Our first full day at Center Parcs.

Saturday 27th May 2023.

The moth box is up and running at Center Parcs.

My wife decided that she needed a family break and so booked Center Parcs, near Warminster, several months ago. I personally think it is one of the most expensive places to stay in the UK, but is it value for money? The jury is out on that one, but for wildlife, it is simply superb. That definitely ticks my boxes in that respect. We arrived here around 8pm last night (driving to and going through Salisbury was a nightmare) and on entry to our chalet within the ‘Pines’ area, I quickly got my moth box built (Andy’s moth box) and running before we all made our way to get something to eat and drink.

Tawny-barred Angle moth.

Scoparia ambigualis.

Spruce Carpet.

The weather forecast was looking very good for this weekend and so I did not pack a rainguard for my moth box, but was rewarded at 5.30am this morning with 8 new moths for my year list. Afterwards, I checked out the area and at the back of our Chalet, there is a long lake that could be very interesting. Siskins were calling high up in the Pines, but none were seen unfortunately (I am sure I will see some later today), while there were singing Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Robins were all around. Coal, Blue and Great Tits were around the trees and a short walk later in the morning produced sightings of a Treecreeper and a few Chaffinches.

Common Pug.

Small Phoenix.

Red Twin-spot Carpet.

To be honest, I was expecting a lot more moths and there were none at all on the egg trays resting by the moth box. All the moths were on the wooden plats and brickwork on the walls of the Chalet, but at least there were quite a few there. I was pleased to find two Dwarf Pugs, which was a ‘lifer’ for me and a familiar moth in Pine forests. A cracking Small Phoenix moth was found near the moth box and plenty of Carpet species including a smart Red Twin-spot Carpet. Moths present this morning included the following:

• 3 Dwarf Pug (LIFER)
• 2 Spruce Carpet (NFY)
• 2 Tawny-barred Angle (NFY)
• 1 Common Pug
• 1 Small Phoenix (NFY)
• 1 Pine Carpet 
• 1 Foxglove Pug (NFY)
• 1 Red Twin-spot Carpet (NFY)
• 1 Scoparia ambigualis (NFY)

My first ever Dwarf Pug was warmly received.

Spruce Carpet.

The view from the front of our Chalet.

The day has only just begun as I write this and while having our respective breakfasts and looking out of the patio window, we already have seen a Muntjac Deer, three Mallard, Moorhen, lots of Squirrels and as the day heats up, hopefully some Dragonflies and Butterflies will be on the wing.

This Bugle plant was growing abundantly near the Chalet.

Dog Violets were growing at the back of the Chalet.

There were plenty of birds coming down to the patio especially after one of the girls put out a load of peanuts for the birds and Squirrels, including this male Blackbird.

Four more moths added to the year list.

Thursday 25th May 2023.

One of four Willow Beauty moths this morning.

Up again at 4.45am this morning, a hot coffee on the go and the mealworms put out for the House Sparrows. Now to check the moths. A total of 40 moths of 19 species were recorded this morning and included four new species for the year. One of those, Willow Beauty, has returned at last with four found and another common moth, Heart & Dart, was also present too. Another Silver Y, an immigrant moth, was found just outside the moth box and my first Least Black Arches in my garden this year was among the many micro moths. Also new for the year included the micro moths Pyrausta aurata, also known as Mint Moth; and 3 Mompha subbistrigella.

Above, a Heart & Dart moth and below, Pyrausta aurata were both new for the year.

Yesterday, I found a fresh looking small egg on my garden patio and it was most likely a predated Swift egg that either was stolen from the nest or disposed of by the parent birds. Unusual nonetheless, for if it was dropped, surely it would have smashed on the patio? Yet there was only a small hole in the egg.

Above, the micro moth Mompha subbistrigella was also in good numbers and new for the year and below, a smart Buff Ermine moth.

Moths present this morning included the following:

• 2 Vine’s Rustic
• 1 Heart & Dart (NFY)
• 4 Brimstone Moth
• 2 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Lime-speck Pug
• 2 Garden Carpet
• 1 Buff Ermine
• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart
• 4 Willow Beauty (NFY)
• 1 Silver Y
• 1 Least Black Arches
• 1 Small Dusty Wave
• 9 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 2 Tachystola acroxantha
• 1 Bryotropha affinis
• 1 Platyedra subcinerea
• 1 Brown House Moth
• 3 Mompha subbistrigella (NFY)
• 2 Eudonia angustea
• 1 White-shouldered House Moth
• 1 Pyrausta aurata (NFY)

This Swift egg was found on my back garden patio yesterday.

