Very cold this morning and hardly any moths.

Friday 24th October 2025.

One of just two moths present this morning; a Double-striped Pug.

It must have been very cold overnight as a clear blue sky first thing spelt disaster for my Moth Box. I only found two moths; a Double-striped Pug and a Rusty-dot Pearl and both were outside the Moth Box with nothing whatsoever in the Box itself. Meanwhile, it was back to Pembroke Road again this morning for my first shift and my God, it was so cold. I really thought Winter had arrived and I even sported my woolly hat this morning hoping to keep the cold out.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

Though bright and sunny at 8am this morning in Pembroke Road, it was damn cold in that wind.

A much better count of 18 species was obtained this morning during my hour there and kicked off more or less straight away with a Grey Wagtail flying low over the road and flew first east and then returned to the garden of the house opposite to where I stood. The usual Pied Wagtails were on the Bowling Green and Governor’s Green held several Herring Gulls and at least 50+ Wood Pigeons. 

Herring Gulls and Wood Pigeons on Governor's Green.

I think during the first 15 minutes or so having arrived at Pembroke Road, the road is fairly quiet for traffic and therefore I can pick up a lot of bird calls nearby and those birds that are flying over and this week, there has been a lot of migrating birds. After that, the traffic gets heavier and I get a lot busier and therefore sightings are sporadic, but I always keep an eye out for the unexpected. This morning, overhead, two flocks of Siskins flew over; a flock of 3 three birds and then a much larger group of 12 birds of which all headed westbound. More finches were seen that included a Chaffinch flying high west and a small group of three Goldfinches flew over and headed off south. I could not emphasise how cold it was this morning and with that biting wind, I was glad to get back into my car! As they say in Game of Thrones, ‘Winter is coming!’

In Hampshire today:

Two Yellow-browed Warblers were on show in Hampshire today with the long staying bird at Fishlake Meadows and another discovered this morning at the southern end of the Canal Walk, Titchfield Haven. The White-tailed Eagle was again seen at Fishlake Meadows and a late Osprey was over Blashford Lakes today, seen carrying a fish.