A Plain Pug added to my Moth Life List.

Friday 4th July 2025.

This was my first ever Plain Pug. Some Pug species really do look like others, but there are subtle differences if you know where to look.

Again, it was a cool start to the morning with the temperature under a clear blue sky being around 12 degrees, though I believe it is supposed to be getting a lot warmer today. It was back to the Moth Box again this morning for yet another early start; but my ‘body clock’ is getting me up around half an hour before the 5am alarm goes off!

My second Dwarf Cream Wave this week.

Yet another 100+ Moth morning with a final count of 118 moths of 46 species, which, incidentally, is damn good for a small garden like mine. I have been reading on various Facebook Moth sites about the many hundreds fellow ‘Moth-ers’ are getting, so I am more than happy with my total of late with an average of 104 species over the past five days. This morning, I was rewarded with my first ever Plain Pug that was within my Moth Box on one of the egg trays. Strangely, no other Moths were new for the year, but, again, some excellent moths among the many that included another Plumed Fan-foot, Least Carpet, Yesterday's Bird’s Wing, an Elephant Hawk-moth and a V-Pug.

Plumed Fan-foot moth.

Numbers were boosted by 14 Bird-cherry Ermine and 13 Riband Waves and one micro will have to be analysed later today to see if I can get an ID. Apart from Lacewings, the only other notable insects by the Moth Box was a Harlequin Ladybird.

The Moths recorded this morning included the following:

Macro Moths:                                                Micro Moths:

Plumed Fan-foot x1                                         Garden Grass-veneer x9                       

Common Rustic x3                                          Large Pale Masoner x4

Dwarf Cream Wave x1                                   Tawny Grey x1

Single-dotted Wave x1                                   Bird-cherry Ermine x14

Riband Wave x13                                            Ruddy Streak x1

Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x2

Pale Mottled Willow x1                                  Netted Tortrix x1

Knot Grass x1                                                  Rusty-dot Pearl x4

White Ermine x2                                              Epermenia sp. x1

PLAIN PUG x1                                                Black-banded Masoner x2

Lime-speck Pug x4                                          Willow Ermine x1

Double-striped Pug x3                                   Box Tree Moth x1

Willow Beauty x5                                            Brown House Moth x1

L-  Wainscot x1                                               Common Plume x6

Common Emerald x1                              Pale-backed Detritus Moth x1

Least Carpet x1                                               Satin Grass-moth x1

Common Footman x1                                     Barred Marble x1  

Lackey x7                                                           Meal Moth x1

Elephant Hawk-moth x1

Nut-tree Tussock x1

Bright-line Brown-eye x6

Bird’s Wing x1

Grey / Dark Dagger x1

Large Yellow Underwing x3

August Thorn x1

Heart & Dart x1

Uncertain x1

V-Pug x1

Dark Arches x2

Matt & Emma’s Moth Box:

Above, Nutmeg moth and below, a Plain Wave moth.

Above, Small Fan-footed Wave moth and below, a Dusky Thorn moth.

Having giving turning on their Moth Box on Wednesday night a miss due to the Wasps taking out their Moths, they turned it on last night and were rewarded with another nice array of moths that included the following:

Macro Moths:                                        Micro Moths:

Willow Beauty                                        Brown House Moth

Large Yellow Underwing                        Little Conch

Buff Ermine                                            Ash-bark Knot-horn

Dusky Thorn                                           Bird-cherry Ermine

Riband Wave                                          Privet Tortrix

Small Fan-footed Wave                          Long-horned Flat-body

Dotted Footman                                     Light Brown Apple Moth

Common Footman                                 Rosy Tabby

Dingy Footman                                      White-banded Grass-moth

Haworth’s Pug

Plain Wave

Heart & Dart

Single-dotted Wave

Blood-vein

Nutmeg

Swallow-tailed Moth

September Thorn

There were some notable sightings today when I was driving around Southsea and Eastney. The temperature did rise and the day was warm and sunny with a pleasant 21 degrees centigrade with a south-westerly wind. It was when I was in my garden late morning that a calling Gull high up in the blue sky was giving off its distress call and sure enough, a large raptor was flying overhead. It was very high up and so I grabbed my camera and took several photos of the bird as it circled with the Gull in pursuit.

