Plenty of 'Vis Mig' and Moths this morning.

Friday 19th September 2025.

This Old Lady moth was a little worse for wear.

Overnight temperatures remained mild and this morning, there was a clear blue sky overhead and with next to no wind at all, it was around 17 degrees first thing this morning. While I was checking the Moth Box, there was a constant trickle of Meadow Pipits flying south and when I walked the dogs after checking the Moth Box, a Grey Wagtail flew over Highland Road Cemetery and a flock of 6 Siskins flew low over the rooftops, calling in doing so. Pembroke Road, this morning, was getting busy again with plenty of bird species seen today on my first shift.

My Moth Box:

Up to three Plumed Fan-foot moths were present this morning. A Garden record.

An excellent number of moths present this morning in and around my Moth Box with at least 77 moths of 23 species. Yesterday’s Sombre Brocade was still present, perched on the floor by the Moth Box and last night’s tatty Old Lady moth was still present, but this time within the Moth Box itself. A garden record of FIVE Clancy’s Rustics were recorded this morning as was another garden record of THREE Plumed Fan-foots.

Above, two Large Pale Masoner micro moths were present and below, a large total of at least a dozen L-album Wainscot also this morning.

Other notable moths included a Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Golden Twin-spot, Blair’s Mocha and the return of both Large Pale Masoner and Narrow-winged Grey. Also, 12 L-album Wainscot and 10 Lesser Yellow Underwings was impressive.

Above, yesterday's star moth, the Sombre Brocade was still present this morning and below, a Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing was my first for this month.

The moths recorded this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTH
Wiilow Beauty x5	Common Plume x4
Old Lady x1	Large Pale Masoner x2
Sombre Brocade x1	Tree-mallow Tortrix x2
Clancy’s Rustic x5	Light Brown Apple Moth x3
Double-striped Pug x5	Rusty-dot Pearl x2
Lime-speck Pug x1	Ruddy Streak x3
Large Yellow Underwing x7	Narrow-winged Grey x3
Lesser Yellow Underwing x10
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x1
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x1
Plumed Fan-foot x3
L-album Wainscot x12
Square-spot Rustic x2
Blair’s Mocha x1
Golden Twin-spot x1
Pale Mottled Willow x1

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

Among all those Spiders around the Bushes in Pembroke Road, I found this Light Brown Apple Moth.

The movement of Meadow Pipits continued throughout my first shift within Pembroke Road this morning as did the Siskins going over; although these could only be heard when there was a lull in the traffic. A female Sparrowhawk flew high overhead, heading north to probably ambush some of these birds? A Grey Wagtail was actually seen this morning (normally only heard) flying over the Bowling Green and trying to sort out somewhere to land.

The early morning cloud was disappearing as the sun rose higher, leaving behind a clear blue sky and it most certainly warmed up too. Up to 16 bird species were recorded this morning, the most I have seen here for a few weeks.

The Bushes, from where I stand, were full of Garden Spiders with at least 8 present and above them, a Giant House Spider was tucked into the wall. I did find a Light Brown Apple Moth resting on one of the plants, but no Butterflies or Bees to speak of this morning.

The bird species seen here this morning included the following: 

• Herring Gull
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Starling
• House Sparrow
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Meadow Pipit
• Siskin
• Pied Wagtail
• Grey Wagtail

On my afternoon shift in Old Portsmouth, the temperature really did climb as it got into the 70's and I have to say, I was a little overdressed for the heat! No other new bird species were seen, but a few Small White butterflies were on the wing here and dodging the many Spider webs! The warm sunshine brought out the Bees and Hoverflies in my garden, all nectaring on the flowering Ivy. Also attracted to the Ivy were the butterflies where I had a showy Comma, a couple of lingering Red Admirals and a Small White.

Above and below, a Comma butterfly was nectaring on the flowering Ivy in my back garden.

In Hampshire today:

 

This Grey Phalarope graced one of the pools at Keyhaven Marshes today. Photo by Steve Laycock.

A late juvenile Caspian Gull was found at Hill Head this evening and on nearby Titchfield Haven, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Ruff, a Curlew Sandpiper, Glossy Ibis, Goosander and 6 Common Snipe were present. Farlington Marshes held 7 Curlew Sandpipers and a Ruff were seen and an Osprey was in Langstone Harbour. A Pied Flycatcher and a Redstart were seen at Castle Farm, Warblington and over at Keyhaven Marshes, a showy Grey Phalarope was spinning away on one of the pools and a Curlew Sandpiper nearby.  

The Curlew Sandpiper on Keyhaven Marshes. Photo by Steve Laycock. Below, film footage of the Grey Phalarope. Film footage also taken by Steve Laycock.