This Hummingbird Hawk-moth was only the second ever by my Moth Box within my garden. I didn't expect to see another one at Pembroke Road this morning!
Another cracking morning with the moths and at least double in numbers compared to yesterday. It was overcast at first this morning but relatively mild (although I did have my fleece on!) with a very light westerly. After topping up the bird feeders with dried Mealworms, I set about checking the Moths; but when I had my back turned, I did hear some noise behind me and thinking it was one of the dogs snuffling about, it turned out to be that bloody Herring Gull again and this time, he was dunking its bill in my coffee!!! It promptly flew off when I chased it off the garden table.
It looks as though both Emma and Matt Parkes are now hooked on ‘Moth-ing’ as they had another nice haul of Moths in and around their trap this morning. I am pleased to say that Andy Fisher's Goldfish survived the night, but he has definitely put his foot down in having no Garden Gnomes on Cowplain Marsh!
My Moth Box:
Plumed Fan-foot is a species that is annual in my garden.
A much better haul of Moths than yesterday with a total of 77 moths of 39 species that included a Plumed Fan-foot, Blood-vein and two Langmaids Yellow Underwings, which were all new for the year. Only my second ever Hummingbird Hawk-moth by my trap for the garden was present, though I had to pull off some spider web from the Moth and then gently release it on one of the Garden plants.
Above, my second Dun-bar moth of the year and below, my 3rd Comfrey Ermine of the year.
There was no doubt about the Langmaids Yellow Underwings as I had a good look at the underwing to confirm as they fluttered about after I potted them. The Plumed Fan-foot is always a very good record here on the south coast of which it was a real rarity, but now does breed in Hampshire. My third Comfrey Ermine was sitting on the white sheet and again, a good record for my garden.
Above, one of two Langmaids Yellow Underwings and below, a Blood-vein. Both were new for the year.
The Moths recorded this morning included the following:
Macro moths:
Plumed Fan-foot x1 *
Blood-vein x1 *
White Ermine x1
Double-striped Pug x4
Common Pug x 1
Lime-speck Pug x2
Hummingbird Hawk-moth x1
Silver Y x1
Dark Arches x2
Garden Carpet x3
Snout x1
Riband Wave x4
Common Emerald x3
L-album Wainscot x6
Large Yellow Underwing x2
Langmaids Yellow Underwing x2 *
Lackey x2
Willow Beauty x6
Lychnis x1
Dun-bar x1
Grey Dagger agg. X1
Heart & Dart x1
Bright-line Brown-eye x2
Micro moths:
Light Brown Apple Moth x1
Bramble Shoot Moth x1
Common Plume x4
Beautiful Plume x1
Bird-cherry Ermine x4
Brown House Moth x1
Apple Leaf Miner x1
Bud Moth x1
Blushed Knot-horn x1
Oak Knot-horn x1
Barred Marble x2
Box Tree Moth x2
Brown Bark Moth x1
Garden Grass-veneer x4
Meal Moth x1
Comfrey Ermine x1
Matt & Emma’s Moth Box:
A Large Emerald moth in Emma & Matt's garden this morning.
Over in Fareham, Matt and Emma had another nice haul of moths that included a Large Emerald and three Hawk-moths: Poplar and 2 Elephant Hawk-moths. Also a BeeMoth!
Above, Matt & Emma also had a Poplar Hawk-moth (above) and an Elephant Hawk-moth this morning (below).
Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:
Up to 14 bird species were recorded here on my first shift this morning, although nothing really exciting among them. In fact, it was another insect that stole the show again, with my second Hummingbird Hawk-moth of the day nectaring briefly on some nearby Lavender plants growing on the front porch of one of the houses in Pembroke Road. It was too quick for me to get any photos or film footage; but lovely to see one here anyway. The usual insects were enjoying the Bushes again with Harlequin Ladybirds and two Parasitic Wasp species flying around the Bushes. It is supposed to warm up this afternoon, so we shall see what turns up.
