A pair of Thorns today.

Wednesday 13th August 2025.

A Large Thorn meets a Canary-shouldered Thorn.

I missed the Meteor shower last night due to the fact it was overcast in Southsea, but my first Large Thorn moth of the year was sitting on the white sheet behind the Moth Box along with a Canary-shouldered Thorn. The size difference was amazing, for this was only the second Large Thorn I have ever seen and most definitely the first one in my garden. The temperature was still around 20 degrees and remained that way throughout the night. What a restless sleep I had. Fume!!!

My Moth Box:

The Large Thorn. Only my second ever.

I had potted both the Large and Canary-shouldered Thorn from last night and released them both early this morning; two cracking looking Moths. Three Jersey Tigers and a single Garden Tiger were present and another new moth for the year was a micro moth, a Cherry Bark Tortrix. An Iron Prominent was still present from yesterday and a Tree-lichen Beauty was another good moth for the month.  Migrant moths included four Jasmine Moths and a White-point today.

Above, the Iron Prominent moth and below, my first Cherry Bark Tortrix of the year.

The Moths recorded this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Large Thorn x1*	Cherry Bark Tortrix x1*
Canary-shouldered Thorn x1	Common Plume x2
Garden Tiger x1	Beautiful Plume x1
Jersey Tiger x3	White-shouldered House Moth x1
Lime-speck Pug x6	Rusty-dot Pearl x7
Double-stripe Pug x14	Ruddy Streak x5
Yellow-barred Brindle x2	Pale-backed Detritus Moth x1
Brimstone Moth x2	Light Brown Apple Moth x6
Common Rustic x1	Meal Moth x1
Bright-line Brown-eye x1	Jasmine Moth x4
Vine’s Rustic x2	Dark Moss-moth x2
Tree-lichen Beauty x1	House Moss-moth x1
Small Dusty Wave x1	Bird-cherry Ermine x1
Large Yellow Underwing x2
Shuttle-shaped Dart x1
White-point x1
Iron Prominent x1
L-album Wainscot x2
Marbled Beauty x1

Matt & Emma’s Moth Box:

This Portland Ribbon Wave is always a stunning moth to get. I have had one this year in my garden and hopefully, more to come.

The guys had their Moth Box on last night again and today new for the year for them included an Angle Shades, Portland Ribbon Wave, Yellow-barred Brindle and one species I have yet to see, a Golden-rod Pug.

Golden-rod Pug.

In Hampshire today:

There was a small scattering of interesting birds around the County today, despite the inclement weather this afternoon (thunder & lightning), of which the strangest was a Scarlet Ibis (no doubt, an escape from somewhere) over Fishlake Meadows. Three Black Terns were off Gunners Point, Hayling Island and a report of a Wryneck in someone's garden in Chandlers Ford. The long-staying Lesser Yellowlegs was back on Keyhaven Marshes and a scattering of Whinchats around the County. A Ruff was on the Lake at Farlington Marshes this morning, a Yellow Wagtail and a Cattle Egret in the Hayfield and an immature Spoonbill on the Stream.