Two more Moths for the year list.

 Friday 31^st  July 2026.

This was my second ever Miller moth I have seen and both within my Southsea garden.

The Moth Box was back on last night, and the continuing warm weather again brought a good variety of moths, although numbers remain unpredictable. This morning’s total was just under 100 moths.

Two more species were added to my year list, taking the July total to 142 species. That is an exceptional result for both my garden and Andy Fisher’s garden in Cowplain.

Sadly, as I mentioned yesterday in relation to wildfires, the UK has not escaped this awful situation. Dunwich Heath and Minsmere RSPB Reserve have both been badly affected over the past few days, and the fires are only just being brought under control by the Fire Brigade. What caused them? Most likely irresponsible people who failed to put out a campfire properly—or perhaps arson. I have also found discarded glass bottles on heathland in the New Forest, so that could be another possible cause. Whatever the reason, the potential loss of wildlife is beyond comprehension. It will take many years for the heath to return to its former state. Hopefully, we will learn from this and put measures in place to help prevent it from happening again. The planet is heating up, and our summers are becoming hotter and drier.

 

My Moth Box:

Plumed Fan-foot. This is starting to become a regular species to my garden.

It felt much cooler late this morning, with a breezy north-westerly blowing across the garden, although the temperature rose to around 23 degrees by lunchtime. Yesterday afternoon, I gave the Moth Box a thorough clean, clearing away dead flies and cobwebs. Hopefully, this will help attract more moths to the garden.

Two more moth species were added to my year list:

·        Miller moth — only my second-ever record, following one seen in my garden last year.

·     Common Ridgeback (Epermenia chaerophyllela) — a micro moth and, I believe, only the second I have ever seen.

The catch included 91 moths of 25 species. Highlights included a Jersey Tiger, seen by the Moth Box last night and this morning, along with Golden Twin-spot, Lychnis and Plumed Fan-foot.

Above, new for the year was my second ever Common Ridgeback micro moth and below, a different angle of a Jersey Tiger perched on the Moth Box.

There must also have been a large overnight dispersal of Apple Leaf Miners, as the Moth Box attracted no fewer than 38 of these tiny moths, with probably many more present around the garden. The Moths recorded this morning were as follows:

 

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Jersey Tiger x1	Apple Leaf Miner x38
Miller * x1	Copper-fringed Drab x1
Golden Twin-spot x1	Common Plume x2
Double-striped Pug x5	Garden Mompha x1
Silver Y x1	Rusty-dot Pearl x5
Common Rustic x3	Box Tree Moth x3
Lychnis x1	Common Masoner x2
Bright-line Brown-eye x2	Light Brown Apple Moth x9
Lime-speck Pug x2	Mint Moth x1
Plumed Fan-foot x1	Tree-mallow Tortrix x1
Brimstone Moth x1	Bird-cherry Ermine x1
	White-shouldered House Moth x2
	Common Ridgeback * x1
	Meal Moth x1

 

While checking the Moth Box, I was sure I heard a Green Sandpiper calling somewhere in the distance, but I only heard it just the once. If it was, then this would be an excellent ‘garden tick’. Other insects attracted to my Moth Box was up to three Leafhoppers,  and a Broad Centurian Soldier Fly .

Wild fires in Europe and another interesting haul of Moths.

 

Wednesday 29^th July 2026.

A stunning moon scape last night over Southsea.

There was a very impressive moon last night before I headed off to bed, with a few wispy clouds drifting past and creating a wonderfully atmospheric scene. I wondered whether those conditions might help bring in the moths by morning.

It was another balmy night, although the garden furniture was covered in a heavy dew by first light. The moth numbers were only average, but the variety was good once again, with several pleasing migrant species among the catch.

Sadly, the news is dominated by the severe forest fires in southern Europe, where hundreds of thousands of homeowners have been forced to leave their properties. The loss of homes is devastating enough, but the scale of the burnt landscape and the wildlife habitat destroyed is equally heartbreaking.

With the Earth continuing to warm because of climate change, it is hard not to wonder whether we will ever learn how to prevent such damaging and catastrophic conditions in the future. I think of the New Forest facing a similar threat and ask myself how we can better manage and protect such precious places from the same fate.

