Two moth stunners added to the year list.

Friday 21st July 2023.

Left, the tiny Apple Leaf Miner and right, my first Blood-vein moth of the year.

For the third morning running, it was back out into the garden at 5am to check on the mothbox and again, there was a very healthy number of moths present which kept me busy for at least an hour. The weather was still and calm with a clear blue sky and cool with a temperature of 13 degrees centigrade.

My first Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing of the year.

There was another bumper haul of moths with 147 moths of 38 species which was dominated by the immigrant Silver Y’s. At least 35 of these moths, with both the darker and the smaller greyer forms present, including 5 that were in my back bedroom! Yesterday's Jersey Tiger is still hanging on, but it really does look on its way out. Just two new moths for the year and two stunners too. A Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing was found on one of the outside egg trays and a fresh Blood-vein was found at the bottom of the moth box.

Tree-lichen Beauty.

In turn of moth numbers, Silver Y’s easily outnumbered any other species, but 13 Light Brown Apple Moths and 12 Common Rustics was amazing along with 9 Apple Leaf Miner, 8 Marsh Dowd and 7 Bird-cherry Ermine among the many micro moths. I read on one of the moth Facebook sites that some guy had thousands of the latter in his moth trap two nights ago! 

Bird-cherry Ermine.

Moths present this morning included the following:

• 35 Silver Y
• 1 Jersey Tiger
• 4 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 1 Tree-lichen Beauty
• 3 Brimstone Moth
• 4 Garden Carpet
• 2 Lackey
• 4 Large Yellow Underwing
• 1 Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (NFY)
• 4 Marbled Beauty
• 1 August Thorn
• 4 Lime-speck Pug
• 12 Common Rustic
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow
• 1 Uncertain
• 3 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Blood-vein (NFY)
• 2 Cloaked Minor
• 2 Riband Wave
• 1 Lychnis
• 1 L-album Wainscot
• 3 Common Plume
• 1 False Cacao Moth
• 3 Mother of Pearl
• 13 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 1 Meal Moth
• 5 Fulvous Pearl
• 2 White-shouldered House Moth
• 7 Bird-cherry Ermine
• 3 Garden Grass-veneer
• 1 Pellitory Cosmet
• 2 Privet Tortrix
• 8 Marsh Dowd
• 1 Beautiful Plume
• 9 Apple Leaf Miner
• 3 Ruddy Streak
• 1 Small Grey
• 1 Golden-brown tubic

My first Tiger moth of the year.

Thursday 20th July 2023.

My first Jersey Tiger of the year on the white sheet.

As I have the day off today, I decided to put the moth box on again and was rewarded with several more new moths for the year, including my first Jersey Tiger moth. Fellow birder Emma Parkes said she saw one recently and lucky for me, I had one perched on the white sheet first thing this morning. A clear blue sky awaited me at 5.10am with little or no wind and at 13 degrees centigrade, a nice start to the day.

Above, a smart Blair's Mocha was near the moth box and below, up to 4 Four-spotted Obscure micro moths were present today, my first of the year.

101 moths of 42 species was a very good total this morning and among these were five new moths for the year. The Jersey Tiger was a good start to the day along with the micro moths, European Corn borer, Pellitory Cosmet, House Neb and Four-spotted Obscure adding to my year list rounded off a really good haul of moths. Probably the same August Thorn as yesterday was present below the moth box while last night's Least Carpet could not be found. Yet another two Silver Y's were present in the back bedroom of which I shall try and capture them and release later today.

Above, my first ever Sallow Button (Acleris hastiana) micro moth and below, the European Corn borer, which was new for the year.

The moths recorded this morning included the following:

• 1 Jersey Tiger (NFY)
• 4 Double-striped Pug
• 5 Riband Wave
• 3 Marbled Beauty
• 4 Silver Y
• 1 Cabbage Moth
• 1 Garden Carpet
• 1 Blair’s Mocha
• 1 Silver Y
• 1 Brimstone Moth
• 3 Lime-speck Pug
• 2 Willow Beauty
• 1 August Thorn
• 2 Buff Ermine
• 1 Lackey Moth
• 2 Cloaked Minor
• 4 Common Rustic
• 2 Pale Mottled Willow
• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart
• 2 Large Yellow Underwing
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 15 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 7 Apple Leaf Miner
• 1 Privet Tortrix
• 6 Marsh Dowd
• 2 Bird-cherry Ermine
• 1 Beautiful Plume
• 3 Ruddy Streak
• 1 Codling Moth
• 1 Rosy Tabby
• 4 Common Plume
• 3 Dingy Dowd
• 2 Garden Grass-veneer
• 2 Small Grey
• 1 False Cacao Moth
• 3 Four-spotted Obscure (NFY)
• 1 Italian tubic
• 1 Rusty-dot Pearl
• 1 European Corn borer (NFY)
• 1 Meal Moth
• 1 Pellitory Cosmet (NFY)
• 1 House Neb (NFY)
• 1 SALLOW BUTTON (LIFER)

