A good start with the Moths despite the rain.

Sunday 25th May 2025.

Only my second ever Lobster Moth was seen this morning.

I had a bit of a skin full last night in the local pub, The Bell, plus a superb dinner to go along with it. So getting up at 6am this morning was somewhat a bit of a struggle, but bleary eyed, I quickly made a coffee and ventured outside to my Moth Trap I had set up yesterday. In fact, last night, it was raining, but when we got home from the Pub, we could see a lot of moths around the Box and also more flying in.

Not a species I would expect to see in my Moth Box back at Southsea, this Cream Wave was a nice surprise this morning here in Chittlehampton.

This morning, there were still the remnants of last night's rain on the patio, but there were some superb moths to check out this morning as I let the dogs out to have a run and do their business in the large garden. The Corvids here were in full voice for there is a Rookery at the back of the garden with a Pine tree and another deciduous tree they are using, but there was also the lovely song of Blackbird and Goldfinch in the background. Even a Goldcrest was heard singing in one of the Pine trees here.

The Moth Box:

The Moth Box this morning attracted some excellent moths.

Up to 9 new species for the year were recorded this morning, but it looks as though I should get up much earlier to truly get all the moths attracted to the Moth Box. Six o’clock simply will not cut it and so it's going to be a 5am start tomorrow (groan!). In all, I recorded a total of 23 moths of 16 species were present and although the numbers were unexpectedly lower than I thought, the new moths for the year included my second ever Lobster Moth, Cream Wave, Orange Footman, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Buff-tip, Green Carpet and a Middle-barred Minor. The only new micro moth was a Brown-spot Grey.

Above, an Orange Footman and below, the micro moth, Brown-spot Grey.

Above, a Green Carpet and below, the Middle-barred Minor.

Above, a Buff-tip moth and below, a Mottled Pug.

A Red Twin-spot Carpet.

If it wasn't for the fact that I potted at least 8 moths last night, I think I could've missed a lot of the above. Nevertheless, I was pleased with my total and the cracking moths that did hang around overnight. The moths recorded this morning included the following:

Macro moths:

• Buff-tip x1
• Pale Tussock x3
• Middle-barred Minor x1
• Green Carpet x1
• Red Twin-spot Carpet x1
• Lobster Moth x1
• Common Marbled Carpet x2
• White Ermine x1
• Buff Ermine x2
• Mottled Pug x1
• Common Pug x1
• Heart & Dart x1
• Orange Footman x1
• Treble-lines x3
• Cream Wave x1

Micro moths:

• Brown-spot Grey x1

Away from moths, my birding pals were keeping me updated on their sightings yesterday. Geoff Farwell went to the Houghton & Test Valley where he recorded sightings of 4 singing Corn Buntings, 3 singing Reed Buntings, 2 Sedge Warblers, 2 Cetti’s Warblers, 8 singing Common Whitethroat, Firecrest, Stonechat, Cuckoo and a Little Egret. He only had the one Red Kite and 2 Common Buzzards. Matt and Emma Parkes went into Surrey to see the Honey Buzzards at Woolbeding Common and successfully saw two birds over the woodland there.

One of the Honey Buzzards seen at Woolbeding Common. Photo by Emma Parkes.

It looked to be fairly quiet in Hampshire yesterday with the only notable sighting being of a Long-tailed Duck on Normandy Lagoon in the afternoon. Hopefully no photos of the bird just in case it was breeding there!!!! 

Swifts were abundant around the Village. I even found a few nesting sites as I walked with the dogs.

I took the dogs for their early morning walk after checking the moths and so took them down one of the country roads just west of the Village of Chittlehampton. I always keep an eye out for anything of note, whether it be birds, insects or plants and there was plenty to look at and even save a juvenile Blue Tit from certain death!

Above, Ox-eye Daisies growing in large clumps along the roadside through the village and below, a Buff-tailed Bumblbee on a Pennywort plant.

The bird life seen included Swifts, Swallows and even a House Martin flying around the village and showing very well and even a Siskin was first heard and then seen flying high overhead. Yes, all the common birds were seen including Blackbirds searching for worms along with several family parties of Starlings that are always worth watching. There is a Barn just south of the road that the last time I was here, a Little Owl was seen perched on the apex of the Barn. Though it wasn't present today, I shall be keeping an eye out for it over the coming week. It was a blustery day with a lot of both cloud and sun, but the strong westerly wind dominated the weather today.

Above and below, Greenfinches were seen on our walk with at least 6 birds seen in one area.

Above, it was good to see so many House Sparrows in the Village and below, one expanse of grass held Blackbirds and Starlings in search for worms.

On the return journey back to the Cottage, I could see a bundle of fluff in the road and on closer inspection, it was a very young Blue Tit that had obviously just flown out of the nest, but its flight feathers were still not strong enough as I moved to grab the bird and put it safely into the nearby hedge. However, the bird was strong enough to flap itself into the grassy verge. Phew! Earlier, a car drove over the bird, but the fledgling avoided the tyres. A very close shave!

Above, Foxgloves growing on the side of the road and below, a Yellow Toadflax nearby.

Above and below, the beautiful Devon countryside beckons.

Above, the entrance to Chittlehampton and below, St. Heiritha's Church in the background.

This male Blackbird perched quietly on the other side of the road when I passed with the dogs and totally unphased with us going past.

There were plenty of plants on show and opposite our Cottage there is a brick wall that is laden with Pennywort plants that attracted the Bumblebees and other insects. Yellow Toadflax, Foxgloves and Ox-eye Daisies dominated the plants seen along the roadside and Honeysuckle was growing abundantly in the hedgerows; all good plants for the insects here. We are now nearly in the Summer months and there will be more to look at and see and enjoy. Bring it on.