A few Moths this morning and a trip over the Cemy.

Sunday 18^th October 2026.

Dawn over Highland Road Cemetery this morning.

Very similar to yesterday, a very cold start to the day with a cloudless blue sky overhead as I got myself ready to check the Moth Box after having walked the dogs along their usual route past Highland Road Cemetery. The temperature was around 8 degrees centigrade, but we didn’t have that breezy northerly wind from yesterday. Despite the cold conditions, there were a few Moths to go through and a reasonable selection this morning.

After feeding the dogs, they got another walk this morning over Highland Road Cemetery where there were a good number of birds seen here this morning along with several insect species too. Not too many dog-walkers present and nice to meet Sally (finally got to know her name!) who was walking her small dog. Sadly, there are a few people who break the law here and do not have their dogs on a lead and there has been a few dogs reported attacking other dogs due to being off their lead.

My Moth Box:

Some of the Moths present this morning.

A better total here this morning than yesterday with 23 moths of 13 species recorded this morning. Again, no new moth species for the year list, but my second Black Rustic for the year was on one of the egg trays within the Moth Box. Another good total of 8 Feathered Ranunculus was recorded and two Golden Twin-spots were notable.

Above, my second Black Rustic of the year and below, a Tree-mallow Tortrix moth.

Silver Y, Turnip Moth and White-point rounded off a good selection of macro moths. Among the micro’s, a White-shouldered House Moth was my first of the month and up to three Rusty-dot Pearls were in and outside the Moth Box this morning.

Above, two of the 8 Feathered Ranunculus moths this morning and below, a lone White-point.

Above, this was one of two Marmalade Hoverflies on the Box.

Other notable insects attracted to the Moth Box were two Marmalade Hoverflies that were sat on the rain guard.

 

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Feathered Ranunculus x8	Common Plume x1
Golden Twin-spot x2	Tree-mallow Tortrix x1
Silver Y x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x1
L-album Wainscot x1	White-shouldered House Moth x1
Double-striped Pug x1	Rusty-dot Pearl x3
White-point x1
Black Rustic x1
Turnip Moth x1

 

I heard a Redwing as I walked out into the garden first thing this morning and actually saw the bird perched in the tall tree at the back of my garden before it flew off north. A flock of 6 Goldfinches went over and headed off eastbound, and a Meadow Pipit could be heard flying over.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

This gorgeous Jay with its Acorn to be buried.

A total of 18 bird species were recorded this morning here in Highland Road Cemetery and probably the most notable sighting was of the hundreds of Wood Pigeons flying high overhead, all heading westbound. This is an annual event for this time of year and most likely involves Continental birds on the move. There were quite a few within the Cemetery too, but sadly, I could not find one Collared Dove. This species has been proved that it is on the decline, and I wonder if it is Bird Flu that is the cause? I used to get double figure counts of this species here in the past!

Above, a Wood Pigeon sitting it out while hundreds were flying overhead. Below, a view of the footpath looking south.

Wave after wave of Wood Pigeons went over.

A pair of Jays showed well briefly in the northern end of the Cemy, one with an Acorn in its bill (see photo). Redwings are coming in thick and fast in and over Southsea currently and at least two birds, along with a Song Thrush flew out of a small tree and landed in a nearby bush. A Chiffchaff, possibly two birds, were heard only somewhere in the bushes and overhead, there were both Skylark and Meadow Pipit going over, but proved difficult to see in the bright blue sky!

More Wood Pigeons up in the trees and below, there were few plants still in flower, but Yarrow was abundant still.

Above, all the Holly bushes and trees were full of berries and below, the Honey Fungus was still present where the old Beech Tree once stood.

Regarding the insects, the Ivy plants here are now flowering and attracting good numbers of Common Wasps and Drone Flies and I also found up to two Red Admiral butterflies nectaring on the sweet musky scented flowers.

Above, the Jay showing off its crest and below, one of many Drone Flies enjoying the flowering Ivy.

Above, a Red Admiral also enjoying the Ivy and below, you can just make out one of the Redwings in the bush.

The birds recorded here this morning included the following:

• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Jay (2)
• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Redwing (2)
• Song Thrush
• Great Tit
• Blue Tit
• Skylark
• Meadow Pipit
• Chiffchaff
• Robin
• Wren
• Starling
• Pied Wagtail

In Hampshire today:

This morning, early reports coming in included a Quail that was accidentally flushed at Gunner Point, Hayling Island, by fellow ‘Lazee Birder’ Lewis Hooper who also said that there were daily reports of Woodlark flying over here. There was no sign of yesterday’s Ring Ouzel at Portsdown Hill this morning, but another fellow ‘Lazee’ Pete Gammage had 220 Redwing over along with 6 Fieldfare and a Mistle Thrush; all heading north.

Both the Little Gull and Ruddy Duck were still on Ibsley Water, Blashford Lakes this morning. It looks as though Fieldfare were on the move with sightings at Hill Head, Fareham and Woolmer Pond. The latter site also held a Great White Egret, Lesser Redpoll, Brambling and up to 7 Woodlark.  

17 years ago to the day I, 'twitched' this Brown Shrike at Staines Moor, Surrey.