Saturday 12th July 2025.
One of the gorgeous views from Old Winchester Hill.
It was damn hot yesterday, but today seemed much hotter as temperatures were already around the 18 degree mark while I was checking the Moth Box at 5am this morning. In fact, I believe that it was supposed to be the hottest day of the year and we most certainly found this out when we went to Old Winchester Hill this morning. Despite the heat, the Moths came back with a vengeance as I recorded well over 100 species again in my garden and where Andy’s Moth Box lacked quantity, it surely made up for it with quality.
Our goal today was the Quail reported calling this week in the arable fields by Old Winchester Hill, though it was very tempting to try our luck for the Norfolk Hawker dragonflies on Titchfield Haven. The Martin Down Quails was also tempting, but knowing it was going to be a very hot day, I plumbed for Old Winchester Hill.
My Moth Box:
My first ever BLACK-DOT STILT moth.
A very good morning with the Moths as I recorded a total of 119 moths of 40 species and included among them was my very first BLACK-DOT STILT micro moth (Caloptilia populetorum). Yes, a very small moth which was perched on the white sheet behind the Moth Box. Four Langmaids Yellow Underwing was exceptional and easily the most I have ever caught in one go. My second ever Plain Pug was also on the white sheet and easily outnumbering any other species this morning were the Willow Ermine with an incredible 31 being counted, though I bet there were more dotted around my garden within the plants.
The following Moths were recorded this morning:
Macro Moths: Micro Moths:
Langmaids Yellow Underwing x4 Satin Grass-moth x1
Lesser Yellow Underwing x1 Bird-cherry Ermine x9
Large Yellow Underwing x3 Willow Ermine x31
L-album Wainscot x1 Ruddy Streak x4
Riband Wave x1 Meal Moth x1
Silver Y x1 Rosy Tabby x1
Plain Pug x1 Large Pale Masoner x2
Common Emerald x2 Dotted Masoner x1
Single-dotted Wave x2 Black-banded Masoner x2
Double-striped Pug x3 Common Masoner x1
Willow Beauty x1 White-shouldered House Moth x2
Grey / Dark Dagger x1 BLACK-DOT STILT x1
Marbled Minor x1 Mint Moth x2
Bright-line Brown-eye x1 Garden Grey x3
Common Rustic x1 Light Brown Apple Moth x6
Clay x1 Bee Moth x1
Uncertain x1 Garden Grass-veneer x5
Rusty-dot Pearl x5
Grey Knot-horn x1
Elderberry Pearl x2
Common Plume x10
Barred Yellowneck x1
Blushed Knot-horn x1
Cowplain Marsh (Andy’s garden and Moth Box):
Another 'Lifer' on Cowplain Marsh, a MAPLE PUG.
A total of 39 moths of 24 species were eventually recorded by Andy’s Moth Trap this morning of which TWO more ‘Lifers’ were present. A MAPLE PUG was sat on the underside of the roof by the back porch and upon the Moth Box, the micro moth DIAMOND-BACK TORTRIX (Eudemis profundana) was sat. Amazing stuff. On top of that, there were ‘year-ticks’ of Small Blood-vein, Dingy Footman. Rosy Footman and the micro moth, Chestnut Tortrix. What a great start to the morning.
Above, yet another 'Lifer', the micro moth DIAMOND-BACK TORTRIX and below. my first Small Blood-vein of the year.
Above, Dingy Footman and below, Chestnut Tortrix; both new for the year.
Above, my first Rosy Footman of the year.
Also upon the Moth Box, close to the main bulb, we found a Southern Oak Bush-cricket, which was a ‘first’ for Geoff and Andy. A quick look at Andy’s Pond while enjoying a cup of coffee, we found just the one Blue-tailed Damselfly, but a Frog was croaking somewhere within the Pond area, but we could not see it!
The Southern Oak Bush-cricket on top of the Moth Box.
The Moths present here this morning included the following:
Macro Moths: Micro Moths:
Riband Wave x2 Garden Grass-veneer x3
Festoon x1 Rosy Tabby x5
Small Blood-vein x1* Common Masoner x1
Dingy Footman x1* White-banded Grass-moth x3
Rosy Footman x1* DIAMOND-BACK TORTRIX x1
Dun-bar x1 Chestnut Tortrix x1 *
Shuttle-shaped Dart x1 Ruddy Streak x3
MAPLE PUG x1 Diamond-back Moth x2
Uncertain x2 Brown Bark Moth x
Buff Ermine x1 Garden Grey x1
L-album Wainscot x1 Codling Moth x1
Knot Grass x1 Black-banded Masoner x2
Matt & Emma’s Moth Box:
They had three new Moth species around the Moth Box this morning that included a Cypress Carpet, Dusky Sallow and a Barred Red moth.
A Barred Red moth on Matt & Emma's Moth Box.
Old Winchester Hill, Meon Valley:
A male Yellowhammer singing in the sunshine. At least three were seen this morning.
