A nice variety of moths today.

Wednesday 16th August 2023.

The micro moth, Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer. A common moth around this time of year, but this was the only 'year-tick' among a good many moths this morning. 

A dry, clear start to the morning with hardly a cloud in the sky and not a breeze to disturb the trees either at 5.45am. Coffee made and moth pots gathered, I made my way into the garden and already, I could see a few moths had settled on the white sheet behind my moth box. What was noticeable were TWO Tiger moth species present on the white sheet; a Garden and Jersey Tiger near one another. A good start to the day. Last night, while having a quick check of the moth box before retiring to bed at 11.30pm, a large moth flew out from behind the moth box, which I could only assume was an Old Lady moth. I have not seen one this year, though there was no sign of it this morning.

Good numbers of Garden Tigers were present this morning and this individual stood out amongst the rest, showing a lot more white on the wings than black.

In total this morning, there were 88 moths of 33 species, but despite the good numbers and variety of moths, there was only one new moth for the year, the micro moth Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer (Agriphila geniculea). This species becomes a regular occurrence as the year goes on and in good numbers too. The number of Garden Tiger moths this morning was nearly in double figures, scattered about either in my moth box or around the garden nearby. Vine’s Rustics were in double figures again and other notable macro moths included 1 Clay, 3 White-points and a Tree-lichen Beauty.

Not the most glamorous of micro moths, but this House Neb was only my second record for the year, though three were present this morning.

The micro moths were also in reasonable numbers and variety of which 3 Hawthorn Moths were present today and also my first Narrow-winged Grey for a month or so.

A Clay moth among the White-point moths this morning had to be analysed correctly.

Moths recorded this morning included the following:

• 9 Garden Tiger
• 1 Jersey Tiger
• 3 Small Dusty Wave
• 1 Silver Y
• 1 Garden Carpet
• 2 Lime-speck Pug
• 7 Brimstone Moth
• 1 Marbled Beauty
• 1 Common Rustic
• 1 Large Yellow Underwing
• 3 White-point
• 14 Vine’s Rustic
• 3 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 3 Pale Mottled Willow
• 1 Clay
• 5 Willow Beauty
• 3 Square-spot Rustic
• 1 Tree-lichen Beauty
• 2 Double-striped Pug
• 2 Box Tree Moth
• 2 Common Plume
• 2 Mother of Pearl
• 3 House Neb
• 3 Hawthorn Moth
• 1 Bramble Shoot Moth
• 1 Ruddy Streak
• 5 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 1 Narrow-winged Grey
• 2 Dark Neb
• 1 Golden-brown Tubic
• 1 Dingy Dowd
• 1 Sussex Dowd
• 1 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer (NFY)

Fellow 'Lazee Birder' Andy Dickety had this Hummingbird Hawk-moth by his house yesterday.

Visible migration should be starting now and overhead. I saw two, possibly three Greenfinches flying over and at least one Goldfinch (it or another came down to feed on the Sunflower hearts). Several flocks of Starlings flew over heading north from their roost, which I believe is under South Parade Pier. The soft ‘hooeet’ of a Chiffchaff could be heard in a neighbours garden and I eventually spotted it high up in a nearby Silver Birch tree. There are very few House Sparrows around at the moment as they seem to fly off and probably take their young ones out into the countryside where there is probably more food. Just one or two could be heard calling deep within nearby vegetation. Hopefully, it will not be long before the likes of Tree Pipit and Yellow Wagtail will be flying over again. As dusk was settling in last night, after dropping off Sinead and Isabelle, I got out of the car and saw an adult Swift fly into the nestbox containing its young. I read that adults will roost overnight in the nestbox should they have young still.

Wheatears are now starting to pour through to the coast now. This individual was photographed by Emma Parkes at Hook-with-Warsash.