I have not had the Moth Box over the past couple of evenings, but last night, I couldn't resist putting it back on despite the windy and overcast conditions. There was a huge change in the weather today with a blustery south-westerly wind blowing and the threat of rain in the air all morning, though thankfully, it didn't happen during my first shift in Pembroke Road this morning. I was pleased that Emma & Matt Parkes had their Moth Box last night and were rewarded with a bumper crop of moths to examine and also got a few I have not seen yet this year.
The Moth Boxes:
Oak Knot-hornmoth was new for the year.
There was a huge dip in the number of moths in my garden this morning as I got up a bit later than usual to check the Moth Box. Just 33 moths of 17 species were present today, though there were three that were new for the year: the macro moth, Single-dotted Wave and two micro moths, Buff Mompha (Mompha epiloiella) and Oak Knot-horn (Phycita roborella).
The Moths recorded this morning included the following:
Macro moths:
Single-dotted Wave x1 *
Dark Arches x5
L-album Wainscot x1
Garden Carpet x1
Riband Wave x5
Bright-line Brown-eye x3
Common Pug x2
Micro moths:
Apple Leaf Miner x1
Ruddy Dart x3
Common Plume 1
Light Brown Apple Moth x1
Barred Marble x2
Garden Mompha x1
Buff Mompha x1 *
Brown House Moth x3
Oak Knot-horn x1 *
Pale-backed Detritus Moth x1
Matt & Emma’s Moth Box:
Black Arches.
As mentioned, Matt and Emma were finally rewarded for their vigilance with a nice haul of moths this morning of which they put it down to putting a better light bulb in the trap. At least 13 moths were present including a couple I have not seen yet this year, Black Arches and Festoon.
The Festoon moth.
The following moths were present in their trap this morning:
Macro moths:
Varied Coronet x2
Mottled Beauty x1
Black Arches x1
Festoon x1
Willow Beauty x1
Knot-grassx1
Dark Arches x1
Heart & Dart x1
Micro moths:
Garden Grass-veneer X1
Bird-cherry Ermine x1
White-banded Grass-veneer x1
Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:
Blustery windy conditions and overcast this morning on my first shift here which produced just 12 species of birds that were either heard or seen. Four species of Gull were seen again with Mediterranean (just the one), Black-headed, Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls and only one Pied Wagtail on the Bowling Green. Governor’s Green was fairly quiet too with just a few Starlings on it and a male Blackbird was ‘dicing with death’ by flying in between passing cars a couple of times!
Above and below, Harlequin Ladybirds on the 'Lemon and Lime' Bushes.
Yesterday, just 13 species were seen all day, but it was a butterfly that stole the show with a Marbled White butterfly fluttering over the road on my morning shift! A Red Admiral was also seen as it shot off at light speed across the road.
A Small White butterfly on Lavender in my garden today.
This afternoon was much better after the rain that fell between 10 and 11am this morning. It was bright and sunny during my second shift and although no new bird species were seen, there were several Harlequin Ladybirds on the 'Lemon & Lime' bushes which were now in flower. A few Sawflies were on the wing as was a Parasitic Wasp, but none would actually settle long enough for a photo.
The adult Long-tailed Skua off Hill Head this afternoon. Photos by Mark Francis.
Later in the afternoon, a report of an adult Long-tailed Skua was seen flying close off Lepe Beach by one lucky birder who was out for a walk. The bird was then later seen off Hill Head by Mark Francis, also close in offshore and finally seen on the beach off the Solent Breezes area. Sadly, it was flushed off by two idiot 'toggers', much to the anger of those birders rushing to see the bird and it was not seen again. Personally, I have only ever seen one of this species and that was a long, long time ago just south of Hayling Oysterbeds.
The big release at the Cowplain Marsh Pond.
After my second shift, I made my way to Maidenhead Aquatics to purchase some fish for my chum Andy Fisher. He has done a superb job with rebuilding his garden pond and so I thought I would treat him to some Goldfish and so I drove up to 'Cowplain Marsh' for Andy to release them. While we enjoyed a cup of coffee, there was plenty of nature to look at including at least one 'teneral' Blue-tailed Damselfly and overhead, both Greenfinches and Goldfinches flew over. There is always something to look at within 'Cowplain Marsh' including a brief sighting of a Comma butterfly.
