100+ moths this morning.

Saturday 9th July 2022.

The Festoon moth. I think this is only the second one of this species I have had in my garden. A smart little moth that I used to get regularly over The Oaks Crematorium, Havant. 

Up at silly o’clock this morning due to very warm overnight temperatures (18 degrees Fahrenheit!) and so had to get up at 4am and make a cup of coffee and a quick check of the moth box I had on overnight. The good news is that the white sheet behind the box looked laden with moths as I grabbed some of my moth pots to pot a few before they flew off. One moth in particular on closer inspection was my first Brown-tailed Moth of the year, so that's a good start and possibly another is in a different pot. I grabbed at least four more moths and shall study them later.

Above, the tiny micro moth Caloptilia betulicola and not easy to photograph as well! Below, this micro moth kept still for me, the beautiful tiny Argyresthia brockeella.

After a lengthy spell checking the moth box and the surrounding area, a large total of at least 105 moths of 43 species (still one pot to check) was not unexpected. It was very warm last night and again, with this forthcoming heat wave, I can only imagine what triple number figures other people studying moths will get up to! Among the many moths this morning, there were some excellent moths that were new for the year including Brown-tailed Moth, Festoon, Dwarf Cream Wave and the micro moths, Blastobasis rebeli, Caloptilia betulicola and the stunning little Argyresthia brockeella. 

This delicate little Dwarf Cream Wave was hiding underneath the lid of my moth box.

With the very warm temperature, the moth experts are telling us that this should bring over some interesting immigrant moths over from the Continent. This morning, the migrant moths present included my second Pearly Underwing of the year plus Silver Y and two Diamond-back Moths. So I am looking forward to the following week when it really is going to get hot.

The following moths were present this morning:

• 2 Brown-tailed Moth (NFY)
• 1 Common Emerald
• 1 Yellow Shell
• 9 Riband Wave
• 3 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 2 White Ermine
• 4 Lime-speck Pug
• 4 Common Pug
• 7 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Small Ranunculus
• 3 Common Rustic
• 1 Vines Rustic
• 1 Festoon (NFY)
• 3 Pale Mottled Willow
• 1 Pearly Underwing
• 2 Willow Beauty
• 3 Heart & Dart
• 1 Dwarf Cream Wave (NFY)
• 1 Silver Y
• 2 Endotrisis flammealis
• 3 Oegoconia quadripuncta
• 4 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 1 White-shouldered House Moth
• 4 Bird-cherry Ermine
• 5 Chrysoteuchia culmella
• 2 Blastobasis adustella
• 1 Bryotropha terrella
• 2 Blastobasis rebeli (NFY)
• 1 Eudonia mercurella
• 4 Common Plume
• 3 Anania coronata
• 1 Brown House Moth
• 1 Blastobasis lacticolella
• 3 Udea fulvalis
• 6 Apple Leaf Miner 
• 4 Tachystola acroxantha
• 2 Celypha striana
• 2 Diamond-back Moth
• 1 Caloptilia betulicola (NFY)
• 1 Argyresthia brockeella (NFY)
• 1 Swammerdamia pyrella

One of two Brown-tailed Moths this morning. 

A few notable records in the Cemy the morning.

Friday 8th July 2022.

These Horse Chestnut leaves looking so green and healthy within the Cemetery. though I have found a few trees suffering from the Horse Chestnut moth caterpillars.

I knew today was going to be a hot one with the lack of wind and a clear blue sky forecast, but that did not stop me taking my dog Scruff for a pleasant walk around Highland Road Cemetery. However, Scruff is now 15 years old and his old bones are really struggling at the moment with his back legs not as good as they used to be. In fact, I was getting a bit worried for him and was seriously wondering whether or not to carry him back home. What with his very poor eyesight (he walked straight into a gravestone!) and hearing, plus a dodgy bladder that comes with old dogs (and us humans!)I had to walk slowly throughout my stay here.

These juvenile Blackbirds were being fed by their parents in our back garden this morning before my walk.

On a positive note, there was a lot of wildlife to check out along my walk, most notably good numbers of insects on the wing and a few bird highlights too. I’ll kick off with the birds. Though normally a very quiet time of year in the Cemy, there was a male Great Spotted Woodpecker calling high up in the Chestnut trees in the north-east corner and eventually, I saw the bird flying overhead and into the Holm Oak clump. Nearby, up to three Jays were seen, possibly a family flock which settled into one of the trees close to the pathway. A female Sparrowhawk was seen briefly, diving down over the Cemy towards the nearby houses on the east side, but not subsequently seen again. I heard the soft ‘hoo-weet’ of a possible ‘Phyllosc’ Warbler within the trees, but failed to locate the bird, which would have been a good sighting for this time of year.

