Blair's Mocha moth added to year list.

Monday 14th April 2025.

A much cooler day today with cloudy weather and the possibility of a good movement off Southsea seafront today, with a south-easterly wind and a moderate wind blowing. Yes, I should be ‘sea-watching’ but I had too much other stuff to do today. Rain is forecast later today and I do hope so for many reasons. The ground is dry everywhere and after last night's fires over the Browndown area in southern Gosport (vandals or natural who knows?) but it will certainly affect the local Dartford Warbler population and also the Adders there. Thankfully, the quick action of the Fire Brigade got there before there could be some serious damage there.

On a positive note, I had a few moths (literally!) in my Moth Box overnight and a few notable bird records mixed in too.

The Moth Box:

My first Blair's Mocha moth of the year and a very early one too.

It was cold again overnight as I checked my Moth Box early this morning. The bad news was there was only TWO moths in total, but the good news was that one of them was my first Blair’s Mocha of the year and probably the earliest one I have ever had in my garden. It was actually within the Moth Box too, something of rare treat for hardly anything that has been actually in the Moth Box of late. The only other moth was a Common Plume sat on the kitchen wall nearby, but I failed to find any other moths present around the Moth Box.

While checking the Moth Box, a Yellow Wagtail flew over but was heard only and not seen against the blue sky. After breakfast, I took my dogs for a walk around the block and I heard a Willow Warbler singing from Highland Road Cemetery as I passed St. Margaret's Church. Apart from that, a busy day doing my usual household chores for a Monday.

Matt & Emma Parkes took a trip to Pulborough RSPB Reserve yesterday and photographed this superb adult White-tailed Eagle.

Fairly quiet in Hampshire today, but over in West Sussex; TWO Hoopoes near the North Wall at Pagham Harbour today. I would be tempted to go but I think the A27 is still shut due to a stupid crash just past Emsworth. The 1st winter Least Sandpiper is STILL present for its umpteenth day on the Stilt Pool at Medmerry RSPB Reserve. Will it ever fly east into Hampshire?  

My ropey film footage taken from my mobile phone of a drake Mandarin on the Pond at Keydell Nurseries, Horndean, yesterday morning.