I took a drive up to Andy’s house in Cowplain after my first shift this morning, to pick up his moth box and egg trays. My family and I are off to Center Parcs, in Warminster, tomorrow afternoon for a long weekend there and seeing that Andy’s moth box can ‘flat pack’, I am going to make the most of a glorious weekend. He kindly put the moth box on overnight and I was lucky to have an additional three new moths to add to my ever growing year list. My friends are looking after our house over the weekend and most likely going to put my moth box on.

Above, a deceased Poplar Hawk-moth. Below, my first Codling Moth of the year.

A Currant Pug and a Codling Moth were both new for the year among a nice variety of moths and also my first Hawk moth of the year too. However, I am afraid it was a deceased Poplar Hawk-moth, but for how long it had passed, who knows? My first Common Plume of the month was present on one of the egg trays and my 3rd Blair’s Mocha was resting on the back door.

Above, my first Common Plume moth this month and below, my first Currant Pug of the year.

A couple of Speckled Wood butterflies were flying about in the back garden, with one settling quite close to where I was sorting the moths out. Well, I am set for serious ‘moth-ing’ on Saturday morning and if it is like the last time I took my moth box within the Forest of Center Parcs, then it could be really good. Fingers crossed. Earlier today on my first shift, another Carnation Tortrix moth was present again and nearby, good numbers of young Starlings were on the wing around the Old Portsmouth area along with at least a half a dozen Swifts hawking insects just above the trees.

Moths present in Andy’s moth box and garden this morning included the following:

• 1 Poplar Hawk-moth (NFY)
• 1 Currant Pug (NFY)
• 2 Freyer’s Pug
• 1 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Vine’s Rustic
• 1 Common Marbled Carpet
• 1 Blair’s Mocha
• 2 Garden Carpet
• 4 Eudonia angustea
• 1 Codling Moth (NFY)
• 3 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 1 Common Plume
• 1 Notocelia cynosbatella

This stunning Osprey was photographed by Emma Parkes today at Horn Mill Trout Farm, Rutland Water, Leicestershire.

Spotted Flycatcher added to year list.

Tuesday 23rd May 2023.

The Spotted Flycatcher that was seen at The Paddocks this morning.

Straight after my first shift, I took a drive over to Hayling Island in search for these Spotted Flycatchers that had been seen over the past week. They have been in good numbers there of late, with possibly 6 birds there yesterday evening. Mr Fisher had already been over there earlier this week and was successfully in adding this species to his year list and so, I thought I would try my luck. The weather looked good with a nice breeze and warm sunshine.

Above, the female Green Woodpecker and below, a male Syrphus species of Hoverfly sunning itself.

Parking up in the Garage car park and then taking the bridle path south-east, I came across a female Green Woodpecker flying low in front of me and then it perched on a fence post and gave good views. Another Green Woodpecker was also seen on a fence post a little later. I joined a couple of other elderly Birders who were also looking for the Spotted Flycatchers, though they had already seen two birds before I arrived. We walked further east and then took the footpath south to see if we could find any more birds. Sadly not, but a Common Whitethroat and a Goldfinch were in full song right behind where we stood.

Above, a Goldfinch by the main bridle path and below, good numbers of Mediterranean Gull flew overhead.

The two Birders decided to move further south, but I wanted to retrace my steps and slowly make my way back to the car. A couple of Swallows hawked for insects low over the Blackthorn Bushes and overhead, good numbers of Mediterranean Gulls flew over heading east towards Chichester Harbour. All the neighbouring fields were full of Creeping Buttercup, which would most certainly attract a lot of Butterflies and Bees as the day warmed up of which I saw several Holly Blue’s and a Red Admiral on the wing.

Above, the heavy scent of flowering Blackthorn was in the air and below, the fields were full of Creeping Buttercup.

