Another three good moth 'year-ticks'!

 Monday 25th May 2026.

Only my third ever Puss Moth, which was sitting on the patio this morning.

Though bright and sunny at 5.30am this morning, there was a breezy cool easterly blowing over the garden here in Chittlehampton, which I think resulted in not many Moths. But on the positive side, there were three more that were new for the year, including one of my favourites. The local birds were all in fine voice as Siskins flew over and the Swifts were screaming high overhead and not lets forget those noisy Rooks behind our garden! It is looking like another very warm day with temperatures climbing up to around 30 degrees centigrade.

My Moth Box:

My first Marbled Brown of the year.

I think because of the wind and not being by the box earlier this morning, some of the Moths present would have probably flown, but there were still 16 moths of 11 species present and that included three that were new for the year: Puss Moth, Marbled Brown and a Spectacle. The Puss Moth was actually found on the patio along with around 6 Cockchafer Beetles and so I grabbed a Pot and carefully placed it on the patio table.

Above, a Narrow-winged Grey and below, a Green Carpet.

Above and below, the Spectacle moth.

The Marbled Brown, a very smart moth, was perched on the wall by the Moth Box and the Spectacle ( I don't think I saw one last year) was on one of the outside egg trays. A good number of Pale Tussocks yet again and a fine Green Carpet was perched on the BBQ I have the Moth Box sat on! Finally, we have our first ‘micro moths’ of the trip here, with a male Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella) sitting a long way from the Box and a Narrow-winged Grey (Eudonia angustia) perched on the patio window.

Twenty-plume Moth in our lounge.

Later this morning, I found a Twenty-plume Moth just inside the lounge patio window! This was only my second one of the year and a good find. Just goes to show that you must keep looking in case you miss something.

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Puss Moth * x1	Bee Moth x1
Garden Carpet x1	Narrow-winged Grey x1
Marbled Brown * x1	Twenty-plume Moth x1
Pale Tussock x5
Pebble Prominent x2
Orange Footman x1
Green Carpet x1
Spectacle * x1

Incredibly, there were around 10 Green Drake Mayflies present around the Moth Box and on the patio; a species I don't think I have ever encountered before, but beautiful little things nonetheless. Another first was a species of Caddisfly called Welshman’s Button Caddisfly of which there were around three present. They look a bit bland, but much different from the regular Cinnamon Sedge Caddisflies I get in my garden. Another Red-headed Cardinal Beetle was found on the patio this morning, to add to the one I saw yesterday. This place certainly looks good for insects, so I will be keeping my eyes open.

Insects are always attracted to my Moth Box, which included all the above. From top to bottom: Welshman's Button Caddisfly, Green Drake Mayfly and Red-headed Cardinal Beetle.

An afternoons' Garden birding.

 Sunday 24th May 2026.

One of many Swifts high over the garden this afternoon.

Knowing full well that it was going to probably be the hottest day of the year, after our pub lunch in the nearby Bell Inn, we wanted to simply chill out in the back garden this afternoon and therefore, armed with my camera and binoculars, I managed to grab some nice photos of a lot of the birds that were seen from our garden here in Chittlehampton. Not just the birds either, but also some of the insects we all came across this afternoon and a few surprises too.

Above, one of many Painted Lady butterflies in the garden this afternoon and below, a Jackdaw feeling the heat!

Above, a juvenile Wood Pigeon perched in one of the Conifers and below, a singing Chaffinch in the lone Ash tree.

Throughout the afternoon and early evening, the numbers of House Martins, Swallows and especially the Swifts grew and the latter was probably around 40+ in the area. Watching them fly past just a matter of feet in small flocks was simply stunning, but far too quick to grab a photo of them. I did have better luck with some that were more high up in the blue sky and even the House Martins were also in good numbers, darting about among the Swifts.

A male Blackbird also in the Ash tree and overhead, a House Martin sailing over our garden (below).

Above and below, birds were using the Ash tree to use it for a spot of singing! Above, a Goldfinch and below, a singing male Greenfinch.

Bird of the afternoon was my first Spotted Flycatcher of the year. The last time we stayed here, there was one in the garden and I was pleased to see the bird late afternoon, though briefly, but got much better views of the bird while having our ‘al fresco’ dinner this evening in the garden. There were plenty of finches around today including Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Siskin and Linnet on show, with most of the birds seen singing in a nearby Ash tree.

Above, a House Martin flying nearby and below, a male Chaffinch also singing in the Ash tree.

Above, a pair of Goldfinches dropped in and below, a Jackdaw with a House Martin flying over.

Other notable birds included a Coal Tit in one of the garden Conifers; a couple of Goldcrest heard singing also in the Conifers, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen twice, but not long enough for a photo but only one Common Buzzard today and that was briefly seen flying over the fields to the south.

Above, three House Martins overhead and below, another Painted Lady nectaring in the garden.

Above and below, more House Martins overhead.

Painted Lady butterflies were all over the garden, though mostly enjoying nectaring on some of the flowering bushes. A couple of interesting insects flew in; a Chequered Weevil and a Red-headed Cardinal Beetle (see photos), while good numbers of Honey Bees and Buff-tailed Bumblebees were also enjoying the flowering bushes. A Red-tailed Bumblebee nearly landed on me this afternoon, but it did fly off to explore the garden again. As the Swifts are screaming still overhead and both Blackbirds and Song Thrushes are in full song, I shall be walking the dogs very shortly (it's around 9pm as I write this), the Moth Box will be on again tonight and I am so looking forward to seeing what it attracts tonight.

