Two more moth 'year-ticks' & an explosion of Red Admirals.

Sunday 24th September 2023.

Black Rustic, Delicate, 2 Feathered Ranunculus and a Lunar Underwing were all in and around my moth box this morning.

After a cracking day yesterday, I thought it was going to be a quiet day, but it started with another couple of moth ‘year-ticks’ within my moth box. Well, not quite, as the egg tray resting outside on my moth box held both a superb Black Rustic (one of my favourite moths) and two Feathered Ranunculus; two very familiar Autumn species to my garden. The Delicate moth from yesterday was still present (or possibly another one?) along with 3 Lunar Underwing. The numbers of moths are now dwindling, but I am looking forward to getting some interesting Autumn moths over the coming weeks.

• 1 Black Rustic
• 2 Feathered Ranunculus
• 4 Pale Mottled Willow
• 3 Lunar Underwing
• 3 L-album Wainscot
• 3 Large Yellow Underwing
• 2 Lesser Yellow Underwing
• 1 Narrow-winged Grey
• 5 Ruddy Streak
• 6 Box Tree Moth
• 3 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 1 Common Plume 

Black Rustic moth.

After a delicious breakfast at the Garage Lounge, Albert Road, Southsea this morning (saw a flock of Swallows heading west from there!), when we got back home, I took the dogs out for a walk around the Cemetery again. Though there wasn’t anything really out of the ordinary again regarding the birds, it was nice to see two flocks of Swallows belting over the Cemetery heading west. Surprisingly, there were no Meadow Pipits going over and only the one Chiffchaff was recorded. Still no ‘Yank’ Warblers in the Cemy (wishful thinking!), as they are all in Wales at the moment!!!

• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Goldfinch
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Robin
• Starling
• Pied Wagtail
• Chiffchaff 
• Swallow (flocks of 5 + 4)
• Magpie
• Jay
• Carrion Crow 

Above, the Jay showed itself briefly again, this time near the main entrance. Below, this Collared Dove was trying to chase away Magpies from the Conifer in the south-west corner.

Above, a pair of 'Squab' Wood Pigeons trying to get food off a parent bird. Below, the Hornet-mimic Hoverfly seen on the east side of the Cemetery.

Above, the same Hornet-mimic Hoverfly and below, at least four Red Admiral butterflies in this photo.

Above, can you count how many Red Admiral butterflies are in this photo I took this morning? Below, the very bush the above butterflies were in, with at least 25 individuals counted!!!

There is a tall flowering Ivy Bush in the centre of the Cemetery that regularly attracts the Bees and Hoverflies, but it also attracts the butterflies and so I was amazed to count at least 25+ Red Admiral butterflies upon it, gorging themselves on the Ivy nectar. More were seen throughout the Cemetery, but the only other butterflies noted were a couple of Small White’s and one Large White. Another Hornet-mimic Hoverfly was encountered, but this time over on a gravestone in the south-east corner of the perimeter path. 

Knot-grass. I discovered this low lying plant on one of the graves. I cannot say I have ever seen it in the Cemetery before. Thanks to Geoff Farwell for the ID of the plant. Plus Ted and Buddy having a good sniff!

This morning, it seems Selsey Bill is having a good 'sea watch' with both a juvenile Long-tailed Skua and eight Sooty and one Balearic Shearwater through early morning; all heading west. The Red-necked Phalarope and Curlew Sandpiper are still on Keyhaven Marshes and a Storm Petrel was reported in the Solent.