Time will tell. As I write, there is still no sign of rain in the near future, and another heatwave is settling over the UK.

 

My Moth Box:

I think this must be my fourth Bordered Straw moth I have seen this year. 

An average total of 53 moths of 28 species early this morning and apart from the gorgeous three Garden Tiger moths, a Bordered Straw was a nice surprise this morning, which was sat in one of the outside egg trays. The only other migrant moths were two Golden Twin-spots and two Rusty-dot Pearls (Udea ferrugalis).

Above, my first Bloxworth Snout moth of July and below, one of two Golden Twin-spots.

Above, the Pale-streaked Grass-moth and below, one of three Garden Tiger moths.

A Bloxworth Snout, my first for July, was also in one of the outside egg trays and regarding the micro moths, both Straw Grass-moth (Agriphila straminella) and Pale-streaked Grass-moth (Agriphila selasella) were present along with two Tawny-fronted Straws (Neocochylis molliculana), which were the more notable species among the micro moths. The Moths recorded this morning are as follows:

 

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Garden Tiger x3	Mother of Pearl x3
Bloxworth Snout x1	Bird-cherry Ermine x1
Pale Mottled Willow x2	Apple Leaf Miner x7
Common Rustic x3	Tree-mallow Tortrix x1
Golden Twin-spot x2	Blushed Knot-horn x2
Bordered Straw x1	Brown House Moth x2
Willow Beauty x1	Rusty-dot Pearl x2
Lime-speck Pug x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x2
Cabbage Moth x1	Dark Moss-moth x1
Bright-line Brown-eye x1	Tawny-fronted Straw x2
Small Dusty Wave x2	Straw Grass-moth x1
	Pale-streaked Grass-moth x1
	Garden Grass-veneer x2
	Common Masoner x3
	Common Plume x3
	Box Tree Moth x1
	Ruddy Streak x1

Marbled Beauty moth in Eastney.

While driving around the Eastney area today, I came across a few notable sightings that I would put on my blog this evening. No birds I'm afraid (bar a few Mediterranean Gulls catching Flying Ants), but a Clouded Yellow butterfly flying across the road and at least two Jersey Tiger moths seen whilst driving along Milton Road! Two more moths were found on my travels today which included a Straw Grass-moth and a Marbled Beauty. This warm weather is certainly bringing the insects out.

Above, a Straw Grass-veneer in Southsea today and below, this Buff-tailed Bumblebee was crawling on our garden patio this evening. I carefully picked it up and placed it in one of our pot plants. 

Earlier this year, Geoff Farwell, Andy Fisher and myself had the pleasure of watching a juvenile Cuckoo being fed by its foster parents, Meadow Pipits, in the New Forest. Pete Appleton captured this superb photo of exactly the same thing in the New Forest.

Another two more micro moths for my year list & a trip to the Cemy.

 

Tuesday 28th July 2026.

A Nutmeg moth. It has been a good month for this species in my garden.

Though overcast first thing this morning, there was no wind and the temperature at 5.30am was a balmy 19 degrees. I had the Moth Box on overnight in the garden and a reasonable number of Moths were logged. There were also a few bird sightings and even a couple of Dragonflies hawking about the gardens.

 

My Moth Box:

My first Pale-streaked Grass-moth of the year. These are annual to my garden, but in very low numbers compared to other Grass-moths.

Two more micro moths were added to my year list this morning that included a Pale-streaked Grass-moth (Agriphila selasella) and the very small Common Fern Moth (Psychoides filicivora). Both species are annual to my garden, and the latter species can sometimes be seen flying around the garden during the daytime hours.

Above, a Common Fern Moth. This was also new for the year and a regular annual Moth species and below, the Cream-bordered Green Pea micro moth. 

