Cabbage Moth added to year list.

Friday 12th May 2023.

My first Cabbage Moth of the year.

I was up around 5am this morning listening to the sound of both House Sparrows ‘chirruping’ and a male Blackbird singing from the comfort of my warm bed! However, I had my moth box overnight again and to hopefully catch some moths before they fly off, I reluctantly got up and after making a quick cup of coffee, made my way into the garden to check the moth box. It was damn cold too with a clear sky overhead, but by 6 am, clouds had come in and a grey sky replaced the blue. Rain is forecast later today, but for now, a little blowy with a north-easterly wind whipping through the garden.

Above, there was just the one Pale Mottled Willow moth this morning. Below, two Buff Ermine moths were present today.

There was just the one new moth for the year, a Cabbage Moth, which is always most welcome in my garden and two Buff Ermine this morning, which were both perched outside the moth box. There was not a great deal within the moth box, with several Light Brown Apple Moths and a Pale Mottled Willow being the main moths. 

This is the activity of 'mining' by moth caterpillars.

Moths present this morning included the following:

• 1 Cabbage Moth
• 1 Brimstone Moth
• 2 Buff Ermine
• 4 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow
• 1 Lime-speck Pug
• 1 Eudonia angustea
• 6 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 1 Brown House Moth

During my first shift this morning in Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth; there were sightings of a female Sparrowhawk with prey after she dived into neighbouring Holm Oak trees and grabbed her breakfast! A Robin serenaded me during my time there, though it remained unseen in a tree nearby and both a Dunnock and a Great Tit were checking out roadside vegetation nearby. Overhead, at least four Swifts were screaming and chasing each other. Always something to see if you keep your eyes open. Hot on the heels of the Grey-necked Lapwing seen in Northumberland (still cannot believe that it is a genuine wild bird!) Birdguides has informed everyone that a Yellow-billed Kite of unknown origin, had been seen on Lyn Tip near Newport, Isle of Wight. Surely it has to be an escape? But you never know these days!  

Above, a Hobby and below, a pair of Common Terns squabbling at Hill Head. Both photos by Emma Parkes.

Above, a male Wheatear at Pennington Marshes yesterday and below, a Tree Pipit in the New Forest. Both photos by Andy Tew.

The adult Long-billed Dowitcher at Pennington Marshes earlier this week. I hope to be going for it this weekend should it still be around. Film footage by James Cutting.

Four more moths new for the year.

Thursday 11th May 2023.

This Buff Ermine moth was new for the year in my garden.

Again, another nice variety of moths this morning and it's pleasing to get quite a few in and around the moth box at last. Many ‘moth-ers’ on the south coast here have witnessed well below number of moths of late, but it looks as though they are starting to come through in good numbers now. Even Hawk-moths are starting to appear further north in the UK and because of the south-westerly air flow of late, the south-west of the UK has experienced some nice migrant moths too including Striped Hawk-moths. Will we be getting any more African species later this year like we did last year?

Above, another moth that was new for the year was this Lime-speck Pug. I get a lot of these throughout the summer months here in my garden. Below, this small micro moth, Psychoides filicivora, is also a day flying moth, but I had to rescue this moth as it was laying in a pool of water on top of my weather guard above the moth box; hence looking a bit bedraggled!

There were four moths that were new for the year that included the macro moths, Buff Ermine and Lime-speck Pug, both common species to my garden, plus a couple of micros that are also fairly common in my garden including Psychoides filicivora which is often a day flying moth too. I also had another macro moth that was virtually unidentifiable as it was well worn. Most moths start to lose their scales on their wings and though I put it on the Hants Moths Facebook page, even the site author says it's a ‘no go’ to identify. Hurrumph! 

*New for the year.

The micro moth, Bryotropha affinis, was my fourth new for the year moth this morning. Yes, quite tiny and not always easy to photograph either as they are jumpy little things in the moth pot!

Moths present this morning included the following:

• 1 Garden Carpet
• 1 Lime-speck Pug (NFY)*
• 1 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Buff Ermine (NFY)
• 2 Eudonia angustea
• 5 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 3 Tachystola acroxantha
• 1 Bryotropha affinis (NFY)
• 1 Psychoides filicivora (NFY)

Sadly, I had to rescue this moth too for it was also in the same puddle as the micro moth. It is really too worn to get a positive ID on it, which is a shame. 

