Another good number of moth 'year-ticks'.

 Thursday 28th May 2026.

My first Bordered Straw of the year. A superb near annual migrant moth.

The wind had dropped considerably this morning but last night's predicted thunderstorms over Chittlehampton did not materialise as awoke to bright sunshine and a little breeze while checking my Moth Box. Though not a large total of moths, there was some excellent quality with a couple of migrant moths by the Moth Box. Before retiring for bed, a quick check of the Moth Box last night produced some interesting Moths, so I managed to pot a few and study them this morning. With so many exciting immigrant moths coming into the UK, surely I was in for a few more today and so I did!

My Moth Box:

Clouded Silver was another superb moth to my year list.

Another good number of moths for the year included the migrant moth, Bordered Straw, which was sitting by the light bulb. The other migrant moth was another Dark Sword-grass, my second of the trip here. Other moths new for the year included a Green Pug that was potted last night; Flame Shoulder, Clouded Silver, Mottled Rustic and the pretty micro moth, Common Purple & Gold (Pyrausta pupuralis). 

Above, my first Common Purple & Gold moth for many a year and below, another moth added to my year list, a Mottled Rustic.

Above, the Grey Dagger agg was also added to my year list. Unfortunately, it cannot be told apart from Dark Dagger and has to be done by dissection to ascertain its true ID. Below, the smart Silver-ground Carpet; my second of the trip here.

Above, one of three Buff-tips this morning and below, my first Green Pug of the year.

The following moths were present this morning:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTH
Green Pug * x1	Common Purple & Gold * x1
Flame Shoulder * x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x1
Dark Sword-grass x1
Grey Dagger agg. * x1
Clouded Silver * x1
Mottled Rustic * x1
Pale Tussock x2
Bordered Straw * x1
Alder Moth x1
Silver-ground Carpet x1
White Ermine x2
Buff-tip x3
Green Carpet x1

Once again, both the Green Drake Mayflies and the Welshman’s Button Caddisfly were present and one other Caddis Fly that could not be identified. I’ll try later on.

Fellow birder / Moth-er, James Cutting had these two beauties yesterday to his Moth Box, above, a Scorched Carpet and below, Small Phoenix.

Last nights Crow roost at the back of the garden in Chittlehampton.