On the birding scene nationally, the UK’s second sighting of a Black-winged Kite was seen yesterday at Horsey Gap in Norfolk and is still present this morning according to Birdguides. At least one of the ‘Lazee Birders’ went up to see the bird last night, so hopefully, some photos will come of this gorgeous raptor. As we have seen in the news, the Mediterranean is like an oven at the moment with record temperatures hitting near 50 degrees centigrade!! No wonder a lot of Mediterranean species have been arriving in the UK of late. The famous Coto Donana nature reserve in Spain has virtually dried up!

A different angle of the Jersey Tiger moth this morning. I put it safely within some of my pot plants to help hide it from the Sparrows.

Stop press: Just double-checked another micro moth from this morning and it is in fact a ‘lifer’! A Sallow Button (Acleris hastiana) was identified on close up photos. I thought it looked a bit odd and larger than the Light Brown Apple Moth and therefore potted it so I could have a go at properly identifying it later this morning. My official life list on micro moths now stands at 257 species in the UK.

I thought I would do a quick update on today's blog entry as there were a few notable sightings during the afternoon. The Jersey Tiger was still present near the moth box again, perched on the white sheet to be exact. I thought it would be an easy target for the House Sparrows, so I picked it up to put back into the plants for safety. However, I noticed that the underwing of the moth was very tatty and it probably is on its last legs. Such a shame for such a beautiful moth.

Fulvous Pearl micro moth this afternoon.

I flushed another moth this afternoon that wasn't seen this morning. A Fulvous Pearl fluttered up and fortunately landed on the fence for me to quickly take a photo. I even found another Silver Y perched on one of the windows sills. Butterflies within our garden included a good many Small Whites, several Holly Blues, a Red Admiral and even a Brimstone butterfly flew briefly over the garden!

This brilliant capture of a Hummingbird Hawk-moth that was taken by fellow 'Lazee' Andy Tew.

The reported Black-winged Kite had done a runner by 9.30am this morning at Horsey Gap, but amazingly, it was reported again and showing well 80 miles away near Felixstowe at 7pm. Earlier today, I took our Sinead to Portchester for a spot of shopping and on the way there, both a Common Buzzard (perched on a lamp post) and a female Sparrowhawk with prey in her talons, were both seen while travelling north along the M275. Large flocks of Swifts are now gathering over my Southsea home with at least 20 birds hawking insects low down over the rooftops. I can still hear the faint calls of youngsters in the Swift nestboxes.

The Black-winged Kite which is now in Suffolk this evening. Photo by Nick Bristow.

Five more moth species added to year list.

Wednesday 19th July 2023.

My first August Thorn moth of the year.

Thankfully, the local Sparrows don't start searching for moths now till well after 5am and that gives me sufficient time to get up, dressed and out of the garden armed with a cup of coffee! By 5.15am, I am up and about within the garden, carefully scrutinising the plants and fencing panels for moths (sad, I know!), but it has to be done for they can be literally anywhere. And they were!!

Above, this Small Ranunculus and below, Cloaked Minor, were annual to my garden.

It was overcast at first thing this morning, but hardly any wind and reasonably mild (17 degrees centigrade) as I went about carefully checking the outside egg trays, the white sheet and eventually the box itself. I found an August Thorn, my first of the year, almost immediately, perched up on the kitchen wall opposite the moth box, which brought a big smile to my face.

There were 66 moths of 32 species this morning (much better return than of late) that included 6 new species for the year. The August Thorn was a cracker, but Marbled Beauty, Cloaked Minor, Small Ranunculus and the micro moth, Acorn Piercer (Pammene fasciana) were all smart moths in themselves. Up to 14 Silver Y moths were present, of which, I assume, was a big influx into the south coast from the Continent overnight. Two Least Carpets were noteworthy too. It seems a lot of other ‘moth-ers’ are getting Tiger Moths in their traps, so where are mine?

Above, this Drone Fly was also present within the moth box and below, my second Lychnis moth of the year.