One of two juvenile Blackbirds in the southern half of the Cemy.
I really deserved a lay-in this morning and so no Moth Box this morning to check before 5am! Phew! In fact, I was up around 6am to write up on my Blog which took long enough. Once finally finished, I decided to take the dogs for a walk around my local patch for the first time this week, Highland Road Cemetery. It was bright and sunny this morning with a bit of a south-westerly wind blowing a fair bit and nowhere near as warm as yesterday. I happily gave Matt & Emma Parkes the location of the Wood Warblers we saw earlier in the New Forest and I was pleased when they texted me to say they were successful.
Above, a bright sunny morning here in the Cemetery and below, a passing Meadow Brown butterfly while I was taking a photo of this Rough Hawkbit plant.
Above, a settled Meadow Brown buttefly and below, a passing Swift flying south over the Cemy.
Birdlife was rather limited within the Cemy, which was kind of expected, but all the usual birds were present and correct. No sign of any Woodpeckers this morning, but several Swifts flying low overhead kept me entertained. A couple of inquisitive juvenile Blackbirds were seen in the conifer at the southern end of the Cemy, close to the footpath, watching my dogs and I slowly walk past of which a Collared Dove shared the same tree.
Above, Ground Ivy and Birds-foot Trefoil growing on the short grass and below, Field Bindweed growing over the grass.
Above, a Collared Dove getting ruffled by the wind and below, Lady's Bedstraw.
Butterflies were abundant, but they were mostly Meadow Browns which were distinctively flying low over the grass in good numbers. A Red Admiral was feeding on flowering Buddleia just outside the Cemy and a Peacock was nectaring on Bramble flowers near the Mausoleum. A couple of Small White’s fluttered past us, but as soon as one settled down onto a Bramble flower, I was ready to press the shutter button and then it flew off! OK, not a great deal to write about this morning here, but it's always a pleasure to be in amongst all the nature here (and the dogs love it too!).
Above, a view of the Cemy looking towards the Mausoleum and below, a Peacock butterfly nectaring on Brambleflowers.
Above, a Hummingbird Hawk-moth in the New Forest. Film footage by Matt Parkes.
Birding pal Geoff Farwell went down a windy Farlington Marshes today and recorded the following sightings that included a Cattle Egret, 68 Avocets, a Sparrowhawk, 3 Ravens and 6 Swifts plus a couple of Marbled White butterflies. In Hampshire today, an Arctic Skua was seen off Milford on sea this afternoon and a Cuckoo was seen over Old Winchester Hill.
It was very busy with the Moths this morning with my largest number of moths for the year in my garden and then off to Andy Fisher’s Moth Box to check out the moths in his garden. Sadly, Andy never came with us today for he had some jobs to do in his house, but he kindly asked Geoff and I over for coffee and also had his Moth Box on overnight. Our quest today was to meet up with both Emma & Matt Parkes and also fellow birder (and ‘moth-er’) James Cutting and his partner Jo at Alice Holt Forest on the Hampshire / Surrey border. It was predicted to be the hottest day of the year (32 degrees centigrade), though there were possible isolated thunderstorms also predicted and it was stifling hot at times within the wood, though there was plenty of shade.
The Moth Boxes:
My first Scalloped Oakmoth of the year.
I smashed my highest total for the year with a whopping 121 moths of 41 species this morning and although there were no ‘Lifers’ within or around the Moth Box, there were 7 moths that were new for the year. This included the macros Scalloped Oak, Oak Nyctaline, my second ever Haworth’s Pug and only my second ever Beautiful Hook-tip in my garden. New micro moths for the year included Spindle Knot-horn, Netted Tortrix and a very unexpected Olive-tree Pearl (one of my favourite moths). There was a huge influx of Bird-cherry Ermine moths with up to 15 recorded, but I bet there were many more around the garden among the plants. A Middle-barred Minor present on the fence near the Moth Box was my first for the garden this year and my second after the one I saw in Devon earlier this year.
