Another moth Lifer!

Tuesday 15th July 2025.

My first ever DARK-MARKED TORTRIX.

There was a change in the weather forecast this morning for as I left to do my first shift in Pembroke Road, the heavens opened and a prolonged spell of rain finally came down on a very dry Southsea. Thankfully, I had plenty of time before the rain came down early this morning to check my Moth Box and discover yet another ‘Lifer’!

My Moth Box:

My 3rd Jersey Tiger of the year.

Just 47 moths of 21 species in and around my Moth Box this morning, but yet again, another ‘micro moth’ Lifer among them, sitting on top of the rain guard; a DARK-MARKED TORTRIX (Acleris laterana). To be honest, I thought I had seen one of these before and maybe forgot to put it on my Life List; but I am more than happy to add it to the large number of new moths seen this year.

Garden Pebble.

Another Jersey Tiger was in the Moth Box, but lingered only long enough for a few photos before flying off from one of the egg trays. My first Garden Pebble of the month was added to my large month total which now currently stands at 116 moth species for the month

The Moths recorded this morning included the following:

Macro moths:                                         Micro moths:

Brimstone Moth x1                                 Common Plume x1        

Jersey Tiger x1                                       Large Pale Masoner x2

Pale Mottled Willow x1                           Garden Grey x2

Langmaid’s Yellow Underwing x1           Rusty-dot Pearl x8

Lime-speck Pug x1                                 Bird-cherry Ermine x2

Double-striped Pug x1                            Black-banded Masoner x9

Common Emerald x1                             Common Masoner x3

Willow Beauty x1                                   DARK-MARKED TORTRIX x1

Riband Wave x1                                           Mint Moth x1 

                                                                     Garden Pebble x1   

                                                                     Barred Yellowneck x3

                                                                      Light Brown Apple Moth x4  

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

This is the field east of the Bowling Green. Virtually all the green areas of Southsea are now brown due to the lack of rain.

It was a very wet start here in Pembroke Road as the rain fell heavily at first and then eventually petered out to leave a sunny and cool morning for the rest of my shift. Up to 10 species of birds were seen and possibly the three Greenfinches that flew over northbound were the highlight of the morning. On Governor’s Green (or should I say Brown!), the grass here was in dire need of watering and the rain here was probably most welcome. This attracted a good number of Gulls to rest on the grass that included around 40+ Black-headed Gulls (including a few juveniles) and a handful of Herring Gulls.