Moths & Pembroke Road.

Friday 25th April 2025.

My first Common Pug for the year. This is a regular species for my garden and I should see these throughout the next six months.

Another cloudy start to the day and a little chilly too as I had both my Moth Box to check out and another trip to Pembroke Road. The good news is that I had two new moths to add to my year list and up to 15 species were seen at Pembroke Road. Still no sign of any Swifts over Portsmouth today, but I did see a pair of Swallows while driving through Eastney around midday. A big group of ‘Lazee Birders’ were off to Albania for a week's birding (yes, I am very envious) and tonight, I have just found out that a male Red-backed Shrike had been found in the Point Field on Farlington Marshes! If it is still around there early tomorrow morning, I just might have to make a pip stop before heading to Fishlake Meadows.

The Moth Box:

A Rusty-dot Pearl in Spring is nothing to be sniffed at. I usually see these in Autumn, so I am pretty chuffed to get one at this time of year.

Two new moths were added to my year list this morning: a Rusty-dot Pearl and a Common Pug; both are relatively common to my garden, but the former moth is normally found in the Autumn rather than the Spring and so I consider this a rather good record for my garden. The moths present this morning included the following:

• Rusty-dot Pearl  x1
• Common Pug x1
• Angle Shades x1
• Light Brown Apple Moth x1
• White-shouldered House Moth x1
• Ruddy Streak x1

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

The Harlequin Ladybird I found in Pembroke Road this afternoon.

Fifteen species were recorded today at Pembroke Road and the best of them had to be the Jay that appeared out of the blue opposite where I was standing, on my second shift this afternoon. All the usual birds were seen, similar to yesterday and the Wren was belting out a tune most of the afternoon. I found a Harlequin Ladybird in a bush close to where I was standing this afternoon as I like to keep an eye out for interesting insects when the sun is out and now a lot of the plants are in bloom.

Birding pal Andy Fisher took this photo of a Nut-tree Tussock today.

Andy Fisher sent me a moth photo to ID and it was a fine Nut-tree Tussock (see photo), a fine looking moth that is regularly seen in the Spring. Hopefully, a Hawk-moth will arrive soon especially with the weather warming up next week. There was a lot reported on Hants Birding today with a host of migrants being seen, so tomorrow is looking good for a good days birding with some great friends. Hopefully, a good array of moths to kick off the day with and then some good birds. Fingers crossed.