A variety of insects today.

 

Wednesday 22^nd July 2026.

My second Satin Moth of the year.

Another cool start to the day, but by the time it got to midday, the temperatures climbed into the high 70’s again. The Portsmouth schools break up today for the Summer holiday and at Pembroke Road, St. Judes finished at 1.15pm this afternoon and so I had an early, but very warm, second shift to still complete.

The Moth Box was on again in my garden, and moth numbers were slightly lower than yesterday, though there was still a good variety. Interesting news came through on BBC South News this morning: a Puffling, or Puffin chick, was seen and photographed at Dancing Ledge in Durlston Nature Reserve this week, which is excellent news.

 

My Moth Box:

Another Golden Twin-spot by the Moth Box this morning.

Sadly, there were no new moths for the year in my garden this morning, though several nice ones were still present. My second Satin Wave of the year was perched on the white board behind the Moth Box, and my second Cream-bordered Green Pea was inside the box.

Above, a Blair's Mocha and below, a Lychnis moth.

Above, my second Cream-bordered Green Pea moth of the year and below, I found this Canary-shouldered Thorn in the back bedroom of my house.

Other notable moths included a Turnip Moth, Blair’s Mocha, Lychnis, Golden Twin-spot and a Canary-shouldered Thorn perched on the blinds in my back bedroom! Among the micro moths, another Comfrey Ermine was notable and up to two Tree Mallow Tortrix were on top of the rain guard. The following Moths were present this morning:

 

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Satin Wave x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x10
Turnip Moth x1	Tree Mallow Tortrix x2
Bright-line Brown-eye x1	Chestnut Tortrix x3
Common Rustic x2	Broom Shoot Moth x1
Lime-speck Pug x3	Ruddy Streak x1
Cream-bordered Green Pea x1	Rusty-dot Pearl x6
Blair’s Mocha x1	Mint Moth x1
Lychnis x1	Box Tree Moth x2
Lesser Yellow Underwing x1	Bird-cherry Ermine x1
Common Emerald x1	Comfrey Ermine x1
Golden Twin-spot x1	Grey Knot-horn x2
Canary-shouldered Thorn x1	Common Plume x4
	Common Masoner x1

 

 

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

This Speckled Wood butterfly was in my garden this afternoon along with a few Holly Blue's and a Small White.

My first shift in Pembroke Road produced eleven species this morning, most of which were heard rather than seen. House Sparrows and a Wren were heard around the Bowling Green, while a Blackbird was briefly seen flying in the same area. The yellow grass on Governor’s Green attracted several Black-headed Gulls, which appeared to be ‘anting’, but not a single Great Black-backed Gull was seen today.

The only Carnation Tortrix moth seen today.

There was more activity going on with the insects rather than the birds, with numerous Buff-tailed Bumblebee’s nectaring on the Hibiscus flowers and both Small White and Red Admiral butterflies showed very well in the front gardens. Yet another Jersey Tiger moth fluttered past at speed and then flew into Pembroke Close though lost to view. There was just the one Carnation Tortrix moth was seen; perched on the road sign.

A heavily pollinated Buff-tailed Bumblebee!

Belated news from yesterday; a Willowchiff was heard calling briefly somewhere along the footpath between Governor’s Green and the Bowling Green. A young bird or a returning migrant?