrade and I could see mist low over the village to the east and the fields to the south, which resulted in very few Moths this morning. It is our last day here in the beautiful Chittlehampton as we make our way home back to Southsea today. It has been a superb, relaxing week and with Jackie with us, it really has been enjoyable. Though we never visited many places this week in Devon, just relaxing in the Bungalow and its garden has been superb and we were so lucky with the weather again.

My Moth Box:

My first Riband Wave for the year. A very common Moth and I should be getting plenty of these in Southsea over the coming months.

Sadly, there was a low turn out of Moths overnight, though I expect a lot of them would have flown off as dawn’s light would have been probably before 5am and it was very cool. Nevertheless, I still got another Moth that was new for the year; a Riband Wave and the rare migrant moth, Bordered Straw, was nothing to be sniffed at! Up to 3 Buff-tips were still present as was the Knot Grass. It has been a superb week for the Moths here in this garden in Chittlehampton of which I have seen two Moths that have been ‘Lifers’ and plenty of Moths that were new for the year too. Thank you Chittlehampton and Becky and I hope to see you again next year. 

Above, my second Bordered Straw of the week and below, one of three Buff-tip moths this morning.

The Moths present this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS

Riband Wave * x1

Bordered Straw x1

Heart & Dart x1

White Ermine x1

Pale Tussock x1

Buff-tip x3

Knot Grass x1

Orange Footman x1

As we say goodbye for another year to this beautiful garden and the pleasure the wildlife here has brought us, I look forward to our stay hopefully next year.

Another new Moth for my Moth Life List.

 Friday 29th May 2026.

My first ever Lead Belle moth. This is a localised moth in the south-west of the UK. Country

It was much cooler than of late this morning with an overcast sky and a sun desperately trying to break through the high cloud. In fact, while walking the dogs this morning, it actually rained briefly and so cut my walk with the dogs. I was in for a surprise when I found a Moth I have never seen before and easily my highest total of Moths since I have been here. The winds were fairly light from the west and I have read that there will be more sunshine later today. Sadly, yesterday’s Roller that was found in the New Forest, near Pig Bush, was never found again, despite many dedicated birders searching for it.

My Moth Box:

This well worn Green Arches moth was only my second ever.

Easily my highest number of Moths for the week so far with 40 moths of 19 species recorded today. Best of the bunch was my first ever LEAD BELLE, a localised species in the West Country and quite a smart moth too. Migrant moths included a Small Mottled Willow, two Silver Y’s and a Rusty-dot Pearl, but sadly no Striped Hawk-moths for me today (so many being recorded all over the UK!). New for the year included only my second ever Green Arches and my third ever Broad-barred White. A Tawny Marbled Minor was new for the year and right next to a colourful Marbled Minor. 

Above, the migrant moth Small Mottled Willow and below, the Tawny Marbled Minor.

Above, Broad-barred White and below, the micro moth Brown-spot Grey.

There were three species of micro moth this morning and that included 4 Brown-spot Grey’s (Scoparia pyralella) that were new for the year. Two Olive Pearls (Udea olivalis) and a Rusty-dot Pearl (Udea ferrugalis). Up to 5 Buff-tips was exceptional.

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTH
LEAD BELLE * x1	Brown-spot Grey * x4
Willow Beauty x4	Olive Pearl x2
Brimstone Moth x1	Rusty-dot Pearl x1
Silver Y x2
Knot Grass x1
Pale Tussock x5
Green Arches * x1
Treble-lines x3
Buff-tip x5
Heart & Dart x2
Small Mottled Willow x1
Broad-barred White * x1
Marbled Brown x1
Tawny Marbled Minor * x1
Marbled Minor x1

I was surprised to find that the only other insects present this morning was one Cockchafer Beetle and my first Black Sexton Beetle of the year. 

This Black Sexton Beetle was in my Moth Box this morning.

After a spot of breakfast, I took a few photos of the birds within the gardens close by and came across the Spotted Flycatcher again, flying from tree to tree in one of the gardens. No doubt, I shall probably see it a bit more later this afternoon. A couple of bedraggled Coal Tits were flitting through the trees nearby until flying off over our Bungalow and calling and singing Siskins were flying all over the place along with many Swifts and House Martins. A Goldcrest is in full song in one of the Conifers but remained elusive as per usual. The sky was looking darker and the possibility of rain was there as I decided to take my dogs for their early morning walk.

