A few moth surprises and an outbreak of Pollen Beetles!

Monday 10th March 2025.

One of three Bloxworth Snout moths was present in my garden today.

There was a bit of rain early on this morning, but it fizzled out to nothing eventually. There was hardly any wind and around midday, it was most certainly very mild with temperatures getting well into double figures. Though the birds were all the usual variety at Pembroke Road today, it was the insects taken centre stage today.

Pembroke Road, Southsea:

This White-shouldered House Moth was in my kitchen last night.

I managed to notch up 16 species at Pembroke Road today, which included a good variety of passerines among them. Up to 6 Pied Wagtails on the Bowling Green, though there could have been more on Governor’s Green. A few Brent Geese flocks headed east over the seafront and on the way back home, I noticed the Brent Geese flock in the fenced off area on Southsea Common. Hopefully, a migrant or two will be coming through soon; maybe a Wheatear or two on Governor’s Green perhaps?

This afternoon, now that the temperatures had climbed into the mid-teens, there was an outbreak of Pollen Beetles on the plants where I stood and many took a liking to my coat I was wearing and had to brush them off now and again. Male Hairy-footed Flower Bees were also interested in the flowering plants close by with at least two nectaring on the plants.

Pollen Beetles were prolific by where I stood in Pembroke Road.

Around 1pm, I trimmed the Ivy that was growing in my garden and up to three Bloxworth Snout moths were flushed from the leaves; my first of the year. Yesterday, my first White-shouldered House Moth of the year was found crawling up the wall in our kitchen, which I caught and released into the garden.