A Dewick's Plusia moth within a quiet Moth Box & a walk around the Cemy.

Sunday 12th July 2026

My first Dewick's Plusia moth for a several years.

I’m afraid I was up so early this morning I wondered if I got any sleep at all! It was still dark when I made myself a cup of coffee and so jumped onto my new Laptop to update some of the Moths I had seen recently in one of the folders. When it was light enough to go outside, I then got cracking in checking what the Moth Box attracted overnight.

There was a blustery north-westerly blowing over Southsea and due to a clear cloudless night, it certainly reduced the Moth total compared to yesterday. It was thankfully quite cool too this morning, though it is sure to heat up as the day goes on. An early morning update on the ‘Lazee Birders’ Whatsapp revealed that the Night Heron was still present on Miller’s Pond in Southampton.

 

My Moth Box:

My third Thorn species in two days, the September Thorn.

There were much fewer Moths than yesterday with just 59 moths recorded of 28 species in total. On a plus side, my first Dewick’s Plusea of the year was within the Moth Box and the August Thorn from yesterday was replaced by a September Thorn! Just one Canary-shouldered Thorn was present still (although the other could be hiding in the plants somewhere in the garden!).

Above, a Clancy's Rustic and below, one of three Silver Y moths.

Two Grey / Dark Daggers were present (I did see one yesterday evening of which I must have flushed after watering the garden) this morning. This species must be dissecting to get a true ID. The aberrant Black Arches was still present for its third day, and a few  Mint Moths were the pick of the micro moths this morning. The following Moths were recorded this morning:

 

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Black Arches x1	Common Plume x4
Grey / Dark Dagger x2	Bud Moth x1
Large Yellow Underwing x2	Golden-brown Tubic x3
Dewick’s Plusea * x1	Hampshire Dowd x1
Silver Y x3	Rosy Tabby x3
Clancy’s Rustic x1	Gold Triangle x1
September Thorn x1	Mint Moth x2
Canary-shouldered Thorn x1	Barred Marble x1
Riband Wave x3	Light Brown Apple Moth x4
Pale Mottled Willow x1	Rusty-dot Pearl x1
Bright-line Brown-eye x1	Bird-cherry Ermine x4
Shuttle-shaped Dart x1	Willow Ermine x6
Cloaked Minor x1	Garden Grass-veneer x6
Marbled Beauty x1	Large Pale Masoner x2

 

Above, a Common Stiletto Fly and below, the Pied Hoverfly in my Moth Box this morning.

The Moth Box attracted an array of insects this morning and some interesting species were present. This included the usual Lacewing, a few Harlequin Ladybirds and a Buff-tailed Bumblebee. Among the more unusual insects present was a Common Stiletto (Thereva nobilitata), from the family of insects Asiloidea or commonly known as Stiletto Flies. Also, a Spectacled Berry Fly (Anomoia purmunda) was present, which is a species of Fruit Fly of the family Tephritidae. Finally, a female Pied Hoverfly (Scaeva pyrastri) was sitting comfortably in one of the egg trays.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

 

One of the many Buddleia Bushes growing at the site and always a good chance of something interesting on them.

The breezy north-westerly wind kept the temperatures down early this morning as I took my dogs for their early morning walk. It has been a while since I have been over my local patch of Highland Road Cemetery and though I wasn’t expecting many bird species on show due to the hot weather of late, there were a few notable sightings during the 45 minutes I was there.

Above, over on the west side of the Cemy, the grass was cut so short, that it is now turning yellow due to the lack of rain and below, in the middle of the Cemy, the uncut grass is still green.

There is always something interesting to see in the Cemetery, whether it’s the bird life or insects or even the plants growing around the graves and what with the hot weather of late, it didn’t take too long to see how the recently cut grass was turning yellow. However, some areas of the site, especially over on the south and east side of the Cemy, had been left alone and the grass and flowering plants were left to grow.

Above, there were hardly any birds on show to take some photos, but a few showy Wood Pigeons never disappoint. Below, a Yellow-legged Mining bee was enjoying this Cat's Ear flower.

As I started my walk around the Cemy, a couple of ladies stopped me for a chat and one of them told me she thoroughly enjoyed by Blog! Apparently, I bumped into her earlier this year and discussed the Woodpeckers here. The other lady said that she saw two Green Woodpeckers in the south-west corner of the Cemetery last week, though I have not seen them at all here this year.

