A lot of visible migration this morning.

Tuesday 23rd September 2025.

Canary-shouldered Thorn.

Very much like yesterday with high pressure dominating the south coast. Though quite cold at first thing this morning (around 6 degrees centigrade), there was a clear blue sky overhead and a very light northerly wind. There were double the moths than yesterday and a reasonable selection too. Overhead, there was plenty of visible migration going on with many moving birds passing high and some low, overhead.

My Moth Box:

My first Lunar Underwing for the garden this year.

There were exactly 20 moths this morning with 14 species recorded that included my first Lunar Underwing for my garden this year. A Canary-shouldered Thorn was sitting on top of the rainguard and a Turnip Moth by the Moth Box. Yet another Golden Twin-spot (I wonder if anyone else is getting this species as regular as me?) was within the Box. A Rush Veneer was the pick of the small number of micro moths today.

The Turnip Moth.

The Moths recorded this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Canary-shouldered Thorn x1	Rusty-dot Pearl x1
Turnip Moth x1	Rush Veneer x1
Large Yellow Underwing x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x2
Lesser Yellow Underwing x1	Common Plume x1
Lunar Underwing x1
Garden Carpet x2
Pale Mottled Willow x2
Golden Twin-spot x1
L-album Wainscot x3
Square-spot Rustic x1

Overhead, there was a good movement of birds passing over that included good numbers of both Siskin and Meadow Pipit. I could hear some House Martins passing over too, but none were actually seen. A Chiffchaff was calling in the back gardens near my garden, but no sighting today.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

Up to 17 bird species were logged on my first shift here in Pembroke Road this morning and despite a clear blue sky overhead, I could still see the ‘Visible Migration’ going on. Siskins, Meadow Pipits and Swallows all were in good numbers passing over and I even saw at least two Sand Martins among them.

At least 6 Pied Wagtails were passing high over northbound as was a lot of the birds this morning and a Collared Dove was seen flying low south over Governor’s Green (rare here) and landed in a tree within Penny Street. No insects on the wing this early in the morning, though it was still quite cold of which I even wore my gloves!

This afternoon, another two more bird species were added to my day total, a Wren and a Chiffchaff, though both were heard only. More and more Swallows were going over along with good numbers of Meadow Pipits.

Above, Red Admiral butterflies in my garden this afternoon and below, this Ivy Bee was also present.

Back in my garden this afternoon, I counted up to FIVE Red Admiral butterflies enjoying the Ivy flowers and a Small White joined in briefly. Again, all the usual Bees and Hoverflies were present and allowed me close views as they went about their business.

In Hampshire today:

A stunning photo of this Goldfinch photographed by Emma Parkes.

In Langstone Harbour, the first large flock of Brent Geese had arrived with around 50 birds present and the Red-throated Diver was still present too. Titchfield Haven held 3 Glossy Ibis still and a couple of Little Stints were in front of the Meonshore Hide. A couple of Great White Egrets flew over the reserve and a Water Rail showed well in front of the main Hide. Farlington Marshes held 2 Curlew Sandpipers and a Little Stint and a Black Redstart was reported at Northney, Hayling Island.