Above, this is what I saw at first. A largish raptor soaring very high and being chased by a Gull. But after consulting with Emma Parkes and then playing with the photos on my Laptop, (below) it turned out to be a Marsh Harrier very high over my garden.

I have to be honest, I thought it possibly was a Honey Buzzard, judging by the wing shape, but after I sent fellow birder Emma Parkes a photo, she suggested it was a Marsh Harrier and after playing around on my Laptop by sharpening and lighting the photo, I totally agreed. Nonetheless, what an excellent ‘Garden Tick’. The moral of this story is always get a second opinion. At least it wasn’t a Roe Deer (sorry Em!).

Other sightings today included another raptor, a Sparrowhawk. One was seen flying low over the rooftops over Henderson Road, Eastney and a second bird was seen over Albert Road and being chased by Swifts! Back over in Eastney, two Sand Martins were seen flying south low over the houses and possibly making their way back to Africa? Back to Moths, I found a Least Carpet moth by someone's house early this afternoon, perched nicely on a white-washed wall.

Above and below, the Lesser Yellowlegs on Fishtail Lagoon today. Photos by Andy Tew.

The Lesser Yellowlegs was again present on Fishtail Lagoon, Pennington Marshes today along with a Greenshank and a couple of Little Ringed Plovers. I remember seeing the individual in January here and so I do not have to make the long drive to go and see the bird to add to my year list.

My second ever Bird's Wing moth found this afternoon.

Thursday 3rd July 2025.

This for me is up there with some of the rarer moths I have seen. Only the second Bird's Wing moth I have ever seen and the last was also in my garden.

A much cooler morning today and to be honest, by the time I had finished checking my Moth Box, I was actually cold! Thankfully, a hot coffee perked me up a bit. Another 100+ haul of Moths this morning to go through and a few nice moths among them too. Sadly, Emma & Matt did not have their Moth Box on last night, though I advised them to give it a rest for a few nights as the Wasps were devouring too many of their Moths. Hopefully, this might deter the buggers! Pembroke Road was nice in the early morning sun, but a bit chilly in the shade at 8am first thing. 

My Moth Box:

A Least Carpet was the only new moth for the year to be found this morning among the many present.

There was a good total of 111 Moths of 46 species today, including two more species I found this afternoon, much less than yesterday and probably due to the cooler conditions overnight. It seems the whole of the UK for those into Moths experienced huge numbers of Moths within their traps. Despite having over 100 species in and around the Moth Box, there was only one new species for my year list this morning, a Least Carpet, which is almost annual to my Moth Box. Other notable moths included my second Sycamore for the year and also a Dark Spectacle was a good month ‘tick’. Another Elephant Hawk-moth was present again and I safely put the Moth in one of my plants. After having breakfast, I noticed a Silver Y nectaring on the Lavender plants at the back of the garden (see film footage below).

Above, a Silver Y moth nectaring on Lavender in my back garden.

Above, my second Sycamore moth of the year and below, a Knot Grass still present this afternoon.

Later in the afternoon, I was chilling in the back garden with my camera to hand, taking photos of the butterflies and bees around the Lavender, when I thought I would take some photos of the Moths still present from this morning and that's when I came across only my second ever Bird’s Wing moth! Absolutely stunned, it stayed for me to grab some decent photos of this unusual looking macro moth.

