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 night's Crow roost at the back of the garden in Chittlehampton.

Before we headed out to the beautiful village of Appledore for lunch and a mooch round the place, I took the opportunity to take a few photos of the local wildlife in the garden. The temperature was a lot cooler than yesterday (thankfully!), but still quite sunny and warm nonetheless. The Spotted Flycatcher showed well again this morning; firstly up in the Ash tree and then again perched on a parked car’s side mirror; where it showed very well for around a minute or so. The Siskins came down closer than normal with one particular male bird showing very nicely in one of the Conifers.

Above, the Spotted Flycatcher was seen very early this morning while I was checking my Moths. Below, two photos of the same bird, much closer this time, perched on a car door mirror in our neighbours garden.

Above, this Lunar Marbled Brown was unexpected as it was under the window sill of one of the bedrooms later in the morning. Below, a male Siskin came down closer than normal into the garden.

Another photo of the confiding male Siskin and below, a tatty looking Peacock butterfly flew in.

Above, both Painted Lady and Peacock butterfly on the Cotoneaster bush.

The Butterflies were performing nicely on the Cotoneaster bushes once again and this time among the Painted Ladies, was a tatty Peacock butterfly. A Small White flew over the garden, but did not settle. I had time to take the dogs for their early morning walk and again, the Swallows were perched on the overhead wires in the village. Silver Y moths were all over the show along the hedgerows once again and judging by all the migrant moths seen in the southern half of the UK, it was another bumper night for moths everywhere.

Above, one of the many Silver Y moths in the hedgerow and below, in front of me and the dogs, a Blackbird and several House Sparrows were searching the hedgerow by the main footpath through the village.

Above, a Buff-tailed Bumblebee enjoying the Foxgloves and below, another Buff-tailed Bumblebee nectaring on Common Sow-thistle.

Above, one of the Swallows perched in its usual place within the village.

Appledore was gorgeous once again as we had lunch in the packed Seagate Pub where I had the Haddock and Chips. Delicious, I might add and after having a look at the local shops, we then headed back home to the Cottage. Not too hot today and most comfortable for the dogs too.