This is a probable Bright Wave moth. Yet another 'first' for me.
A warm evening and overnight produced another superb variety of moths including yet another ‘lifer’ in the form of a Bright Wave. As a rule, I don't like to set up the Moth Trap two nights running due to recapturing the same moths; but watching the Bats flying over the garden last night and a very high swarm of Swifts around nearly 10pm last night had me thinking. There were a few moths flying around the garden already and so I decided to take a chance and it most certainly paid off.
Two more new for the year included this (above) Four-spotted Yellowneck and a Long-legged Tabby (below).
A total of 53 moths of 27 species wasn't too bad and among them were three more that were new for the year. They included a August Thorn that was perched on my neighbours wall; a Long-legged Tabby(Synaphe punctalis), which is a species I used to get regularly then they all dried up. This was the first one for many a year and finally, a Four-spotted Yellowneck (or most likely one as two other species are very similar to this and can only be told apart from dissection). However, the Bright Wave, if confirmed (I've asked for confirmation on Hants Moths Facebook), is a very rare moth in Hampshire and on the Red Data Book of Moths in the UK. I know there is a colony around Medmerry RSPB Reserve in West Sussex. Other than that, they are generally migrants. A Yellow Shell moth was fluttering around the house around midday and so I safely caught it, potted it and got ready for release tonight. I think I shall be putting my Moth Box again tonight!
Above, one of two Diamond-back Moths this morning and below, my second Elephant Hawk-moth of the year.
The Moths present this morning included the following:
BRIGHT WAVE (Idaea ochrata): LIFER
Common Footman
August Thorn (NEW FOR YEAR)
Elephant Hawk-moth
Lime-speck Pug 4
Yellow Shell
Riband Wave 6
Dark Arches
Lackey
Common Emerald
Willow Beauty 3
Silver Y
Common Rustic 2
Bright-line Brown-eye 2
Brimstone Moth 2
Double-striped Pug 3
Ruddy Streak 2
Rusty-dot Pearl
Long-legged Tabby (NFY)
Rosy Tabby
Common Plume 6
Blushed Knot-horn 3
Four-spotted Yellowneck (NFY)
Diamond-back Moth 2
Garden Grey 2
Light Brown Apple Moth 2
Bird-cherry Ermine
My first August Thorn of the year.
A total of 14 species of birds were seen or heard in Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth, today. On my first shift, I arrived to the sound of a big flock of screaming Swifts high overhead and then I noticed a lot of Flying Ants all over the place. This had brought in the Gulls and both Governor’s Green and the Bowling Green had a lot of Gulls searching for the Ants. Today has been called the hottest day of the year and even this morning, I think it was around 70 degrees! A Lesser Black-backed Gull was among the Herring Gulls on the Bowling Green and a Med Gull was among the Black-headed Gulls on the Governor’s Green this afternoon.
I have since found out that the Bright Wave moth seen this morning was in fact the correct identification. This was the 5th ever that has been recorded in Hampshire and the last one seen in Hampshire was in 2011!
This Hoary Bell micro moth was a pleasant surprise and a welcome addition to my Moth life list.
A clear, warm night produced a good selection of moths in and around my Moth Box this morning in my back garden, but still the numbers remain fairly low for this time of year. However, despite the low numbers, there was a bit of quality among the moths with my first ever HOARY BELL (Eucosma cana) micro moth this morning. Though relatively a common moth throughout the UK, it has taken around ten years for one to come to my Moth Box at last. Other noteworthy moths included up to 3 Common Emeralds, another Small Ranunculus (I normally only get one annually, but I think I have had three this year already), Least Carpet (3rd one this year) and my second Single-dotted Wave moth of the year.
My third Small Ranunculusmoth of the year.
The moths recorded this morning included the following:
Common Emerald 3
Willow Beauty 2
Common Rustic 2
Bright-line Brown-eye 3
Common Footman
Silver Y 2
Riband Wave 2
Least Carpet
Small Ranunculus
Single-dotted Wave
Common Plume 5
Light Brown Apple Moth 2
Ruddy Streak 2
HOARY BELL (Eucosma cana) LIFER
Brown Bark Moth
Rosy Tabby 2
Rufous Pearl
Black-banded Masoner
Bee Moth
Above, the Caddis Fly, Limnephilus flavicornis and below, a Buff-tailed Bumblebee.
