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.

Red-barred Tortrix moth saved the morning.

 Thursday 4th June 2026.

The Red-barred Tortrix micro moth was the only new moth for the year this morning.

I never had the Moth Box on Tuesday evening as the weather was very poor with strong winds and heavy rain showers, however, I took a gamble last night, despite the windy and wet conditions, which seem to be the theme this week here in the south. The strong westerly winds show no sign of abating just yet though tomorrow looks more promising. There was plenty of sunshine this morning, but also some heavy showers around.

Above and below, while walking the dogs early this morning, I took these photos from my mobile phone passing Highland Road Cemetery.

The dogs got their early morning walk today and it was back to Pembroke Road this morning for another check on the wildlife there. This morning, on the BBC Southern news, it highlighted the broken Sluice gate down at Farlington Marshes again. Despite supposedly having been mended, it broke yet again and the sea water from Langstone Harbour broke through and now the Lake area is flooded once more. All they mentioned was the many millions to repair the seawall itself and nothing about the Sluice gate. Typically crap journalism!

My Moth Box:

A Light Brown Apple Moth (top) and a Diamondback Moth within one of the egg trays.

There were just 20 moths of 14 species recorded this morning, which was very disappointing for this time of year, but last night's poor weather didn't help either. I was in the garden at 5.30am this morning and I was glad I did as a male House Sparrow was searching for the Moths around my Moth Box and probably snatched a few too! I have had trouble with the Sparrows over the years, but their numbers have decimated here in our back gardens and I was really surprised to see this male bird in my garden.

One of two Heart & Dart moths.

The only new moth for the year was the micro moth Red-barred Tortrix (Ditula angustiorana); an annual species I get in my Moth Box several times a year. Migrant moths included a very worn Turnip Moth and two Diamondback Moths. The Moths present this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Garden Carpet x1	Common Plume x1
White Ermine x3	Red-barred Tortrix * x1
Turnip Moth x1	Diamondback Moth x2
Vine’s Rustic x2	Box Tree Moth x1
Heart & Dart x2
Shuttle-shaped Dart x1
L-album Wainscot x1
Riband Wave x1
Large Yellow Underwing x1

This Marmalade Hoverfly was sat inside the Box.

Other wildlife attracted to my Moth Box overnight included a Marmalade Hoverfly and a Crane Fly; both of which were in the Box itself. A Greenhouse Slug was making its way up the side of the Moth Box. There are between 40 to 46 species of Slug in the UK and this Greenhouse Slug is one I have never seen before!

A Greenhouse Slug was trying to get inside the Moth Box (no chance!). My first sighting of this species.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

The blustery conditions in Pembroke Road showed no mercy to the Echium plants in nearby Pembroke Close.

Another blustery morning here in Old Portsmouth with the occasional shower coming in on the back of that strong westerly wind. The pair of Pied Wagtails were on the Bowling Green once again and the best of the 12 bird species seen or heard this morning was the Jay, which flew low over my head and flew off over the rooftops. The Blue Tits were going back and forth to their nest hole in a nearby tree and I could hear the youngsters calling from across the road.    

This afternoon, the wind did not let up and in fact, it was a bit more windier than this afternoon. However, it remained dry during my second shift here and another species was added when an adult Mediterranean Gull flew high south over the road.

The BBC had coverage of the situation at Farlington Marshes where the main Sluice gate that had recently been mended had failed again. The situation there on the reserve is dire and when the Envirement Agency claims that the whole sea wall needs to be mended at a cost of £90 million, I really had to laugh. The 'EA' tend to be mostly hot air, though they said they will try to get the Sluice Gate fixed again soon. Too late for the wildlife this year on the main lake and further up the reserve! 

A screenshot of the main Lake on Farlington Marshes taken from tonights episode of BBC South Today.