Two micro moths new for the year.

Saturday 11 June2022.

My first Hawthorn Moth of the year.

I had a feeling it was going to be quiet regarding the moths this morning, for when I put my moth box light on last night, there was a clear sky overhead and a quick check on my Weather App revealed that it was going to be a clear and cool night. Nevertheless, I still did get a few moths and even two were new for the year. In total, 32 moths of 17 species were recorded and a much better total from the micro moths. 

Cypress Tip Moth. These are really tiny micro moths and if it wasn't for my reading glasses, I could of easily overlooked this moth. They are a regular micro moth to my box at this time of year.

The following moths were present this morning:

• 1 Yellow-barred Brindle
• 2 Common Pug
• 1 Lime-speck Pug
• 2 Willow Beauty
• 4 White Ermine
• 1 Heart & Dart
• 1 L-album Wainscot
• 1 Straw Dot
• 1 Hawthorn Moth (NFY)
• 1 Common Plume
• 1 Brown House Moth
• 4 Tachystola acroxantha
• 3 Apple Leaf Miner
• 1 Bryotropha affinis
• 2 Celypha striana
• 2 Mompha subbistrigella
• 4 Cypress Tip Moth (NFY)

Yesterday, again I was keeping an eye out for anything interesting of note and my day kicked off nicely at work with a fine Red Kite soaring low over the houses around the Paulsgrove area (Southampton Road to be precise), where this individual was seen flying first south and then return north towards Portsdown Hill. I was in stationary traffic at the time, but it was always nice to see this bird. Over at our Fareham Branch, around the back of the branch I found a Cinnabar Moth fluttering about low in the grass and quickly cupped it with my hands to show my work colleagues. Such stunning moths with their black and red colouring. I really didn't get the chance to check out the moths at Portchester Crematorium properly, though I did find a Willow Beauty on the wall at the back of the Crem. Apart from that, all was rather quiet today. 

Straw Dot moth. This was one of the first moths that arrived to my moth box last night and so quickly potted it for a decent photo of it the following day. 

In Hampshire yesterday, the two Glossy Ibis remained faithful to the Posbrook Floods and showed well right out in the open (tomorrow perhaps I might get to see these birds?). A possible Black Kite drifted over Fishlake Meadows and interesting but alarming news concerns the Wood Warblers in the New Forest. Only two pairs have been recorded so far this year, plus 8 singing males in territory. The theory is that they are moving further north and west away from the County. I think Andy and I were probably lucky to see our bird a few weeks ago at Bolderwood.

Late morning news: I rescued a Garden Pebble moth from the Bird bath this morning as I was watering the garden. I left it on a table in the sunshine to dry out and I think it made a full recovery.

A 'lifer' moth at Portchester Crematorium.

Thursday 9 June 2022.

Yesterday's exciting little moth was this Taleporia tubulosa at Portchester Crematorium.

A cool start to the morning (12 degrees) and with a clear blue sky overhead, I just knew the moth numbers in and around my moth box was going to be low. Indeed it was with just 25 moths of 20 species and nothing new for the year either to make getting up at 4.45am any easier!  A few Swifts were sailing overhead and a Blackbird belted over the garden heading south, but nothing more interesting than that while checking the moths. The following moths were recorded in and around my moth box this morning:

• 1 Yellow-barred Brindle
• 1 Lime-Speck Pug
• 1 Common Pug
• 2 Willow Beauty
• 4 White Ermine
• 1 Brimstone Moth
• 1 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Garden Carpet
• 1 L-album Wainscot
• 1 Heart & Dart
• 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 1 Common Marbled Carpet
• 1 Apple Leaf Miner
• 2 Mompha subbistrigella
• 1 Common Plume
• 1 Celypha striana
• 1 Brown House Moth
• 1 Tachystola acroxantha
• 1 Diamond-back Moth

Yesterday, back over at Portchester Crematorium, the following moths were found: singles of White Ermine, Eudonia angustea and two Garden Carpets (even here it has been very quiet of late) and I also found an interesting micro which I quickly potted. I then placed the photo on both the Hants Moths and UK Micro Moth Facebook pages and eventually, moth expert Ben Sale came to the conclusion it was in fact a Taleporia tubulosa, or to give it its vernacular name, Large Bright Birch and a member of the ‘Bagworm’ family of moths. I cannot recall ever seeing one of these before, so it might as well go down as a ‘lifer’.

Celypha striana. I am getting this species on a regular basis at present.

The Diamond-back Moth. This common immigrant moth was the only migrant moth in my box today. Some lucky guys into moth have been recording the rare Striped Hawk-moth to their respective moth traps, with two recorded yesterday that were not too far away from where I live.

Also yesterday, I noticed the female Sparrowhawk was defending her nest at Chichester Crematorium, with the bird chasing off a Carrion Crow which got too close to the nest site and what does not help is a pair of Magpies nesting nearby too! A few Kestrels and Common Buzzards were also seen along the A27, but not a great deal else of note, bar a Sandwich Tern flying over Hayling Island heading west towards Langstone Harbour as I drove past the Esso Garage. The Dippers are still showing well in Romsey on the River Test and a pair of Glossy Ibis are still showing well on the Posbrook Floods. Hopefully, I might catch up with this species soon?