Above, I found a few flowering Willowherb plants and below, this Jersey Tiger Moth was a good find on the Buddleia.

Kicking off with the birds, it was hard work to find any passerines within the Cemy, though I did hear a Blue Tit, Wren, House Sparrow and a ‘ticking’ Robin, it was the Swifts overhead that were showing well. At least a dozen or so were flying low over the rooftops over on the east side and were frequently heard calling overhead throughout my walk this morning.

A few Butterflies were on the wing including (above) a Gatekeeper and below, a Meadow Brown.

A few Butterflies were seen that included a Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and a Red Admiral. I checked most of the flowering Buddleia Bushes growing in the Cemy for Butterflies, but all I could find were Buff-tailed Bumblebee’s on the plants. However, when walking along my usual footpath in the centre of the Cemy, I found a superb Jersey Tiger Moth on one of the flowering plants. On one of the Cat’s Ear flowers, I took a few photos using my Mobile Phone Camera of a Yellow-legged Mining Bee nectaring on the plant.

Only a few bird species were seen today from the Cemy including the Swifts (above) and a scruffy looking Magpie.

As expected, there was a variety of flowering plants on show and standing out like a sore thumb were tall spikes of Common Ragwort. I also found a large clump of Centaury growing between some graves by the Mausoleum. A few spikes of Willowherb were also in bloom in various places and the likes of Yarrow, Scarlet Pimpernel and Vipers Bugloss were all found on my walk. 

Above, there was a large clump of Centaury growing near the Mausoleum. Below, Buddy and Ted enjoying a bit of a run around at the back of the Cemetery.

This afternoon, already the temperature is climbing up to the 30's and while reflecting on my walk with the dogs, I am glad I am indoors this afternoon and simply chilling out on this lovely Sunday afternoon.

No Birding today, but two Moth Boxes to check.

 

Saturday 11th July 2026.

One of two Canary-shouldered Thorn moths this morning in my garden.

Saturday at last! There were two Moth Boxes to go through today as I paid my weekly visit to Cowplain Marsh to pick up both Geoff Farwell and Andy Fisher, however, there was a big change of plan. We all knew that it was going to be a very hot day and the guys enthusiasm to walk around in that heat disappeared fast. I suppose there was the potential to go for the Night Heron that was still showing on Miller’s Pond or to go for the Brown Hairstreak butterflies that were not too far away. But we decided to do neither.

Instead, a good look at the Moth Box and a good long chat in the comfort of Andy’s garden over Coffee and toast was a lazy but enjoyable option instead!

 

My Moth Box:

My first Marbled Green moth for the year.

Another 100+ haul of Moths within my garden this morning as I walked out into the garden at 5.15am this morning armed with a hot coffee, Moth Pots and plenty of enthusiasm. In fact, there were 126 Moths recorded this morning of 42 species and among them were another SIX more Moths that were new for the year.

Above, this August Thorn was in the plant by the Moth Box and below, the striking Comfrey Ermine micro moth.

This included both August and Canary-shouldered Thorn, Marbled Green and the micro moths, Satin Grass-moth (Crambus perlella), Comfrey Ermine (Ethmia quadrillella) and a  Coastal Buff (Agonopterix yeatiana); all good quality Moths for my garden.

Another moth new for the year was this Coastal Buff.

Migrant Moths included a Langmaid’s Yellow Underwing, Small Mottled Willow, Jersey Tiger and a Silver Y. A couple of Golden Twin-spot moths, which could be migrant Moths, were the first individuals for a few weeks and yesterdays aberrant Dark Arches was still present by my back kitchen door.

This Satin Grass-moth was also my first for the year.

