Tigers & plenty of migrant Moths this morning.

 

Friday 24^th July 2026.

Tigers are back. Left, my first Garden Tiger moth of the year along with a Jersey Tiger.

The Moth Box went back on overnight, and the weather conditions could hardly have been better. It was still and calm, with no cloud cover, yet it produced a good number of year-ticks and migrant moths from a relatively small catch. The children have now broken up for the summer holidays, so there will be no Pembroke Road sightings for the next six weeks. That should give me a little time for some birding.

The first summer Long-tailed Shrike is still present this morning in Gloucestershire and proving a big attraction for birders far and wide. It is only a couple of hours away and so I just might make the journey with the guys this weekend.

 

My Moth Box:

My first Portland Ribbon Wave of the year.

Although there were only 48 moths of 28 species this morning, the quality was excellent. Five more species were added to my year list, including another lifer: the micro moth Small Pine Shoot Moth (Clavigesta sylvestrana). My first Garden Tiger of the year finally appeared at the bottom of the Moth Box, joined by up to three Jersey Tigers.

My first Dusky Thorn of the year.

I have been doing well this year with Thorn moths and so with a Dusky Thorn turning up behind the Moth Box, I was very pleased and my first Portland Ribbon Wave that was sat on the white board. These are now becoming annual to my garden and were considered a real rarity many years ago. My second Marbled Green of the year was on one of the egg trays.

Above, my first ever Small Pine Shoot Moth and below, the migrant micro moth, Rusty Acorn Piercer.

Above, also new for the year was this Spindle Knot-horn.

Migrant moths: Migrants are still arriving, with Small Mottled Willow and Rusty Acorn Piercer (Cydia amplana) among the highlights. Micro moths: My first Spindle Knot-horn (Nephopterix angustella) of the year was also present, while my second Tawny-fronted Straw (Neocochylis molliculana) was settled on the rain guard.

 

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Jersey Tiger x3	Bird-cherry Ermine x1
Garden Tiger * x1	Spindle Knot-horn * x1
Golden Twin-spot x2	Small Pine Shoot Moth * x1
Brimstone Moth x3	Garden Grass-veneer x1
Common Emerald x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x7
Cabbage Moth x2	Rusty Acorn Piercer x1
Common Rustic x4	Chestnut Tortrix x2
Small Mottled Willow x1	Mother of Pearl x1
Dusky Thorn * x1	Tawny-fronted Straw x1
Silver Y x1	Box Tree Moth x2
Marbled Green x1
Double-striped Pug x2
Large Yellow Underwing x1
Grey Dagger x1
Least Carpet x2
Pale Mottled Willow x1
Portland Ribbon Wave * x1
Shuttle-shaped Dart x2

 

The local Fox put in an appearance this morning, watching me going about checking the Moth Box! 

The Swifts checking out my nestboxes.

 

Thursday 23^rd July 2026.

A pair of Swifts checking out this nestbox. At least two broods were raised in this particular Box above my house.

I didn’t put out the moth box overnight, giving some moths a chance to fly off to other areas rather than be re-trapped. Today, however, it was the Swifts that grabbed the headlines. When I returned home after a spot of shopping, at least eight birds were inspecting the nest boxes by my house. They have bred successfully this year, and I know of two pairs that have had two broods.

Some of the Swifts by my house today.

So why are they checking the Boxes again. Possibly late breeders perhaps or simply just checking them out for next year. Still, they were a pleasure to watch and as I stood still and waited to take some photos, the birds duly obliged to cling on and check out the Boxes. Recently, there have been many Swifts gathering up in big flocks both morning and evening and as I write this, they are screaming outside.

Above and below, the Long-tailed Shrike in Gloucestershire. Photos by Emma Parkes.

Other nature news today included a Hornet-mimic Hoverfly landing on our garden table this afternoon. This is the second one I have had this year in my garden and a common sight in the late Autumn when the Ivy is flowering. Birding pals, Emma and Matt Parkes, took the long trip to Gloucestershire to see the long-staying Long-tailed Shrike and was successful with some excellent photos.