Moths present this morning included the following:

• 1 August Thorn (NFY)
• 1 Marbled Beauty (NFY)
• 2 Cloaked Minor (NFY)
• 2 Willow Beauty
• 2 Least Carpet
• 1 Small Ranunculus (NFY)
• 3 Common Rustic
• 2 Pale Mottled Willow
• 14 Silver Y
• 1 Lychnis
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 1 Large Yellow Underwing
• 1 Lime-speck Pug
• 2 Shuttle-shaped Dart
• 1 Small Dusty Wave
• 1 Double-striped Pug
• 5 Marsh Dowd
• 1 Acorn Piercer (NFY)
• 1 Codling Moth
• 2 Common Plume
• 1 False Cacao Moth
• 10 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 1 Small Grey
• 1 Narrow-winged Grey 
• 2 Apple Leaf Miner
• 1 Elder Pearl
• 1 Garden Grass-veneer
• 1 Ruddy Streak
• 1 Brown House Moth
• 1 Privet Tortrix
• 1 White-shouldered House Moth
• 1 Bird-cherry Ermine

Above, one of two Least Carpets today and below, my first Acorn Piercer of the year.

On my first shift today in Old Portsmouth, the Carnation Tortrix micro moth was present again on the large plant where I work, though it didn’t like having its photo taken this time as it promptly flew off when I approached. On my way back home along Clarence Parade, I saw the big female Peregrine making its way high south over the Skate Park area and it looked as though it was joined by a second bird, but I was driving at the time and could not be 100% sure.

Left, the micro moth Marsh Dowd and right, the macro moth, Marbled Beauty.

The run of interesting insects ran into my second shift this afternoon down at Old Portsmouth. Though a tad breezier than this morning, it was most certainly warm again, which most certainly brought out the insects. Small White butterflies were abundant down the road I was working in and the occasional Red Admiral and Meadow Brown were also seen. However, two other insects took me by surprise. The first being a Hummingbird Hawk-moth (see film footage from my mobile camera) nectaring along the flower beds close to where I was working.

The Hummingbird Hawk-moth seen this afternoon.

Only a few days ago, birding pal Matt Parkes sent me a film footage of one at his workplace and today, I returned the favour! These moths are damn quick and so the film footage only lasted a few seconds. The other surprise was actually a Grasshopper species, a Long-winged Conehead, which flew past my feet, into the road and then flew off across the road heading south towards nearby vegetation. It was too fast for me to get a photo of the insect; but this was my first one of the year, a species I rarely actually see to be honest. It is amazing what you can see in such a short space of time. 

I found another three more Silver Y moths this afternoon in one of the back bedrooms of my house, by the window, making it at least 14 individuals today!

Above, Andy Fisher sent me this photo he took of two Old Lady moths at his place of work today. Below, this Badger was one of two outside my friends house in Gosport. Photo by Penny Townsend.

Pollinating Bees.

Tuesday 18th July 2023.

This Carnation Tortrix micro moth was a nice surprise while I was working this morning in Old Portsmouth.

It was a lot warmer today with hardly any wind and temperatures getting up to around 23 degrees centigrade. Good washing weather they might say! There was just one small shower today and I got caught in it, but thankfully, in the car; so apart from that, it was a nice day. The high cloud was quite impressive too as I checked the sky through my sunglasses and enjoyed the many Swifts on the wing today. In fact, a flock of around 20+ birds flew low over my road late this afternoon, which I am sure probably contained some of my fledged youngsters?

This White-tailed Bumblebee was covered in pollen as it seeked nectar from this colourful flower behind me.

On my first shift today in Old Portsmouth, all the usual birds were seen and even a Wren was heard singing nearby, though I never got a glimpse of the bird. An interesting sighting was a pair of Meadow Pipits flying high north. Were these failed breeders or simply had their brood and decided to move back north? But it was insects that grabbed my attention. Both Buff-tailed and White-tailed Bumblebees were abundant around the flower beds where I stood this morning and even a few small spiders had built their small webs among the plants. However, a small micro moth caught my attention and eventually once it settled on a plant, it turned out to be a Carnation Tortrix (Cacoecimorpha pronubana); a species that I have seen here earlier in the year.

Nearly covered in pollen, this White-tailed Bumblebee eventually took off.

Both Red Admiral and Small White Butterflies were seen flying around the flower beds and across the road and I even saw one of the latter flying very high in the sky and heading north. Back in my Southsea garden, Holly Blue butterflies were making themselves known, fluttering around the trees and bushes and even a Red Admiral popped in briefly before shooting off over the gardens. Tonight, my moth box is going on, seeing I have not put the trap on for a few days now. Some cracking moths have been reported locally in Hampshire too and hopefully, I just might get something really special overnight.

Common Blue butterflies on the wing in the Cemy.

Monday 17th July 2023.

Though a large dark cloud passed to the north, it was a bright, sunny afternoon with a breezy westerly.

There was no birding for me over the weekend as it was my wife's Birthday yesterday and thankfully, all my planning and decoration for her Party went according to plan. While everyone was sitting outside in our garden, birding pal Andy Fisher and myself, spotted a Hummingbird Hawk-moth whizzing through my garden, though it didn't hang around long and disappeared over into the next door's garden. That was arguably the best wildlife sighting I had all weekend.