The Moths recorded in and around my Moth Box this morning included the following:

Macro Moths:                                                  Micro moths:

Dun-bar x1                                   White-shouldered House Moth x1

Sycamore  x1                                                    Elderberry Pearl x1 

Willow Beauty x7                                             Garden Grey x3  

Riband Wave x11                                             Netted Tortrix x1    

Single-dotted Wave x1                           Light Brown Apple Moth x1                                   

Common Footman x3                                      Fulvous Pearl x1

Nut-tree Tussock x1                                         Bird-cherry Ermine x14

Dark Spectacle x1                                            Large Pale Masoner x2

Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x2     

Common Emerald x1                                       Privet Tortrix x1

Grey / Dark Dagger x1                                Garden Grass-veneer x2  

Knot Grass x1                                                   Diamond-back Moth x1

Least Carpet x1 *                                              Box Tree Moth x2

Uncertain x1                                                     Black-banded Masoner x2

Common Pug x2                                               Bee Moth x1

Double-striped Pug x5                                      Rusty-dot Pearl x3

Lime-speck Pug x2

L-album Wainscot x2

Dark Arches x1

Common Rustic agg. X1

Heart & Dart x2

Elephant Hawk-moth x1

Silver Y x2

Lackey x5

Garden Carpet x1

White Ermine x1

Bright-line Brown-eye x3

Pale Mottled Willow x1

Bird’s Wing x1 *

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

Some of the vegetation in nearby Pembroke Close. 

On the way there, I was driving along the Clarence Esplanade and saw a pair of Cormorants heading west low over the sea and nearly followed them all the way up to Governor’s Green! Fairly quiet this morning in Pembroke Road with only 11 bird species seen or heard this morning. I think the Wren was the most vocal, though I never got to see the bird. Blackbirds on both the Bowling Green and Governor’s Green were seen but no sign of any Pied Wagtails so far this week. I believe it's going to be a bit warmer this afternoon, so plenty of sun cream again!

It seems to be a very good summer for Small White butterflies that included this individual (above) in my garden. Below, Buff-tailed Bumblebees were abundant in my garden this afternoon.

Both Mediterranean Gull and Goldfinch were added to my daily total here in the afternoon at Pembroke Road and yet again, it was warm again, up to 22 degrees centigrade with a light south-westerly wind. There were plenty of butterflies around again with both Large and Small Whites fluttering over the flower beds and a Peacock butterfly showed briefly. Over on the other side of the road, I am pretty sure that some Hairstreak butterflies (either Purple or White-letter) were seen flying around at the top of the Holm Oaks nearby. I shall have to bring my binoculars to see if I can get a proper look at them later on.

Above, another Buff-tailed Bumblebee nectaring on the Lavender. Below, I found this Bee Moth near the Moth Box this afternoon.

As documented earlier this week, waders are making their return passage and the place to be would be Pennington Marshes. A Lesser Yellowlegs is back there again on the Fishtail Lagoon, along with 3 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpipers and a Little Ringed Plover. In my garden this afternoon, five species of butterfly were seen including Small and Large White, Red Admiral, Comma and a Holly Blue.

Huge haul of Moths this morning.

Wednesday 2nd July 2025.

One of two August Thorn moths this morning by my Moth Box.

Rain was forecast this morning and as I entered the garden, it was heavily overcast and by 5.45am, the first drops of rain then did fall, so I had to hurry up in checking all the egg trays before I got a soaking. Yesterday's hot weather definitely brought in the Moths as both myself and Emma & Matt’s Moth Boxes were swarming with Moths! On my first shift at Pembroke Road, the rain got a little heavier, but it was still warm with temperatures hovering around the 18 degree centigrade mark, which was reasonably comfortable, despite wearing the heavy wet-weather coat.

My Moth Box:

One of two Large Tabby moths in the Moth Box today.

An incredible number of Moths recorded this morning, with at least 186 moths of 60 species of which easily smashed my year record and took nearly 90 minutes to go through the moths. To be honest, I am still finding a few extra moths dotted around including a Black Arches moth in the downstairs loo! Of the macro moths, there was an incredible SEVEN moths that were new for the year and that included two species I have only ever encountered once before: two Large Tabby’s of which the only one I have ever seen was one I found at Portchester Crematorium a few years back. A Small Emerald was also the second one I have ever seen and that was last year along the Canal Walk at Titchfield Haven one evening with Emma and Matt Parkes.

