Foxes make the highlights.

Sunday 16th November 2025.

A bright start to this Sunday morning.

I have to admit, I was absolutely knackered last night and went to bed earlier than normal for a Saturday, but I was up early this morning to do my Blog and then check on the Moth Box I had on overnight. It was a dry and bright start to the morning as I not only checked the Moth Box, but also took the dogs for a walk around Highland Road Cemetery.

My Moth Box:

A Jasmine Moth was nearly missed when I checked the second time.

A total of 16 moths of 7 species this morning, a much lower total than the last time I switched my Moth Box on. I have a temporary rainguard on at present as the last one mysteriously was broken. I can only assume a Cat or possibly a Fox might have stood on it? Two Golden Twin-spots, the envy of many ‘Moth-ers’ it seems, was present again this morning, but apart from Double-striped Pugs, sadly no other Macro moths present. A Privet Tortrix was unexpected this morning. 

Above, a Privet Totrix and below, a Golden Twin-spot. This individual I had to rescue from a Spiders web and thankfully, it was still alive.

The Moths present this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Golden Twin-spot x2	Jasmine Moth x1
Double-striped Pug x4	Rusty-dot Pearl x5
	Tree-mallow Tortrix x2
	Light Brown Apple Moth x1
	Privet Tortrix x1

While checking the Moth Box, birds passing overhead included a couple of Pied Wagtails, a Meadow Pipit and a Greenfinch.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

One of two Foxes seen today in Highland Road.

It had clouded over by the time I got into Highland Road Cemetery and although there were not many dog-walkers present, it was still very quiet here today with only the usual birds seen this morning during my slow walk round. A couple of Meadow Pipits flew over and headed east and several Blackbirds were around the bushes in the centre of the Cemetery. 

Above and below, Blackbirds were in good numbers today.

Above, this male Blackbird was in one of the bushes and below, a Robin popped out of cover briefly.

I think the highlight of my walk was a dog Fox walking around the south-east corner, but would not linger for a decent photo of this lovely animal. A second Fox was seen in the afternoon when my family and I stopped off at the nearby Co-op Shop where a very tame Fox was in the Car Park there again. I had just bought a loaf of bread and the Fox actually came up to me, sniffed the bread and nibbled on the outer packaging! I am not sure I have ever got this close to a Fox before and I believe that the public are actually feeding it hence its tameness!

Above, another photo of the dog Fox and below, Hart's-tongue Fern growing on the southern perimeter wall.

Above, possibly a Red-capped Bolette toadstool? Below, the flowers and seeds of the Smooth Sow-thistle.

Sadly, not a great deal else to be seen in the Cemetery, but at least the Jays showed occasionally among the more common birds.