On our way to the Car Park, we encountered a Red Kite soaring over the fields to the east as well as a male Kestrel and as the light was so good, it was tempting to pull over and grab a few photos. I was hoping to avoid the worst of the heat by getting to the site early and so carried on to the Car Park. From here, a Marsh Tit was heard calling, but no sighting of the bird this time.
Butterflies were abundant this morning in the sunshine and heat. Above, Marbled White's were in good numbers and below, several Brimstone's were seen.
Above, a Peacock butterfly and below, Dark-green Fritillaries were also abundant.
We had a quick check of the tiny Info Centre near the entrance gate and from her, I began taking photos of some of the butterflies on the Rosebay Willowherb that were already on the wing. Gatekeepers and a few Common Blue’s were posing nicely, whilst Meadow Browns and Small White's flew past.
Above, mating Gatekeeper butterflies and below, my first Small Copper butterfly of the year that was found on the South Slope.
Above, a Common Whitethroat joined the male Yellowhammer in one of the bushes. Below, Geoff and Andy check out the small Info Centre.
From the gate overlooking the amazing view looking west over the countryside, one of the brambles on the slope held a singing male Yellowhammer and in the same bush below it, a Common Whitethroat showed briefly. A flock of four Ravens made their way towards us high over the fields and then headed off northbound ‘cronking’ loudly. The light here was absolutely superb and so I hardly had to edit a lot of my photos for my blog. A Chiffchaff was in full song and a Blackcap was heard a few times singing of which I only got a brief view of the bird as it flew from across our path.
Above, a Hummingbird Hawk-moth on the South Slope and below, a Common Blue on Knapweed.
Above, Rosebay Willowherb growing near the entrance. Below, another Common Blue on Wild Marjoram.
Above, a flock of four Ravens head north over the countryside and below, a Small White butterfly on a Knapweed plant.
The grassy footpath was full of the purple Wild Marjoram and attracted many butterflies including good numbers of Dark Green Fritillaries, Common Blue, Gatekeepers, both Small & Large White’s and our first Chalkhill Blue of the year! If you are into insects, this was the place to be as the plants such as Hogweed, Wild Parsnip and Wild Carrot attracted large numbers of both Soldier Beetles and Hoverflies, as well as many other small insects attracted to the plants.
Above, a Gatekeeper nectaring on a Rosebay Willowherb and below, a Marbled White on Wild Marjoram.
We had a nice coffee break on reaching the gate by the Fort and from here, there were many butterflies on the wing over the grassy areas. We then made our way down the South slope from the Fort to check out if the Quail was calling, but sadly it was not. We spent a good hour there in the shade of a large Bramble (well, Geoff and Andy were) as I checked out the local plants and butterflies on the wing here. I found my first Small Copper butterfly of the year at this site and Andy picked out a Hummingbird Hawk-moth flying around close by. In the distance, I could hear the distinctive song of a Corn Bunting and we then found it perched on a tall plant stem some distance away. Incredibly, we found a White Admiral butterfly soaring and flying high over the slope and heading north until out of view. That was totally unexpected.
Above, a Small Skipper on the Wild Marjoram and below, a Soldier Beetle and a Marmalade Hoverfly on Hogweed.
On the way back to the Car Park, we had sightings of Brimstone, Peacock, Ringlet and Small Heath butterflies to our excellent day list here which stood at 11 species. Earlier this morning, we came across one of Geoff’ birding friends, Tim Doran, who told us about the White-letter Hairstreak butterflies just north of the IBM Building in Cosham and also of the Lesser Emperor Dragonflies over the lake there. I have not seen a White-letter Hairstreak for many a year and so that was to be our next destination.
IBM area, Cosham:
Above, Pyramidal Orchids were abundant here. Below, a Six-spotted Burnet Moth enjoying a Small Scabious flower.
After Tim had given us the directions on where to look for the Hairstreak, of which he had seen them earlier this week keeping low down in the grass and were easy to see, we parked the car and made our way to the north of the Car Park and took the footpath through the trees to the site where they were supposed to be. Sadly, it was a ‘no-show’ as we did not find one. There were plenty of other butterflies present including Gatekeepers, Common Blue’s, Meadow Brown and both Large & Small White’s, but no Hairstreaks I’m afraid. Also common were Six-spotted Burnet Moths that were everywhere.
Cowplain Marsh (Andy’s Back Garden & Pond):
An Azure Blue Damselfly enjoying the sunshine by Andy's Pond.
We finished the day off by relaxing by Andy’s Pond and enjoying the insect life that was attracted to the Pond and Garden over a cup of coffee and a few Biscuits. There were now a lot of Blue-tailed Damselflies present, though just the one Azure Blue Damselfly. Butterflies were coming in thick and fast as the likes of Peacock, Green-veined White, Large and Small White, Red Admiral, Comma, Gatekeepers and a pair of tussling Speckled Wood’s kept us most entertained in the hot weather. Most enjoyable way to wind down before taking Geoff home and then on to my house.
Above, a Red Admiral on the Buddleia and below, a Comma resting in the sunshine of Andy's garden.
Above, this Blue-tailed Damselfly was one of many and below, a pair of Speckled Wood butterflies tussling with one another.