Of the micro moths, both Bird-cherry and Willow Ermine moths were abundant and my second of the year Horse-chestnut Leafminer and Southern Apple Moth were also present. I have to say that the Comfrey Ermine moth was another stunning individual. The Moths recorded in my garden this morning were as follows:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
August Thorn * x1	Satin Grass-moth * x1
Canary-shouldered Thorn * x2	Comfrey Ermine * x1
Lime-speck Pug x5	Light Brown Apple Moth x11
Double-striped Pug x6	Coastal Buff * x1
Common Pug x1	Ruddy Streak x1
Langmaid’s Yellow Underwing x1	Rufous Pearl x1
Small Mottled Willow x1	Rusty-dot Pearl x4
Golden Twin-spot x2	Apple Leaf Miner x12
Cloaked Minor x2	Common Plume x6
Clay x1	Garden Grey x3
Small Ranunculus x1	Hampshire Dowd x7
Lackey x3	Mother of Pearl x1
Dark Arches x2	Golden-brown Tubic x1
Black Arches x1	Southern Apple Moth x1
Blair’s Mocha x1	Bird-cherry Ermine x7
Bright-line Brown-eye x1	Willow Ermine x15
Marbled Green * x1	Large Pale Masoner x3
Silver Y x1	Horse-chestnut Leafminer x1
Jersey Tiger x1	Garden Grass-veneer x5
Riband Wave x4	Rosy Tabby x2
Large Yellow Underwing x1
L-album Wainscot x1

Other insects attracted to the Moth Box this morning included several Lacewing, a Seven-spotted Ladybird, a Cinnamon Sedge Caddis Fly and yet another Green Immigrant Leaf Weevil. Apart from the many Swifts overhead, a Goldfinch was seen flying over heading northbound.

 

Geoff’s Moth Box, Cowplain Marsh (Andy’s garden):

An annual visitor to Cowplain Marsh, this Mocha is always an attractive moth.

A respectable 68 Moths of 35 species here in Andy’s garden this morning as Geoff’s MV Moth Box attracted an interesting array of Moths that included another two more ‘year-ticks’ that included the macro moths Straw Dot and a smart looking Mocha. The latter species has never been recorded in my garden yet I see them here most years at Cowplain Marsh.

Above, the Pale Prominent moth and below, a Rush Veneer.

Above, the Scalloped Oak by the Moth Box.

A Pale Prominent was seen here for the second Saturday running and I finally got up close and personal to a Vapourer Moth at last. They really are a smart little Moth. This one was sitting on top of the Moth Box. Two Elephant Hawk-moths were on the egg trays and a Small Blood-vein flew up from the floor and onto the window of the Conservatory. The Scalloped Oak flew from the Moth Box and into Andy’s kitchen of which I promptly potted the Moth and put it out into the garden.

 

Above, the Oak Longhorn micro moth and below, a resting Vapourer Moth.

Above, the Straw Dot.

Two Dusky Sallows was a good record and the micro Oak Loghorn was only my second for the year. The following Moths were recorded in Andy’s garden this morning:

 

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Pale Prominent x1	Rosy Tabby x9
Willow Beauty x3	Rush Veneer x1
Clay x1	White-banded Grass-moth x2
Small Blood-vein x1	Garden Grass-veneer x3
Mocha * x1	Garden Grey x3
Least Carpet x2	European Corn-borer x1
Scarce Footman x2	Elderberry Pearl x1
Single-dotted Wave x2	Ash-bark Knot-horn x1
Straw Dot * x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x5
Riband Wave x3	Ruddy Streak x2
Vapourer Moth x1	Mother of Pearl x1
Cloaked Minor x1	Common Plume 2
Elephant Hawk-moth x2	Bud Moth x2
Uncertain x2	Oak Longhorn x1
Dusky Sallow x2
Dun-bar x1
Scalloped Oak x1
Nut-tree Tussock x1
Common Rustic x5
Maiden’s Blush x1

 

After checking the Moth Box and recording the species seen, over a few cups of coffee, we had a few bird species were noted that included a Nuthatch in the nearby trees. A pair of Linnets flew over calling and a Coal Tit popped into the garden briefly. A juvenile Robin was taking a drink from Andy’s makeshift (upside down bin lid) birdbath. Geoff had a quick glimpse of a Sparrowhawk passing low over the houses which explained why a large squadron of panicking Starlings passed overhead!

A few butterflies flew through that included a Peacock, Gatekeeper and a pair of Speckled Wood’s were sparring with one another as they passed low over our heads. It was good to catch up with the guys and after a long chat and several cups of coffee, I headed home to get cracking on my blog that needed updating. I heard that the Night Heron was showing well briefly this morning until it flew deep into cover to roost.

The Night Heron on Miller's Pond. Photo by Steve Laycock.