A new insect species for my garden.

Friday 5th September 2025.

Large Yellow Underwing moths easily were the most numerous species this morning.

This morning got off to a beautiful start with a clear blue sky, hardly any wind and relatively mild temperatures around the 14 degree mark. However, with clear skies came fewer moths, but there were some nice moths to be seen and a few insects around the Moth Box too. Pembroke Road this morning, though busy as usual with traffic, was sunny and bright and the nice weather continued throughout the morning.

My Moth Box:

One of two Flounced Rustics this morning.

There were just 28 moths of 15 species this morning, but sadly, nothing new for the year again. Two Flounced Rustics and two Square-spot Rustics were typical for this time of year and Large Yellow Underwings are increasing in numbers. Yes, fairly quiet for this time of year, but hopefully will improve as the month goes on.

This Square-spot Rustic was a little more challenging to ID.

The Moths recorded this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Square-spot Rustic x2	Chevron Grass-moth x3
Flounced Rustic x2	Common Plume x3
Vine’s Rustic x1	Ruddy Streak x1
Large Yellow Underwing x5	Rusty-dot Pearl x5
Lesser Yellow Underwing x1	Box Tree Moth x1
Lime-speck Pug x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x1
Willow Beauty x1
L-album Wainscot x2
Bright-line Brown-eye x1

There were a few interesting insects around the Moth Box today that included a Tiger Crane Fly. I have never heard of this species before and so I can never complain about something I have never seen before. Several Cinnamon Caddisfllies were in and around the egg trays and a few Leafhoppers on the white sheet.

A new insect species for me; a Tiger Cranefly. 

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

One of the Cruise Liners going past the Royal Garrison Church out of Portsmouth Harbour this morning.

The gorgeous weather continued into my first shift in Pembroke Road this morning and a total of 13 species of birds were noted (a bit better than yesterday) that included a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers that flew high over my head and headed northbound over the houses. A list of species seen this morning are below. Hopefully, a few more might be added this afternoon.

• Great Black-backed Gull
• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Great Spotted Woodpecker
• Robin
• Starling
• Great Tit
• Blue Tit
• Wren

Heavy rain showers this morning.

Thursday 4th September 2025.

Dark Sword-grass. I think this is my 3rd individual so far this year, though I expect many more to come over the next few months. A nice immigrant moth.

I awoke to heavy rain this morning despite the fact I had my Moth Box on overnight, but knowing that the rainguard will prevent a lot of Moths getting a good soaking or simply dispersing early this morning, I still managed to get quite a few. The heavy prolonged showers overnight continued into this morning and now I am back in Pembroke Road for today and tomorrow, I had the unfortunate pleasure of getting a couple of good soakings! At least the wind had dropped considerably, but today's forecast is heavy showers and occasional sunshine. Also, it's still quite mild too with temperatures around 16 degrees centigrade first thing this morning.

My Moth Box:

There were two Setaceous Hebrew Character moths this morning.

There were 37 moths of 17 species recorded this morning despite the horrible weather, but when I went out to check on them at 6.15am, thankfully, the heavy rain had departed, leaving behind a bright blue sky, but a very damp garden. My outside eggtrays were sodden too, but they did hold a few moths within them. Last night, I potted a Bloxworth Snout and released it this morning and among the moths present this morning, I have nominated the Dark Sword-grass as the pick of the bunch. The Golden Twin-spot, which is such a rarity to most moth enthusiasts, was a very close second, but it didn't linger long and flew off seconds after I grabbed a photo of it. Among the micros, the second brood of Narrow-winged Grey’s are coming through, with another perched on the white sheet this morning. A Box Tree Moth was hiding under the brick (I use this to keep the rainguard down) and the poor thing looked very wet. I also had to rescue three moths that were upside down on top of the rainguard, wings stuck to the water. Not an easy task either, without damaging them. Hopefully soon, there will be some more new moths on the horizon for the year with Autumn well and truly upon us.