Above, new for the year was this smart Campion moth and below another newby was this Marbled Beauty.

Above, one of two Common Footman moths and below, my first Marbled Green of the year.

Other macro moths that were new for the year included both Marbled Green and Marbled Beauty (both annual to my garden), both August and September Thorn (again, both annual) and a Campion moth, which most certainly isn't annual with only a handful of records. The only micro that was new for the year was a Common Masoner (Blastobasis adustella), which is common in my garden in the summer months. A Satin Grass-moth (Crambus perlella) was my second for the year after finding a few on Martin Down earlier this year.

Above, my second Nut-tree Tussock of the year and the first one in my garden for the year and below, my first Common Masoner (Blastobasis adustella) of the year.

Above, this Satin Grass-moth (Crambus perlella) was the first in my garden this year and below, I just managed to grab a photo of this September Thorn moth before it flew off to the back of the garden.

Also present in and around my Moth Box were two Harlequin Ladybirds, about a dozen Lacewing and a few insects I am not quite sure of, but will do some research later for an ID. Yesterday, fellow ‘Moth-er’ Ian Thirlwell had a Passenger moth in his trap, a very rare immigrant moth from Southern Europe. I heard a Curlew flying overhead and sure enough, I picked it out within a grey sky heading south towards the sea.

The rare immigrant moth from the Continent, The Passenger. Photo by Ian Thirlwell.

The Moths recorded this morning included the following:

Macro moths:                                                    Micro moths:

Double-striped Pug x6                                       Privet Tortrix x2

Channel Islands Pug x1                                    Netted Tortrix x1

Lime-speck Pug x5                                       Garden Grass-veneer x13

Large Tabby x2 *                                                Meal Moth x1

Silver Y x8                                                           Blushed Knot-horn x3

Dark Arches x5                                                   Bud Moth x2

Black Arches x1                                                  Ruddy Streak x2

L-album Wainscot x2                                          Elderberry Pearl x2

Garden Carpet x2                                                Common Masoner x1 *

Small Dusty Wave x1                                          Rusty-dot Pearl x3

Small Emerald x1 *                                            Bird-cherry Ermine x24

Common Emerald x2                                          Willow Ermine x1

Marbled Beauty x1 *                                           Rosy Tabby x3

Marbled Green x1 *                                            Box Tree Moth x2

Riband Wave x21                                                 Large Pale Masoner x4

Pale Mottled Willow x2                                       Garden Grey x5

Large Yellow Underwing x3                          Barred Yellowneck x1

Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x1 

Lesser Yellow Underwing x3                               Mint Moth x1

Willow Beauty x5                                                 Bee Moth x2

Dusky Sallow x1                                                   Common Plume x3

White Ermine x2                                      White-banded Grass-moth x2

Heart & Dart x5                                             Black-banded Masoner x1

Nut-tree Tussock x1                                             Satin Grass-moth x1

August Thorn x1 *                                               Oak Knot-horn x1

September Thorn x1 *                                        Brown Bark Moth x1

Common Footman x2

Dun-bar x1

Lackey x6

Uncertain x1

Campion x1 *

Bright-line Brown-eye x3

Swallow-tailed Moth x1

Plumed Fan-foot x1

Matt & Emma’s Moth Box:

Matt & Emma had this superb Green Silver-lines in their Fareham garden this morning.

As Emma put it, it was simply crazy with Moths in their Fareham garden this morning with at least 38 species present. I have asked for them to count the moths, but that is me just being anal I suppose! Still, some incredible moths there, especially with the Green Silver-lines and Dotted Fan-foot; the latter I have never seen before.

Above, a Clouded Silver and below, the Dotted Fan-foot. 

