Figure of Eighty moth makes a welcome arrival.

Wednesday 8th May 2024.

My third Figure of Eighty moth ever. The name of the moth comes from the white markings in the centre of the wing.

The moth box went on last night due to the fact it was such a very warm afternoon and evening yesterday and therefore looked very promising for something interesting. Both my first shift and second shift were fairly quiet again today in Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth, but I am now getting daily sightings of the Swifts. It was overcast and rather cool at first this morning, but this afternoon it certainly got a lot warmer, especially standing for long periods in the sunshine. 

Above, my first Shuttle-shaped Dart of the year and below, my second Buff Ermine of the year.

The Moth Box:

This morning, I found my third ever Figure of Eighty perched on one of the egg trays within the moth box and my first Shuttle-shaped Dart of the year as well. Up to three Brimstone Moths were good and singles of Silver Y, Buff Ermine and Garden Carpet were welcome to my May moth list. Again, micro moths were dominated with Light Brown Apple Moths. There was another interesting macro moth but it flew off before I had a chance to properly identify it.

Above, a Garden Carpet moth was perched near the light bulb and below, a Bright-line Brown-eye moth on one of the egg trays.

Species present this morning included the following:

• Figure of Eighty (New for year)
• Silver Y
• Buff Ermine
• Brimstone Moth 3
• Shuttle-shaped Dart (NFY)
• Bright-line Brown-eye
• Garden Carpet
• Narrow-winged Grey
• Light Brown Apple Moth 8
• Ruddy Streak 5

Not only moths get caught in my trap. This Spotted Meliscaeva hoverfly was present within the moth box.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

Sadly, there was a paltry number of 12 species seen here on both shifts today and probably the three Swifts seen were arguably the best sighting today here. A pair of Pied Wagtails were on the Bowling Green again early this morning at 8am, but nothing of note flying over today. A  Purple Heron was seen several times this morning at Titchfield Haven and possibly could be the Pagham Harbour bird that has now moved on. In my garden around lunchtime, two Holly Blue's and a Small White butterfly were seen along with many Bees and Hoveflies. 

Whiteley Pastures, Whiteley:

Tonight, Andy Fisher picked me up to join fellow ‘Lazee’s’ at Whiteley Pastures to hopefully see the Nightjars which were present last night here at this magnificent site. Earlier today, Andy Friend put on the Whatsapp site that there was to be a Nightjar night for all Lazee’s to attend if they want and seeing it was such a calm night and also my wife was away for the evening, why not? Yes, there was hardly any wind and it was a cloudless evening and so off we went.

Not only Nightjars were a possibility, but also this area is good for both Woodcock and Nightingales and as it happened, we managed to see all three! Firstly, the Nightingales. There were at least three birds singing deep within cover and actually going to see one was going to be a challenge. Thankfully, one was not too far from the main footpath and eventually, it gave itself up very briefly flitting about in deep cover and it actually flew over our heads to start singing again in the opposite thicket. Andy managed to grab just three very brief sightings, but enough to add to his year list.

While checking the Nightingales, we could hear the occasional Nightjar ‘churring’ in the distance, but it wasn't till well after 9pm that the first Nightjar showed as we picked up its distinctive flight call and then I saw it flying low over the trees. However, one bird eventually flew high over the footpath and showed well before flying back over the thicket again and out of view. The Nightjar sightings were brief, but the Woodcocks were much more obliging as they did their ‘roding’ flight over our heads and the neighbouring thicket several times. You knew they were coming as you could hear their distinctive ‘twisick’ call before seeing them. I never saw this species last year and having had so many sightings of this lovely bird tonight, that surely made up for that.

Andy and I have never done birding in the evening here before and I am sure we will be coming back again. What a place! Not only Nightjars and Woodcocks, but a background song of Nightingales too and let's not forget the two Tawny Owls calling in the distance too. A large Bat flew over and plenty of pale looking moths flew past. Sadly, no photos were taken as some ‘numbnuts’ forgot to put his Memory Card in his camera! Doh!