Another three moths new for the year.

Tuesday 10th June 2025.

The Moth Box:

Double-striped Tabby (Hypsopygia glaucinalis)

Yet again, it was overcast first thing this morning as I ventured out into the garden at 5am. The good news was that the local Sparrows had not arrived to chomp on my moths! A total of 39 moths of 15 species were recorded this morning with three more moth species added to my year list: the macro moth Cypress Carpet and two micro moths, Double-striped Tabby and Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix. Strangely, I never had a Cypress Carpet in my garden last year, though I picked one up at Andy’s house. The two other ‘year-ticks’ were also annual though I only get single figures of these moths. The Green Oak Tortrix was my second for the year.

Two other moths new for the year included a Cypress Carpet (above) and a Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix (below).

Above, my first Summer Chafer beetle of the year, which was within my Moth Box.

The Moths present this morning included the following:

Macro moths:

• Cypress Carpet x1
• White Ermine x7
• Heart & Dart x5
• L-album Wainscot x1
• Lime-speck Pug x5
• Garden Carpet x3
• Bright-line Brown-eye x2
• Riband Wave x2
• Green Pug x1
• Common Pug x1

Macro moths:

• Green Oak Tortrix x1
• Common Plume x6
• Brown House Moth x2
• Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix x1
• Double-striped Tabby x1

A rather quiet day in Hampshire with hardly anything reported on the Hants Birding website. I had some good news today when BOTH my Swift nestboxes are being occupied. I see them regularly flying down our street when I walk the dogs, but I am hoping the birds are on eggs. In the UK, three stunning rarities were reported on Birdguides that included a singing Song Sparrow at Thornwick Bay, East Yorkshire, a Blue-cheeked Bee-eater on the island Iona, Argyll, an Eleonora’s Falcon at Walcott, Norfolk and a Western Sandpiper at Maidens, Ayrshire. Some of the rarest birds always turn up in June and this year, there is no exception.

Both of my Swift nestboxes are now occupied.

Away from birds, local birder, Pete Gammage, found a Red-veined Darter dragonfly on Portsdown Hill; a species of Dragonfly I have never seen. I hope it sticks around.