Above, a pair of Jays sat together briefly then joined by another two in the same tree! Below, one perched on a gravestone.  

Above, a few Swifts could be seen soaring lazily high over the Cemetery. Below, one will always encounter a Wood Pigeon here, including this 'not so shy' individual. 

A few common birds were noted including a Robin, several Blackbirds and a Goldfinch were all seen as well as the obligatory Pigeons and Herring Gulls. A few Swifts sailed high overhead and today, I was trying out my old Panasonic Lumix Bridge Camera of which I am taking on holiday with me later this year. 

Above, there were plenty of butterflies on show, making the most of the flowering Buddleia including this  Painted Lady butterfly and below, a Gatekeeper.

Above, several Small White butterflies were noted and below, just the one Red Admiral was encountered during my walk.  

Both butterflies and Hoverflies were abundant today with up to 5 species of the former seen around the Buddleia bushes, that included Red Admiral, Small White, Gatekeeper, Holly Blue and best of all, a Painted Lady all happily nectaring on the Buddleia. However, there probably could have been more species about but I was more concerned with Scruff than to spend another 30 minutes here. I counted at least three Hornet-mimic Hoverflies around the Buddleia along with Drone Flies and several other species of Hoverfly as well as good numbers of Honey Bees and other Bee species. Again, I would have liked to spend a lot more time studying these, but needs must. The only moth seen on the wing was the micro moth, Pyrausta despicata.

Above, one of the many Drone Flies, Eristalis tenax, present and below, the impressive large Hornet-mimic Hoverfly, Volucella zonaria.

Later this afternoon, while having lunch with my wife in the back garden, I could see a lot of Gulls circling high above the house that included several Mediterranean Gulls among the many Herring and Black-headed Gulls. The temperature was climbing into the 80’s and I was glad I changed into shorts and t-shirt! I even saw a Falcon species high up, but was too slow to get my binoculars to get an ID on it, though it did look good for a Kestrel. One must be careful though as this mini heatwave set to hit the UK could be bringing in some rarities. We shall see.    

New moths keep on coming.

Thursday 7th July 2022.

My first Herald moth of the year was a nice bonus.

Another cool start to the morning and even at 4.45am, no sign of any Sparrows near my moth box as I went about checking the outside of the box and white sheet for any goodies. The current temperature in Southsea, according to my mobile, is 17 degrees, however, it felt colder than that and there was a bit of cloud overhead too.

Grey Dagger. Another new moth for the year, though an annual species in my garden.

A total of 52 moths of 30 species were recorded that included three that were new for the year including a Herald, a Grey Dagger (to get technical, the Grey and Dark Dagger are virtually identical and can only reliably told apart by dissection of the genitalia) and the beautiful micro moth, Agapata zoegana. I dont normally put the moth box on two nights running as for not wanting to catch the same moths twice, but I did and it paid off with another three more species for the year. 

The gorgeous micro moth, Agapata zoegana. These are not always annual to my garden, but a delight to see. 

The following moths were present this morning:

• 1 Herald (NFY)
• 4 Riband Wave
• 2 Silver Y
• 2 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Grey Dagger (NFY)
• 2 Lime-speck Pug
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow
• 1 Uncertain
• 1 Common Emerald  
• 1 Sycamore
• 1 Willow Beauty
• 1 Vines Rustic
• 2 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 1 Dark Arches
• 2 Small Ranunculus
• 1 Bird-cherry Ermine
• 6 Common Plume
• 1 Udea prunalis
• 1 Red-barred Tortrix
• 1 Diamond-back Moth
• 1 Mompha subbigistrella
• 1 Agapata zoegana (NFY)
• 1 Eudonia lacustrata
• 4 Celypha striana
• 2 Tachystola acroxantha
• 1 Eudonia mercurella
• 2 Endotricha flammealis
• 7 Chrysoteuchia culmella
• 1 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 1 Blastobasis lacticollela

A Flower Crab Spider took full advantage of my moth sheet and picked up its breakfast of a Common Emerald moth!

