Despite the storm, a Cypress Carpet added to year list.

Sunday 20th October 2024.

My first Cypress Carpet for the year.

As Storm Ashley batters the UK, I still had my moths to check within my Moth Box and was pleasantly surprised this morning with an additional ‘year-tick’! A Cypress Carpet moth was perched on the wall behind my Moth Box; a species that was long overdue this year. Light rain started to fall when I checked the Moth Box around 7.30am but by 9am, it was pouring down with a strong southerly blowing. The Great South Run got cancelled yesterday due to the oncoming storm and I took a good soaking while walking the dogs later this morning!

Turnip Moth was a nice surprise.

Despite the windy condition and rain, there were 13 moths of 8 species this morning with all being typical Autumn moths. Both Cypress Carpet and Turnip Moth are annual in my garden and vary in numbers too.

The moths present this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS:

• Feathered Ranunculus x2
• Double-striped Pug
• Cypress Carpet (New for Year)
• Turnip Moth 

MICRO MOTHS:

• Jasmine Moth
• Beautiful Plume x3
• Light Brown Apple Moth
• Rusty-dot Pearl x3

As expected, the female Ruddy Duck was still present on Ibsley Water (Blashford Lakes) this morning and a female Red-crested Pochard joined the bird too! It should be good for sea-watching today so I shall wait to see if any decent sightings were had in Hampshire today. Yesterday afternoon, birding pal Geoff Farwell went to Fort Southwick where a few more Ring Ouzels had been seen earlier this morning. He had a first-winter Ring Ouzel there plus a Firecrest, 115 Stock Doves, 3 Stonechats and 4 Common Buzzards.

Above, fellow 'Lazee' Chris Geary took this photo this morning of the female Ruddy Duck being joined by a female Red-crested Pochard on Ibsley Water! Below, the female Ruddy Duck photographed yesterday by Emma Parkes.