More moths arrive in overcast conditions.

Friday 17th October 2025

It's always nice to get a Jasmine Moth in the garden.

More overcast weather this morning with a very light easterly wind and temperatures around 9 degrees when I walked my dogs early this morning in the dark! Sadly, I found a dog Fox dead by the edge of the road and I couldn’t see a mark on it either, though it was probably killed by a car by St. Margaret's Church. Thankfully, birding pal Emma Parkes knew of someone who could collect it and dispose of it humanely: Second Chance Fox Rescue and Rehabilitation. So, whoever is reading this, try these guys please should you come across a dead Fox or even an injured Fox.

A sad sight to see while I was walking my dogs this morning.

Another good haul of Moths and there was also a good number of species in Pembroke Road again this morning on my first shift there.

My Moth Box:

Above, this Heart & Dart was unexpected this morning and below, one of five Golden Twin-spots.

Another FIVE Golden Twin-spot moths were in and around my Moth Box this morning along with up to TEN Turnip Moths! A late Heart & Dart was a nice surprise and up to THREE Angle Shades was also exceptional for my garden (normally only get the one or maybe two). Black Rustics are creeping up in numbers and a Jasmine Moth (Palpita vitrealis) is always a nice moth to see. A total of 52 moths of 16 species were recorded this morning.

One of three Angle Shades today.

The Moths recorded this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
White-point x3	Narrow-winged Grey x1
Shuttle-shaped Dart x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x9
Feathered Ranunculus x1	Common Masoner x1
Turnip Moth x10	Jasmine Moth x1
Lesser Yellow Underwing x2	Rusty-dot Pearl x3
Black Rustic x3	Pale-backed Detritus Moth x1
Double-striped Pug x7
Heart & Dart x1
Golden Twin-spot x5
Angle Shades x3

There was a small bit of movement overhead while checking the Moth Box and that was a few ‘alba’ Wagtails going over heading north. When I was walking the dogs, as I was nearing my house, a Redpoll flew over heading west and when I got back in the car to go to my first shift, it or another Redpoll flew over again.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

It still remained overcast this morning at Pembroke Road, but at least it was still and bright. I am now donning gloves on my morning shift, for standing there for an hour it certainly gets cold! Overhead, a large flock of 16 Linnets flew low east along the road and two large flocks of Goldfinches went through; 30+ and 10 respectively. A Song Thrush flew high over southbound and then turned to head east. Over in the Holm Oaks, a Jay was seen and then it flew out and headed off north with an Acorn in its bill. A Chiffchaff was heard calling within the Holm Oaks, but no sighting this time.

In total, at least 17 species were either heard or seen on my first shift here this morning.

My Hampshire Bird Report arrived this week and birding pal Emma Parkes had three of her photos within it. 

Moths are increasing in numbers again.

Thursday 16th October  2025.

A couple of Turnip Moths, Lesser Yellow Underwing (centre) and a Light Brown Apple Moth.

It did start off overcast when I took the dogs for a walk this morning before my first shift and by the afternoon, the cloud had gone and bright sunshine took its place, as temperatures climbed up to around 15 degrees. As the morning wore on, by the time I got to Pembroke Road, the cloud had gone and bright sunshine took its place. I have recently received the spreadsheet to load on my Moth Sightings for 2024 and it is taking a long time to go through my records day by day and add them to the spreadsheet. 

My Moth Box:

Yet another Golden Twin-spot was in the Moth Box this morning.

A good total of 49 moths of 15 species were recorded today with double figures of both Turnip Moth and Light Brown Apple Moth. A Golden Twin-spot was present again and today, two Black Rustics were in the egg trays. Other immigrant moths included a White-point, Rusty-dot Pearl and a Rush Veneer.

Above, one of 11 Turnip Moths this morning, which I think is a record for me and below, several Lacewings were present including this brown individual.

My order of more egg trays was delivered to me this morning. Sadly, the Farm Shop where I normally get them for free are now using plastic trays instead. OK, they were not too expensive, but when they get wet, they do get distorted when they are drying in the sunshine.

One of two Black Rustics today.

