Dewick's Plusea & Scarce Footman added to year list.

Sunday 6th July 2025.

A Silver Y being accompanied by a much rarer Dewick's Plusea moth.

I was awoken this morning with the sound of light rain outside and thankfully, when I finally got out of bed at 5am, got dressed and had a coffee, the rain had stopped and left me to get on to check the Moth Box again. No Birding this afternoon as we took our Isabelle down to Moors Valley Country Park.

My Moth Box:

My first Scarce Footman moth for the year.

Another excellent haul of Moths awaited me as I slowly went through the outside of the Moth Box and the sodden egg trays outside the Box. A good total of 105 moths of 52 species were recorded and easily the pick of the bunch was a pristine Dewick’s Plusea moth of which I carefully potted for some photos later. This is a rare immigrant moth of which I have had a handful over the years, but my first for around three years I believe.

Above, Small Ranunculus moth and below, my second Turnip Moth of the year.

Above, the first Clay moth for the garden this year and below, an  Ash-bark Knot-horn moth.

The other Moth new for the year was a Scarce Footman that was perched on the Box close to the light bulb. Scalloped Oak, Turnip Moth, Black Arches and Marbled Green were all my second ones this year in my garden. Two Langmaid’s Yellow Underwings was notable. I had to rescue several Moths from the top of my rainguard, sadly sodden and upside down in the wet and I did manage to save some, but some simply could not be saved.  

Above, I managed to rescue this Small White butterfly from the puddle by my Moth Box this morning. Below, the wet weather brought out plenty of both Snails and Slugs including this huge probable Spanish Slug.

One thing I did save was a Small White butterfly that was laying on its side, but I carefully picked it up and placed it gently in one of our pot plants close by. 

The Moths recorded this morning included the following:

Macro Moths:                                          Micro Moths:

Dewick’s Plusea x1 *                             Large Pale Masoner x4 

Silver Y x4                                              Black-banded Masoner x4

Scalloped Oak x1                                   Apple Leaf Miner x2

Lime-speck Pug x3                                Ruddy Streak x3

Double-striped Pug x2                           Mother of Pearl x1

Heart & Dart x1                               White-shouldered House Moth x1

Grey / Dark Dagger x1                           Bird-cherry Ermine x8

Willow Beauty x3                                   Garden Grass-veneer x3

Turnip Moth x1                                       Blushed Knot-horn x1

Langmaid’s Yellow Underwing x2          Common Masoner x2

Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x1

Knot Grass x1

Large Yellow Underwing x2                    Rosy Tabby x4

Lesser Yellow Underwing x1                Light Brown Apple Moth

L-album Wainscot                                   Brown Bark Moth x1

Riband Wave x4                                     Garden Grey x1 

Black Arches x1                                     Common Plume x4

Dark Arches x4                             White-banded Grass-moth x1

Dun-bar x1                                             Oak Knot-horn x1

Marbled Green x1                                  Rusty-dot Pearl x5

Marbled Beauty x2

Common Rustic x3

Scarce Footman x1*

Common Footman x1

Shuttle-shaped Dart x2

Single-dotted Wave x1

Dwarf Cream Wave x1

August Thorn x3

Elephant Hawk-moth x1

Bright-line Brown-eye x3

Clay x1

White Ermine x3

Small Ranunculus x1

In Hampshire today, there were up to 7 Quail reported singing around the Martin Down area this morning after reports of singing birds there yesterday. Three Spoonbills were on Titchfield Haven today along with 3 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpipers and a 3 Green Sandpipers on the reserve. A juvenile Yellow-legged Gull was reported at Hill Head.

More large numbers of Moths and a trip to Blashford Lakes.

Saturday 5th July 2025.

A Common Sandpiper in front of the Tern Hide at Blashford Lakes today.

Another cracking day with the Moths with all three Moth Boxes on the go at my house, Andy Fisher’s and also Matt & Emma Parkes, which all three attracted some excellent moths. An overcast start to the day with always the threat of a bit of rain that was forecast and a tad blowy too over my garden at 5am this morning. Once both mine and Andy’s Moth Boxes had been thoroughly checked, it was off to Blashford Lakes where we met up with Emma & Matt for a good days birding of which both Andy and I finally got a Hampshire ‘year-tick’!