 

Above, the Wood Sandpiper still remained on Keyhaven Marshes. Photo by Rob Porter. Below, the Pectoral Sandpiper was also still present today at the same location. Photo by Steve Laycock.

A variety of insects today.

 

Wednesday 22^nd July 2026.

My second Satin Moth of the year.

Another cool start to the day, but by the time it got to midday, the temperatures climbed into the high 70’s again. The Portsmouth schools break up today for the Summer holiday and at Pembroke Road, St. Judes finished at 1.15pm this afternoon and so I had an early, but very warm, second shift to still complete.

The Moth Box was on again in my garden, and moth numbers were slightly lower than yesterday, though there was still a good variety. Interesting news came through on BBC South News this morning: a Puffling, or Puffin chick, was seen and photographed at Dancing Ledge in Durlston Nature Reserve this week, which is excellent news.

 

My Moth Box:

Another Golden Twin-spot by the Moth Box this morning.

Sadly, there were no new moths for the year in my garden this morning, though several nice ones were still present. My second Satin Wave of the year was perched on the white board behind the Moth Box, and my second Cream-bordered Green Pea was inside the box.

Above, a Blair's Mocha and below, a Lychnis moth.

Above, my second Cream-bordered Green Pea moth of the year and below, I found this Canary-shouldered Thorn in the back bedroom of my house.

Other notable moths included a Turnip Moth, Blair’s Mocha, Lychnis, Golden Twin-spot and a Canary-shouldered Thorn perched on the blinds in my back bedroom! Among the micro moths, another Comfrey Ermine was notable and up to two Tree Mallow Tortrix were on top of the rain guard. The following Moths were present this morning:

 

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Satin Wave x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x10
Turnip Moth x1	Tree Mallow Tortrix x2
Bright-line Brown-eye x1	Chestnut Tortrix x3
Common Rustic x2	Broom Shoot Moth x1
Lime-speck Pug x3	Ruddy Streak x1
Cream-bordered Green Pea x1	Rusty-dot Pearl x6
Blair’s Mocha x1	Mint Moth x1
Lychnis x1	Box Tree Moth x2
Lesser Yellow Underwing x1	Bird-cherry Ermine x1
Common Emerald x1	Comfrey Ermine x1
Golden Twin-spot x1	Grey Knot-horn x2
Canary-shouldered Thorn x1	Common Plume x4
	Common Masoner x1

 

 

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

This Speckled Wood butterfly was in my garden this afternoon along with a few Holly Blue's and a Small White.

My first shift in Pembroke Road produced eleven species this morning, most of which were heard rather than seen. House Sparrows and a Wren were heard around the Bowling Green, while a Blackbird was briefly seen flying in the same area. The yellow grass on Governor’s Green attracted several Black-headed Gulls, which appeared to be ‘anting’, but not a single Great Black-backed Gull was seen today.

The only Carnation Tortrix moth seen today.

There was more activity going on with the insects rather than the birds, with numerous Buff-tailed Bumblebee’s nectaring on the Hibiscus flowers and both Small White and Red Admiral butterflies showed very well in the front gardens. Yet another Jersey Tiger moth fluttered past at speed and then flew into Pembroke Close though lost to view. There was just the one Carnation Tortrix moth was seen; perched on the road sign.

A heavily pollinated Buff-tailed Bumblebee!

Belated news from yesterday; a Willowchiff was heard calling briefly somewhere along the footpath between Governor’s Green and the Bowling Green. A young bird or a returning migrant?

At Titchfield Haven today, there was a selection of waders on the South Scrape including from top to bottom: Spotted Redshank, Greenshank and Common Sandpiper. Photos by Daz Gorman.

Quieter again in the Moth Box & two Raptors over Pembroke Road.

 

Tuesday 21st July 2026.

