A lot of interesting insects in the Cemy today.

 Sunday 7th June 2026.

The Cemetery was lush with various types of grasses and flowers.

After yesterday's awful weather, it was good to get out to do a bit of birding and it was over Highland Road Cemetery with the dogs, that I took the opportunity for a nice slow walk around my ‘local patch’. The weather was much better with occasional sunshine and high clouds. A light south-westerly wind blew over the Cemy with temperatures around 15 degrees centigrade. Though I didn't expect anything unusual today here, I did see a few species that were new for the year. I didn't have the Moth Box overnight due to the strong winds and possible heavy rain.

Above, the Cemetery Workers seemed to have left the grass to grow but, below, some of the graves themselves have been sprayed with harmful weedkillers.

I was surprised that the Cemetery workers have let the grass around the graves grow long and it does look good, with a variety of different grasses growing and many clumps of Ox-eye Daisies and other plants flowering around the site. Sadly, I have noticed that the Cemetery workers have started spraying weedkillers on the graves and only made them look awful (see photo). The weedkiller not only kills the plants growing on the graves, but also the insects and snails that feed on the weeds and quite possibly, the birds that feed on the snails and insects!

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

My first sighting of Lady's Bedstraw growing in the Cemy.

The birdlife within the Cemetery was far and few between, though most of the birds would be searching for insects to feed their young and most likely going to remain hidden in the bushes and tall grass looking for food. However, a small group of Starlings showed well searching for insects in the grass; with a mixture of both adult and the browner juvenile birds. A Blue Tit showed briefly, but apart from this bird and a few Wood Pigeons and overhead Herring Gulls, all was pretty quiet bar a few singing Wrens and Blackbirds. A lady walking her dog asked me if I had seen the Green Woodpecker recently and explained to her that I had only heard the bird and that it was from my garden!!

Above, a Holly Blue butterfly nectaring on the Privet flowers and below, Cultivated Oat grass growing on one of the graves.

Above, a 7-spot Ladybird larvae on an Ox-eye Daisy and below, my first Hornet-mimic Hoverfly of the year; also on the Privet Bush.

One particular flowering Privet bush held several insects that grabbed my attention and that included my first Hornet-mimic Hoverfly nectaring on the plant. A few inches away from it was a Tapered Dronefly and next to that was a Holly Blue butterfly, all nectaring on the flowering Privet Bush. Other notable insects found along my walk were False Blister Beetles on Yarrow plants and a 7-spot Ladybird Larva on an Ox-eye Daisy. I even found a couple of Lackey Moth caterpillars on the move; one on an Ox-eye Daisy and another on a gravestone. So, in conclusion, if the birds are quiet here, then there are always the insects and plants to keep me entertained. What a place!

Above, a huge swathe of Wall Barley was growing near the main entrance and below, a Tapered Dronefly sharing the Privet Bush with the Holly Blue butterfly.

Above, Common Knapweed was growing again in the southern half of the Cemy and below, one of the juvenile Starlings searching for food with the adults.

As mentioned, a lot of the Cemetery was a bit overgrown with various Grasses including Yorkshire Fog, Cultivated Oat and False Oat-grass; but I expect there were several more species. Wall Barley was growing in large areas, especially by the main entrance. This species, I remember when I was a kid, we used to pick off the tops and use them as darts as they would stick to your clothing! 

Above, another photo of the Hornet-mimic Hoverfly with the Tapered Dronefly. Below, a Lackey moth caterpillar was seen crawling up this gravestone.

Above, Yarrow was in bloom and below, an adult with a juvenile Starling in search of food.

As well as the usual Grey Squirrels around the area, it was nice to see the Fox within the Cemetery again. I just happened to be looking in the right direction, looking north from the southern end of the Cemy towards the Mausoleum and there it was, just enjoying the sunshine before sneaking off back into the vegetation.

Above, this 7-spotted Ladybird larvae was on this Ox-eye Daisy and below, a Fox was watching this Magpie. Breakfast perhaps?

Above, the Fox contemplating where to go and below, I found another Lackey Moth Caterpillar.

Though the weather was poor yesterday, birding pal Geoff Farwell still braved the weather and took a trip to Queen Elizabeth Forest and although he took a soaking and was very cold, he saw a Hawfinch and at least 4 singing Firecrests, 3 Chiffchaffs, Blackcap, Siskin and also heard a Tawny Owl.

