Just one Moth that was new for the year today.

Wednesday 9th July 2025.

Buff-tailed Bumblebee in Pembroke Road this morning.

Another blue sky overhead early this morning with a temperature around 16 degrees already and the promise of the temperature rising to around 25 degrees with a light wind. The Moth Box attracted a few more Moths than yesterday and Matt & Emma’s also attracted a good variety again. Pembroke Road was fairly quiet this morning, but at least the insects kept me entertained. 

My Moth Box:

Unfortunately, the Long-legged Tabby flew off before I could get a decent photo of it. A good 'year-tick' though.

Up to 56 Moths of 31 species were recorded this morning, which was a bit better than yesterday and finally, another new species for the year, the Micro Moth Long-legged Tabby (Synathe punctalis). This particular species, which is relatively common on shingle beaches, was very common when I first started ‘Mothing’ but over the years, has really declined in numbers and some years, I do not see it all in my garden. So this individual is most welcome. Another Plumed Fan-foot was present again and another Clay was present on one of the outside egg trays. 

Above, the Plumed Fan-foot in one of my pots and below, the Langmaid's Yellow Underwing in another pot.

The Moths recorded this morning included the following:

Macro Moths:                                           Micro Moths:

Single-dotted Wave x2                            Garden Grey x1 

Riband Wave x4                                      Satin Grass-moth x1

Bright-line Brown-eye x2                         Common Plume x4

Plumed Fan-foot x1                                 Beautiful Plume x2

Common Emerald x1                              Rusty-dot Pearl x2 

Lackey x2                  3                              Garden Grass-veneer x2

Pale Mottled Willow x1                          Light Brown Apple Moth x3

L-album Wainscot x1                             Black-banded Masoner x2

Common Pug x3                                   Brown House Moth x1

Double-striped Pug x2                             Rosy Tabby x2

Lime-speck Pug x1                                 Bird-cherry Ermine x4

Clay x1                                                     Apple Leaf Miner x1

Lesser Yellow Underwing x2                    Long-legged Tabby x1 *

Langmaid’s Yellow Underwing x1             Ruddy Streak x1

Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x1

                                                                  Dotted Masoner x1

                                                                  Common Masoner x1

Emma & Matt’s Moth Box:

Small China-mark.

Meanwhile, over in Fareham, Matt & Emma seemed to have fared a bit better than myself, but I pleased they still have the bug for ‘Mothing’ and continue to send me what Moths they have recorded and photos.

Lunar-spotted Pinion.

They recorded the following moths:

Macro Moths:                              Micro Moths:

White-spotted Pug                      Black-fronted Straw

Lime-speck Pug                          Garden Grass-veneer

Coronet                                       Bee Moth

Grey / Dark Dagger                    Black-banded Masoner

Peppered Moth                            Box Tree Moth

September Thorn                        Common Grey 

Knot Grass                                  Rosy Tabby

Blood-vein                                   Hemp Agrimony Plume

Dark Sword-grass                       Common Plume 

Small Fan-footed Wave              Garden Grey

Common Emerald                       Meal Moth

Lesser Yellow Underwing            Small China-mark

Heart & Dart

Nut-tree Tussock

Common Footman

Dingy Footman

Lunar Spotted Pinion

Black Arches

Ruby Tiger

Riband Wave

Least Carpet

Dun-bar

Uncertain

Elephant Hawk-moth

Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

The Hibiscus Bushes that attract a host of insects. As well as the Bumblebees, both Marmalade and Migrant Hoverflies were attracted to the flowers.

A lovely start to the morning here with a cloudless blue sky although a bit chilly after a while in the shade, hence I stood out in the sunshine as much as I could. Twelve species of birds were noted during my hour here in Pembroke Road, though nothing out of the ordinary this morning. Three Great Black-backed Gulls were calling to one another in flight over the rooftops by Penny Lane and a couple of Blackbirds were on Governor’s Green.

There were a lot of Buff-tailed Bumblebees enjoying nectaring on both the Hibiscus Bushes and the Lavender as well as two species of Hoverflies; Marmalade Hoverfly and at least two Migrant Hoverflies. The only butterflies seen were two Large White’s this morning. Both Large and Small White butterflies were still abundant in the afternoon and a brief sighting of a Red Admiral over on the opposite side of the road.

In Hampshire today, the Quails were still calling near Martin Down and even fellow birder James Cutting took full advantage and made the long trip over there to hear the birds, but apart from that, it was fairly quiet today.