The Moths present this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Garden Carpet x2	Rush Veneer x1
Double-striped Pug x8	Light Brown Apple Moth x10
Lesser Yellow Underwing x3	Rusty-dot Pearl x1
Large Yellow Underwing x2	Pale-backed Detritus Moth x1
White-point x1
Vine’s Rustic x2
Turnip Moth x11
Black Rustic x2
L-album Wainscot x1
Feathered Ranunculus x3
Golden Twin-spot x1

Overhead, the only birds I noticed going over were ‘alba’ Wagtails when at least three small flocks went over, all heading northbound.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

The clouds were parting and the blue sky finally showed itself over Pembroke Road and the Royal Garrison Church.

Up to 17 bird species were recorded here at Pembroke Road today that included a small flock of Siskin heading south and a flock of 7 Linnets heading east. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over Pembroke Road in the afternoon, heading south and both Chiffchaff and Goldcrest were heard calling in the nearby Holm Oaks. 

Above, a Garden Spider tucking into a Ladybird and below, one of the many Harlequin Ladybirds present this afternoon.

There was a bit of a Harlequin Ladybird infestation going on around the houses where I was working this afternoon, with at least 30+ counted at one stage. Though birds do not like Ladybirds to eat all that much, the local Garden Spiders were filling their boots!

In Hampshire today:

The White-tailed Eagle at Fishlake Meadows. Photo by Rob Porter.

Yesterday, Farlington Marshes birder, Jason Crook, found a Velvet Scoter in Langstone Harbour and it was still present today. The Black-throated Diver was still off Hill Head and at least four Glossy Ibis were at Hook-with-Warsash. Four Little Stints were on Keyhaven Marshes and a good spell of visible migration over St Catherines Hill, Winchester included a Ring Ouzel, Fieldfare, Brambling and Redpoll. Also yesterday, some superb photos were taken of the White-tailed Eagle perched up in one of the trees at Fishlake Meadows and also the Yellow-browed Warbler was calling again, but proving very elusive.

A very late Dark Arches moth.

Wednesday 15th October  2025.

This very late Dark Arches moth took me by surprise this morning.

The high pressure over the UK continued this morning as I awoke to another cloudy overcast start and temperatures  again only just above single figures. The down side is that I have very little time to check the Moth Box and the surrounding  area thoroughly for Moths and so have to resort to checking them properly when I get back from my first shift in Pembroke Road.

Pembroke Road was busy again with the usual traffic and though it was overcast and cold, there was a reasonable number of bird species seen this morning. It did look very bright over in the east and maybe the cloud might be gone a bit later in the day?

My Moth Box:

Some of the Moths present in my Box this morning include Turnip Moths, Feathered Ranunculus, Black Rustic and a Shuttle-shaped Dart.

A total of 26 moths of 14 species were recorded this morning of which nine of those were Turnip Moths; which was probably the highest number I have ever recorded here in my Moth Box. The most unexpected Moth this morning was a Dark Arches. I honestly expected it to be a one of the Brocades, but when I checked on Obsidentify, it came up 100% Dark Arches. Even Obsidentify can be inaccurate occasionally, so I double-checked on a few other sites and had it confirmed as one.

Rush Veneer. Though a common immigrant moth, I have only had a handful of these this year. 

All the other expected moths were present and correct and I was glad I checked the outside egg trays again (I have ordered some more online as the Farm Shop I normally get them from do not use these type of trays anymore!) as out popped both a Double-striped Pug and an L-album Wainscot!

The Moths present this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Dark Arches x1	Rush Veneer x1
Vine’s Rustic x2	Rusty-dot Pearl x2
Turnip Moth x9	Light Brown Apple Moth x1
Shuttle-shaped Dart x1
Black Rustic x1
Lesser Yellow Underwing x2
Large Yellow Underwing x1
Feathered Ranunculus x2
Garden Carpet x1
L-album Wainscot x1
Double-striped Pug x1

Overhead, I heard both Song Thrush and a Redwing flying over, but there was no sighting of either. Again, a Chiffchaff was heard in the neighbouring gardens.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

A familiar sight for this time of year are the Crane Flies. Not only a good source of food for migrant birds, but the many Garden Spiders enjoy them too! This one was behind the Bushes, on the wall of the house.

