Four new moths for the year.

Tuesday 12th April 2022.

My first Brimstone Moth of the year. 

Despite some heavy rain showers overnight, there was a nice selection of moths within the moth box of which four species were new for the year. Thankfully, most of them were actually in the box, though I have to get round to tidying up the egg trays within. The list of moths this morning were as follows:

• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart (NFY)
• 1 Brimstone Moth (NFY)
• 2 Early Grey
• 4 Double-striped Pug
• 2 Tachystola acroxantha (NFY)
• 1 Brown House-moth (NFY)
• 4 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 8 Common Plume
• 1 Beautiful Plume

There were also at least four Lacewings on the white sheet behind the box. I did know that the showers were not going to go away and how right I was. But, despite the inclement weather at times, there were plenty of birds around The Oaks Crematorium that kept me entertained. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen twice during the day there and both Blue and Great Tits were displayed around the grounds throughout the day too. Within the woodland, the songs of Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Nuthatch, Blackbird and even Firecrest were heard and also a distant Skylark could be heard behind the Crematorium.

Tachystola acroxantha, one of two this morning. This species is common in my garden for at least 7 months of the year. 

Other birds seen during my day included a flock of 12 Mediterranean Gulls flying east over Waterlooville and a Red Kite slowly flapping low over the rooftops while I was driving through Leigh Park. There was just the one Common Buzzard seen today, a stationary bird perched on a lamp post beside the M275. Again, I have the moth box on overnight as it is meant to be fairly mild. Fingers crossed.  

A Shuttle-shaped Dart with a Light Brown Apple Moth for company.

This Brown House-moth was also my first of the year.

Though nowhere near as busy as yesterday, there was still a reasonable seabird movement through the Solent again, with plenty of Arctic and Great Skua passing both Hampshire and West Sussex today and another Pomarine Skua past Selsey Bill. There was also a good Red-throated Diver passage with 20 past Sandy Point and 35 past Selsey Bill. More migrants have been found this morning with up to 5 Common Whitethroats seen along the Canal Path at Titchfield Haven. Reed and Sedge Warblers were noted plus a few Nightingales heard singing in both counties. Good, I shall have to go back to Marlpit Lane again for my ‘year-tick’!