My Moth Box:

Two Elephant Hawk-moths were in my Moth Box this morning.

A good count of 114 Moths of 47 species were recorded this morning with two more micro Moths added to my year list: Dotted Masoner (Blastobasis vittata), a species that the late John Langmaid told me are good records for this area, but are annual in my garden over the past three to four years. The other micro Moth new for the year was a Tree-mallow Tortrix (Crocidosema plebejana), which is also annual to my garden. The Bird’s Wing was still present, sitting on the garden fence behind one of my plants and three each of August Thorn and Single-dotted Wave was a good record for my garden. I had TWO Elephant Hawk-moths together just inside my Moth Box of which I gently released both on a nearby plant. For simplicity’s sake, the Bird-cherry Ermine moths are in fact an amalgamation of several Ermine moths that I have lumped together as they are nearly identical ( Apple, Orchard and White Emine) and require dissection to ascertain their true ID. They are all members of the Yponomeutidae family)

Above, this Tree-mallow Tortrix was new for the year and below, one of three August Thorn moths were present today.

Above, another new moth for the year was this Dotted Masoner moth.

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

Macro Moths:                                                Micro Moths: 

Bird’s Wing x1                                               Meal Moth x1 

Grey / Dark Dagger x1                                  Garden Grass-veneer x5

Common Pug x2                                           Rosy Tabby x1

Double-striped Pug x6                           Black-banded Masoner x6  

Lime-speck Pug x3                                        Satin Grass-moth x1

Silver Y x2                                                     Beautiful Plume x1

L-album Wainscot x1                                    Common Plume x8

Lesser Yellow Underwing x1                        Large Pale Masoner x5  

Single-dotted Wave x3                                 Bud Moth x1

Riband Wave x6                                           Garden Grey x1 

Dark Arches x3                                             Rusty-dot Pearl x1

Dun-bar x1                                                    Bird-cherry Ermine x8

Bright-line Brown-eye x3                              Netted Tortrix x1

Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x2

August Thorn x3                                           Dotted Masoner x3 *

Knot Grass x1                                               Red-barred Tortrix x1

Willow Beauty x4                                          Brown House Moth x1

Common Footman x1                                   Tree Mallow Tortrix x1 * 

Garden Carpet x1                                         Ruddy Streak x2

Common Emerald x1                                    Blushed Knot-horn x1

White Ermine x2                                           Tawny Grey x1

Heart & Dart x1

Elephant Hawk-moth x2

Sycamore x1

Least Carpet x1

Marbled Beauty x1

The Moth Box in Cowplain Marsh (Andy Fisher’s garden):

This Coronet moth was my first of the year.

Andy probably had his best count in Cowplain Marsh ever with a total of 98 moths of 36 species and included another three more Moths that were new for my year list. This included a pair of Clay moths and a superb Coronet moth on the egg trays. The micro Moth, Pied Grey (Eudonia delunella) was also added to my year list. An impressive total of 7 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings were present, though I could not find any Langmaid’s among them and a Blair’s Mocha was a good ‘month tick’! 

Above, a Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing moth and below, a Clay moth.

The Moths recorded in Andy’s garden this morning included the following:

Macro Moths:                                                 Micro Moths:

Riband Wave x15                                           Rosy Tabby x7

Large Yellow Underwing x2                            Tawny Grey x2

Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x7

Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x3                

                                                                 Garden Grass-veneer x4

Lesser Yellow Underwing x1                           Dusky Pearl x1              

Blair’s Mocha x1                                             Rusty-dot Pearl x1 

Willow Beauty x6                                            Meal Moth x2

Bright-line Brown-eye x1                                Ash-bark Knot-horn x2 

Double-striped Pug x2                                    Bird-cherry Ermine x3

Dark Arches x2                                               Willow Ermine x5

Heart & Dart x1                                    White-banded Grass-moth x4

Common Rustic x1                                      Grey-oak Knot-horn X2

Garden Carpet x3                                           Common Plume x1

Common Emerald x1                                     Twenty-plume Moth x1

Pale Mottled Willow x1                                     Codling Moth x2

Buff Ermine x3                                                 Pied Grey x1 *

Coronet x1 *                                                    Blushed Knot-horn x1

