Red-barred Tortrix moth saved the morning.

 Thursday 4th June 2026.

The Red-barred Tortrix micro moth was the only new moth for the year this morning.

I never had the Moth Box on Tuesday evening as the weather was very poor with strong winds and heavy rain showers, however, I took a gamble last night, despite the windy and wet conditions, which seem to be the theme this week here in the south. The strong westerly winds show no sign of abating just yet though tomorrow looks more promising. There was plenty of sunshine this morning, but also some heavy showers around.

Above and below, while walking the dogs early this morning, I took these photos from my mobile phone passing Highland Road Cemetery.

The dogs got their early morning walk today and it was back to Pembroke Road this morning for another check on the wildlife there. This morning, on the BBC Southern news, it highlighted the broken Sluice gate down at Farlington Marshes again. Despite supposedly having been mended, it broke yet again and the sea water from Langstone Harbour broke through and now the Lake area is flooded once more. All they mentioned was the many millions to repair the seawall itself and nothing about the Sluice gate. Typically crap journalism!

My Moth Box:

A Light Brown Apple Moth (top) and a Diamondback Moth within one of the egg trays.

There were just 19 moths of 13 species recorded this morning, which was very disappointing for this time of year, but last night's poor weather didn't help either. I was in the garden at 5.30am this morning and I was glad I did as a male House Sparrow was searching for the Moths around my Moth Box and probably snatched a few too! I have had trouble with the Sparrows over the years, but their numbers have decimated here in our back gardens and I was really surprised to see this male bird in my garden.

One of two Heart & Dart moths.

The only new moth for the year was the micro moth Red-barred Tortrix (Ditula angustiorana); an annual species I get in my Moth Box several times a year. Migrant moths included a very worn Turnip Moth and two Diamondback Moths. The Moths present this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Garden Carpet x1	Common Plume x1
White Ermine x3	Red-barred Tortrix * x1
Turnip Moth x1	Diamondback Moth x2
Vine’s Rustic x2
Heart & Dart x2
Shuttle-shaped Dart x1
L-album Wainscot x1
Riband Wave x1
Large Yellow Underwing x1

This Marmalade Hoverfly was sat inside the Box.

Other wildlife attracted to my Moth Box overnight included a Marmalade Hoverfly and a Crane Fly; both of which were in the Box itself. A Greenhouse Slug was making its way up the side of the Moth Box. There are between 40 to 46 species of Slug in the UK and this Greenhouse Slug is one I have never seen before!

A Greenhouse Slug was trying to get inside the Moth Box (no chance!). My first sighting of this species.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

Another blustery morning here in Old Portsmouth with the occasional shower coming in on the back of that strong westerly wind. The pair of Pied Wagtails were on the Bowling Green once again and the best of the 12 bird species seen or heard this morning was the Jay, which flew low over my head and flew off over the rooftops. The Blue Tits were going back and forth to their nest hole in a nearby tree and I could hear the youngsters calling from across the road.