Plenty of moths again in and around my moth box.

Thursday 14th October 2021.

This Cypress Carpet was probably the pick of the moths this morning.

Another cold night didn't deter the moths this morning as I notched up another good haul. I have read with interest on how many dare I say it, thousands of Redwing pouring through the country at present, with tens of thousands counted early yesterday morning passing over. So I popped out into the garden last night and had my first calling birds of the Autumn. I was counting at least one bird calling every 15 seconds, but the true number heading south must have been enormous. While checking the moth box this morning, three Song Thrushes flew high over, all heading south-east and were most likely migrant birds.

The micro moth, Eudonia angustea. Though quiet a common moth, always a pleasure to see one.

There was a good haul of moths this morning and again, though new species for the year, there was a good variety which included the following:

• 1 Cypress Pug
• 2 Double-striped Pug
• 3 Garden Carpet
• 15 Common Plume
• 2 Beautiful Plume
• 26 Box Tree Moth
• 4 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 3 Angle Shades
• 1 Large Yellow Underwing
• 1 Lesser Yellow Underwing
• 1 Eudonia angustea
• 1 Square-spot Rustic
• 1 Common Marbled Carpet

I had time to check out the Flower Bay at Portchester Crematorium around midday and yet again, there were hardly any macro moths to look at - with the exception of one Double-striped Pug. I counted a total of 15 Beautiful Plume and 12 Common Plume micro moth, which are most certainly on the increase.

Some of the 25 Box Tree Moths present this morning. Even a work colleague sent me a photo of one in his house tonight and then said he actually had four!

Common Buzzards were enjoying the sunny weather today with at least 8 individuals seen during my working day. The usual bird was perched on the lamp post beside the M275 and at least 3 were seen over Portsdown Hill. A further two more were sailing high overhead near Portchester Crematorium and other raptors seen today included a male Kestrel over Portsdown Hill and a female Sparrowhawk late in the day, flying south over Drayton. A male and female Common Darter dragonflies were seen on the footpath by the Crematorium gardens this morning, but there was no further sign of the Yellow-browed Warbler from Tuesday.

Looking very Autumnal in the Portchester Crematorium gardens today.

In Hampshire today, one of the ‘Lazee’ birders, Andy Tew had both a male and female Ring Ouzel at the well known Autumn location of Leaden Hall, in the New Forest (see photo). A Bittern was seen flying north up the reserve and a Great White Egret was on the reserve in front of the Spurgin Hide. In West Sussex, the Purple Heron was still present near Honer Reservoir. This time last year, we were staying in East Prawle, South Devon; where a Yellow-browed Warbler was inhabiting the small pond near the Village. So I read with no surprise that another was there this week at exactly the same location! Within the UK, both the Long-toed Stint and White-tailed Plover are still in West Yorkshire, while further south, the Western Sandpiper was still on Normandy Marshes, Lymington.  

A female Ring Ouzel at Leaden Hall today. Photo by Andy Tew.