There was a large garden to the west of the main bridle path and from here, I saw a Spotted Flycatcher flying from a small tree down to the ground and picking off something and then returning to the same tree. This it typically repeated several times as I managed to grab some nice photos of the bird perched in the tree. Earlier this week, the Isle of Portland had a count of 282 Spotted Flycatchers recorded yesterday, with over a 100+ before 7am!! Hopefully, it's going to be a good year for this species. Happy with my 184th species of the year, I made my way back to the car, but not before treating myself to a ‘Greggs' and then home.  A Temminck's Stint was reported this morning at Pennington Marshes again, though I was hoping the one on Sidlesham Ferry Pool was still present, but no reports yet.

Another photo of today's Spotted Flycatcher.

Just one new moth for the year.

Tuesday 23rd May 2023.

The micro moth Notocelia cynosbatella was new for the year.

My trick this morning was to put out the Dried Mealworms by the bird feeders before the House Sparrows came down to gorge on my moths and while I was checking the moth box, it most certainly worked. I was up at 4.45am this morning and with a hot cup of coffee to relax me, I got stuck in my moths. It was a little breezy this morning, with a clear blue sky overhead, but the weather forecast today looks settled.

One of three Pale Mottled Willow's. 

There were 33 moths of 14 species present this morning, but the only moth new for the year was the micro moth, Notocelia cynosbatella, a rather smart striking little moth. Two pristine Cabbage Moths were on the outside egg trays and at least two Yellow-barred Brindle were outside the box. As soon as I packed everything away and made my way back into the kitchen, then the Sparrows came to hunt for my moths. Fortunately, most flew off as I encourage them to do so, but they always seem to find some of them. They have young to feed and ‘live’ food is always a bonus to them.

One of two Cabbage Moths today.

Moths present this morning included the following:

• 2 Vine’s Rustic
• 1 Freyer’s Pug
• 2 Cabbage Moth
• 4 Shuttle-shaped Dart
• 2 Garden Carpet
• 3 Pale Mottled Willow
• 1 Silver Y
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 1 Yellow-barred Brindle
• 1 Notocelia cynosbatella (NFY)
• 11 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 2 Tachystola acroxantha
• 1 Bryotropha affinis
• 1 Platyedra subcinerea

A new moth for the year while at Work!

Monday 22nd May 2023.

My first Carnation Tortrix moth of the year, which was totally unexpected. 

This morning while I was working in the Old Portsmouth area on my first shift, it was an overcast start to the day and while checking the sky overhead, I noticed a total of at least a dozen Swifts flying in one large swirling flock, which is always good to see. I've been meaning to get a few more Swift boxes put up down my road, but it's finding time to ask people in my street if they are happy to do so on their properties. We shall see. I might try tonight.

Above, a Yellow Belle moth in the New Forest last weekend. Photo by Emma Parkes. Below, a Green Hairstreak butterfly, which was also in the New Forest. Photo by Andy Dickety. 

Also while working, I noticed a few birds flitting around the area that included at least two Robins, Blackbird, a male Pied Wagtail on the Bowling Green and a pair of Blue Tits searching for insects around the houses. However, a small moth caught my attention and fortunately for me, it landed on a plant close to where I stood. I thought it was a Light Brown Apple Moth at first, but it seemed a bit darker and had a different pattern on its upperparts. It turned out to be my first Carnation Tortrix of the year, of which I was very pleased about. I even checked it with my App, Obsidentify, but they do make mistakes with Tortrix moths and so I double-checked on Hants Moths which confirmed the ID.

Above, a Yellow Shell moth from the New Forest yesterday. Photo by Andy Dickety. Below, a Batman Hoverfly, which unfortunately, had passed away, was found on my kitchen floor this morning. 

Some nice insect photos on the Lazee Birders Whatsapp site and so I wanted to put a few on there today. Birding pal, Andy Fisher, claimed another two species for his Hampshire list yesterday when he visited Farlington Marshes and saw both Lesser Whitethroat and a Little Tern. He even sent me some film footage from his mobile phone of a female Broad-bodied Chaser dragonfly in the Bushes area. Today, both Temminck's Stint and a drake Garganey were reported early in the morning on Pennington Marshes.  

A cracking photo of a Little Tern at Pennington Marshes recently. Photo by Andy Tew.