Some great moths & a trip to Chalton.

Wednesday 10th May 2023.

Only my third ever Mullein moth seen and all have been in my garden.

Having put my moth box on overnight, I was well pleased with the amount of moths I had caught and the variety too. Five ‘new for the year’ species were seen including a superb Mullein moth that was perched on the fence panel nearby. This is one species I have only encountered just twice before, both in my garden too and having got some reasonable photos, I soon released it back into the garden.

Above, this Yellow-barred Brindle was my first this year and below, a Bloxworth Snout.

Our local House Sparrows have been seen mating recently and soon will have young to feed and that's where I then have to get up very early to beat the Sparrows on feeding on my moths by my moth box! Other new moths for the year included a Yellow-barred Brindle (perched on the same fence panel),  4 Pale Mottled Willow, a single Bright-line Brown-eye and a new micro moth for my life list, a Pointed Groundling (Scrobipalpa acuminatella). As well as these moths, new for the garden this year was a Garden Carpet. So, in total, the sum total of moths present this morning were 33 moths of 15 species that included the following:

• 1 Mullein
• 1 Yellow-barred Brindle
• 4 Pale Mottled Willow
• 1 Bloxworth Snout
• 2 Angle Shades
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 2 Brimstone Moth
• 2 Shuttle-shaped Dart
• 1 Garden Carpet
• 1 Early Grey
• 6 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Pointed Groundling
• 1 Eudonia angustea
• 6 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 3 Tachystola acroxantha 

Above, one of four Pale Mottled Willow moths this morning and below, my first ever Pointed Groundling micro moth.

Above, my first Bright-line Brown-eye of the year this morning and below, I rescued this Buff-tailed Bumble Bee from the road while I was at work in the afternoon.

Above, at least four Swallows were seen north of the Village on overhead wires. More were seen on the way to the village and over the fields. Below, the Hare seen in the field nearby.

After my first shift, I thought I would take a drive up to Charlton village, just south of Petersfield, for the Turtle Doves. Though I will not give the location away of these now rare birds, especially in Hampshire (they have been seen this year at the well-known location of Martin Down), a local who knows the birds well, told me that I was a ‘smidge’ too early for them, though they should be back within the next few weeks. I shall make a return journey then to see them. However, having spent a good hour there, I did see some notable sightings.

Above, Hedge Mustard and below, Greater Stitchwort, were both growing abundantly along the roadside. 

Swallows were busy flying overhead, searching the warm air for insects and occasionally perching on overhead wires to tease me for a decent photo of these lovely birds. A pair of Chiffchaffs chased each other until the male bird stopped briefly for a quick sing and a male Blackcap was seen flying from bush to bush near the Railway Line, giving off a very strange call, of which I don't think I have ever heard before (Yes, it was most definitely a Blackcap!). Another Warbler, a Common Whitethroat, was holding territory by the Railway Line and showed very well at times. Annoyingly, Rail staff were cutting down trees near the Railway Line with chainsaws and also had a Shredder on the go, which shattered the peace here at times. 

Above, this Common Whitethroat was singing by the Railway Bridge and below, Rail staff chopping down the trees by the Railway Line. Just a shame it took them to the middle of Spring to chop them down when birds are nesting!

Above, a Mistle Thrush in a nearby field by the Bridge and below, another photo of the distant Hare.

A surprise sighting was a Firecrest flying low over the road and over my head to then disappear within a small copse nearby. Its call helped with the ID. A male Yellowhammer passed overhead, heading towards the nearby Down and at least two Mistle Thrushes were present; one was heard singing nearby and another was seen well in the field adjacent to the Railway Line where there was also a good crop of Cowslips growing in the same area. On the subject of plants, both Hedge Mustard and Greater Stitchwort were growing abundantly along the roadside.

Above, Cowslips growing in a nearby field and below, a Common Buzzard seen some distance away in a tree.

Other birds present included at least two Common Buzzards, at least three Mediterranean Gulls flying low over the fields to the north and at least one Stock Dove seen. A single Hare was seen in a field to the south and remained there for at least 30 minutes until heading off to a nearby hedgerow. All in all, though no sighting of the Turtle Doves, it was a most enjoyable hours birding.       

This singing male Chiffchaff gave up the chase for its partner and settled for a song.