Sometimes, my Moth Box will attract other insects and this morning there was a Buff-tailed Bumblebee and the Caddis Fly, Limnephilus flavicornis. This morning's first shift at Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth produced just the usual bird species with only 12 species seen. It looks as though it is going to be another hot one weatherwise this afternoon; but I am well prepared.
I found this Jersey Tiger moth in my back garden this afternoon.
A very warm day produced a surprising number of Moth sightings on my way around Portsmouth around lunchtime. As temperatures got up into the 70’s and probably a lot warmer late afternoon, there was hardly any wind today and even quite a few butterflies were on the wing. My day kicked off with a sighting of my first Garden Rose Tortrix of the year, a smart micro moth though this one lacked the actual round marking on the upperparts and was simply two-tone in colouration and found perched on a glass door window!
Another view of the Jersey Tiger moth.
A Common Plume was also found on a glass door window and where I was working in Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth, I found my first European Corn-borer moth, perched on the wall of a house. Another species of micro moth, I normally get a couple of these in my Moth Box annually, but to see one away from my garden is a big plus. The final Moth of the day was the best of all, a stunning Jersey Tiger! Amazingly, I saw something fly off my Lavender in my back garden and then flew up into a neighbouring tree. I honestly thought it was a butterfly at first as it was quite big in flight and when I found it perched, it was actually a Jersey Tiger moth. I regularly get them in the garden around this time of year and can expect them in or around my Moth Box now.
Emma & Matt Parkes had this female Bee Moth in their house.
Both Red Admiral and Small White butterflies were also in my garden today and several of the latter species were seen while driving around Southsea. Sadly, I did not see anything really of note today regarding the birds seen and only 12 species were seen at Pembroke Road today. Fellow ‘Lazee’ Mark Francis had a Black Tern flying slowly off Hill Head this afternoon and a Spoonbill was seen flying towards Farlington Marshes today. Early today (around 6.30am), I took my dogs for their early morning walk and passing Highland Road Cemetery, a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over and headed straight for the Cemetery. A good start to the day.
One of several Goldfinches seen on my walk around the Cemetery.
The weather was fine today with a light southerly wind and a lot more sunshine, especially in the afternoon. My family and I were out down Gunwharf this morning and on return, I took the dogs out for a walk around Highland Road Cemetery, seeing they never got their early morning walk. To be honest, the birdlife within the Cemy was rather quiet, but a few Goldfinches put in an appearance to liven things up. Again, I seemed to spend most of my time checking out the plants and insects and I came across a few nice sightings.
Above, a Yellow-legged Mining Bee on Cat's Ear plants. Below, Smooth Hawksbeard.
Above, a large clump of Creeping Thistle was growing in the southern half of the Cemetery and below, another Yellow-legged Mining Bee on a Yarrow plant.
Among the many plants seen here this afternoon, several stood out amongst the rest that included the likes of Borage, Creeping Thistle, Smooth Hawksbeard and Cat’s Ear; all species that are annual to the Cemetery and now are flowering. The Borage plant is an unusual plant and was first noted last year growing in a different spot than this year. Introduced by the Romans, it is a herb and can be used in cooking. Even the very tall Creeping Thistle was now flowering and growing in a large clump in the southern half of the Cemetery. Both Smooth Hawksbeard and Cat’s Ear were growing prolifically throughout the Cemy.
Above, the Hornet-mimic Hoverfly and below, one of several Meadow Brown butterflies noted.
Above, I only just managed to get a couple of decent photos of this Common Field Grasshopper that blended into its surroundings rather well. Below, eventually I found a Red Admiral feeding on the Buddleia trees.
With regards to insects, the Common Field Grasshoppers were in good voice (stridulate) and a few were found among the dry sticks on some of the graves. Yellow-legged Mining Bees were prominent among the smaller flowers with their banded abdomens clearly visible and yellow legs. Butterflies seen here were again far and few between with a handful of Meadow Browns and a few Red Admirals feeding on the Buddleia trees of which there were many around the Cemetery in bloom. This plant also attracted the Hornet-mimic Hoverfly where I found one over in the northern end of the Cemetery.
Above, the Borage plant I found in the Cemetery and below, a singing Goldfinch.
In Hampshire today, the young Roseate Terns were taking their first flight with the adult birds and a Glossy Ibis was again seen from the Canal Path at Titchfield. It was good to hear that a Kingfisher was seen at Woolmer Pond this morning, a species I rarely see at this site. A juvenile Kittiwake was seen by a fellow ‘Lazee Birder’ early this morning flying into the Solent from Sandy Point.
