A large haul of moths and back over the Cemy.

Sunday 8th September 2024.

The Dark Spectacle moth.

The Moth Box

A Blair's Mocha.

Thankfully, the rain overnight had disappeared this morning, leaving behind a bright start, though some large heavy cloud overhead looked threatening. I finally got the chance to put my Moth Box on overnight, the first time in a few days, and was rewarded with a good array of moths that included up to SEVEN Old Lady moths; my highest ever total in one morning in my garden of this large species of moth.

One of two White-point moths.

At least 97 moths of 30 species were recorded this morning and although there was nothing new for the year, there were some quality moths present. My second Dark Spectacle of the year was on the white sheet behind the Moth Box; the first being way back in May. Other notable moths included a Jasmine Moth, Light Emerald, Blair’s Mocha and the micro moths, Tree-mallow Tortrix, Pellitory Beauty and a Gold Triangle. The garden was sodden from the overnight rain and the moths were well spread out near the moth box and so I trod carefully in not treading on any! There was at least three species that were in double figures that included Large Yellow Underwing, Willow Beauty and Garden Carpet.

Above, heavy rain clouds moved off east and below, one of an incredible 7 Old Lady moths present in and around my Moth Box.

Above, the gorgeous Jasmine Moth.

The moths present this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS:

• White-point 2
• Old Lady 7
• Willow Beauty 13
• Pale Mottled Willow 3
• Square-spot Rustic 2
• Lime-speck Pug 5
• Double-striped Pug 7
• Bright-line Brown-eye
• Light Emerald
• Large Yellow Underwing 10
• Lesser Yellow Underwing 2
• L-album Wainscot 3
• Garden Carpet 10
• Brimstone Moth 2
• Silver Y 2
• Small Dusty Wave 4
• Blair’s Mocha
• Dark Spectacle
• Angle Shades 3

MICRO MOTHS:

• Rusty-dot Pearl 3
• Jasmine Moth
• Light Brown Apple Moth
• Common Plume 4
• Ruddy Streak 2
• Tree-mallow Tortrix
• Beautiful Plume 4
• Dark-spotted Moss Moth
• Box-tree Moth
• Gold Triangle
• Pellitory Beauty

Highland Road Cemetery

One of several juvenile Blackbirds over in the south-east side of the Cemy.

The dogs got an early morning walk this morning over Highland Road Cemetery and though the place was soaking wet, it was bright and sunny and there was plenty of birds seen within the area. On the way there, I found a Bloxworth Snout moth perched on the doorstep of a nearby house near the Cemetery. This species is a nationally rare moth, but Portsmouth is a good stronghold for them.

Above, the Bloxworth Snout I found on the way to the Cemy. Below, a juvenile and adult Blackbird on my walk.

What was noticeable this morning were the amount of Chiffchaffs present here today. There must have been a good fall of them overnight as I recorded at least 8 birds seen or heard on my walk round including 5 birds around the bushes in the south-east corner. I also had one in my neighbours tree early this morning while I was checking my Moth Box. I heard the bird calling then seen briefly flying away from me and shortly afterwards, a Yellow Wagtail was heard calling high overhead, but yet again, I could not locate the bird and a similar situation with a Meadow Pipit overhead too. A Sparrowhawk flew up from bushes to try and grab a passing Starling, that just got away in time. All in a split second. Surprisingly, only one Goldfinch was seen this morning, but plenty of Blackbirds over in the south east corner.

Above, up to 5 Chiffchaffs, including these two, were in the south east corner of the Cemy.

On the insect front, a probable Migrant Hawker was seen in the south-west corner high up in a Conifer searching for its breakfast and two Red Admiral butterflies were noted. Ivy is about to start to flower and this attracted many Drone Flies and Batman Hoverflies. My first Ivy Bee of the year was found sunning itself on an Ivy Leaf. Even Fungi is starting to appear with two large Dryad’s Saddle fungi found near the large tree stump that was still sporting the Bracket Fungus growing on it.

Above, Bracket Fungus and below, Bracket Fungus growing in the Cemy.

Above, a Batman Hoverfly and below, one of many Drone Flies seen today.

Above, my first Ivy Bee of the year and below, Garden Spiders are now being found in numbers.

The birds recorded in the Cemetery this morning included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Carrion Crow
• Jay
• Magpie
• Great Tit
• Blue Tit
• Yellow Wagtail (heard only)
• Meadow Pipit (heard only)
• Chiffchaff 8+
• Blackbird
• Goldfinch
• Robin
• Sparrowhawk
• Starling

I found this Red Admiral butterfly by the roadside outside my house yesterday and so picked it up carefully and placed it on one of our outside plants. It looks as though it has just come out of its Chrysalis and the wings have not fully dried out yet.

In Hampshire this morning, the Wryneck seen at Titchfield Haven yesterday late afternoon, was still present this morning and showing now and then. Emma Parkes told me that a huge number of Red Admiral butterflies are migrating over to the UK, with a reported 30,000+ coming over yesterday and some houses in Kent were apparently covered in them!

The Wryneck by the coastal road at Titchfield Haven. Photo by Mark Francis.