Another hot day here on the south coast.

Friday 18th July 2025.

Governor's Green looked a bit dispondant this morning, but it still attracted a few birds.

The Moth Box didn't go on last night as I felt that some of the Moths from yesterday had not flown and so gave them the chance to disperse into the night. The bird life wasn't too bad today at Pembroke Road, but as the day progressed, the afternoon shift here was very warm indeed. A helicopter over the Solent and quite close to the shoreline at times, scared most of the Gulls and pushed them my way as I sweated it out in the hot sunshine.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

One of the Buff-tailed Bumble Bees covered in pollen from the Hibiscus flowers.

There was hardly any green leaves on Governor’s Green and looked an ugly shade of brown, though this did not deter the birds coming down in search for insects including a lone Pied Wagtail, a couple of Blackbirds, a Robin and a small flock of Black-headed Gulls on the grass (a few juveniles with them too). A couple of Great Black-backed Gulls were on the rooftops in Penny Street and a small flock of Swifts overhead this afternoon increased today’s species total to 14 species for the day.

This Common Spotted Field Syrph Hoverfly also enjoyed the Hibiscus flowers.

Both the Migrant and Marmalade Hoverflies were showing well on the Hibiscus Bushes again along with good numbers of Buff-tailed Bumblebee’s. This afternoon, a Comma butterfly landed just a few feet away from me, flapped its wings slowly for all of about 10 seconds and then flew off as if to say Hello, lovely to meet you but I must dash! Nothing quite like a bit of poetic license (or do I need therapy?).

One of many Common Field Grasshoppers in my daughters garden this afternoon.

Yesterday evening, a Wood Sandpiper was in the Lake area on Farlington Marshes; thanks to Jason Crook in finding it. In Hampshire today, the Ruddy Shelduck was seen on Blashford Lakes again and over at Lepe Country Park, an Osprey was seen in one of the dead trees. More locally, I counted at least 30+ Swifts high over my house in Southsea early this morning, all in one big flock and a calling Linnet flew south. I was over my daughters house in Bedhampton this afternoon and I couldn't believe how many Common Field Grasshoppers were on her back lawn, with at least a dozen individuals heard and some seen well.

Matt & Emma’s Moth Box:

A nice moth to find, a Vagrant Piercer (Cydia amplana). I have not had one of these for several years now, so I must be overdue for one?

The Jersey Tiger moths are pouring in still with SEVEN turning up at Matt & Emma’s Moth Trap this morning. Along with these Tigers were a Ringed China-mark, Lime-speck Pug and a Vagrant Piercer.