My firstPoplar Hawk-mothof the year by my Moth Box early this morning.
This morning, it turned out to be a ‘red-letter day’ for the moths with SIX excellent ‘year-ticks’. It was cool and clear overnight and I didn't hold much hope for anything exciting, but how wrong I was. In my garden, both Poplar Hawk-moth and Herald moth were present, although the latter species I was very lucky to see as I saw it poking out of the fencing panel. The Poplar Hawk-moth was perched on the outside of the moth box as I quickly grabbed a few photos and put it safely in one of the larger plants nearby. My second Single-dotted Wave of the year was near the box and among the ‘micro’ moths, there was my second Rufous Pearl of the year and an Elderberry Pearl within the moth box. In all, there were 27 moths of 18 species this morning in my garden.
Another new moth for the year, the Herald.
The moths present this morning in my garden included the following:
Single-dotted Wave
Double-striped Pug 2
Poplar Hawk-moth (New For Year)
Silver Y 5
Common Rustic 2
Least Carpet
Riband Wave 2
Lackey
Herald (NFY)
Garden Carpet
Common Pug
Dark Arches 3
Bird-cherry Ermine
Elderberry Pearl
Rosy Tabby
Rufous Pearl
Black-banded Masoner
Blushed Knot-horn
Over at Andy’s Moth trap, the first moth of note seen was a superbLeopard Moth; which was in fact only the second one of this species I have ever seen (the first was over The Oaks Crematorium, Havant). After picking out the likes of Yellow Shell, Uncertain and Common Footman moths with Geoff Farwell, my first Nut-tree Tussockwas also found on one of the egg trays. But it got better still when I took the lid of the Moth Box off and inside was my first Pine Hawk-moth of the year and what a beauty it was. Finally, we also found a rather nice micro moth that was also another ‘newby’ for the year, a Blackthorn Knot-horn. The Moths present in Andy’s garden included the following:
Above, Pine Hawk-moth and below, the micro moth Blackthorn Knot-horn.
Above, Nut-tree Tussock and below, the Leopard Moth.
Leopard Moth (NFY)
Riband Wave 5
Yellow Shell
Uncertain
Nut-tree Tussock (NFY)
Common Rustic
Common Footman
Common Emerald
Willow Beauty 2
Pine Hawk-moth (NFY)
Rosy Tabby 4
Elderberry Pearl 2
Blackthorn Knot-horn (NFY)
Ruddy Streak
White-banded Grass-moth
The Leopard Moth getting ready for take off in Andy's garden.
After checking the moths, I finished my coffee and enjoyed watching a couple of Nuthatches in Andy’s garden that were perched in a tree behind his garage. The birds then flew off north into a nearby tree. What a great start to the morning and when I told Andy that we were finally taking a drive to Petersfield Lake for the long staying Ruddy Shelduck, it was all systems go for another year-tick!
Above, this Comma butterfly was basking in the morning sunshine near Petersfield Lake. Below, an Egyptian Goose gosling on the Lake.
Petersfield Lake, Petersfield:
Yes, it didn't take long to pick up the Ruddy Shelduck fast asleep on the pontoon, surrounded by Egyptian Geese, a few Mallard and a female Tufted Duck; but hey, its a ‘year-tick’ despite shouts of ‘plastic’ and is it really wild echoing in the background. Nevertheless, it is a smart bird and though you could probably feed it with bread, the bird remained comatosed most of the time, only occasionally popping up briefly if a passing bird got too close. Other birds seen during our walk around the lake included a House Martin overhead, a few Cormorants on some of the islands and a singing Reed Warbler heard somewhere deep within vegetation over on the south-east side.
Above, Purple Loosestrife and below, Common Ragwort added a splash of colour to the Lakes perimeter.
Above, Andy and Geoff peruse the wildfowl below the bridge. Below, the Ruddy Shelduck in the middle of Egyptian Geese and Coot.
Above, the Ruddy Shelduck in familiar pose and below, this Egyptian Goose kept an eye on us as we passed.
A few butterflies were on the wing that included a Comma sunning itself, as did a Speckled Wood; both over the south side and a Red Admiral fluttering around on the north side. The waterside plants were impressive though with Purple Loosestrife and Common Ragwort dominant around the edge of the Lake. We even found a Pyramidal Orchid over on the south side. It was a beautiful morning and the lake was looking picturesque, especially looking south with the South Downs in the background.
