A very good day for insects.

 Friday 5th June 2026.

Yet another Bordered Straw in my garden this morning. I have to say that it has been a record year for this species in my garden. I think I have seen three so far and a few in Devon last month.

The weather is much better today with mostly sunshine all day (just the odd shower) and a breezy southerly wind. I managed to have the white sheet behind the Moth Box overnight and though some of it fell on top of the Moth Box (groan!), there were a few Moths upon it. A reasonable selection of Moths were present this morning and I discovered a few more hidden under the white sheet later in the afternoon.

Pembroke Road was sunny and bright, but that southerly breeze kept the temperatures around 18 degrees centigrade this afternoon (a bit cooler this morning on my first shift) and an average number of bird species seen today. I was taken aback by how many Bumblebees were around and a few Hoverflies present too. Even my garden came under scrutiny this afternoon as there were a few Butterflies and Hoverflies present and the combination of both sunshine and the flowers in bloom within my garden, I quite enjoyed myself taking some photos of the insects.

My Moth Box:

My first Garden Pebble of the year.

There were some more nice Moths this morning that included two more species that were new for the year; both micro moths, the Garden Grass-veneer and a Garden Pebble. Both species are regular to my garden and I should be seeing a lot more of these as the year progresses. Migrant moths  this morning included a smart Bordered Straw, 3 Golden Twin-spots and three Diamondback Moths.

Above, my first Garden Grass-veneer of the year and below, one of three Golden Twin-spot moths.

When I got back from my first shift, another check of the Moths produced two Dark Arches tucked up within the white sheet that had fallen and another White Ermine. Late this afternoon, I found a Twenty-plume Moth sat on the back kitchen door; my first for the garden this year.The Moths present this morning were as follows:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Small Dusty Wave x1	Box Tree Moth x1
Willow Beauty x2	Ruddy Streak x2
Riband Wave x2	Diamondback Moth x3
Heart & Dart x5	Garden Grass-veneer * x1
Marbled Minor agg x2	Common Plume x1
Bordered Straw x1	Garden Pebble * x1
Dark Arches x2	Twenty-plume Moth x1
Large Yellow Underwing x1
Golden Twin-spot x3
Brimstone Moth x1
Green Pug x1
Common Pug x1
White Ermine x3

One of two Candy-striped Spiders in the egg trays.

Other insects attracted to my Moth Box included a Lacewing, a Common Froghopper and two Candy-striped Spiders tucked into one of the egg trays.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

I couldnt help but film these Buff-tailed Bumblebees nectaring on this pot of Lavender while I sat in my car at Pembroke Road.

Up to 13 bird species were recorded from both shifts in Pembroke Road and it was a Swift early this morning that claimed top bird species today. The solitary bird was seen flying west over the Bowling Green and out of view. The pair of Pied Wagtails were on the Bowling Green again early in the morning before the groundsman put a stop to that and the Blue Tits were again going back and forth to their nest site. A Wren was singing close to where I stood and even landed close to where I stood before flying off.

Buff-tailed Bumblebees were abundant around the Heather plants, which, like my garden, are in full flower and smell amazing. I even took some film footage of the Bees while sitting in my car before my second shift started.

In Hampshire today:

The Pectoral Sandpiper on Farlington Marshes today. Photo by Jason Crook.

A Pectoral Sandpiper was found late afternoon by Jason Crook on the Stream at Farlington Marshes, but did not linger long as it was flushed by a couple of Marsh Harriers. A Spoonbill was also on the reserve early this morning. A Gannet was seen from Chilling Cliffs and a Lesser Whitethroat was seen there within the clifftop scrub. Little was reported on the Lazee Birder Whatsapp site, though I had to totally agree with Heather on the group chat about these destructive Pine Martins being released in various areas of the UK. As I wrote, bird species population percentages are on a steep decline in a lot of species and yet, some idiots decide to release another predator to the countryside as seen on the Springwatch series last night when one took a clutch of Blackcap young.

Above, a Marmalade Hoverfly in my garden casting a huge shadow! Below, this anxious male House Sparrow was not happy with a nearby Magpie.

Above, an Early Bumblebee sunning itself on our Acer plant and below, I found two Dark Arches moths under the white sheet.

Above, one of several Batman Hoverflies were in the back of the garden and below, the male House Sparrow was giving off his alarm call.

Above, the first flowering Buddleia in my garden this year. Hopefully, the butterflies and moths will be nectaring on these plants.

In my garden this afternoon, a very unwelcome Magpie was sniffing around near a House Sparrows nest and the male bird was giving off its alarm call nearby and trying to entice the Magpie away. From what I could tell, the House Sparrow was successful as I think the Magpie flew off eventually. The late afternoon sunshine brought out a number of 'winged insects' including Batman Hoverflies and a smart looking Early Bumblebee. Holly Blue butterflies flew around the plants at the back of the garden, but would not settle long enough for a photo. I am going to give the back of the garden a bit of a tidy up as the Wisteria is a little bit out of control and not flowering anymore, but on a positive note, my Buddleia is growing very nicely and even now in flower.