The Green Woodpecker seen at last within the Cemetery

Monday 8th May 2023.

It is looking very lush and green in the Cemy now.

In between the showers, I took a walk around the very lush Highland Road Cemetery and although there was a heavy blanket of cloud overhead, it was bright enough and dry to spend an hour there. Sadly, no migrants were found during my walk, but the male Green Woodpecker finally put in an appearance today; my first sighting of the bird this year within the Cemetery.

Above, the male Green Woodpecker finally put in an appearance in the Cemetery today. I did hear him last week calling from the Cemetery, but it was the first time I have seen him here this year. Below, I found at least three Dunnocks today; one on the east side and a pair over on the west side.

Above, a lone Swift sails the leaden skies over the Cemetery.

Up to 20 species were seen or heard on my walk around the Cemetery and now that Swifts are well and truly back now, I wasn't surprised that at least one was seen flying high over, but no Swallows passing through. A juvenile Blackbird was seen in the south-west corner, busy searching for food in the tall grass among several adult birds and the Starlings. A juvenile Robin was also seen a couple of times, flying from bush to bush chasing an adult bird to be fed.

Above, the Blackbird fledgling was busy searching for food in the long grass and below, a pair of Goldfinches perching on the side of a building by the Cemetery!

Above, a good many Starlings were searching for food also within the long grass.

It was when I got to the south side of the Cemetery, when I first heard the Green Woodpecker calling. However, it took me some time to finally locate the bird high up in one of the Horse Chestnut trees, where it remained and called several times during my stay there. With its consistent calling, I assume it was trying to attract a mate here? Birds seen or heard in the Cemetery today included the following:

• Green Woodpecker (male).
• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Feral Pigeon
• House Sparrow
• Starling
• Wren
• Robin
• Dunnock
• Goldfinch
• Greenfinch
• Blackbird
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Jay
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Swift 

Above, a Goldfinch posing nicely and below, another photo of the male Green Woodpecker blending in nicely with the leaves and proving quite tough to locate.

Insects were going to be a premium here today, what with the lack of bright sunshine, but I did find a few Marmalade Hoverflies on some of the flowers. A few more flower species were now showing that included both Smooth and Prickly-sow Thistle and one grave held a good spray of Ox-eye Daisies. In fact, a lot of the graves had long species of grass growing out of them and with the grass being long and lush, the whole area looked so green; just how a Cemetery should look and not overgrown or ambushed by the Council’s weedkiller.

Above, Ox-eye Daisy and below, a species of Grass called Black Grass or Slender Foxtail.

Above, Prickly Sow-thistle and below, Yarrow.

Above, a Marmalade Hoverfly made a brief appearance.

Above, Bulbous Buttercup and below, Red Dead-nettle; both growing profusely throughout the Cemetery.

Diamond-back Moth new for the year.

Monday 8th May 2023.

My first Diamond-back Moth of the year.

My moth box was on overnight and even though I had a new moth for the year, a Diamond-back Moth, I was a bit disappointed that there were hardly no ‘macro’ moths present this morning. There really does seem like a dearth of the larger moths around at present and a lot of local ‘moth-ers’ are feeling the pinch too. Conditions seemed to be OK overnight, with a bit of cloud cover and temperatures not too cold either.

A White-shouldered House Moth was the first one for this month.

The Diamond-back Moth, a true immigrant moth from the Continent, was a nice surprise; seen perched up on the white sheet behind the box. Moths present this morning included the following: 

• 1 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Beautiful Plume
• 1 Diamond-back Moth
• 17 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 6 Tachystola acroxantha
• 1 White-shouldered House Moth

Above, this Beautiful Plume moth was also the first this month and below, a Common Heath moth that was photographed by Emma Parkes yesterday at Pig Bush, in the New Forest.

Back to the birds and a few Swifts were circling high over the house while I was checking the moth box and male Hairy-footed Flower Bees were still collecting pollen from nearby plants in my garden. Both the Hooded Crow in Gosport and the Long-billed Dowitcher at Pennington Marshes are still present early this morning, but the female Kentish Plover seems to have departed from the Stilt Pools at Medmerry RSPB Reserve in West Sussex. A few Spotted Flycatchers have been found in Hampshire, so I hope to add this species to my year list shortly. 

These lovely photos of a Cuckoo was also taken by Emma Parkes at Pig Bush.