Tuesday 26th May 2026.
Only my 3rd ever Lime Hawk-moth here in Devon last night.
As the heatwave lingers on, after a very sticky night, I awoke later than expected (6am) and quickly made a coffee before checking out my Moths this morning. Late last night, our Jackie gave us a shout that a large moth was outside by the Moth Box around 11pm and amazingly, it was only my 3rd ever Lime Hawk-moth and showing very well on the wall by the Box! I was well chuffed. Why I hardly get any in my Southsea Moth Box, who knows; but it is always a ‘buzz’ to get a Hawk-moth, no matter what species. Again, it is very warm this morning here in Chittlehampton as is the rest of the south.
My Moth Box:
One of two Alder Moths this morning.
Though I got up late and probably missed a lot of moths that had probably flown off, I still recorded seven new moths for the year and also a micro moth ‘Lifer’! The micro moth was a Beautiful Knot-horn, a rather attractive species I might add. Oddly, that was the only micro moth here this morning, but the excellent ‘macro’ moths made up for that with ‘year-ticks’ of Swallow Prominent, Iron Prominent, Alder Moth, Setaceous Hebrew Character and the migrant moth, Dark Sword-grass.
Two Prominent species of moths turned up this morning with (above) this Iron Prominent and below, a Swallow Prominent. Two superb moths that I only see about once a year.
Above, the migrant moth, Dark Sword-grass (I only record them in the Autumn in Southsea) and below, a new micro moth 'lifer' for me, the BEAUTIFUL KNOT-GRASS. What a stunner!
My first Setaceous Hebrew Character of the year. It is a common moth at times, but nice to get my first one. Below, a strikingly marked White Ermine.
There was another migrant moth, a Small Mottled Willow present and most likely the Silver Y was a migrant moth too. A total of 23 moths of 14 species were recorded this morning .I read on Migrant moths on Facebook that some chap had over a hundred Small Mottled Willows within 5 traps put out on the edge of Exmoor overnight! The Moths recorded this morning were as follows:
Other insects attracted to the Moth Box again were the Green Drake Mayflies, Welshman's Button Caddisfly and just the one Cockchafer Beetle.
Our lovely walk in the country lane.
The dogs got their morning walk this morning and though a bit warm at 9am, it was a pleasant walk that produced a lot of Hirundines over the village and good numbers of Painted Ladies nectaring on all the flowering plants along the footpath and hedgerows. I was so impressed by the flowering weeds and plants that they actually stopped me in my tracks to see if I could ID some of them. One garden was full of Cat’s-ears and along the footpath, bunches of Ox-eye Daisies grew along with Herb Robert and Herb Bennet plants.
A little bit of cloud built up over our Cottage, but it still remained hot.
Today, the temperatures soared up into the mid-eighties and I had to stay in the garden waiting for a package to arrive. It might sound bad, but it was such a relaxing day and though my wife and I kept in the shade, it was so very hot all day even as I write this at 6.45pm! It seems that I am not the only one getting some very nice migrant moths in the UK as the Migrant Lepidoptera Facebook site was littered with some amazing moths arriving in the UK including good numbers of Striped Hawk-moths and Crimson Speckled and many more.
Back to the birds seen on this hot, though pleasant day in the garden. I got stunning views of the Siskins this afternoon as one of the male birds was displaying and singing its heart out all day. I just love it when they do that long wheeze in their song. The Spotted Flycatcher put in an appearance briefly in the Ash tree this morning until flying off down the gardens. Both the elusive Blackcap and Chiffchaff have been singing all day and a Coal Tit also put in a very brief appearance.
Ted and Buddy taking a drink from Becky's water cooler in the garden.
While reclining in one of the sun loungers on the grass, looking up, I saw both Common Buzzard and Red Kite sailing high overhead close to one another and a few distant Herring Gulls must have been thousands of feet up near the clouds! Yes, there were quite a few big white clouds around today, but there was hardly any wind hence why it was so hot today. Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches and the odd Linnet or two were seen this afternoon and also in the garden, numerous Painted Lady butterflies were nectaring on the flowering plants.
I have a confession to make!!! I had left my camera charger at home back in Southsea (I am a bloody idiot, no?) and so ordered a battery charger from Amazon yesterday and so had to wait all day for it to turn up. Once it arrived and got it charged up, I was out in the garden straight away and fortunatley for me, the Spotted Flycatchers performed nicely in the late afternoon sunshine.
Above and below, the pair of Spotted Flycatchers in the neighbouring gardens. Note that the one below is missing its tail!
Above, the tail-less Spotted Flycatcher having a preen and below, a male Siskin perched in the lone Ash tree.
Above, some of the many Swifts on the wing over the gardens and below, adult and juvenile Rooks in a nearby field.
Above, a juvenile Blue Tit in one of the nearby gardens and below, a Silver Y moth nectaring on the Daisies in our garden.
Above, one of the Spotted Flycatchers in the favoured Ash tree. Apologies about the bells ringing from the nearby Church and the noisy Rooks!
Above, the Little Owl showing fairly well in the fading light this evening and below, a large flock of mixed Corvids took off from nearby trees and made their way over the fields.
As me and the boys were walking back to the Cottage, after 'clocking' the Barn Owl, I checked the top of the Barns again and then 'Bingo', there it was perched on the thatched roof of one of the Barns. I did this time get some half decent photos (well, I'm pleased with them) of the Little Owl before it flew off. Happy days.
Above, distant Jersey Cows in one of the fields to the south. Below, my first Silver-ground Carpet moth for the year.
The remaining light was quite spectacular when I started my walk and although I missed the sun going down over the countryside like last night, the remaining clouds were lit up an orangey colour. Walking through the village, the Swifts were all over the place as I watched several fly into their nest sites under the eaves of the houses and a few Swallows were perched on the overhead wires. There was plenty of birdsong still, though mostly Blackbirds; but I still could hear both Chiffchaffs and Siskins singing in the distance.
Above, a stunning sunset and below, some of the Swifts flying over the village tonight.
The walk to my usual spot and back again produced a huge number of Silver Y moths in the hedgerows. I counted at least 60+ of these migratory Moths foraging around the hedges, though a bit difficult in the fading light to grab a photo of these fast flying Moths. I did find one Moth that was a 'year-tick', a Silver-ground Carpet that fortunately landed close to the road within the grassy verge. However, I must say that I have never seen so many Silver Y moths in many a year and obviously, like the Painted Lady butterflies, been brought over by the current heatwave.
One of a pair of Swallows resting on overhead wires within the village.
No comments:
Post a Comment