The moths recorded this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Bloxworth Snout x1	Rusty-dot Pearl x4
Dark Sword-grass x1	Ruddy Streak x2
Vine’s Rustic x3	Common Plume x4
Setaceous Hebrew Character x2	Narrow-winged Grey x1
L-album Wainscot x5	Light Brown Apple Moth x3
Square-spot Rustic x1	Chevron Grass-moth x2
Large Yellow Underwing x2	Box Tree Moth x1
Lesser Yellow Underwing x2
Golden Twin-spot x1
Shuttle-shaped Dart x1

The only bird of note that flew over the garden while I was checking the Moth Box was a Greenfinch. Currently, visible migration has dried up a bit this week.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

Lull before the storm in Pembroke Road! Twenty minutes later, the heavens opened again.

It was a damp, wet start to my return to Pembroke Road this morning and I only recorded just nine species of birds during my hour there from 8am. Of interest, was a male Sparrowhawk flying through the rain over Governor’s Green and then heading westbound towards Portsmouth Harbour. A pair of Jays showed briefly in the Holm Oaks and one was seen about ten minutes later flying over Pembroke Road. As the month progresses, I am hoping for a bit of visible migration here.

I can confirm that yesterday’s Grey Phalarope at Hayling Oysterbeds is still present this morning for its third day. Two Ospreys are still around Peewit Island, Portsmouth Harbour and over at Weston Shore, Southampton, up to 4 Arctic Terns and a Black Tern were seen this morning.

On my afternoon shift in Pembroke Road, the only addition to my bird list here today was a Wren that sang briefly somewhere down the pathway between the Bowling Green and Governor’s Green. Thankfully, it was bright and sunny this afternoon although rain did appear yet again, late afternoon.

In Hampshire today:

This Little Stint turned up briefly next to the Grey Phalarope at Hayling Oysterbeds. Photo by Pete Appleton. 

Grey Phalaropes dominated the birding news yet again today, with the same bird at Hayling Oysterbeds (a Little Stint (above) appeared next to it briefly), two on Titchfield Haven and one on Oxey Marshes, by Keyhaven. A Pied Flycatcher was still along the Canal Path and over at Farlington Marshes, there were 5 Ruff, a Little Stint and a Wood Sandpiper on the stream and a pair of Glossy Ibis on the Lake!

The Wood Sandpiper on Farlington Marshes today. Photo by Andy Friend.

Stormy conditions bring in the scarcities.

Wednesday 3rd September 2025.

The Grey Phalarope at Hayling Island devouring a Ragworm. Photo by Andy Friend.

Unfortunately, I didn't do any birding today due to work commitments and even the Moth Box wasn't on last night due to the poor weather overnight. Today wasn't much better as I took a couple of soakings while driving around today. The strong winds brought in some very heavy showers throughout the day, but it did clear up late afternoon that encouraged our local birders to catch up with a very obliging Grey Phalarope.

Above, the Grey Phalarope in flight over the Oysterbeds. Photo by Andy Friend and below, the same bird is still showing well. Photo by Graeme Loader.

Yesterday’s Grey Phalarope was still present this morning, though it took some finding at first, but it gave its admirers some cracking close views from the main Car Park behind the Esso Garage and I have been allowed to put on my blog some of the superb photos and film footage. Many thanks to those guys.

The juvenile / 1st winter Caspian Gull off Sandy Point today. Photos by Chris Geary.

The sea was well watched today for some excellent seabirds passing through. From Sandy Point, a 1st winter, juvenile Caspian Gull was found flying among Herring Gulls and even briefly sat on the sea for five minutes before flying off. Also seen were two Arctic Skua’s, a juvenile Black Tern, a Fulmar and up to 40 Gannets. Over at Milford Shelter, near Lymington, the guys checking out the sea there recorded singles of Balearic and Manx Shearwater, 4 Arctic Skua, a Grey Phalarope, 3 Common Scoter and a Kittiwake. TWO Grey Phalaropes were now on Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve today!

I couldn't resist this lovely film footage of the Grey Phalarope at the Oysterbeds. Filmed by James Cutting.

The winds have not quite dropped yet and so what will be discovered tomorrow on the south coast? 

