Highest Moth total in my garden for the year.

 Thursday 21st May 2026.

My 3rd Poplar Hawk-moth this year and the first for the garden.

An overcast start to the day though it was very mild and virtually no wind whatsoever. The temperatures actually got up to 17 degrees centigrade mid morning as I had to take my wife's car up to Waterlooville for an MOT! Once again, the Moth Box was on again overnight and I was rewarded with the highest number of Moths for the year so far! What with this heatwave on its way, who knows how many Moths will now turn up to my Moth Box. This Saturday's trip to Devon should be very good for Moths.

My Moth Box:

One of two Yellow-barred Brindle moths.

An excellent total of 49 moths of 17 species were recorded this morning and noticing it was overcast first thing this morning, I assumed the cloud cover came in overnight on a southerly wind as predicted. My 3rd Poplar Hawk-moth sighting for the year was in my garden, perched on the outside egg tray. This was the first one for the garden this year and hopefully not the last. Other notable moths included 2 Yellow-barred Brindle’s, 3 Freyer’s Pug, Angle Shades and also a whopping 14 Cypress Tip Moths! There must have been an explosion of the latter species as when I was walking the dog, I was sure I flushed several as I was walking down my road?

Above, three of the 14 Cypress Tip Moths recorded this morning and could have been many more around the garden. Below, an Angle Shades moth.

The Moths recorded this morning were as follows:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Poplar Hawk-moth x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x8
Freyer’s Pug x3	Ruddy Streak x3
Double-striped Pug x1	Rusty-dot Pearl x1
Buff Ermine x1	Cypress Tip Moth x14
Vine’s Rustic x4	Garden Mompha x2
Shuttle-shaped Dart x4
Bright-line Brown-eye x1
Marbled Minor x1
Pale Mottled Willow x1
Garden Carpet x1
Yellow-barred Brindle x2
Angle Shades x1

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

The very tall Echium plants growing in Pembroke Close near where I stood.

A good total of 14 bird species were recorded from my first shift here in Pembroke Road this morning with a male Sparrowhawk being the pick of the bunch. I saw the bird drifting off westbound towards Gosport, high over Governors Green before flying off distantly. This was my first raptor I have seen here all month! I shall be keeping an eye out this afternoon for passing raptors as fellow ‘Lazee Birder’, Andy Friend photographed as Honey Buzzard (see photo) over on the Isle of Wight!

The Wren was busy flying to and from its nest opposite where I stood, despite being interrupted by someone painting the window frames! Up to three Pied Wagtails were on the Bowling Green this morning, busy chasing insects and the House Sparrows were ‘chirruping’ heartely within the neighbouring hedgerow. Both the Holm Oaks and Sycamore trees are now in flower and no doubt will be encouraging the insects to pollinate them. There were a lot of Bumblebee’s around this morning, due to the very mild temperatures no doubt; with mostly Buff-tailed Bumblebees going about their business.

In Hampshire today:

Though not in Hampshire, this Honey Buzzard with a Carrion Crow was photographed over the Isle of Wight this morning; though the bird could make its way north to Hampshire today? Photo by Andy Friend.

From Sandy Point, Hayling Island, there was a report of an Arctic Skua sitting on the sea offshore and four Kittiwakes (2 adults and 2 juvs) heading east over the Solent. Up to three Spotted Flycatchers were seen around the Fort Widley area.

Locally, the Swifts were busy either flying low over the rooftops by my house in Southsea and the birds that are probably incubating eggs within the nestboxes were screeching frequently to attract their mates.