More good moths & a Red-necked Phalarope on Sidlesham Ferry Pool.

Thursday 5th June 2025.

Rain was forecast for today and sure enough, we had plenty of it though thankfully, it eased up before my second shift in Pembroke Road this afternoon. A bit of a windy, wet day that kicked off with the Moth Box in the rain; but it brought in the Moths again and another three more crackers were added to my year list. 

The Moth Box:

One of two Varied Coronet's in my Moth Box this morning. I seem to get these moths annually in my garden, but always in small numbers.

I woke up to an overcast sky early this morning, but worse than that was a House Sparrow searching for my Moths around my Moth Box! To be honest, the Sparrow population around our gardens have considerably reduced this year of which I have nearly given up on putting out food for them; but I have been putting out dried mealworms for them and it has been successful. On top of the Sparrow, the rain started to fall as I got busy checking the Box and surrounding area. The good news was that I had three more excellent ‘year-ticks’ with two Varied Coronets, a Common Wainscot and a Green Oak Tortrix.

Above, a Common Wainscot & below, a Green Oak Tortrix. Both were new for the year.

There were 45 moths in total of 25 species present that included the following:

Macro moths: 

• Varied Coronet x2
• White Ermine x7
• Common Pug x2
• Lime-speck Pug x2
• Heart & Dart x5
• Large Yellow Underwing x2
• Marbled Minor x2
• Pale Mottled Willow x1
• Riband Wave x2
• Vine’s Rustic x2
• Brimstone Moth x1
• Bright-line Brown-eye x1
• Willow Beauty x2
• Dark Arches x1
• L-album Wainscot x1

Micro moths:

• Common Plume x1
• Green Oak Tortrix x1
• Garden Pebble x1
• Garden Grass-veneer x2
• Apple Leaf Miner x1
• Blushed Knot-horn x1
• Light Brown Apple Moth x1
• Brown House Moth x1
• Ruddy Streak x2

It was fairly quiet in Hampshire today for birds and I am not surprised with the bad weather, but a flock of 6 Kittiwakes and 2 Fulmars close in at Hayling Bay early evening was a good record for this time of year. Over the border in West Sussex, a fine male Red-necked Phalarope was found late on Sidlesham Ferry Pool. This site has a good record over the years for this species. I have seen several of them here over the years. Yesterday, there was another one over at Cuckmere Haven, East Sussex, but this was considered to be a female bird. Last night, a Hoopoe was reported on the grass around Fort Brockhurst in Gosport. Oddly, no photos were taken and I think only one person only got to see the bird. 

Above, the male Red-necked Phalarope on Sidlesham Ferry Pool today. Photo by Sarah Russell.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

A wet day in Pembroke Road with the Bowling Green in the background.

I recorded 13 species in all on my both shifts at Pembroke Road that again included four species of Gull: Mediterranean, Black-headed, Herring and Great Black-backed Gull. Up to three Pied Wagtails were on the Bowling Green during my first shift and it was good to hear the young Blue Tits making their way through the trees in search of food and calling within the leaves. The windy wet conditions didn’t bring anything unusual overhead, but a few Buff-tailed Bumblebees enjoyed the blooming flowers in the garden close by.

My birding pal, Andy Fisher, found this Bee Orchid growing on the lawn at his place of work.