This Red-tailed Shrike (formerly Turkestan Shrike from the Isabelle Shrike clan!) at Bempton Cliffs RSPB, East Yorkshire was photographed by midlands birder, Dave Hutton. This has been present, along with the nearby Black-browed Albatross, for over a week now and still present today.

Another five more moth species for the year.

Wednesday 6th July 2022.

Sycamore moth. I probably could only count on one hand on how many I have had of this species in my garden, so I was pretty chuffed I had one this morning.

I suppose it is easy to forget that we have been through the longest day of the year as by 4.45am this morning, it was still relatively dark and it took to just after 5am for it to be light, despite a cloudless sky. The weather forecast is set to be dry still and warming up again as well with a heatwave predicted for next week. 

European Corn-borer. A species that has only recently colonised the Portsmouth area and once was a rare immigrant.

A good selection of moths this morning with plenty of both ‘macro and micro moths to search through including three more moths that were new for the year: Sycamore and four micros, Mother-of-Pearl, Red-barred Tortrix and the European Corn-borer among a total of 54 moths of 33 species. The local Sparrows could see me pack up my moth box and their determination to pick off a moth was proving difficult to keep them at bay when my back was turned. Yes, maybe a few get picked off, but most are in my pots which I release at night.

The tiny Red-barred Tortrix; an annual species in my garden.

The following moths were present this morning:

• 2 Dark Arches
• 1 Small Ranunculus
• 3 Cabbage Moth
• 3 Riband Wave
• 2 Common Emerald
• 1 Heart & Dart
• 2 Silver Y
• 2 White Ermine
• 2 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 1 Willow Beauty
• 2 Lime-speck Pug
• 2 Uncertain
• 3 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Sycamore (NFY)
• 1 Common Rustic
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow
• 3 Common Plume
• 1 Box-tree Moth
• 4 Tachystola acroxantha
• 1 Udea prunalis
• 1 European Corn-borer (NFY)
• 2 Bee Moth
• 1 Blastobasis lacticollela
• 2 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 2 Eudonia mercurella
• 1 Meal Moth
• 1 Eudonia lacustrata
• 1 Endotricha flammealis
• 1 Celypha striana
• 1 Ephestia woodiella
• 1 Mother-of-Pearl (NFY)
• 1 Red-barred Tortrix (NFY)
• 1 Bryotropha terrella

The Mother-of-Pearl; one of our largest micro moths.

Yesterday evening, a Hummingbird Hawk-moth was present in my garden, feeding on my Buddleia flowers, but though I grabbed my camera from indoors, the moths had disappeared. Even my new neighbours who have recently moved in, noticed the moth as well!. The only exciting bit of bird news comes from the Lazee’s again, with a report of a Night Heron on Waltham Brooks Nature Reserve in West Sussex and a possible seen to fly into reeds at Butts Lagoon, Pennington Marshes last night. The Glossy Ibis remain faithful to Farlington Marshes.

The Blastobasis vittata micro moth that was eventually identified this morning. 

Stop press: An odd micro turned up in the moth box this morning of which I was unsure and therefore posted a photo of it on the Hants Moths Facebook page. I have had a reply back from the Author of the site to say it looks good for the rare, localised micro moth Blastobasis vittata. Now, I have had this moth a few times in my moth box and was identified by the late, great John Langmaid and is a great testimony to the man who discovered it first in the UK. So, 55 moths of 34 species today! 

Above, I counted over 35+ Swifts over my house tonight while eating my dinner in the garden. At least one of the Swift nest boxes is being occupied and my guess, is that there are eggs within it. Hopefully, I shall have a photo of the youngsters later this month. Below, one of the female House Sparrows hoping to pick off a moth in my garden.    

Lackey & Common Rustic added to year list.

Monday 4th July 2022.

My first Lackey moth of the year, which was hiding behind the moth box.

I have a day off today and therefore it was on the moth box last night, though knowing it was going to be a cloudless cool night as well. I awoke just a few minutes before 5am and therefore rushed into the garden as quickly as I could in case the Sparrows were gorging on my  moths, however, I was in luck as there were none to be seen around the box. Yes, they were there but ‘chirruping’ loudly in the neighbouring trees and bushes. A solitary Goldfinch was feeding on my sunflower hearts as I checked out the box and its contents.

Another new moth for my year list, the Common Rustic. 

