Saturday 19th July 2025.
My first Red Underwing moth for the year flew in last night.
Late last night, I was just checking my Moth Box before retiring for bed and something whacked me on the head and then flew straight into my ‘lit-up’ Moth Box. On closer inspection, it turned out to be my first Red Underwing moth of the year! It was hammering down with rain first thing this morning, but thankfully, the Red Underwing was still present this morning. I had donned a waterproof coat to cope with the rain and then potted anything interesting outside the Box; taken a closer look in the kitchen on what I had caught and decided to leave the contents within the Box for later this afternoon. Even my dogs didn't want to go out in the rain!
At Cowplain Marshes, Andy’s Moth Box was next for a few surprises. Today, I was thinking of going to Martin Down and trying my luck for Quail, but the news of a Black Tern was announced on the Hampshire website 'Going Birding', off Hill Head and so I opted for the nearer site instead. The rain was slowly coming to an end when we arrived and eventually, the sun finally came through. We finished the day off at Cowplain Marsh (Andy’s garden) and had a very nice relaxing coffee while watching the wildlife.
My Moth Box:
My first ever WATER ERMINE moth. Emma & Matt had one earlier in the year, but I never expected to get one in my garden.
Despite the heavy rain this morning at 5am, I did manage to get outside and pot a lot of moths on the outside of the Moth Box and later in the afternoon, after getting back from Hill Head, I resumed in checking the inside of the Moth Box and outside trays and came up with some excellent Moths. The Red Underwing* was still present in the morning, but had gone by the afternoon, but my first ever WATER ERMINE moth was still present and showed very nicely perched on our shed wall.
Above, the superb Red Underwing was still present this morning and below, my second Comfrey Ermine micro moth of the year. A really smart looking moth.
Above, I think this is my 3rd Dark Spectacle I have had this year here in my garden and below, as superb Dewick's Plusea was also my 3rd of the year.
My third Dewick’s Plusea of the year and a Twin Gold-spot were top quality Moths today and both present inside the Moth Box along with my first Shears* moth of the year. With a good run of Jersey Tigers this week, there was just the one this morning and other good moths present included a Dark Spectacle, Elephant Hawk-moth, my second Scarce Footman of the year, Straw Dot and a single Langmaids Yellow Underwing. Of the micro moths, my second Comfrey Ermine (Ethmia quadrillela) of the year was found on one of the egg trays. A total of 73 moths of 43 species were present today in my garden.
Above, my first Shears moth of the year and below, a rare immigrant moth, the Twin Gold-spot moth.
My second Scarce Footman of the year.
The Moths recorded this morning in and around my Moth Box included the following:
Macro moths: Micro moths;
Red Underwing x1 * Mint Moth x1
WATER ERMINE x1 Brown House Moth x1
Marbled Beauty x1 Comfrey Ermine x1
Jersey Tiger x1 Bird-cherry Ermine x2
Riband Wave x2 Willow Ermine x4
Grey / Dark Dagger x1 Common Plume x6
Willow Beauty x2 Beautiful Plume x1
Double-striped Pug x3 Light Brown Apple Moth x7
Silver Y x5 Black-banded Masoner x3
Elephant Hawk-moth x1 Common Masoner x3
Bright-line Brown-eye x1 Ruddy Streak x3
Shears x1 * Rusty-dot Pearl x1
Scarce Footman x1 Grey Knot-horn x1
Golden Twin-spot x1 Rosy Tabby x1
Dewick’s Plusea x1 Narrow-winged Grey x1
Cloaked Minor x1 Bud Moth x1
Pale Mottled Willow x1
Straw Dot x1
Common Rustic x2
Shuttle-shaped Dart x1
Dark Spectacle x1
Marbled Green x1
Lackey x1
Brimstone Moth x1
Large Yellow Underwing x1
Langmaids Yellow Underwing x1
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x1
Cowplain Marshes Moth Box:
One of two Rustic moths this morning in Andy's garden.
Another good list of Moths in Andy’s garden again with another three more moths added to my year list. Two Rustic moths were present, a species not all that easy to ID, but with the help of Obsidentify, both Moths were a 100% match for a Rustic. The other two species were both micro moths, Straw Grass-moth (Agriphila straminella)* and the immigrant moth Rush Veneer*. Other notable moths included a Nut-tree Tussock, September Thorn, Maiden’s Blush, Knot Grass and a Black Arches. Among the Micro moths, a Diamond-back Marble was present again for the second Saturday running here at this site.
Above, a Nut-tree Tussock and below, our first Rush Veneer of the year. This is a common immigrant micro moth.
Above, one of two Straw Grass-moths this morning. Another moth species that was added to my year list. Below, the Ash-bark Knot-horn micro moth.
