More moths arrive in overcast conditions.

Friday 17th October 2025

It's always nice to get a Jasmine Moth in the garden.

More overcast weather this morning with a very light easterly wind and temperatures around 9 degrees when I walked my dogs early this morning in the dark! Sadly, I found a dog Fox dead by the edge of the road and I couldn’t see a mark on it either, though it was probably killed by a car by St. Margaret's Church. Thankfully, birding pal Emma Parkes knew of someone who could collect it and dispose of it humanely: Second Chance Fox Rescue and Rehabilitation. So, whoever is reading this, try these guys please should you come across a dead Fox or even an injured Fox.

A sad sight to see while I was walking my dogs this morning.

Another good haul of Moths and there was also a good number of species in Pembroke Road again this morning on my first shift there.

My Moth Box:

Above, this Heart & Dart was unexpected this morning and below, one of five Golden Twin-spots.

Another FIVE Golden Twin-spot moths were in and around my Moth Box this morning along with up to TEN Turnip Moths! A late Heart & Dart was a nice surprise and up to THREE Angle Shades was also exceptional for my garden (normally only get the one or maybe two). Black Rustics are creeping up in numbers and a Jasmine Moth (Palpita vitrealis) is always a nice moth to see. A total of 52 moths of 16 species were recorded this morning.

One of three Angle Shades today.

The Moths recorded this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
White-point x3	Narrow-winged Grey x1
Shuttle-shaped Dart x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x9
Feathered Ranunculus x1	Common Masoner x1
Turnip Moth x10	Jasmine Moth x1
Lesser Yellow Underwing x2	Rusty-dot Pearl x3
Black Rustic x3	Pale-backed Detritus Moth x1
Double-striped Pug x7
Heart & Dart x1
Golden Twin-spot x5
Angle Shades x3

There was a small bit of movement overhead while checking the Moth Box and that was a few ‘alba’ Wagtails going over heading north. When I was walking the dogs, as I was nearing my house, a Redpoll flew over heading west and when I got back in the car to go to my first shift, it or another Redpoll flew over again.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

It still remained overcast this morning at Pembroke Road, but at least it was still and bright. I am now donning gloves on my morning shift, for standing there for an hour it certainly gets cold! Overhead, a large flock of 16 Linnets flew low east along the road and two large flocks of Goldfinches went through; 30+ and 10 respectively. A Song Thrush flew high over southbound and then turned to head east. Over in the Holm Oaks, a Jay was seen and then it flew out and headed off north with an Acorn in its bill. A Chiffchaff was heard calling within the Holm Oaks, but no sighting this time.

In total, at least 17 species were either heard or seen on my first shift here this morning.

My Hampshire Bird Report arrived this week and birding pal Emma Parkes had three of her photos within it.