Above, the Red-headed Cardinal Beetle and below, a Chequered Weevil. Both turned up on our patio this afternoon.

Our Jackie filmed one of the Cockchafer Beetles taking off from our garden table. Once it had warmed up sufficiently, out came the antennae and then the wings and it was off.

This evening, I took the dogs for their walk along East Street heading westbound again. My luck was in tonight as both the Barn Owl and the Little Owl were seen well. The Barn Owl was accidentally flushed by a fence post and quickly flew off and over a gate to disappear behind the trees. However, I saw it again about 5 minutes later heading south high over the fields towards the main road. The Little Owl was sitting on one of the Barns by the Sheep field and remained there as I slowly walked on with the dogs. This is the first sighting of a Little Owl I have seen this year as I only heard the one at South Boarhunt earlier in the year. So, as this day comes to an end, the Moth Box is back on again and now for a well-earned sleep tonight.

Goodnight.

A great start with the Moths.

 Sunday 24th May 2026.

Dawn over Chittlehampton this morning.

The day got off to a clear and bright start, though at 5am this morning, there was a lot of mist over the fields behind our garden here in Chittlehampton, but the birds were in full song in and around the garden. The Rooks were very vocal in the nearby Rookery, while Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and both Goldfinch and Greenfinch were also heard singing nearby. Siskins were flying overhead and I could see several Swifts and House Martins searching the skies for a tasty insect.

New moths for the year included these two; above, a Lobster Moth and below, a Flame moth.

When I got out into the garden after making a coffee, I was surprised to find so many Cockchafer Beetles scattered around the patio. It seems that once they land upside down, they are totally helpless as there is nothing for them to grab hold of! So, before I checked the Moth Box thoroughly, I had to pick up well over a dozen Cockchafer Beetles so nobody trod on them!

Well over a dozen Cockchafer Beetles were rescued this morning.

My Moth Box:

My first ever Cream-spot Tiger moth.

Twelve moth  ‘year-ticks’ was most certainly a superb start to our holiday here in sunny Devon and that included a ‘Lifer’ for me, a Cream-spot Tiger moth! What a stunner! There were 32 moths of 19 species this morning and though the numbers of moths it seems was quite low, the quality was amazing. Yet all the moths were ‘Macro moths’ and not one ‘Micro moth’ among them! Very odd.

Above, one of two Large Yellow Underwings and below, a superb Buff-tip moth.

Above, my first Sharp-angled Peacock moth of the year and below, my second Cinnabar Moth for the year.

Another EIGHT more ‘year-ticks’ this morning to add to my increasing year list and that included the moths Buff-tip, Small Fan-foot, Pebble Prominent, Sharp-angled Peacock, Lobster Moth, Flame and Large Yellow Underwing. Some incredible moths and this bodes well with the oncoming heatwave predicted as temperatures here are set to soar into the 80’s!!!

The following Moths were present in and around the Moth Box:

MACRO MOTHS

Buff-tip * x1

Silver Y x2

Maiden’s Blush x1

Willow Beauty x1

Small Mottled Willow x3

Orange Footman x4

Small Fan-foot * x1

CREAM-SPOT TIGER * x1

Garden Carpet x1

Pebble Prominent * x2

Pale Tussock x6

Cinnabar Moth x1

Sharp-angled Peacock * x1

Lobster Moth * x1

Flame * x1

Large Yellow Underwing * x2

Buff Ermine x1

Heart & Dart x1

White Ermine x1

Our Buddy had this Green Shieldbug perched on his nose before I rescued it!

I took the boys (my dogs) for their early morning walk down the lane where Jackie and I walked last night. This time, I checked out the local wildlife in the area and came across a few notable sightings including a startled Hare that ran past our feet and into a neighbouring field! I had taken a lot of photos and so kept the decent ones to put on my blog. The temperature was rising all the time and I could feel the warm sun on my back at 8am this morning.

Above, a Swallow on an overhead wire in the village and below, this singing Wren sang from a TV Aerial.

Above, a pair of Stock Doves flew over our heads and landed on a nearby Barn roof and below, lambs were abundant in the neighbouring fields.

Above, this female Linnet on an overhead wire was one of several seen on our walk and below, a stunning view of the countryside.

Above, a Goldfinch landed briefly by the side of the road and below, the dawn mist was slowly clearing over the countryside.

Above, Honeysuckle was growing within the hedgerows and below, the Steeple of The Church of Hieritha.

Above, a male Blackbird in the Sheep field eyeing up a potential prey. Below, another photo of the obliging Swallow.

Above, Cow Parsley grows along the hedgerows and below, a pair of inquisitive Jackdaws!

Above, a pair of House Sparrows within the village and below, another view of the countryside.

Above, a Blackbird perched on a rooftop within the village and below, looking west along East Street.

Above, a Wren perched on an overhead wire within the village and below, this male House Sparrow was seen singing.

Above, a preening Jackdaw within the village and below, Navalwort growing on an old stone wall.

Above, one of the many Swifts over the village and below, a dawn photo from the garden.

Good numbers of Swifts, House Martins and Swallows were flying around the village and a lot of the more common birds showing nicely in the bright sunshine. The familiar Navalwort was growing on one of the stone walls by a Cottage and the likes of Birds-foot Trefoil and Cow Parsley decorated the hedgerows as well as Honeysuckle and White Campion.