Above, a Haworth's Pug and below, a Beautiful Hook-tip.
Above, an Oak Nyctaline and below, a Netted Tortrix.
The moths present this morning included the following:
Macro moths:
Snout x1
Scalloped Oak x1 *
Oak Nyctaline x1 *
Bright-line Brown-eye x3
Heart & Dart x5
Dark Arches x2
Pale Mottled Willow x2
Lackey x2
Lime-speck Pug x2
Double-striped Pug x4
Haworth’s Pug x1 *
Common Pug x1
Riband Wave x16
Angle Shades x1
Common Emerald x4
White Ermine x1
L-album Wainscot x5
Vine’s Rustic x1
Willow Beauty x11
Middle-barred Minor x1
Beautiful Hook-tip x1 *
Marbled Minor x1
Micro moths:
Hedge Hook-wing x1
Garden Grey x2
Blushed Knot-horn x5
Gold Triangle x3
Garden Mompha x1
Ruddy Streak x3
Bee Moth x4
Brown House Moth x1
Spindle Knot-horn x1 *
Large Pale Masoner x1
Bird-cherry Ermine x15
Box Tree Moth x2
Netted Tortrix x1 *
Rusty-dot Pearl x2
Light Brown Apple Moth x2
Common Plume x6
Coleophora sp. X1
Bud Moth x1
Olive-tree Pearl x1 *
Andy’s Moth Box:
Crescent Plume.
There was a good total of moths within Andy’s garden this morning with up to 53 moths of 28 species recorded. Another three more species were added to my year list with a Dwarf Cream Wave, Swallow-tail Moth and the micro moth Crescent Plume. The latter was only my second ever after I found several on Old Winchester Hill last year. Pale Tussock, Knot-grass and my second Beautiful Hook-tip of the day were notable.
Above, a Dwarf Cream Wave and below, one of two Swallow-tail Moths.
As mentioned before, Andy’s newly created garden Pond is most certainly a big hit with the Dragonflies as we saw a male Broad-bodied Chaser perched up on a post close to the Pond and nearby, both Large Red and Blue-tailed Damselflies were in good numbers too.
Macro moths:
Pale Tussock x1
Knot-grass x1
Willow Beauty x2
Buff Ermine x1
Double-striped Pug x3
Dwarf Cream Wave x1 *
Heart & Dart x3
Riband Wave x3
Riband Wave x7
Oak Nyctaline x1
Swallow-tail Moth x2 *
Beautiful Hook-tip x1
White-point x1
Cypress Carpet x2
Common Emerald x1
Treble Brown Spot x2
Treble-lines x1
Large Yellow Underwing x1
Micro moths:
Bird-cherry Ermine x1
Garden Grass-veneer x7
Codling Moth x1
Diamond-back Moth x2
Bud Moth x1
Double-striped Tabby x1
Garden Grey x4
White-banded Grass Moth x1
Crescent Plume x1 *
Common Plume x3
Brown House Moth x1
Alice Holt Forest, Hampshire / Surrey border:
The beautiful Silver-washed Fritillary.
We made our way here last year and successfully saw some superb butterflies so the arrangement was made by Emma Parkes to all meet up in the Car Park at Alice Holt for another try for the Purple Emperor and other butterflies here at this fantastic site. Yes, the heat here was rather stifling at times, but with the comfort of the shade on the edges of the footpath, it was bearable…..just! Not only the butterflies entertained us, but there were a variety of birds (including a real unexpected surprise), moths and a variety of insects to be seen.
Above, a Brown-lipped Snail and below, a Silver-washed Fritillary.
Above, my first Purple Hairstreak butterfly of the year. Below, a Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly.
