Probable November Moth in moth box.

Sunday 7th November 2021.

A probable November Moth in my box this morning.

A cold start to the morning as I went outside into the garden to check my moth box. It was much milder last night, which resulted in a plethora of Light Brown Apple Moths and a cracking probable November Moth. I did a check on the moth box last night and found 2 Light Brown Apple Moth, a Common Plume and a Double-striped Pug and this morning, the numbers had greatly increased.

One of the more strikingly marked Light Brown Apple Moths. 

Up to 16 Light Brown Apple Moths, of various guises, were counted along with 4 Common Plume moths this morning. There was also a small micro moth, Monopsis crocicapitella (though I cannot rule out M. obviella yet) one one of the egg trays. The probable November Moth is always a problem to ID. This species can so easily be confused with two other Epirrita species at this time of year: Pale November Moth and Autumnal Moth and the only way to tell them apart accurately, is by dissection of the genitalia (again, no thanks!); finally, two Double-striped Moths were resting on the fence panel near the box; so all in all, quite a good morning regarding the moths.

A probable Monopsis crocicapitella micro moth. 

While checking the moth box last night, I heard a couple of Redwings flying high over and this morning, the Grey Wagtail was heard calling again nearby and another bird calling repeatedly somewhere south of my garden, was reminiscent of a Black Redstart! Now, that would be a very nice garden ‘tick’!  

This female Sparrowhawk showed well as it soared overhead over the Cemetery this morning.

Scruff got another walk and this time, Highland Road Cemetery beckoned. It was bright and sunny and to be honest, for this time of year, quite mild. My walk at my ‘local patch’ produced a good total of 17 species this morning, with ten species seen within 10 minutes of walking from north to south. OK, they were all common species, but as I have written before, in ten or twenty years time, will these species still be on our doorstep?

The only butterfly seen in the Cemetery this morning, the Red Admiral.

Among the good variety both heard and seen, the female Sparrowhawk ‘grabbed the biscuit’ or so to speak. I don't often get reasonable flight shots with my Bridge Camera, but this one I have put on my blog is not too bad. The bird drifted in from the south and circled the Cemy until heading off north. The Jays put on a great show today with some nice close photos obtained as they perched on various gravestones. I would estimate that there must have been at least 6 birds involved today, numbers obviously swollen by the birds from the Continent seeking a warmer climate.

The Jays showed very well today and if I was to be honest, a typical daily sighting at present.

I kept an eye out for a Black Redstart lurking about the gravestones, but there was no sign of any today. A few have been seen in Portsmouth, notably one female type near the Dockyard, though I guess a lot more could be nearby. As mentioned, all the common birds were noted today, but it's time the winter thrushes came in and maybe a Firecrest or two?

The Common Banded Hoverfly were abundant today.

Tapered Drone Fly.

The sunny weather brought out the insects still with the Ivy attracting the delicate Common Banded Hoverfly Syrphus ribesii, the chunky Tapered Drone Fly Eristalis pertinax and also the Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus. Common Wasps also took a great liking to the flowering Ivy while over on the other side of the Cemetery, the northern end, I found good numbers of Harlequin Ladybirds of various colours sunning themselves on the large leaves. Just the one butterfly seen today within the Cemy, a Red Admiral sunning itself on a gravestone.

Another photo of the handsome Jay.

When Scruff and I got home, the Ivy in my garden held another Red Admiral as well as the above Hoverflies already mentioned. Always entertaining, these can keep you spellbound for quite some time as they go about their business. Hence why I refuse to get rid of the Ivy growing on my fence. A lot of gardeners start pruning their gardens to a bare minimum at this time of year, but I am more than happy to let the leaves fall when nature dictates.

And another!

In Hampshire today, the 4 Snow Buntings entertained the crowd on the beach near Sinah on Hayling Island and the bird at Warsash remained faithful as well. The Great Grey Shrike at Backley Bottom was still present in its usual haunt. A showy Jack Snipe also entertained the public by the Spurgin Hide on Titchfield Haven, a species I hope to see this year. Medmerry had a good day with a ringtail Hen-Harrier, 3 Glossy Ibis (which eventually settled in a field at West Wittering), Spoonbill and a Merlin. I have always said that this area is too underrated and needs more birders to cover the area properly. 

A Winter's day, in a deep and dark November..........