The Moths recorded in their garden this morning included the following:

Macro moths:                                                    Micro moths:

Double-striped Pug                                            Dark-streaked Tortrix

Ruby Tiger                                                          Twenty-plume Moth

L-album Wainscot                                              Tawny Grey

Willow Beauty                                                     Rosy Tabby

Small Fan-footed Wave                                     Bee Moth

Dark Arches                                                       Hawthorn Moth

Blood-vein                                                          Garden Grass-veneer

Swallow-tailed Moth                                          Ruddy Streak

Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing        Garden Grey

Langmaid’s Yellow Underwing         White-banded Grass-moth

Dun-bar                                                              Codling Moth

Dotted Fan-foot                                                  Garden Straw

Common Rustic agg.                                          Grey Knot-horn

Riband Wave    

Flame Shoulder

Maiden’s Blush

Scarce Footman

Scarce Silver-lines

Snout

Blair’s Mocha

Clouded Silver

Dusky Sallow

Coronet

Scalloped Oak

Flame

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

Overcast skies and some rain will help replenish the grass on Governor's Green. More rain is forecast for the weekend here on the south coast.

Up to 12 species of birds were noted this morning here in Old Portsmouth and although nothing was out of the ordinary, it was nice to have a bit of cooling rain coming down from a lead coloured sky. A few Swifts were seen and the usual Great Black-backed Gulls were on the rooftops near the Garrison Church. Hopefully, more will come in the afternoon shift. There were plenty of Harlequin Ladybirds on the Hibiscus Bushes and several Buff-tailed Bumblebees enjoying the flowers within the Bushes. 

Both Black-headed and Mediterranean Gull were added to my day total here in Pembroke Road this afternoon on my second shift as the weather turned out warm and sunny again after this mornings rain. Back in my garden late this afternoon, both Large and Small White butterflies were enjoying my Lavender plants and a Red Admiral butterfly fluttered in and quickly out of the garden.

Two more 'Lifer' moths added to Life List.

Tuesday 1st July 2025.

My first ever Dark Umber moth. Apparently, it is a common moth in Hampshire, but to get one in my garden is very pleasing.

Today is meant to be the hottest day of the year so far and judging by the 7.30am temperature of 75 degrees, I will not be surprised if it is at all! Again, the Moth Box was on overnight and I was very pleased with this morning's catch with TWO ‘Lifers’ and a host of Moths that were new for the year. I had the ‘heads up’ that I might not be doing my afternoon shift at Pembroke Road due to a heat warning in Portsmouth, which is a bit of a bonus, but I shall play it by ear if I might do my second shift or not. Again, a few surprises in Pembroke Road this morning and there were quite a few insects on the wing too.

My Moth Box:

This WILLOW STILT (Caloptilia stigmatella) moth was also added to my Moth Life List.

Yes, there were some cracking Moths this morning among the 121 moths of 47 species, which equalled my highest total for the year. There were two ‘Lifer’s’ this morning that included a superb DARK UMBER and also the micro moth, WILLOW STILT  (Caloptilia stigmatella). Along with these two amazing moths were another NINE more that were new for the year that included a Dusky Sallow, Small Ranunculus, Black Arches, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Common Footman and only my second ever Channel Islands Pug! New micro moths for the year included a Ringed China-mark (Parapoynx stratiotata) , my first ever garden record of this species and also two European Corn-borers (Ostrinia nubilalis) were new for the year. As well as having at least 15 Bird-cherry Ermine moths, the larger and darker Willow Ermine (Yponomeuta rorrella) was also present for the first time this year.

Above, my first Ringed China-mark moth for the garden and below, the stunning Dusky Sallow moth.

Above and below, the two forms of European Corn-borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) moths.

Above, my second ever Channel Islands Pug and below, the stunning Black Arches moth.

Above, one of two Lesser Yellow Underwings and below, a Willow Ermine (Yponomeuta rorrella).