Above, Common Field Grasshoppers were calling their one note sound throughout the Cemy. Below, Swifts flew over every now and then with the Gulls.

Apparently, there was a ‘sea-watch’ off Milford Shelter on Saturday morning and all ‘Lazee Birders’ were welcome, but I had other arrangements I’m afraid. However, the best they could notch up in those 50mph westerly winds was a couple of Arctic Skua going through, so I really didn't miss too much, despite a Storm Petrel being seen going past Hengistbury Head. Birding pal Geoff Farwell went to Oxenbourne Down in the afternoon. Birds seen included a pair of Buzzards, Raven, several Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. Butterflies seen included 2 Brown Argus, Small Copper and 12 other species.

Above, Red Admiral butterflies were easily the most numerous butterflies within the Cemy this afternoon. I saw several in pairs or threes chasing one another around the Buddleia bushes. Below, the heavy dark cloud passed peacefully to the north of the Cemy. The yellow grass in the foreground is the result of weedkillers put out by the Council workers.

This morning, my first shift down at Old Portsmouth produced a few sightings that included several Swifts, at least 6 Mediterranean Gulls and a pair of Goldfinches. On the insect front, a Hornet-mimic Hoverfly passed me by and settled on the brickwork on the front of a house. However, it flew off before I could get a photo of it. Buff-tailed Bumblebees were abundant on the nearby Lavender plants and a few Marmalade Hoverflies took a liking to the big plant behind me. Then a large dark cloud came in from the blustery west and a good soaking was had! Oh joy!

Above, Drone Flies were just as abundant among the many Hoverflies seen today and below, at least three Peacock butterflies were counted.

The weather was looking good after my second shift and so I grabbed my camera once I was back home and took a walk to Highland Road Cemetery. As I was walking down my road, my first Southern Hawker dragonfly of the year flew past me and south down the road. I thought it had settled somewhere, but there was no sign of the insect, sadly.

Above, Mediterranean Gulls streamed overhead with other Gull species. Below, this juvenile House Sparrow was joined by another searching for food among the graves.

Though again it was relatively quiet within the Cemetery, there was a fairly large Gull movement overhead and involved good numbers of Mediterranean Gulls along with Herring, Great Black-backed and many Black-headed Gulls. The latter species had a lot of calling youngsters following the adults and after the devastation with the Bird Flu that has hit a lot of our local Gulls and Terns, it was good to see some youngsters on the wing. The Green Woodpecker put in a very brief appearance this afternoon as it flew up from the north side of the Cemy among the gravestones and into a nearby tree. This is only the second time I have seen the bird here this year. In total, I had 14 species of birds seen or heard during my hour here:

• Mediterranean Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Herring Gull
• Great Black-backed Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• House Sparrow
• Starling
• Wren
• Blackbird
• Robin
• Blue Tit
• Goldfinch
• Green Woodpecker

Above, a juvenile Blue Tit busy calling to its parent nearby and below, another Swift zooming over the trees.

Once again, the butterflies came out in force; enjoying the many flowering Buddleia plants on offer that attracted not just the butterflies, but also the Hornet-mimic Hoverflies, Buff-tailed Bumblebees and a variety of Hoverflies including Drone Flies, Marmalade Hoverflies and the very small Thick-legged Hoverfly (Syritta pipiens). On the butterfly front, I was chuffed to see my first Common Blue’s on the wing and came across a pair of them together by one of the graves in the centre of the Cemetery (see photos). Eight species of butterflies were recorded today and included the following: 

• Red Admiral
• Painted Lady
• Meadow Brown
• Peacock
• Holly Blue
• Large White
• Small White

Above, a male Common Blue butterfly and below, the nearby female Common Blue. 

All the usual plants were present today that included Field Poppy, Lady Bedstraw, Ox-eye Daisy, Field Bindweed, Birds-foot Trefoil and Yarrow; all of which were quite abundant throughout the Cemetery. To conclude, it is always exciting to see so many Butterflies on the wing and who knows, we just might get something special to turn up on the Buddleia Bushes. Bird news today included a Little Gull and two Common Sandpipers on Titchfield Haven this morning and a Whinchat (returning bird?) at Lower Test Marshes.

Above, just the one Painted Lady butterfly seen today. Below, you guessed it, another Swift overhead!

Above, one of several Hornet-mimic Hoverflies and below, a Meadow Brown on the Brambles.

This Cuckoo was being fed by its foster parent, a Meadow Pipit and will soon be on its way back to Africa in a few weeks. Photo taken in the New Forest by Pete Appleton.