Clay x2 *

Uncertain x6

Scalloped Oak x1

We couldn't leave his garden without checking out his new fish and plants he had bought recently, but the water in the pond has gone murky again, though some of the fish did come to the surface. A Blue-tailed Damselfly was perched on a leaf and we also noted that a large number of unusual looking Wasps were feeding on the sap of one of the fruit trees near the Pond. I am waiting on an ID on what species of Wasp they are. Very intriguing!

Matt & Emma’s Moth Box:

The Light Crimson Underwing in their garden along with a Grey Dagger.

Up to 39 species of Moths were recorded over their Fareham garden this morning and included two stunners; a Light Crimson Underwing and a Copper Underwing. The former is a species I would love to see again as I have only ever seen one in my lifetime! Copper Underwings are annual to my garden, but I only get a few if I am lucky. 

Above, the Copper Underwing and below, the Pale Prominent moths.

The following Moths were recorded over on their Moth Box in Fareham:

Macro Moths:                                   Micro Moths:

Copper Underwing                           Ringed China-mark

Pine Carpet                                      Brown Bark Moth

Pale Prominent                                Garden Grass-veneer 

Large Yellow Underwing                  Oak Knot-horn

Scalloped Oak                                 Black-banded Masoner

Grey / Dark Dagger                         Bird-cherry Ermine

Single-dotted Wave                         Juniper Webber

Bright-line Brown-eye                      Long-winged Pearl

Elephant Hawk-moth                       Common Plume

Common Emerald                            Small Magpie

Coronet                                            Satin Grass-veneer

Nutmeg                                            Bee Moth  

Light Crimson Underwing                Netted Tortrix

Oak Hook-tip                                    Box Tree Moth

Nut-tree Tussock                             Italian Bark Moth

September Thorn                             White-banded Grass-moth

Willow Beauty                                  Black-headed Conch

Riband Wave                                   Tipped Oak Case Bearer

Green Pug

Small Blood-vein

Common Footman

Blashford Lakes, Blashford:

One of the adult Little Ringed Plovers in front of the Tern Hide.

Matt & Emma were already in the Tern Hide when we arrived at the Car Park and Matt had already given us the good news that the long staying Ruddy Shelduck was still present on Ibsley Water, albeit distantly. This was our target species today and though, as always, of dubious origin, it is still ‘tickable’ for our Hampshire today. We successfully saw the bird at the northern end of Ibsley Water, both out of the water on a tiny island and also swimming on the water, though it always remained distant. This was my 190th species in Hampshire this year and 191st in total overall for the UK for the year. Autumn passage is on its way, so I should be increasing this total if all goes well.

Above, the juvenile Little Ringed Plover and below, an adult Little Ringed Plover with a Lapwing in front of the Hide.

Above, a juvenile Pied Wagtail popped in and below, you dont often see a Little Ringed Plover in the same photo with a Blackbird!

The skies did darken while we were there and rain did fall for a period of time, but during the hour or so we were in the Tern Hide, we were treated to very close views of the Little Ringed Plovers and also a Common Sandpiper in front of the Hide along the shoreline. Up to four LRP’s were present that included two adults and two juveniles and Geoff had a total of two Common Sandpipers. He even found a Common Snipe on one of the islands nearby and then found another to the south of the Hide feeding near the shoreline. A few Lapwing were present, but no other waders were found during our time there.

Above, the Common Sandpiper would occasionally walk in front of the Hide and below, one of the hundreds of Egyptian Geese present here today.

Above, a Common Tern was one of around ten present on Ibsley Water and below, large numbers of Great Crested Grebes were on the water along with Grey-lags.