The Moths recorded here this morning included the following:
Macro moths: Micro moths:
Nut-tree Tussock x1 Diamond-back Marble x1
Brimstone Moth x1 Bud Moth x3
Riband Wave x6 Garden Grass-veneer x5
September Thorn x1 White-banded Grass-moth x2
Rustic x2 * Oak Knot-horn x2
Heart & Dart x1 Common Plume x2
Maiden’s Blush x1 Rosy Tabby x3
Large Yellow Underwing x1 Garden Grey x2
Shuttle-shaped Dart x1 Straw Grass-moth x3 *
Knot Grass x1 Bird-cherry Ermine x2
Willow Beauty x3 Brown House Moth x1
Black Arches x1 Black-banded Masoner x1
Common Rustic x1
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x1
Common Masoner x1
Rush Veneer x1 *
Light Brown Apple Moth x2
Barred Yellowneck x1
Ash-bark Knot-horn x1
Hill Head, the Solent and Titchfield Haven:
The view from the Sailing Club overlooking the Solent.
When we arrived at the Sailing Club at Hill Head, the rain was still falling slightly as we scanned the large gathering of Gulls and Terns offshore. The tide was ebbing as I searched through the Gulls, which were some distance out, through my telescope. The Black Tern took some finding among the many Gulls and Terns out there, but I got lucky and picked out the bird twice. The only problem was trying to get the guys on the bird, but the Tern disappeared shortly after finding it and sadly, that was the only view of the bird I got. OK, another ‘year-tick’ but annoyingly, I was hoping to get the bird for the guys to see.
Above, a juvenile Black-headed Gull loafing below the seawall. Below, Geoff pointed out this Reflexed Saltmarsh Grass (the green leaves) that was growing by the footpath close to the seawall.
Above, from left to right, a Black-headed Gull, two Med Gulls and a Herring Gull all preening on the foreshore. Below, Geoff also found this Sea Slater running along by the seawall. This is a type of Woodlouse species.
We actually waited for a couple of hours as the tide receded and exposed the shingle beach. More and more Terns came in to rest on the shingle, but all that were present were Common and Sandwich Terns. The only waders seen on the foreshore were Oystercatchers and a few Redshank, which joined the Terns; but little else of note apart from a couple of Common and Mediterranean Gulls resting on the shingle. More and more Terns were returning from the Solent and many were heading over to Titchfield Haven. So after lunch, we parked up on the seafront and made our way to the viewing area overlooking the River Meon and the Tern Rafts.
Above and below, the gathering Common Terns were returning back to the foreshore with a Mallard dabbling near them.
Above, Black-headed Gulls with a Redshank on the foreshore and below, a pair of Med Gulls flying along the shoreline.
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Quite possibly Britain's laziest Birder!!?
From here, there was a variety of notable species seen that included a Water Rail on the edge of the reedbed. We did hear one a few minutes earlier calling somewhere in the reedbed and it didn't take long to find the bird out in the open. The small island held a pair of Common Terns which I believe were nesting on there. Sadly, an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull came down and snatched one of the Tern chicks and though mobbed by the Terns and Gulls, it quickly swallowed its catch and flew off north up the River. Mother Nature can be so cruel at times.
Above, a Black-headed Gull and a juvenile Common Tern perching on the posts within the River Meon and below, a pair of Grey Herons flying over the reedbeds opposite the viewing area.
Above and below, a juvenile Water Rail along the fringes of the reedbed.
Above, the Common Terns were always a joy to watch as they passed overhead and below, this juvenile Great Crested Grebe was acquiring its adult feathering along with a Coot and Mallard.
As well as a few Redshank present on the island, Geoff found a Common Sandpiper, which was also on the edge of the reedbed and a little while later, it flew up the river and then back again to land on the other side of the island and out of view. Large numbers of Common Terns arose a couple of times in front of the Meonshore Hide, but no sign of the Black Tern among them. I found a distant Sparrowhawk soaring high over the north of the reserve and around is within the reedbeds and vegetation, we had sightings of a Reed Warbler, Willowchiff and a Kestrel to round off our day here, but not before Andy bought the Ice-creams! Good man.
The juvenile Water Rail by the River Meon.
Cowplain Marsh:
This female Common Darter landed close to where I was sitting by the Pond.
What better way to finish the day off by relaxing by Andy’s pond in the sunshine with a cup of coffee and a few biscuits, watching the local wildlife with my good buddies. Enjoying the fish swimming around the Pond, a female Common Darter Dragonfly flew in briefly and landed close by long enough for a few photos before disappearing over the garden fence. Blue-tailed Damselflies were abundant here with at least 6 on the wing and butterflies were also numerous too. At least two Comma’s showed well as well as Large & Small White’s, Speckled Woods and singles of both Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper. It has to be said, that Andy's garden is starting to look like a real haven for wildlife and with the sound of tinkling water flowing into the Pond, so relaxing and tranquil.
Above, a Comma butterfly basking in the sunshine by the Pond and below, a resting male Blue-tailed Damselfly.
Above, we saw two Mint Moths enjoying the Water Mint growing from Andy's pond.
When I got home, after checking the Moth Box thoroughly, news came through that up to three Little Stints were on the Lake area of Farlington Marshes. Andy went down there and successfully saw the birds to add to his Hampshire year list. Top bloke!
One of the Little Stints on Farlington Marshes today. Photo by James Cutting.
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