Its a Rustic morning!

Tuesday 2nd September 2025.

Flounced Rustic was one of four species of Rustic moths this morning.

It looks as though it is going to be a very wet week, with overnight showers and more rain today, but it didn't dampen the number of moths still arriving in and around my Moth Trap this morning. Even as early as 8.30pm last night, there was a Square-spot Rustic on the white sheet, even before I had put the light on! A Pipistrelle Bat flew over the garden and headed off south over the other gardens and a final check of the Moth Box before retiring to bed, a Lesser Yellow Underwing was now on the white sheet along with a Beautiful Plume.

My Moth Box:

Clancy's Rustic.

It was a ‘Rustic’ morning when it came to the moths present, with four species present that included three typical Autumn species, Flounced, Clancy’s and Square-spot Rustics. The Old Lady was back again and judging by the torn wings of this individual, I think it was the same one from Sunday morning. There was no sign of last night's Lesser Yellow Underwing, but a single Golden Twin-spot was present resting by the light bulb. The first Common Grass-moth to my garden for quite a while was resting on my outside kitchen wall.

 

Above, the Common Grass-moth & below, a Golden Twin-spot moth.

The Moths recorded this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Flounced Rustic x1	Chevron Grass-moth x1
Double-striped Pug x5	Common Grass-moth x1
Lime-speck Pug x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x3
Old Lady x1	Rusty-dot Pearl x3
L-album Wainscot x5	Beautiful Plume x1
Clancy’s Rustic x1	Common Plume x2
Square-spot Rustic x3	Barred Marble x1
Vine’s Rustic x5	Ruddy Streak x2
Garden Carpet x3	Box Tree Moth x1
Golden Twin-spot x1
Shuttle-shaped Dart x1
Large Yellow Underwing x3
Setaceous Hebrew Character x2
Bright-line Brown-eye x2
Willow Beauty x2
Yellow-barred Brindle x2

Sadly, nothing really of note flew overhead, except for a few Starlings and of course, the very noisy Herring Gulls! Over on the Hayling Oysterbeds, a Grey Phalarope was found by Hayling birder, Gary Fennemore. Well done that man. Another Grey Phalarope is now on the South Scrape on Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve. These heavy showers and windy conditions are starting to turn up some interesting birds. Hopefully, I can get out this afternoon and find something myself.

The Grey Phalarope on Hayling Oysterbeds this morning. Photos by Chris Geary.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

There were plenty of dark clouds around and occasionally some sunshine during my walk around the Cemetery.

Between the rain showers, I took my dogs for a late afternoon walk around my ‘local patch’ and though the Cemy closed at 7pm, I had roughly an hour to see what I could find. Unfortunately, there was a lot of human activity going on, especially with kids riding their bikes and a scooter, which are both prohibited here. I came across a lot of dog-walkers too, but who could blame them for walking the dogs while it was dry?

Above, one of the Blue Tits seen from the flock I found over in the south-east corner. Below, this Dark Mullein plant was growing by one of the graves. I don't think I have ever seen this plant growing here.

Above, I found just the one Ox-eye Daisy growing in the Cemy and below, I nicknamed these Silver Birches the 'Flycatcher' trees. I normally see one or two here in Autumn, but none so far this year.

Birdlife here was minimal with only one Chiffchaff seen and a flock of Blue / Great Tits seen throughout my trip here; it really was that quiet. I just saw one insect, a Buff-tailed Bumblebee and a few flowers were noted along the way including, which was a big surprise, a Dark Mullein plant growing near a graveside.

Above, it is looking quite Autumnal in the Cemy and below, a few Knapweed were growing still.

Of course, on the way back home the drizzly rain eventually came, but we didnt get too wet. Still, a nice end to the day. Up to three Grey Phalaropes were reported today: Keyhaven Marshes, Titchfield Haven and Hayling Oysterbeds and some excellent photos of the birds too.

A couple of superb photos of some recent birds in our area. Above, a Spotted Flycatcher and below, a Wryneck, which was photographed last week over at Hayling Oysterbeds. Both photos by Graeme Loader.