There was just the one each of Jersey Tiger and Garden Tiger moth this morning and I was lucky to grab a photo of it as it flew off towards the back of the garden. Both Nutmeg and Golden Twin-spot are good notable records as was my third Satin Wave of the year. Micro moths outnumbered macro moths with the Light Brown Apple Moths numbering at least 20 individuals in and around the Moth Box. A Cream-bordered Green Pea was present again; a species that is uncommon in my garden but seemed to be a bit more frequent this year. A total of 66 moths of 26 species were recorded this morning. The Moths this morning included the following:

 

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Jersey Tiger x1	Copper-fringed Drab x1
Nutmeg x1	Pale-streaked Grass-moth * x1
Blair’s Mocha x1	Garden Grass-veneer x3
Common Rustic x2	Hawthorn Moth x1
Riband Wave x1	Apple Leaf Miner x14
Willow Beauty x1	Hampshire Dowd x1
Cabbage Moth x1	Common Masoner x1
Golden Twin-spot x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x20
Satin Wave x1	Common Plume x1
Pale Mottled Willow x5	Cream-bordered Green Pea x1
Garden Tiger x1	Common Fern Moth * x1
	Dark Moss-moth x1
	Box Tree Moth x1
	Brown House Moth x1
	Tree-mallow Tortrix x2

 

The Garden Tiger moth on the patio this morning.

A few Lacewing and Ladybirds were present within the Moth Box while overhead, a very high flying ‘chattering’ Swallow was flying northbound over the garden. A 'Willowchiff' was flitting about in my neighbour’s tree towards the back of the garden, calling occasionally, but busy chasing small insects. Even more notable was the two Migrant Hawker dragonflies flying around the gardens, but still none of them settled as they searched for prey.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

The yellow grass within the Cemy due to the lack of any significant rainfall over the past several weeks.

I had the day off today and wanted to give the dogs a pleasant morning walk. Because of the heat, I decided not to take them too far and chose a gentle stroll around Highland Road Cemetery. It was not too warm there, with temperatures around 23 degrees, and a light westerly breeze made it quite pleasant in the sunshine. I had read that a Pied Flycatcher had been seen in West Sussex yesterday, so there was always a chance one might turn up in the Cemy.

Above, one of the Painted Lady butterflies on the Buddliea plant near the main entrance and below, one of two Migrant Hawker dragonflies by the Holm Oaks.

With very few birds about, my attention turned mainly to insects and plants. I saw my first Clouded Yellow butterflies of the year here this morning, both flying around the east side of the cemetery. Neither settled for a photo, speeding low over the yellow grass, but I had better luck with a pair of Painted Ladies on a small Buddleia bush near the main entrance.

Above, a Speckled Wood butterfly basking in the sunshine and below, a Meadow Brown butterfly on Ragwort.

Other butterflies seen included Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Small White, Large White and Red Admiral. A Garden Tiger moth of the yellow underwing variety, was flushed near the Mausoleum and soon disappeared from view. As I approached the Holm Oaks, I noticed two dragonflies hunting below the trees and, thankfully, one settled. It was a male Migrant Hawker, so I quickly took several photos. Southern Migrant Hawkers have been seen recently along the south coast, so hopefully it is only a matter of time before I find one.

Above, one of several Red Admiral butterflies seen this morning and below, a Gatekeeper butterfly on Common Knapweed.

Despite the lack of rain on the south coast, a wide variety of plants was still on show. My wife told me last night that Southsea’s last significant rainfall was on 22 June. Cornflower, Fleabane, Ragwort and Scentless Mayweed were among the many flowers still in bloom around the cemetery.

Above, a tall clump of Purple Toadflax and below, a tall clump of Ragwort.

Above, there was a line of plants growing close to the footpath that included Scentless Mayweed, Cornflower and also a clump of Borage. Below, the straggly grass was growing a bit taller over in the centre of the Cemetery.

As mentioned, birdlife was very quiet, although I heard two Willowchiffs calling from different parts of the cemetery. A pair of Blackbirds searched for food near the entrance footpath, while a Collared Dove was also seen there. Very little else was heard, apart from brief calls from a Blue Tit and a Wren.

Above, a Collared Dove on the main footpath and below, a female Blackbird searching for food on the short grass.

Above, I heard several Grasshoppers calling including this Common Field Grasshoper and below, the two Painted Lady butterflies near the main entrance.

Knowing it would soon become much warmer, I took the dogs home before it got too hot for them. It had been a pleasant walk, and seeing my first Clouded Yellow butterflies of the year was a welcome bonus.