Kicking off with the birds, the biggest surprise here was a couple of juvenile Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers! We first heard one calling nearby and then I saw one of the birds fly overhead and land in the canopy of an Oak tree close by. I managed to get a good look at the bird and confirmed it was a juvenile. James was sure he saw a second bird fly off north, while the other bird flew off in front of us and landed somewhere in the woods. We heard it call again a little later, but that was the last time we encountered the bird.
Above, one of many Meadow Brown butterflies and below, another Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly.
Above, a pair of mating Silver-washed Fritillarys and below, a Comma butterfly.
Other birds present included several singing Firecrests and Goldcrests; a singing male Blackcap was deep within cover and a family flock of Nuthatches with Coal Tits showed well by the footpath. There was also a family flock of Treecreepers in the woods and a Marsh Tit showed briefly while we were checking the butterflies.
Above, one of several Large Skipper butterflies and below, a Green-veined White feeding on Bramble flowers.
Above, one of several Ringlet butteflies. Below, the Variegated Golden Tortrix moth.
There was a nice variety of Moths present along the footpath and almost immediately, Emma found a Scarlet Tigermoth flying by the edge of the footpath, but it flew down deep into the vegetation. Sadly, no photos could be taken, but this was my first of the species I have seen in many a year. Matt found an interesting micro moth sitting on a leaf and using his Obsidentify App, it turned out to be my first Variegated Golden Tortrix moth of the year. Shortly afterwards, I found a White-pinion Spotted moth perched close to the footpath; my third ‘year-tick’ of the morning here!
Above, Geoff found this instar Dark Bush-cricket along the footpath and below, I found this White-pinion Spotted moth nearby.
Above, the Purple Emperor butterfly shows very well.
Not just the moths were found, but Dragonflies were on the wing along the footpaths. An Emperor Dragonfly was seen a couple of times and my first Brown Hawker and Golden-ringed Dragonfly of the year were also seen. Beautiful Demoiselle damselflies were abundant along the footpaths and showed very well at times. Spotted Longhorn beetles were abundant along the footpaths too, most feeding on the Bramble flowers and a few Hornets were on the wing too. Geoff found a couple of ‘instar’ Grasshoppers: Dark Bush-cricket and a Speckled Bush-cricket.
Above, the Purple Emperor and below, James getting a closer look of the butterfly.
Above, one of many Spotted Longhorn Beetles seen today and below, another photo of one of the Silver-washed Fritillarys.
On the subject of butterflies, we managed to see up to 13 species of butterfly on our way to Alice Holt this morning. Pride of place was the Purple Emperor butterflies which showed superbly along the footpaths. Up to four were seen in one spell and many posed nicely sitting either on the footpath or nearby trees. Other superb species included the one Purple Hairstreak and good numbers of both White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary.
Butterflies seen here in Alice Holt included the following:
Silver-washed Fritillary *
White Admiral *
Meadow Brown
Purple Hairstreak *
Red Admiral
Small White
Large White
Marbled White
Green-veined White
Comma
Ringlet *
Holly Blue
Large Skipper
Above, a Purple Emperor butterfly on the footpath.
Above, Matt, James, Emma, Geoff and Jo enjoy the Purple Emperor butterfly on the footpath. Below, Matt and Geoff discuss the possibility of finding Woodcock feathers.
We spent a good two and a half hours there in the woods and once we got back to the Car Park, we had lunch. A Common Buzzard flew over the Car Park and another Silver-washed Fritillary flew over the area, As Matt & Emma drove off, Geoff and I made our way back to Andy’s house and chilled out with a coffee, enjoying checking out his Pond and its inhabitants for the next 40 minutes or so. There were sightings of both the Large Red and Blue-tailed Damselflies as the sun started to break from the clouds, but no further sign of the Broad-bodied Chasers. We also had a sighting of a Froglet swimming across the Pond and plenty of Semaphore Flies on the water.
Above, one of the Large Red Damselflies in Andy's garden today and below, film footage of a pair of mating Silver-washed Fritillaries in Alice Holt Forest.
We found something good....possibly a copy of Swish?