What was noticeable were the Egyptian Geese. Easily at least 200 birds were present here along with about 30+ Grey Lag Geese and a good count of at least 60+ Great Crested Grebes were counted over on the west side in two big flocks with at least 20 or so scattered elsewhere on Ibsley Water! Over the water, we had several Sand Martins hawking for insects and Geoff picked out a Great White Egret flying to the north of the site and then landed on the island where the Ruddy Shelduck was residing.

Above, the front of the Tern Hide and below, one of the juvenile Little Ringed Plover in front of the same Hide.

Above, a raft of Herring Gulls loafing on the water and below, a juvenile Pied Wagtail posing nicely.

Above and below, the juvenile Little Ringed Plover wondering what's going on!

Once the rain had stopped, we drove over to the Info Centre car park and had a quick look at the Ponds behind the Info Centre. A Green-veined White butterfly grabbed our attention, seen feeding on plants close to the Centre and a few photos later, we checked the Ponds for any Dragonflies and Damselflies. It was a bit of a long shot as it was overcast, but we did find a Blue-tailed Damselfly perched on a reed stem and the very tall Dark Mullein plants in the background were quite impressive. Matt had found a Gatekeeper butterfly and so I managed to grab a photo of my first of this species for the year.

Above, a Green-veined White butterfly in front of the Info Centre and below, Matt found my first Gatekeeper butterfly of the year.

We then headed to Ivy South Hide first, seeing that the feeders were still down in front of the Woodland Hide due to Bird Flu and on the way there, the big pond opposite Ivy South Hide entertained us with our first Red-eyed Damselflies of the year. One particular individual was most obliging, albeit distant, perched on a leaf poking out of the water. A Kingfisher was then heard and then seen a couple of times flying at speed over this Pond and again from the Hide itself.

Above, a Red-eyed Damselfly on the Pond opposite Ivy South Hide. I regularly see these here every year in the same area. Below, I found this Cinnabar Moth caterpillar typically on Ragwort; their favourite foodplant.

Above, the Pond behind the Info Centre. I know during warm and sunny weather, these ponds are alive with Dragonflies and Damselflies.

From Ivy South Hide, we enjoyed watching both the Common Tern and Black-headed Gull chicks getting fed by their respective parents on the Tern Rafts upon the water. At least 15 adult Common Terns were present and two immature Common Terns were on the wing too and looked a bit like Little Gulls in flight. There was an old Rubber Ring just in front of the Hide of which was covered with vegetation and a Black-headed Gull had made its nest there. Then two fluffy Black-headed Gulls then jumped out and had a bathe in the water and then back onto their makeshift nest again and into the vegetation.

Above, an adult Black-headed Gull by the Hide and below, one of several Common Terns fishing over the Ivy Lake.

Above, one of the Tern rafts hosted both young Black-headed Gull and Common Tern young. Below, two of the Black-headed Gull chicks in front of the Hide.

Above, the Black-headed Gull chicks again and below, a juvenile Common Tern on the wing over the Lake.

Above and below, a Great Crested Grebe doing a flypast.

After spending time in this Hide, we took a slow walk to Ivy North Hide and was amazed to see how much the vegetation has grown here since the last time we were there. Though a few more Common Terns were seen fishing over the water, a Great Crested Grebe was sitting on its nest out on the water and then joined by a stripey headed juvenile and then its mate who was bringing in more weed to line the nest with.

Above and below, the nesting family of Great Crested Grebes seen from the Ivy North Hide.

Above and below, Reed Warblers showed well at times in front of the Hide.

Above, the vegetation has really grown in front of the Hide and below, a new Hide on the opposite side of Ivy Lake to replace the old Screen they had there.

In front of the Hide, the reedbed was full of Reed Warblers that entertained us by searching for insects to feed their young. Some looked unusual with very long beaks, but the damp leaves pushed their feathers back on their heads to give them a long-beaked look. Not a great deal else was seen here but we really enjoyed watching the Warblers. Some daft prat next to us in this Hide dropped his flask on the floor and nearly gave us a heart attack. Well, it woke Andy up anyway!!! I had to get home early today for my darling Wife and so we made tracks for home after another cracking day's birding.