At least someone had their Moth Box on!

Friday 27th June 2025

A Dark Arches moth with an Elephant Hawk-moth in Emma & Matt's garden this morning.

Unfortunately, I did not put the Moth Box on overnight for I was shattered by the time I went to bed due to the fact I had a couple of teeth out yesterday. I was absolutely drained and so gave the Moth Box a miss and had a lay-in! Fat chance, the old ‘body clock’ woke me up at 5am anyway! It was back to Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth again this morning and a few birds were noted during the hour I was there. There was a few showers during the night judging by the puddles on my patio this morning and although there were some dark clouds around, there was no further rain showers during my time at Pembroke Road. Both Emma & Matt Parkes and James Cutting had their Moth Boxes on last night and were rewarded with some nice moths.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

Yes, the weather remained kind for me early this morning even though there were a few dark clouds passing overhead, but there was a fair bit of sunshine too, with a light south-westerly wind. The morning kicked off with a mixed flock of both Great and Blue Tits flying from the Bowling Green to the two lone Sycamore trees by the side of the road and a pair of Swifts flew low overhead heading west. Up to 13 bird species were recorded this morning during the hour I was there and on the way back home after my first shift, a Med Gull and a pair of Magpies were seen from the car.

This Swift was photographed by fellow birder Andy Tew from his balcony.

On my second shift at Pembroke Road, a couple more species were added to my day total that included Starling and a Mediterranean Gull that drifted over briefly and headed off north. However, yet another Hummingbird Hawk-moth paid a brief visit to the Lavender close to where I stood and yet again, it was there one minute and gone the next before I could grab a photo. It looks like another good year for this species.

Emma & Matt’s Moth Box:

Above, a Dusky Thorn moth and below, a Rosy Footman moth.

The guys had their Moth Box on overnight and were rewarded with yet another nice variety of moths this morning. This included the following moths (from what I could see from the photos):

Macro moths:

• Pine Carpet
• Dusky Thorn
• Flame
• L-album Wainscot
• Smoky Wainscot
• Rosy Footman
• Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
• Elephant Hawk-moth
• Dark Arches
• Common Wainscot

Micro moths:

• Orange Pine Tortrix
• Rosy Tabby
• Ash-bark Knot-horn
• Oak Knot-horn

Facebook friend and Basingstoke Birder (plus Moth-er) Dave Levy, had 35 Elephant Hawk-moths in his garden this morning, following on from 23 from the night before! Incredible.

Just some of the Elephant Hawk-moths Dave had in his garden this morning.