There was yet another Elephant Hawk-moth on the outside egg tray this morning as I carefully picked it up and placed it within one of the hanging baskets and nearby, my first Lackey moth of the year. Within the box, there was also my first Common Rustic of the year; a tricky species as there are so many guises of this small macro moth. A total of 31 moths of 21 species this morning. 

My third Elephant Hawk-moth of the year so far.

The following moths were present:

• 1 Elephant Hawk-moth
• 2 Common Emerald
• 1 L-album Wainscot
• 1 Cabbage Moth
• 3 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 1 Lime-speck Pug
• 2 Uncertain
• 2 Willow Beauty
• 2 Riband Wave
• 1 Heart & Dart
• 1 Common Rustic (NFY)
• 1 Lackey (NFY)
• 1 Light Emerald
• 1 White Ermine
• 1 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Udea prunalis
• 2 Common Plume
• 2 Tachystola acroxantha
• 2 Chrysoteuchia culmella
• 2 Celypha striana
• 1 Brown House Moth

Yesterday, there was a report of a Caspian Tern seen flying around the Dell Quay area in West Sussex and was last seen to fly west. It was then subsequently seen flying over Normandy Marshes, near Lymington around 12.30pm, but did not settle and moved on. There has been a small influx of this species that is probably involving a couple of birds, so it is worth checking out the Tern colonies here on the south coast. The pair of Glossy Ibis was still frequenting Farlington Marshes yesterday and a returning Wood Sandpiper was seen on Alresford Pond. Birding pal, Geoff Farwell, was birding at Oxenbourne Down yesterday and had the following: 2 Marsh Tits, 2 Firecrest, 3 Whitethroat, 6 Chiffchaffs, 4 Swift, 5 Common Buzzard and a Red Kite. He also noted at least 5 Chalkhill Blue butterflies on the wing there. 

Light Emerald.

Around midday today, Becky and I popped over to our daughters house in Drayton and while having a relaxing cup of coffee in the back garden, I noticed a couple of raptors soaring high overhead. I could clearly see one was a Common Buzzard, which was soaring near Portsdown Hill in the distance, but much closer was a superb Hobby, which was a real surprise. The bird got fairly close and though I had no binoculars at the time of the sighting, I was more than happy it was one. Also present were a few House Martins flying close by overhead and calling in doing so plus a couple of Swallows heading south. My daughters garden most certainly turns up the goods, especially seeing that I saw a Honey-Buzzard in the Autumn last year!

Above, this Peacock butterfly showed briefly on a gravestone within the Cemy. Below, Lady Bedstraw was still growing between the gravestones.

Later this afternoon, after picking our granddaughter up from school, I took her down the seafront and then on to Canoe Lake for her to play on the zip-wire. While enjoying ourselves, I found a Painted Lady butterfly near a clump of Mallow flowers, which was quite possibly my third individual of the year. Just a shame I did not have my camera with me. There were quite a few Med Gulls on the wing over the beach as we chucked stones into the sea. Great times.

Above, Mallow growing in clumps around the Cemetery. Below, an Ivy Bee enjoying nectaring on the Buddleia that was growing around the Cemetery. A familiar plant that grows here and enjoyed by good numbers of different Bees and Butterflies. I bet the various moths enjoy it at night too.  

Yesterday, I took Isabelle for a bike ride around Highland Road Cemetery. It has been a while since I have taken a walk around here and the local Council has trimmed the place good and proper, though with the lack of rain of late, the grass looks very yellow at the moment. Though busy looking after Isabelle, I kept an eye out for anything of note, especially seeing there were a lot of Buddleia plants in flower. However it was the bees that were more attracted to this plant with both Buff-tailed Bumble bees and Ivy Bees enjoying nectaring on the plants. I did find a Peacock butterfly perched on one of the gravestones and a Large White fluttering over the graves.

Viper's Bugloss growing on one of the graves among the Yarrow.

Apart from a few Swifts soaring high overhead and a brief view of a flying Wren, birds were at a premium within the Cemy, but there were a few notable wild flowers in bloom including a large sprig of Vipers Bugloss, a species I don't think I have encountered in the Cemetery before. The short grass attracted a lot of Birds-foot Trefoil which should benefit the Common Blue’s when they arrive.

Goldfinches in my back garden late this afternoon.

A good trip into the New Forest.

Saturday 2nd July 2022.

Beautiful Cottongrass growing along the track opposite the railway bridge on Beaulieu Road heath. Do not ever try walking across this area is one will sink up to their head! 

