Light-bellied Brent Goose & Moths.

Friday 7th March 2025.

The Light-bellied Brent Goose (left) with Dark-bellied Brent on Southsea Common.

It has warmed up considerably from the beginning of the week with temperatures around 10 degrees this morning; enough for me to have my Moth Box on overnight and thankfully, I ACTUALLY had some moths to look at, though it took me two checks to find the additional three more near the moth box after discovering just one before 7am. With migration fully underway with the UK now seeing more Wheatears, Sand Martins and even Little Ringed Plovers arriving, it shouldn’t be long now before I could get one of these birds soon and hopefully over the weekend?

The Moth Box:

Above, Double-striped Pug and below, a Light Brown Apple Moth.

Finally, after drawing many ‘blank’ mornings in and around the Moth Box, a total of four Moths were discovered this morning. Mild overnight temperatures probably encouraged them to disperse more and the first moth I found was a Light Brown Apple Moth; my first of the year. After checking the Moth Box, I then took the dogs for their early morning walk. When I got back from my first shift this morning, I let the dogs out in the garden and checked the area by the Moth Box and low and behold, I found three more moths: Common Plume, Beautiful Plume and a Double-striped Pug; the latter two were also new for the year.

Above, Common Plume and below, Beautiful Plume.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

Light rain was falling when I arrived at Pembroke Road to start my first shift today, hence the rainbow over the Garrison Church.

Light rain was falling early this morning and during my first shift, but it didn't deter the bird sightings where, like yesterday, I notched up 16 species. The Bowling Green is attracting a good number of Pied Wagtails and yesterday's total of 12 was a record, but couldn't be matched today with 11 individuals on the Bowling Green. I brought my camera along with me today and took a stroll before 8am over to the Curtain Moat. A Chiffchaff was heard nearby calling (not singing) and somewhere within the Holm Oaks on Pembroke Road, a Firecrest was heard to call. Another notable sighting was of a Grey Heron flying towards the Gosport area. All the usual suspects were heard or seen today and I am looking forward to what my afternoon shift brings.

The Curtain Moat.

Southsea Common:

The Light-belled Brent Goose among the more familiar Brent Geese within the fenced off area.

Of late, a Light-bellied Brent Goose has been seen with around 50 Dark-bellied Brent in the fenced off area on Southsea Common and so I took the opportunity to see the bird which was easily picked out among the other Brent. There are still a good number of Brent Geese using the fields in Southsea though they should be dispersing soon to their breeding grounds. I did see several flocks passing east this morning, but likely to join other birds in the area.

The Light-bellied Brent Goose among Brent on Southsea Common.