Another micro moth 'Lifer'.

Thursday 26th June 2025.

My first Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing moth of the year.

A wet start to the morning when I ventured into the garden to check on the Moth Box. The rain was on and off all morning, but, thankfully,  it wasn't heavy. Despite the rain, there was another good haul of moths to go through and another three more species were added to my year list of which one micro moth was a ‘Lifer’! Even Matt & Emma Parkes had a good haul of moths too including species I have yet to see this year. My first shift this morning at Pembroke Road was relatively quiet but a few surprises among all the usual birds.

My Moth Box:

Always glad to see something new, this Thistle Marble moth was a welcome addition to my Moth Life List.

Another micro moth ‘Lifer’ was on one of the egg trays this morning, a Thistle Marble (Lobesia abscisana). Apparently, it is a common moth in Southern England and most welcome on my life list. Another micro moth new for the year was the distinctively shaped Rosy Tabby (Endotricha flammealis) which is a very common moth to my Trap in the summer months. The only macro moth for me today was a long awaited Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing that was sitting on the white sheet behind the Moth Box. Another Elephant Hawk-moth was present today and remained there for at least an hour. Either yesterday’s or a new Plumed Fan-foot was again present today. A final total of 83 moths of 33 species were recorded this morning.

Another new moth for the year was this Rosy Tabby. It's posture is very distinctive.

Thankfully, the rain eased up when I went to check the inside of the Box and the egg trays and no hassle from the Herring Gull this morning either!

The Moths recorded this morning included the following:

Macro moths:

• Double-striped Pug x2
• Plumed Fan-foot x1
• Willow Beauty x6
• White Ermine x1
• Pale Mottled Willow x1
• L-album Wainscot x1
• Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x1 *
• Heart & Dart x5
• Large Yellow Underwing x3
• Bright-line Brown-eye x4
• Dark Arches x3
• Riband Wave x7
• Lime-speck Pug x4
• Lackey x5
• Elephant Hawk-moth x1
• Silver Y x1
• Common Emerald x2

Micro moths:

• Rosy Tabby x1 *
• Oak Knot-horn x1
• Barred Marble x1
• Rusty-dot Pearl x1
• Beautiful Plume x1
• Ruddy Streak x2
• Brown Bark Moth x1
• Garden Grey x1
• Bird-cherry Ermine x7
• Garden Grass-veneer x1
• Light Brown Apple Moth x3
• Blushed Knot-horn x2
• Bud Moth x1
• Common Plume x5
• THISTLE MARBLE x1
• Large Pale Masoner x3

Matt & Emma’s Moth Box:

Above, a Swallow-tailed Moth and below, a Privet Hawk-moth. Both in Emma & Matt's garden this morning.

As mentioned, the guys had a nice haul of moths that included the following:

Macro moths:

• Kent Black Arches x1
• Swallow-tailed Moth x1
• Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x1
• Privet Hawk-moth x1
• Early Thorn x1
• Peppered Moth x1
• Minor Shoulder-knot x1
• Brown-tail x1

Micro moths:

• Small Marbled x1
• Common Plume x20

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

It was showery this morning when I started my first shift in Pembroke Road this morning, but I kept a good eye out for the birds of which I got up to 13 species yet again! Pick of the bunch was the female Sparrowhawk flying over Governor’s Green and spooking a few Pied Wagtails and the Starlings, then it flew over my head heading north over the houses. This is the first Sparrowhawk I have seen this month here at Pembroke Road and hopefully not my last.

Another photo of yesterday's juvenile Stone-curlew on Farlington Marshes. Photo by Graeme Loader.

Another unexpected species was a Cormorant flying west high over Governors Green and no doubt, heading towards Portsmouth Harbour. Two largish waders flew directly south over my head, but I did not get to see them too well and I can only assume, judging by their size, they were Curlews? I rarely see any waders here and just a shame I could not be 100% certain on what they were. Sadly, there was no second shift here at Pembroke Road as I had two teeth out at the Dentists and was told to take it easy this afternoon!