Another seven moths added to my year list.

Monday 12th June 2023.

It is always pleasing to get a Buff-tip moth in the moth box.

After another warm, humid night (we escaped the thunderstorms again!) the moth trap produced another reasonable haul of moths and added another 7 new moths to my year list. A total of 59 moths of 28 species were recorded, though some did fly off before I could get to ID them and again, I had to keep an eye on the ever hungry Sparrows that literally stood right next to me at times trying to pinch a moth or two!

Above, a Toadflax Pug was a good record for my garden and below, the infamous Box-tree Moth. 

A bit overcast this morning and again, still quite warm with no wind to speak of as I got to work trying to find the moths out of the moth box first and then delve into the moth box. Pick of the bunch has to go to the Buff-tip, which never ceases to amaze me on what an attractive and most unusual looking moth they are. A Toadflax Pug was nothing to be sniffed at and quite a catch for my garden with only a handful recorded in my garden over the many years I have been doing this.

Above, Riband Wave and below, Anania coronata.

Both Riband Wave and the dreaded Box-tree Moth (both species get well into double figures during the summer) are back as were the Bee Moths, with the latter hosting both a male and three female individuals. Two more ‘year-ticks’, the large macro Dark Arches and the micro moth Anania coronata were the other two added to my ever growing year list. Immigrant moths included a White-point, Silver Y and a Diamond-back Moth. Already, I can confirm that I have seen 108 species of moth in the UK so far this year, though my goal is to get up to 200 for the year. Today looks set to be a mixture of sunshine and possible showers (even thunderstorms) and with this Iberian Plume (I rather call it the Spanish Plume) coming up from the South, hopefully it should push in both migrant birds and moth

Two Dark Arches were present this morning to add to my year list.

Moths present this morning included the following: 

• 3 Riband Wave (NFY)
• 1 Buff-tip (NFY)
• 1 Toadflax Pug (NFY)
• 4 Lime-speck Pug
• 1 Double-striped Pug
• 8 Willow Beauty
• 7 White Ermine
• 2 Dark Arches (NFY)
• 2 Pale Mottled Willow
• 2 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 1 Silver Y
• 1 White-point
• 3 Garden Carpet
• 2 Common Marbled Carpet
• 2 Brimstone Moth
• 1 Marbled Minor
• 5 Bee Moth (NFY)
• 2 Apple Leaf Miner
• 3 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 1 Brown House Moth
• 2 Ephestia woodiella
• 1 Anania coronata (NFY)
• 1 Hawthorn Moth
• 2 Tachystola acroxantha
• 1 Diamond-back Moth
• 1 Beautiful Plume
• 1 Box-tree Moth (NFY)
• 1 Platyedra subcinerea

I didn't do any birding as such yesterday as my two step-children, Hannah and Russell, were absailing down the Spinnaker Tower; a Christmas present bought for them from their father and it was nice to be altogether watching the guys. Rather them than me! While I was there, as usual, I always keep my eyes open for anything of note as I spotted a Grey Heron flying over Portsmouth Harbour and an adult Mediterranean Gull flying low looking for something to eat! By the Harbour entrance, a large gathering of Gulls and a few Common Terns were present fishing for what was probably a shoal of fish going through.  

Russell (left) and Hannah (right) climbing down the Spinnaker Tower yesterday.