An Angle Shades moth leads the way.

Wednesday 24th September 2025.

My first Angle Shades moth for the month.

High pressure is still with us here on the south coast as I awoke to yet another clear blue sky overhead and a cool 6 degrees centigrade temperature. Again, it was too dark to check the Moth Box thoroughly and so I left it to check after I took my dogs for their early morning walk. On my walk, a Grey Wagtail flew overhead heading west and there was again a trickle of both Siskins and Meadow Pipits going over. At least two Chiffchaffs were heard in the gardens of Highland Terrace. 

Pembroke Road in Old Portsmouth was again busy on my first shift there, but there were plenty of birds about to keep me entertained while doing my job.

My Moth Box:

One of three Golden Twin-spot moths this morning.

A total of 38 moths of 16 species were recorded this morning in and around my Moth Box. Last night, an Angle Shades moth was found resting on a leaf by the Box and thankfully, it was still present this morning. Also, the Canary-shouldered Thorn was still present along with the Turnip Moth. Up to three Golden Twin-spots were within the Moth Box on one of the egg trays and two Clancy’s Rustics were sharing the same egg tray.

Above, the Canary-shouldered Thorn spent another evening by my Moth Box and below, one of two Clancy's Rustic moths were on the outside egg tray.

The pick of the micro moths goes to the lone Tree-mallow Tortrix (Crocidosema plebejana).

The Moths recorded this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Canary-shouldered Thorn x1	Rusty-dot Pearl x1
Turnip Moth x1	Tree-mallow Tortrix x1
Willow Beauty x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x5
Lesser Yellow Underwing x7	Common Plume x2
Lunar Underwing x1
Garden Carpet x1
Pale Mottled Willow x1
Golden Twin-spot x3
L-album Wainscot x7
Double-striped Pug x3
Square-spot Rustic x1
Clancy’s Rustic x2

This morning, more visible migration was going on which included Siskins, Meadow Pipits and a Yellow Wagtail over. Strangely, no Hirundines at all.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

Fourteen bird species were notched up this morning in Pembroke Road during my first shift of which the most notable out of them were the Chiffchaffs. Up to three birds were either seen or heard (two definitely seen) around the Sycamore trees and both Siskin and Meadow Pipits were heard throughout the hour there. Most of the usual birds were present and correct and hopefully more birds will be seen this afternoon.

In Hampshire today:

Off Hill Head this morning, a Slavonian Grebe was seen on the Solent and a Short-eared Owl was seen coming in off the sea and then headed east. A Redwing was seen over Sway, near Lymington this morning. Here they come.