Less Moths but a good variety.

Monday 24^th August 2026.

My third Ni Moth of the year.

A cool start to another bright morning here in Southsea and after a superb weekend, I was now wondering what the Moths were going to be like this morning? It was only 14 degrees centigrade at 6am as I went about checking the Moth Box. Once again, there was a nice variety, but nowhere near the numbers I have been getting during the heatwaves. It was going to be getting a bit warmer today and stay dry too, though rain and possibly storms are on their way to the south coast later this week.

My Moth Box:

This gorgeous Oak Hook-tip was on the guttering. 

There were just 41 moths of 20 species recorded this morning though there were a few interesting Moths among them that included yet another Ni Moth, my third of the season. They really do look a bit like Silver Y’s but flatter and greyer. A Vestal was by the light bulb and an Oak Hook-tip perched on our guttering was a surprise.

Always a pleasure to find a Vestal by the Moth Box and below, a Plumed Fan-foot was unexpected.

Other notable moths included an Angle Shades, Plumed Fan-foot, Golden Twin-spot and later this afternoon, I found a Portland Ribbon Wave perched on the white board behind the Box! Among the micro’s, a House Moss-moth (Bryotropha domestica) was notable, and I found a Chevron Grass-moth (Agriphila geniculea) in our kitchen late this afternoon and so carefully released it back in the garden. The following Moths were recorded this morning:

 

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Ni Moth x1	Rusty-dot Pearl x5
Vestal x1	Common Plume x1
Angle Shades x1	Meal Moth x1
Plumed Fan-foot x1	Ruddy Streak x1
Oak Hook-tip x1	Dark Moss-moth x1
Small Dusty Wave x4	Box Tree Moth x3
Vine’s Rustic x3	House Moss-moth x1
L-album Wainscot x4	Chestnut Tortrix x1
Large Yellow Underwing x1	Chevron Grass-moth x1
Bright-line Brown-eye x2
Pale Mottled Willow x7
Golden Twin-spot x1
Portland Ribbon Wave x1

 

This Batman Hoverfly was inside the Moth Box.

Within the Moth Box, the only other insect that was attracted to the light was a Batman Hoverfly (Myathropa florea). While checking the Moth Box, a pair of Yellow Wagtails was heard and then seen flying high south and so Autumn ‘vis-mig’ has begun.

A Portland Ribbon Wave was found late in the afternoon by the Moth Box.

Yesterday, despite driving nearly 200 miles back home, Matt Parkes took his wife Emma over to Hook with Warsash area for a late bit of birding and found a flock of Yellow Wagtails around the Tender Loving Care Horse Paddocks. Meanwhile, birding pal Geoff Farwell paid a visit to Farlington Marshes today and recorded the following sightings: 8 Common Whitethroats, 2 singing Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Cetti’s Warbler, 3 Whinchat, 2 Wheatear, 25 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Sand Martin, 7 Swift, 2 Ruff, Avocet, 2 Greenshank, Raven and a Sparrowhawk.

Above and below, Yellow Wagtails at Hook with Warsash. Photos by Emma Parkes.