Eighteen bird species were recorded on my first shift this morning at Pembroke Road. This included a nice flock of 16 Siskins flying east low over my head and then carrying on down the road. The male Sparrowhawk was seen circling high over Governor’s Green, putting up all the Wood Pigeons and then it carried on west over Old Portsmouth. Sadly, no migrant Thrushes to report here this morning and no Chiffchaffs heard either. But one of the Jays was making a right din over on the opposite side of the road by the Bowling Green.

This inquisitive Carrion Crow walked up to me from across the road.

A good selection of Moths & Redwing passing overhead.

Tuesday 14th October  2025.

My second Blood-vein moth of the year.

A long period of High Pressure over the UK has resulted in cloudy days and this morning was no exception. I didn’t actually check my Moth Box till 7.20am this morning and even then, it was still relatively dark and I had to use my flash on my mobile phone to take most of the photos. Temperatures were around a cool 12 degrees centigrade this morning and there was a bit of drizzle in the air to contend with on my first shift at Pembroke Road. However, there was a good variety of Moths this morning and another reasonable bird species total over Pembroke Road.

My Moth Box:

My first Black Rustic for my garden this year.

A total of 37 moths of 17 species were present this morning, which I was pleased about considering I moved the Moth Box out into the garden a bit more on Sunday. A real surprise was a Blood-vein moth which I found last night before I retired to bed sitting by the Box. This was my second one in my garden this year, the last being in June. I was also pleased to get my first Black Rustic for my garden this year. This species is annual to my Moth Box around this time of year and hopefully, will pick up a few more as the month progresses.

One of two Golden Twin-spot moths.

Two Golden Twin-spots were present again and other migrant moths included three each of Turnip Moths, White-point and Rusty-dot Pearl.

Above, one of three White-points and below, one of three Rusty-dot Pearl.

The Moths present this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
White-point x3	Light Brown Apple Moth x6
Black Rustic x1	Narrow-winged Grey x1
Shuttle-shaped Dart x1	Rusty-dot Pearl x3
Lesser Yellow Underwing x6	Tree-mallow Tortrix x1
L-album Wainscot x1	Pale-backed Detritus Moth x1
Golden Twin-spot x2
Turnip Moth x3
Large Yellow Underwing x1
Feathered Ranunculus x1
Double-striped Pug x5
Blood-vein x1
Garden Carpet x1

Overhead, there was not a great deal moving, but a solitary Redwing flew over heading north-east and a Chiffchaff was heard calling in nearby gardens. 

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

A grey murky start to the day at Old Portsmouth.

A good count of 17 bird species were recorded this morning on my first shift in Pembroke Road. A male Sparrowhawk was seen to fly into the Holm Oaks for a quick breather and then flew out minutes later and headed off south towards the seafront. Yesterday, another raptor, a Kestrel, was seen hovering between Governor’s Green and Curtain Moat in the afternoon.

The weather here this morning remained cool and overcast with a light north-easterly wind. There seemed to be a small movement of Thrushes this morning here with a small flock of 3 Redwing heading south and a Song Thrush with them also. Another two single Song Thrushes were also flying over and a few high flying Blackbirds could have been migrant birds. A Goldcrest was heard calling deep within the vegetation opposite where I stood and all the usual birds were noted this morning.

Also yesterday, I saw two individual Grey Herons flying over Pembroke Road; one was very high and headed towards Gosport and a second bird flew over Governor’s Green, circled around for a while and then headed north.

This afternoon, on my second shift, it still remained cloudy, though there was a bit of blue sky trying to poke through. Two more bird species were added to my daily total here that included a small flock of three Long-tailed Tits (rare at this site) and a small flock of three Linnets that flew low heading northbound over the houses.

In Hampshire today:

Though no rare birds were seen in Hampshire today that I know of, there were plenty of Winter visitors seen that included a Black-throated Diver off Hill Head and a Merlin was seen carrying prey over the Meadow area of the reserve. Good numbers of Redwing were seen in Hampshire and a handful of Fieldfares were also noted. A large flock of 180+ Golden Plovers were seen at Martin Down and a drake Common Scoter was off Weston Sailing Club.

This Ruff was seen in Norfolk over the weekend. Photo by Emma Parkes.