If I was after a ‘year-tick’ for my bird year list, I was going to have to try the New Forest for Honey Buzzard seeing one was reported by Pig Bush yesterday by one of the Lazee gang. True, the chances are quite slim in seeing one, but it's a chance I was willing to take as we made our way into the New Forest this morning. In fact, a quick change of direction as we went to one of our old haunts, Beaulieu Road, instead. It has been many years since we have been here and it brought back a lot of old memories for both of us; remembering the days when I caught the train here as a teenager and times when we would spend all day at the infamous ‘tumili’ to search for raptors over the woods. Some really good times there with great friends. 

Andy surveying the superb woodland at Bishop's Dyke. Again, a lot of good memories here from the past. I remember going on a Little Swift 'twitch' at this very location and some stroppy bloke came storming in moaning about no-one telling him it was here. It wasn't! But he was promptly told to 'do one' which had everyone laughing at his expense. Then we all saw a superb Nightjar perched up in the daylight to make up for the Swift.

As like last Saturday, I shall let the photos do the talking as the day began at Andy's house (Cowplain Marsh) with breakfast and checking his moths by his moth box. Though nothing particularly exciting, there were the following moths present: 

• 1 Buff Ermine
• 1 July Highflyer
• 1 Heart & Dart
• 1 Anania coronata (NFY)
• 2 Eudonia lacustrata
• 1 Ephestia woodiella
• 1 Endotricha  flammealis
• 2 Bee Moth
• 1 Twenty-plume Moth
• 1 Common Plume

Sorry, not the sharpest of photos, but it was high up. The Anania coronata.  

So after checking the moths, we made our way westbound down the M27 and then off to Beaulieu Road. On arrival, we noticed the car park at Shatterford Car park was closed due to the fact that a lot of car parks within the New Forest are closed due to helping the breeding waders on the heathland and to reduce the number of disturbance to the birds at this most important time. Therefore, we parked nearby opposite the Beaulieu Hotel instead and then made our way to Shatterford car park and walked south to Bishops Dyke and then onto Denny Wood and then finally back to my car, which took in some superb wildlife and bird sightings along the way.

Andy finally got his first House Martin of the year as at least four birds were flying by the houses by the railway line. I, however, found at least two nests of this species under the eaves of this house. Sadly, it has been a very lean year for this summer visitor as numbers around the UK have plummeted, especially here on the south coast.  

Arguably, the Stonechats are the most numerous species on the heathland. We saw at least 15+ on our trip here with many being juveniles. Hopefully another good season for them this year. 

Above, a male Reed Bunting was seen singing on its territory near Bishop's Dyke. The bird was some distance away hence the lack of sharpness of the photo, but always a delight to see. Below, there were good numbers of Hirundines around Bishop's Dyke. Not only the House Martins were present, but also a few Sand Martins, good numbers of Swallows and also, at least a dozen Swifts over the woodland.

  

Above, there were a few interesting flowers on show around the heath including this stunning Bog asphodel growing in the damp areas along the footpath. Below, the delicate Round-leaved Crowfoot.

Above, a juvenile Redstart hopping on the ground within Bishop's Dyke. The adult bird was not too far away and not too happy with us being there either. Below, this active Spotted Flycatcher showed well for us perched high up in a dead tree. 

Above, a Treecreeper showed well near where the above were within Bishop's Dyke. There was also a Nuthatch nearby, but that was a no-show that was somewhere deep within the canopies of the trees. Below, there was a small flock of Starlings between Bishop's Dyke and Denny Wood that contained quite a few juveniles. This youngster was hitching a ride on one of the Ponies!

 

Above, this Silver-washed Fritillary butterfly gave us a merry dance in trying to photograph it within Denny Wood, but, eventually, it rested and showed very well. Large White, Large Skipper, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and good numbers of Silver-studded Blue's (below) seen on our walk today.  

There was just the one Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly seen today, this one within Bishop's Dyke and good numbers of Black-tailed Skimmers around Denny Wood and the walk back to Shatterford Car Park along with a single male Emperor Dragonfly. While in Bishop's Dyke, I did spot my first male Common Darter of the year.

Above, this Hobby flew low over the heath as Andy spotted it hunting after dragonflies near Shatterford Car Park. 

Above, there was a small group of Edible Frogs below the small bridge leading into Denny Wood. We counted at least 5 individuals below the bridge. Below, this Nursery Web Spider was by Shatterford Car Park entrance.