Another 5 new moths for the year.

Tuesday 7th June 2022.

My first Bordered Straw moth of the year. This individual was about to fly off hence the blurred wings.

There was a light drizzle early this morning at 4.45am when I ventured out into the murky dawn, but I could see it was going to be a good morning for moths with quite a few already on top of the rain guard as I settled down with a hot cup of coffee, ready to see what ‘Mothy’ wonders I had this morning. There were at least 70 moths of 33 species present this morning with five moths that were new for the year including Bordered Straw, Lychnis, Treble Brown Spot, Silver-ground Carpet and the micro moth, Codling moth. Most unusual in the garden this morning was a Jay! The bird flew in and landed by my Buddliea tree and then slipped its way through the vegetation at the back of the garden then flew off north! I normally get a few around the Autumn time flying high over the house, but I think its the first time I have seen one actually in my garden. 

Another new moth for the year, a rather smart Treble Brown Spot.

The following moths were present: 

• 1 Bee Moth
• 7 Willow Beauty
• 2 Heart & Dart
• 2 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 12 Lime-speck Pug
• 3 Common Pug
• 2 Yellow-barred Brindle
• 1 Large Yellow Underwing
• 2 Light Emerald
• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart
• 3 Vines Rustic
• 1 Varied Coronet
• 1 Riband Wave
• 4 White Ermine
• 1 Small Square-spot
• 1 Bordered Straw (NFY)
• 1 Lychnis (NFY)
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow
• 1 Silver Y
• 5 Common Marbled Carpet
• 1 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Treble Brown Spot (NFY)
• 1 Silver-ground Carpet (NFY)
• 2 Common Plume
• 1 Tachystola acroxantha
• 2 Ephestia woodiella
• 1 Codling Moth (NFY)
• 1 Mompha subbistrigella
• 1 Chrysoteuchia culmella
• 1 Eudonia angustea
• 2 Eudonia lacustrata
• 1 Apple Leaf Miner
• 3 Bryotropha affinis

Lychnis.

Codling Moth.

At work today, I checked thoroughly the South exit at Portchester Crematorium and the neighbouring Flower Bays for moths, but all I could find were singles of Double-striped Pug, Small Dusty Wave, Willow Beauty, Garden Carpet and a Tachstola acroxantha. I could not find a single moth over The Oaks Crematorium but I did see a Nuthatch flying over as did a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a pair of Linnets at this location. Both Blackcap and Chiffchaff were still singing in the adjacent woods. 

This Silver-ground Carpet had me fooled at first. I thought it was going to be a rare migrant for I could not find it in my field guide, so putting it on the Hants Moths Facebook page, 'mothing' pal, Dave Levy suggested Silver-ground Carpet, though it was a rather worn individual. It was also agreed by the Author of Hants Moth Facebook too.  

Few moths around the Crematoriums today.

Monday 6th June 2022.

The micro moth, Chrystoteuchia culmella at Portchester Crematorium this morning.

What seems like a very long time, I put the moth box on tonight, knowing that there is very little rain due overnight and so, I am optimistic that I might pick up a few more new for the year. I was working over Portchester Crematorium this morning and a check of the South Chapel exit and neighbouring flower bays, produced very few moths, which was disappointing. 

I found the following moths, which, bar one, were all around the South Chapel exit: Small Dusty Wave, 2 Bee Moths and a Chrystoteuchia culmella (see photo) and even The Oaks Crematorium failed to bring in any moths at all. There was not a great deal bird wise either, with just a few Common Buzzards noted along the M275 perched on the lamp posts. Yesterday, I was over my Father’s house in Lovedean and from the comfort of his Conservatory, I spotted both Common Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk, the latter was carrying very large prey in its talons and seemed to struggle in carrying it.

Another photo of the Dipper with one of the juveniles in Romsey. Photo by Andy Tew.

I was watching Springwatch tonight and one topic of conversation taking place was the ringing of Warblers at Hauxley Nature Reserve where Megan was treated in holding a Reed Warbler. This reminded me of the conversation I had with one of Lazee Birders at the Dipper site on Saturday last where the conversation came from the Wood Warblers in the New Forest. This particular Wood Warbler was photographed and most notable was the FOUR rings it had on its legs - two on one leg and two on the other! This begs the question on why on Earth would one want to put so many rings on just one bird? Surely, though they weigh next to nothing, these birds still have to go about their daily lifestyle and weighted down with these rings surely does not help the bird in any way? Maybe I might get some answers if I put it on social media? 

The Wood Warbler in question! How many rings must a small passerine have on its legs?  Photo by Trevor Stimpson.

I got a text from birding pal, Geoff Farwell on Sunday to say that he had a pair of Turtle Doves near Charlton Down, an area I might go and check this weekend. At Langstone Mill Pond, the Heron flock there had 40 juvenile birds from 20 nests; 11 Cattle Egrets from 4 nests and 15 Grey Herons with 5 nests. Though impressive, it is apparently well down from this time last year. Yesterday, a Black Tern, Little Gull and a Yellow Wagtail were recorded at Black Point, Hayling Island!