Two Moth 'Lifers' & a Black Redstart.

Sunday 23rd March 2025.

The male Black Redstart this morning within the Cemetery.

Not only did I get some amazing moths this morning, but a trip with the dogs over Highland Road Cemetery produced some nice birds too and I was blessed with a cracking male Black Redstart. The weather was bright at first and the overnight rain had departed early last night. I knew the temperatures were going to be mild and so the Moth Box had to go on. I was tempted to go and see the near Summer-plumaged Red-necked Grebe off Southsea Castle, but there was too much to do and the dogs needed walking. Maybe tomorrow?

The Moth Box:

My first Silver Y moth of the year.

It seemed a little quiet at first by my Moth Box at 6.30am today, but the more I looked, the more I found and amazingly, two new moth species actually climbed onboard my Life List! Both moths were micro moths of which one was a smart looking Lichen Tortrix (Acleris literana) and the second was the rare Scarce Oak Stilt (Povolyna leucapennella), which was identified when I put a photo of the UK Micro Moth Identification Facebook Page.

Above, the Scarce Oak Stilt and below, the Lichen Tortrix. Both species were 'Lifers'.

Other moths present included my first Silver Y of the year, two Early Greys and a Common Quaker. Two Common Plume’s and a Beautiful Plume made up the numbers. Some good moths are coming through now and long may it do so.

Water-dropwort Brown. My first of the year and not a common moth in my garden.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

A view of the Cemy looking south. The clouds rolled in, but the birds were excellent.

I was on the hunt for migrants as I slowly walked around the Cemetery, keeping a sharp ear out for anything of note in doing so. I thought I heard another Ring-necked Parakeet, but the bird, if it was one, never materialised. All was fairly quiet at first, with just the usual species being seen or heard and then when I walked between the two large Horse Chestnuts on the footpath, right in front of me perched on a gravestone, was a pristine male Black Redstart. I used to get this species annually here in the Cemetery around this time of year, but the last few years, this species has been absent or simply I never was there when one arrived. Today was different, as I have never seen a male at this site and so marvelled at its stunning plumage. I managed to grab as many photos as possible and even some film footage of this beautiful bird and even put some photos on the Hampshire Birds Facebook Page.

Some of the photos I took of the Black Redstart. To be honest, I could have taken so many more of this very attractive bird.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard giving its alarm call, but I never got to see the bird this time, but I was much luckier with a singing male Firecrest flitting about in the bushes below the Holm Oaks. Near the Firecrest, a singing Chiffchaff was heard, but only briefly seen flitting about in the Silver Birch trees. A Long-tailed Tit was heard only somewhere within the Bushes to round off a very good morning trip here.

Above, a male Blackbird was one of several of this species and below, this Collared Dove was posing nicely on the southern perimeter wall.

Above, this singing Wren was holding territory in the centre of the Cemetery. Below, I found this single Common Speedwell flower by one of the graves. Such a beautiful shade of blue.

The leaves of the Horse Chestnut arrive for another Spring.

Back at Southsea Castle this morning, up to 20 Purple Sandpipers and a male Black Redstart  were present as well as the Red-necked Grebe on the sea.

The male Black Redstart within the Cemetery this morning.