Above, dawn over Chittlehampton from our garden and below, a rather ruffled Coal Tit was calling in this tree in the garden.

Above, another photo of the Coal Tit and below, one of the Spotted Flycatchers in the neighbouring gardens.

Instead of my usual route, I took a trip up to the Church instead as I knew there was a nice footpath on the right hand side of the Church. Goldfinches and Greenfinches were heard and seen singing and a pair of Swallows were flitting around the Town Square. Then there were some heavy spots of rain falling and so I had to cut my walk short, but not before walking down the footpath that led to the main road. 

Above, a Goldfinch posing nicely by the edge of the Churchyard and below, a rather excellent 'watering hole', The Bell village pub.

Above, the local Church, St. Heiritha (very impressive). Some of the graves are over 300 years old! Below, a rather showy Robin on the perimeter wall.

A few Robins and a Blackbird were seen and a Chiffchaff was heard calling nearby, but it was fairly quiet until I got back to the Bungalow where there was a juvenile Robin standing on one of the garden ornaments. The potential of a downpour fizzled out over the next hour and so after grabbing a bit of rest bite on one of the loungers, I took the dogs out for their second walk of the day. 

Above, a male Blackbird in someones allotment and below, this juvenile Robin was in our front garden. 

A very overcast sky over our holiday Bungalow just as I was about to walk the dogs.

The River Taw, Umberleigh.

The River Taw in Umberleigh with the 14th century pub The Rising Sun in the background.

I have been meaning to take a good walk beside the River Taw in Umberleigh since I discovered nearby Chittlehampton. There was always a chance of a Dipper on the river along with other waterside birds and so around 11.30am, I took the opportunity to take the dogs and walk along the lovely footpath adjacent to the river itself.

Above, looking downstream and below, a male Chaffinch singing by the footpath.

There were plenty of Ox-eye Daisies around to attract the insects and below, I followed this footpath adjacent to the river. It was full of insects and plants.

I parked up by the Antique Shop after getting permission from one of the staff there and grabbing the dogs, I took a leisurely walk with them along the footpath, taking in all the wildlife in the area. There were a few areas where one could actually walk down the edge of the River and I took full advantage of them and found at least four Grey Wagtails present, which included a couple of juveniles sitting in the rocky area within the River. A Pied Wagtail was somewhere near the bridge, but I could not see the bird at all. Overhead, a pair of House Martins were hawking for insects and several Swallows were flying low over the fields.

Above, looking upstream and below, there was a family party of Nuthatches up in the trees.

Above, two juvenile Grey Wagtails on the rocks within the river and below, a Banded Demoiselle damselfly perching on a fallen branch.

There was a lot of activity up in the trees with family flocks of Nuthatches, Blue and Long-tailed Tits all flitting about within trees. I found a Sedge Warbler singing in a large clump of Hemlock Water-dropwort, which was a nice surprise as it climbed to the top of one particularly tall plant. 

Above, both Pied and Grey Wagtails were around this bridge and below, a Painted Lady butterfly was perched on this Hemlock Water-dropwort plant.

One of several Moths that were accidentally flushed along the way. This is a Dark Strawberry Tortrix. Below, a singing Dunnock by the river.

Above, my boys stretching their little legs.

There were plenty of notable insects around too as I found my first Banded Demoiselle damselflies on the river. There were quite a few too and I was fortunate enough to have one settle close to the edge of the river. There were a few Dragonflies around, but too distant for an ID. Even a few Moths were on the wing with Silver-ground Carpet, Silver Y’s and a few Dark Strawberry Tortrix flushed from the side of the footpath. Butterflies included good numbers of Painted Ladies (what else!) and a few Speckled Woods and Large White’s.

Another view of the river upstream and below, this singing Sedge Warbler was found within a clump of Hemlock Water-dropwort.

Above, a large school of Minnows by the waters edge and below, a Green Drake Mayfly resting on one of the rocks.

I even had the opportunity to let the dogs off their leads as they gratefully ran on ahead of me, but always kept to the pathway as requested by the local authorities. On the way back, I came across a family party of Blackcaps within some small trees and then a pair of Spotted Flycatchers were also seen chasing insects. Though there were no Dippers or Kingfishers seen on the river, it still was a superb walk along this beautiful part of Devon.

Above, an adult Grey Wagtail by the waters edge and below, one of the Spotted Flycatchers seen on the way back to the car.

A lovely view of the River Taw. Simply beautiful.