Monday 19th August 2024.
My third Golden Twin-spot moth of the year.
While putting the Moth Box on last night, I called my wife into the garden to look at the strange orange Moon shining over to the east. It turned out that due to the large forest fires over on the other side of the Atlantic, the smoke particles were caught in the jet stream. Quite unusual to say the least, but quite unsettling seeing what is going on with climate change.
The Rusty Acorn Piercer micro moth
Back to the moths and there was a much lower number of moths than usual and probably due to the clear skies throughout the night. Just 31 moths of 17 species were recorded, but among them, my THIRD Golden Twin-spot of the year was present. It is incredible that I have recorded this species to my box seeing I have only seen this species once before in the past. Both Garden and Jersey Tiger were present again and the Bloxworth Snout reappeared as well. Of the micro moths, another Rusty Acorn Piercer (another migrant moth from the Continent) was on top of the Box and love them or loathe them, three Box tree Moths were recorded.
One of three Box tree Moths this morning.
The Moths recorded this morning included the following:
MACRO MOTHS:
- Golden Twin-spot
- Bright-line Brown-eye
- Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
- Garden Tiger 2
- Jersey Tiger
- Double-striped Pug 2
- Brimstone Moth
- Marbled Beauty
- Bloxworth Snout
- Willow Beauty 2
MICRO MOTHS:
- Common Plume 10
- Narrow-winged Grey
- Rusty Acorn Piercer
- Box tree Moth 3
- Apple Leaf Miner
- Light Brown Apple Moth 2
- Chevron Grass-moth
When I got home and had lunch, I took the dogs for another walk around Highland Road Cemetery, seeing the weather looked good. Always a chance of a migrant bird at this time of year, the only migrant bird recorded here during my walk around was a Willowchiff heard quietly calling deep within a bush. Apart from all the usual birds, in fact there was very little about this afternoon with only a tatty Robin and three Goldfinches of note.
Above, a view of the Cemetery looking north-east. Notice how the grass is cut so low that nothing flowers on here and is exposed to the sun. Below, the Poppies are still abundant here but losing their lustre.
Above, the only butterfly in the Cemetery that was seen; a Red Admiral and below, a Honey Bee nectaring on a Smooth Sow-thistle flower.
Above, one tatty looking Robin picking off Blackberries close to the footpath. Below, a Batman Hoverfly on a Smooth Hawksbeard plant.
A male Tapered Drone Fly nectaring on Smooth Hawksbeard.
Only one butterfly was seen on my walk; a Red Admiral that perched itself on a gravestone. A few Hoverflies were on the wing included a male Tapered Drone Fly and a few Honey Bees were enjoying the Cat’s Ear and Hawksbeard flowers. Hopefully, a few more migrants will be using the Cemetery as a stop off point to liven things up; but I always enjoy my walks around this lovely part of Southsea.
Above, an adult Yellow-legged Gull by the River Test. Photos by Steve Laycock.
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