In Hampshire today:

There have been a few sightings of Cuckoo's today in Hampshire. This one was by Pete Appleton recently.

Sea-watching off Sandy Point, Hayling Island this morning produced three Arctic Skua’s flying together eastbound and an immature Kittiwake through as well. A Quail was heard calling at Martin Down again and a female Black Redstart was seen at Kings Barton, Winchester. Nationally, the Western Reef Heron was once again seen at Caermarfon, North Wales. A big thank you to Callum Gray who allowed me to put some of this photos on my blog.

Above and below, the Western Reef Heron at Caemarfon, North Wales. Photos by Callum Gray.

Despite the poor weather, Cowplain Marsh delivers the Moths.

 Saturday 6th June 2026.

This well-marked Shears moth was a nice bonus this morning. I normally only manage one of these annually.

In a nutshell, the weather was simply awful today. I did have plans of going to Chalton to hopefully see the Turtle Doves (oops, should I have mentioned that!?), but the very poor weather this morning and this afternoon put paid to that and I never even had my Moth Box on overnight knowing full well it was going to be a very wet night.

Small Magpie Moth in one of the egg trays.

On the positive side, Andy and Geoff had their Moth Box on and it paid off with an excellent number and variety of Moths with up to NINE ‘year-ticks’ present! Not only that, we had a good catch up of all the goings on over the past few weeks and a couple of cups of coffee thrown in too (not literally!) There were a few notable birds around Cowplain Marsh too (Andy’s back garden), while we were busy checking out the egg trays by Geoff's Moth Box too.

One of two Light Emerald moths today.

The very strong southerly winds enticed a few ‘sea-watchers’ out into the field and it paid off with sightings of Manx Shearwaters, Arctic Skua and Fulmar going through the Solent and even a Storm Petrel was seen; though I read that the Shearwaters were only seen off the Milford Shelter. On a national note, a Western Reef Heron (UK first?) was found in north Wales at Foryd Bay, Caernarfon and judging by the photo, what a cracking bird.

Andy’s Moth Box (Cowplain Marsh):

This stunning Varied Coronet was new for the year.

To be honest, after last night's and this morning's poor weather, I didn't expect to see many moths in Andy’s garden, but low and behold, an impressive total of 49 moths of 29 species were recorded and that included some excellent Moths. New for the year included a Cypress Carpet, Snout, Light Emerald, Varied Coronet, Shears and the micro moths, Variegated Golden Tortrix, Green Oak Tortrix, Oak Knot-horn and a Small Magpie Moth. 

Above, Poplar Hawk-moth and below, a Snout.

Above, Green Oak Tortrix and below Cypress Carpet.

As well as these new moths for the year, there was a Poplar Hawk-moth within one of the egg boxes and a cracking Buff-tip sat on the ground near the Box. My second Rustic Shoulder-knot of the year was a good find and also my second Garden Grass-veneer of the year. It took nearly an hour to go through the moths, but it was most enjoyable. It was Geoff's MV Moth Box that was switched on overnight as I was returning Andy's Moth Box after using it on my Devon trip. The Moths recorded this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Willow Beauty x7	Coeleophora species x1
Vine’s Rustic x1	Variegated Golden Tortrix * x1
Freyer’s Pug x1	Green Oak Tortrix * x1
Dark Arches x2	Oak Knot-horn * x1
Cypress Carpet * x1	Common Plume x1
Small Dusty Wave x1	Garden Grass-veneer x1
Snout * x1	Small Magpie Moth * x1
Common Marbled Carpet x2
Heart & Dart x12
Treble-lines x1
Flame Shoulder x1
Light Emerald * x2
Bright-line Brown-eye x1
Green Pug x1
Rustic Shoulder-knot x1
Double-striped Pug x1
Buff-tip x1
Poplar Hawk-moth x1
Brimstone Moth x1
Varied Coronet * x1
Shears * x1
Pale Mottled Willow x1

The only other insect within the egg trays and Moth Box was a Cinnamon Sedge Caddis Fly. We did our best to keep out of the drizzly rain this morning, but we did hear a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the neighbouring garden and a Blackcap was singing briefly when I pulled up outside Andy’s house when I arrived. The wet weather put paid in checking out the rest of Andy's garden, but that was a very good morning with the Moths.

Two more 'year-ticks', above, the Variegated Golden Tortrix and below, Oak Knot-horn. 

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.