Another three good moth 'year-ticks'!

 Monday 25th May 2026.

Only my third ever Puss Moth, which was sitting on the patio this morning.

Though bright and sunny at 5.30am this morning, there was a breezy cool easterly blowing over the garden here in Chittlehampton, which I think resulted in not many Moths. But on the positive side, there were three more that were new for the year, including one of my favourites. The local birds were all in fine voice as Siskins flew over and the Swifts were screaming high overhead and not lets forget those noisy Rooks behind our garden! It is looking like another very warm day with temperatures climbing up to around 30 degrees centigrade.

My Moth Box:

My first Marbled Brown of the year.

I think because of the wind and not being by the box earlier this morning, some of the Moths present would have probably flown, but there were still 16 moths of 11 species present and that included three that were new for the year: Puss Moth, Marbled Brown and a Spectacle. The Puss Moth was actually found on the patio along with around 6 Cockchafer Beetles and so I grabbed a Pot and carefully placed it on the patio table.

Above, a Narrow-winged Grey and below, a Green Carpet.

Above and below, the Spectacle moth.

The Marbled Brown, a very smart moth, was perched on the wall by the Moth Box and the Spectacle ( I don't think I saw one last year) was on one of the outside egg trays. A good number of Pale Tussocks yet again and a fine Green Carpet was perched on the BBQ I have the Moth Box sat on! Finally, we have our first ‘micro moths’ of the trip here, with a male Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella) sitting a long way from the Box and a Narrow-winged Grey (Eudonia angustia) perched on the patio window.

Twenty-plume Moth in our lounge.

Later this morning, I found a Twenty-plume Moth just inside the lounge patio window! This was only my second one of the year and a good find. Just goes to show that you must keep looking in case you miss something.

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Puss Moth * x1	Bee Moth x1
Garden Carpet x1	Narrow-winged Grey x1
Marbled Brown * x1	Twenty-plume Moth x1
Pale Tussock x5
Pebble Prominent x2
Orange Footman x1
Green Carpet x1
Spectacle * x1

Incredibly, there were around 10 Green Drake Mayflies present around the Moth Box and on the patio; a species I don't think I have ever encountered before, but beautiful little things nonetheless. Another first was a species of Caddisfly called Welshman’s Button Caddisfly of which there were around three present. They look a bit bland, but much different from the regular Cinnamon Sedge Caddisflies I get in my garden. Another Red-headed Cardinal Beetle was found on the patio this morning, to add to the one I saw yesterday. This place certainly looks good for insects, so I will be keeping my eyes open.

Insects are always attracted to my Moth Box, which included all the above. From top to bottom: Welshman's Button Caddisfly, Green Drake Mayfly and Red-headed Cardinal Beetle.

Our plans for today were to take a drive to Castle Hill Gardens, Filleigh, near Barnstable; where Becky, Jackie and myself (with the dogs) would have lunch before going off to do some shopping in Barnstable. The weather was again very warm, but at Castle Hill Gardens, not only were we under a large umbrella over our outside table, but there was a refreshing cool wind blowing over the whole area.

The Garden:

A view of our garden.

Yet again, the garden produced a good variety of birds and one could not feel totally content just relaxing in a deckchair watching the many Swifts, House Martins and Swallows going about their business overhead. They are so very entertaining, especially being so close overhead; however, the mood of the birds changed when a big female Sparrowhawk sailed low overhead! All day, we have had a young Blackbird squawking to be fed by its parents in the garden, though it looked safe enough even when I got too close, it went running under the bushes!

A view of the Meadow at the back of the neigbouring gardens. I wonder if they have Badgers there?

As well as the Sparrowhawk, my first Red Kite of the trip sailed over the village and circled by a small army of Rooks and Carrion Crows before the Kite flew off east. The Great Spotted Woodpecker showed very well again in nearby trees and this evening, after finishing our BBQ, I watched a Spotted Flycatcher mating in the lone Ash tree. That’s a first! Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were heard singing throughout the day. Yet again, Siskins were seen every so often, especially in the Ash tree where a male bird was heard displaying and singing throughout the day.

Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Chaffinches and even a Linnet used the same tree for a spot of singing and also popular for a host of birds. The Painted Lady butterflies were yet again abundant within our garden and I even found a Holly Blue within the garden.

Castle Hill Gardens, Filleigh:

The Castle Hill Estate.

While having an excellent lunch ‘al fresco’ style, Becky and I saw a Common Lizard run across the driveway close to the cafe area. That was totally unexpected, but the many Painted Lady butterflies seen here wasn't unexpected as there seems to be an invasion of this species into Devon. I wonder if they are numerous in Hampshire now?

A panoramic view overlooking the fields here.

While enjoying our delicious lunch, I watched the many Swallows swooping low over the grass within the fields opposite. A river was running through the field in the distance and that was probably the reason we had a Large Red Damselfly circling our table (well found Jackie). A Common Buzzard drifted over the field and headed off north and both Green Woodpecker and a Goldcrest were heard calling close by. Our dogs behaved themselves nicely, sitting in the shade of the table. I have heard some idiots are walking their dogs in this heat, but mine get their long walk at dawn and dusk.

My first BBQ of the year!

Our dog walk tonight with Jackie sadly did not bring us any Owls to watch, but there was a gorgeous sunset tonight to round off yet another superb day. Tonight's temperature at 10.15pm as I write this up for my blog currently stands at 20 degrees centigrade!

A gorgeous sunset this evening.