The Moths recorded this morning included the following:

Macro moths:

• Dusky Sallow x1 *
• Small Ranunculus x1 *
• DARK UMBER x1
• White Ermine x2
• Black Arches x1 *
• Dark Arches x3
• Willow Beauty x9
• Swallow-tailed Moth x1
• Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x2
• Riband Wave x8
• L-album Wainscot x2
• Garden Carpet x2
• V-Pug x1
• Pale Mottled Willow x2
• Common Emerald x1
• Lesser Yellow Underwing x2 *
• Common Footman x1 *
• Common Rustic agg. X2
• Lackey x3
• Double-striped Pug x7
• Lime-speck Pug x4
• Channel Islands Pug x1 *
• Bright-line Brown-eye x2
• Heart & Dart x5

Micro moths:

• Ringed China-mark x1 *
• European Corn-borer x2
• Red-barred Tortrix x1
• Bird-cherry Ermine x15
• Willow Ermine x1 *
• Rusty-dot Pearl x4
• Meal Moth x1
• Mother-of-Pearl x1
• Black-banded Masoner x1
• Ruddy Streak x2
• Garden Grey x1
• Brown House Moth x1
• Blushed Knot-horn x4
• Garden Grass-veneer x10
• Common Plume x3
• Oak Knot-horn x2
• Rosy Tabby x1
• Bud Moth x1
• WILLOW STILT x1
• Netted Tortrix x1
• Buff Mompha x1
• Large Pale Masoner x2
• Mint Moth x1

Matt & Emma’s Moth Box:

An early September Thorn moth in their garden this morning.

Over in Fareham, the guys were still getting aggro from the Wasps in their Moth Box, with plenty of dead Moths abound; however, they still had another good haul of moths that included the following:

A Water Veneer moth.

Macro moths:

• Knot Grass
• Black Arches
• Scalloped Oak
• Double-striped Pug
• Lime-speck Pug
• Buff Arches
• Dark Arches
• Double-square Spot
• September Thorn
• Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
• Common Rustic agg.
• Small Fan-footed Wave
• Ruby Tiger
• Uncertain
• Common Marbled Carpet
• Festoon
• Willow Beauty
• Nut-tree Tussock
• Buff Ermine
• Pine Hawk-moth
• Elephant Hawk-moth

Macro moths:

• Garden Grass-veneer
• Water Veneer
• Common Plume
• Twenty-plume Moth
• Garden Grey
• Barred Yellowneck
• Lead-coloured Tortrix
• Red-barred Tortrix
• Bee Moth
• Bird-cherry Ermine
• Rush Veneer
• Chestnut Leafroller
• Hemp Agrimony Plume Moth

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

A Buff-tailed Bumblebee in a Hibiscus flower.

It was very warm when I started my first shift in Pembroke Road this morning, but it was sunny and with a bright blue sky above, all was good. Up notched up a respectable (for this time of year) 14 species of birds that included a singing Chiffchaff in the tall trees by the footpath opposite, which was unexpected. The Gulls were swirling about high over Southsea of which were a mixture of Herring, Black-headed and a few Mediterranean Gull and judging by other flocks seen on the way home, I think the Flying Ants were out. 

There was an early report of a Sabine’s Gull seen from the Isle of Wight Ferry this morning, somewhere near Calshot, so I kept an eye out for anything unusual Gull and the best I could come up with was an immature Med Gull. There were many Small White butterflies around this morning and a few Large White’s also, but an Emperor Dragonfly eclipsed this; it flew over the Sycamore trees opposite and headed off westbound along the road. I decided to carry out my second shift in Pembroke Road this afternoon as the temperature had dropped a little (did get up to 82 degrees here in Southsea) and a large bit of cloud cover produced a nice cooling breeze down the road. A few House Sparrows were added to my day total and up to three Great Black-backed Gulls were seen on the rooftops in Penny Street (16 species for the day).