ThisRed Admiral butterflywas sunning itself by the Information Building on Old Winchester Hill and below, a close up of the Rosebay Willow-herb.
Above, there were actually three Kestrels perched in this small tree by the Hill and below, a Common Field Grasshopper. Other Grasshoppers seen included Common Green Grasshopper and Roesel's Bush-cricket.
Old Winchester Hill, Meon Valley:
Andy, Geoff and myself set off for a lovely day's exploration of all things wildlife on Old Winchester Hill and in bright sunshine, we didn't realise whatsoever that the trip here would end in a big soaking from heavy continuous rain. On the positive side, though the birdlife was at times rather quiet, it is a superb site to fall back into insects and plants that adorn this wonderful site. With Geoff’s knowledge on plants, we were picking off some of the specialities that grow here and also marveled at insect life that included our first Dark Green Fritillary of the year and a few interesting moths which also included my first ever Hoary Plume moths of which there were good numbers of them fluttering about near the Fort area.
This Drone Fly was nectaring on Wild Parsnip plant along with a Sawfly species. Below, a pair of mating Soldier Beetles on a Wild Carrot plant.
Above, the beautiful Marbled White butterfly and below, an Essex Skipper butterfly.
Of the bird life, raptors seen on our trip here included at least three Red Kites, a Common Buzzard, three Kestrels and a Hobby. The latter was seen when we were watching a pair of Red Kites soaring high near the main road and then a Hobby sailed into view. One of the Kites gave chase briefly, but soon gave up to the lighter more agile falcon. Andy had seen two Kestrels sitting in a small tree and as I took a photo, on closer inspection of the photo, there were actually three birds present!
Above, a male Yellowhammer in song and below, a close up on White Bryony plants which Geoff identified.
Above, another Marbled White butterfly on a Scabious plant. Below, the rare Round-headed Rampion that only grows on chalky soil.
A few Yellowhammers were seen singing and a few simply flying past and the occasional flock of Linnet would pass overhead. Two Siskins flying over was unexpected and at least two Common Whitethroats were noted. Skylarks were singing around the Fort area and with all this beautiful countryside around us and the spectacular views, what a wonderful place to be. The sun was fairly strong and having applied sunscreen earlier in the car park, we made our way slowly along the footpath enjoying the plants that Geoff was pointing out that included the yellows of Wild Parsnip, Yellow Rattle and thousands of Rough Hawkbit; the purples of Wild Marjoram, Round-headed Rampionand Greater Knapweed and the blues of Harebell, Scabious and Clustered Bellflower.
Above, there were quite a few Common Spotted Orchid spikes growing along the slopes of the Fort. Below, a Meadow Brown butterfly feeding on a Wild Marjoram plant.
Above, Greater Knapweed was growing abundantly by the Fort and below, the micro moth Dark Strawberry Tortrix was my first of the year.
A wealth of butterflies were noted today that did include our first Dark Green Fritillaries. At least three were seen, but only one rested briefly on a plant before flying off into the distance. Small Tortoiseshells have been very scarce this year so one was seen flying past along the track leading to the Fort while we were having a well earned drink on one of the benches. Other butterflies noted included Large White, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Small & Essex Skipper, Red Admiral, Marbled White and Gatekeeper.
Above, a pair of Calocoris affinis, from the Miridae insects on a Rough Hawkbit plant and below, one of the Red Kites soaring over the countryside seen from the Fort.
Above, my first ever Hoary Plume moth of which I found at least six in the area where this individual was by the Fort. Below, a Six-spotted Burnet Moth feeding on a Scabious plant.
Above, Semaphore Flies and a colourful Broad Centurion Fly feeding on Wild Carrot. Below, this photo does not do the wild flowers justice.
Geoff and Andy before the rain started. Below, Clustered Bellflower.
Above, Geoff surprised me when he identified these as Yellow-meadow Ants. I would have never guessed on these being this species.
Sitting on the bench overlooking the Hill looking north by the Fort entrance, we felt the first drops of rain around 2pm. Then the heavens simply opened. We took shelter nearby under a tree, but after half an hour or so, we decided to take the soaking and make our way back to the car. Yep, I got drenched, but it was only rain and so reflected on the way back all the excellent sightings we had today; not only on what we saw on Old Winchester Hill, but some superb quality moths from the Moth Boxes earlier today.
Despite the downpour, we saw this Roe Deer pop out of the Copse below and take a walk to the other nearby Copse.