This colourful Bright Straw moth was my first for the year.

It was fleece weather early this morning when I went to check on my Moth Box at 5.30am. The nights are now getting longer, and the temperature is certainly getting a bit colder in the morning at first light. However, it was steadily climbing by 7am when I took my dogs for their first walk of the day. By 11am, it was 19 degrees and no doubt will climb even more this afternoon with an exceptionally light north-easterly.

After my first shift in Pembroke Road, I met up with one of my pals, Gary Cole, for a coffee and this time, we had a Sausage Bap and Coffee at the lovely The Canteen overlooking Portsmouth Harbour entrance where at least two pairs of Sandwich Terns passed close by and one even entertained the small crowd to dive in the sea just offshore. Most entertaining.

 

My Moth Box:

Another Clay moth in my Moth Box this morning.

Another big drop from last Saturday’s Moth numbers with just 56 moths of 26 species present this morning and that included a Coleophora species of micro moth which is unidentifiable without dissection. However, I did get another new moth species for the year; the beautiful micro moth Bright Straw (Agapeta zoegana), which is almost annual to my garden.

Above, my second Holly Tortrix for the year and below, one of two Silver Y moths.

Above, a Turnip Moth. July has been a good month for them so far.

Surprisingly, there were far fewer macro moths in the garden this morning, with micro moths making up most of the numbers. Migrants were still arriving, including Silver Y, Turnip Moth and Rusty-dot Pearls, while my second Holly Tortrix of the year was a welcome bonus. As I have Holly trees on both sides of the garden, it may well have come from one of them. The following moths were recorded this morning:

 

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Common Rustic x1	Broom Shoot Moth x1
Silver Y x2	Chestnut Tortrix x1
Turnip Moth x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x7
Double-striped Pug x8	Holly Tortrix x1
Lime-speck Pug x2	Box Tree Moth x3
Large Yellow Underwing x1	Apple Leaf Miner x1
Clay x1	Rusty-dot Pearl x9
Knot Grass x1	Hampshire Dowd x1
Pale Mottled Willow x2	Grey Knot-horn x2
	Bird-cherry Ermine x1
	Willow Ermine x1
	Bright Straw * x1
	Common Plume x2
	Ruddy Streak x1
	Common Masoner x3
	Brown House Moth x1

 

 

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

A sunny morning again in Pembroke Road. The grass has now turned yellow due to lack of rain on Governor's Green.

Two raptor species were recorded during my first shift in Pembroke Road, both appearing towards the end of the session. First, a female Sparrowhawk flew high west over Governor’s Green, pursued by a Carrion Crow. About 10 minutes later, the same bird passed low overhead heading east, this time carrying small prey in its talons. It circled briefly before continuing east.

Just minutes later, a juvenile Peregrine flew low over Governor’s Green and circled overhead several times before heading west. It was a shame I did not have my camera with me, as it showed beautifully in the bright sunshine. It has been quite a while since I last saw any raptors in Pembroke Road, then, just like buses, two species arrived at once! Up to 11 bird species were recorded here this morning.

This juvenile Whinchat was by the Chalets at Hill Head last Saturday morning. Photo by Mark Francis.

Apart from the raptors, it was a fairly quiet morning, though my total still reached 12 bird species. A pair of Swifts were seen on the way home along Clarence Parade, flying low over the road and buildings. Although no butterflies were seen in Pembroke Road, a Jersey Tiger moth fluttered quickly past me and headed west close to the buildings. That makes two weeks in a row that I have seen one here.

This afternoon, on my second shift in Pembroke Road, a Great Black-backed Gull was added to my day list here as it was seen flying over houses in nearby Penny Road. As well as the many Buff-tailed Bumblebees seen this afternoon, they were joined by a Red-tailed Bumblebee, which I think was the first time I have seen one here. A Red Admiral butterfly landed on the pavement close to where I stood and only just avoided being trampled by some passing girls!