The first Redwing for the season.

Friday 10th October 2025.

Blair's Mocha. This well marked individual was opposite the Moth Box.

A dark morning with very low clouds making it darker than normal and with temperatures only into double figures, it certainly felt very Autumnal. However, it was very still with no wind whatsoever. A few more Moths this morning than normal and also my first Redwing of the season flying over the garden. I did get to Pembroke Road a bit earlier than usual and so took a nice walk up to the Curtain Moat. The Solent was still and calm and there were plenty of birds around to add to my daily total here.

My Moth Box:

Up to 5 Feathered Ranuculus moths were present this morning.

There were 23 moths of 11 species in and around my Moth Box this morning, the highest total for the week and included a stunning well-marked Blair’s Mocha that was perched on the wall opposite the Moth Box. The Golden Twin-spot was present still this morning on the white sheet from last night and a good count of 5 Feathered Ranunculus was my highest total for this species so far this year.

This Garden Mompha moth was in my kitchen last night.

Regarding the micro moths, a Garden Mompha was flying around in my kitchen last night and so I potted it to ID this very tiny micro moth first thing in the morning and then released it in the garden.

The Moths recorded this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Golden Twin-spot x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x2
Double-striped Pug x5	Rusty-dot Pearl x2
Blair’s Mocha x1	Common Plume x1
Lesser Yellow Underwing x1	Garden Mompha x1
L-album Wainscot x3	Ruddy Streak x1
Feathered Ranunculus x5

While checking the Moth Box, it was quiet at first overhead, though I did hear a couple of ‘alba’ Wagtails going over. Then the familiar call of a Redwing grabbed my attention. With it being so grey above, it didn't take long to pick the bird up flying high overhead calling and then it joined two other birds and all three headed off westbound. When I got home from my first shift, a flock of 8 Siskins flew low over my garden heading north and a Redpoll was heard flying over as well. A Chiffchaff showed well briefly in my neighbours tree before flying off north over the gardens.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

Curtain Moat, Old Portsmouth.

Yet another good bird species count from Pembroke Road and around the Curtain Moat this morning, with 19 species recorded. All the usual stuff as expected plus Siskin, Grey Wagtail, up to 4 Chiffchaffs and a Song Thrush were noted. I got to Pembroke Road around 7.40am and so grabbed my spare binoculars and took a walk down the footpath to Curtain Moat. There were a few expected dog walkers but they were no problem as I checked out the many bushes and trees along the pathway before reaching the Moat itself.

One bush held at least two Chiffchaffs and a couple more were seen along the way. There was nothing really of note by the Moat except for a few Pied Wagtails and the usual Starlings and Feral Pigeons and I couldn't find anything flying over the Solent in the brief time I was there.

Governor's Green with the Royal Garrison Church.

The birds recorded here this morning included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Great Black-backed Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Great Tit
• Pied Wagtail
• Grey Wagtail
• Meadow Pipit
• Starling
• Robin
• Wren
• House Sparrow
• Dunnock
• Blackbird
• Siskin
• Chiffchaff