A new micro moth for my Life List & a walk around Eastney Point.

Monday 21st April 2025.

One of two Brimstone Moths were present today.

As it was an overcast evening yesterday, I put my Moth Box on overnight and there were a good number of moths present this morning. A total of 22 moths of 12 species were recorded this morning including my first ever Apple Nymph. New for the garden this year included Brimstone Moths and a Twenty-plume Moth and also my second Brindled Pug  and Silver Y for my garden this year.

Above, the Twenty-plume Moth and below, a Silver Y.

The Moths present this morning included the following:

• Brimstone Moth x2
• Double-striped Pug x4
• Brindled Pug x1
• Shuttle-shaped Dart x2
• Silver Y x1
• Beautiful Plume x1
• Common Plume x2
• Twenty-plume Moth x1
• Ruddy Dart x3
• Apple Nymph x1 (New for year)
• Hourglass Mompha x3
• Light Brown Apple Moth x1

Above, the Hourglass Mompha and below, the Apple Nymph micro moth, which was new for the year.

While checking the moths, a Pied Wagtail flew overhead heading south and it was good to hear a lot of House Sparrows squabbling in a nearby neighbour's garden. They have been so scarce this year around the gardens. I shall be putting out some bird pellets this morning to encourage them.

Eastney Point:

Med Gulls on Eastney Beach.

This afternoon, I had the opportunity to take my dogs for a pleasant walk around the harbour entrance in Eastney and also taking in Eastney Point. The weather was overcast, but hardly any wind whatsoever and not too many people about either, especially around the Point area. Arriving around 1pm, I first parked up on the spit adjacent to the Hayling Ferry and checked out both Lock Lake and the southern end of Langstone Harbour, but all I could find were Herring and Black-headed Gulls on the mudflats and the odd Oystercatcher passing low over the water.

Above, an Oystercatcher flying over Langstone Harbour and below, a pair of Med Gulls quietly watching the world go by near the Hayling Ferry.

However, a pair of adult Mediterranean Gulls were quietly sitting on the beach by the Car Park and showing very nicely close to the small road. Med Gulls are very vocal and have that very distinctive call and could be heard out in Lock Lake. After a 10 minute walk around here, we got back into the car and took the short drive to the Ferry Road Car Park where I passed a lot of Oxford Ragwort in bloom along the side of the road.

Above and below, more Mediterraanean Gulls were near Eastney Pier.

Above, a female and below, a male Linnet on the perimeter fence.

Parking up, we took a look at the field adjacent to Fort Cumberland where there were four more Mediterranean Gulls on the field and a pair of Linnets showed well on the perimeter fence. A pair of Collared Doves sat on the wires and I could hear a distant Common Whitethroat calling in the distance as was a singing Dunnock. A male Greenfinch briefly was doing its display flight (the first time I have seen this so far this year) and then returned to the same flowering tree it came from. A Skylark suddenly rose from the beach area and began singing and then eventually settled in the field by the perimeter fence.

Above, Sea Radish and below, Hoary Cress growing abundantly near Eastney Pier.

Above, Oxford Ragwort also growing abundantly here at Eastney and below, Buddy and Ted enjoying the walk on the beach.

Above, a pair of Sandwich Terns flying westbound out into the Solent and below, yet another Med Gull showing very well near the Pier.

Above, top four photos of the Skylark seen by the Pier and then flying into the adjacent field. Below, a pair of Collared Doves were seen perched on the perimeter fence.

As we moved on south to Eastney Pier, there were many more Mediterranean Gulls on the beach and they looked stunning in the summer plumage. A pair of Sandwich Terns flew south and then west along the beach as I let my dogs run free for around 15 minutes or so and had a quick paddle in the water. I was sure I heard a Whimbrel flying over, but failed to see the bird as the sky looking south was getting darker due to incoming rain. So we made our way back slowly to the car and took in some of the flowering plants on the beach and footpath that included Sea Radish, Oxford Ragwort, Mallow and Hoary Cress. A pleasant walk was had of which I must bring the dogs back here again for there are not many places where I live they can be off their lead.