More fog, but some good Moths.

Tuesday 6^th October 2026.

A very foggy start as I walked the dogs past Highland Road Cemetery.

Another very foggy start to the day of which I could not see some of the houses in the distance; it was that foggy! However, it was cool with temperatures around 12 degrees with next to no wind. I had the Moth Box on overnight, hoping to trap something different this morning, but although there was a good number present, it was Moths that I had seen before.

A Chiffchaff was heard in the big tree to the north of my garden and then, probably the same bird was seen a little later in a Sycamore tree to the south of my garden. Overhead, the thick fog concealed a calling Linnet flying over, but little else while I was checking the Moth Box.

My Moth Box:

This Portland Ribbon Wave was most welcome this morning.

A total of 45 moths of 11 species this morning, nearly half of which were Light Brown Apple Moths of various shapes and colours. The highest number of Lunar Underwings for the year were present this morning with 6 individuals in various colours and another good moth, the Portland Ribbon Wave, was sat on the white board behind my Moth Box.

Above, Olive-tree Pearl and below, Plumed Fan-foot.

Up to 3 Clancy’s Rustics, including a very worn individual, were recorded and both Plumed Fan-foot and Blair’s Mocha really made up the more uncommon Moths. I’m still waiting for my first Black Rustic of the year, which surely will not be long now.

Above, one of 6 Lunar Underwings today and below, this very worn Clancy's Rustic had me scratching my head at first, but you can just see the dark spots on the wings.

The following Moths were recorded this morning:

 

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Plumed Fan-foot x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x25
Clancy’s Rustic x3	Tree-mallow Tortrix x1
Portland Ribbon Wave x1	Rusty-dot Pearl x2
Blair’s Mocha x1	Olive-tree Pearl x2
L-album Wainscot x1
Lunar Underwing x6
Large Yellow Underwing x2

 

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

A foggy start for my first shift of the day in Old Portsmouth.

Thick fog enveloped Governor’s Green on my arrival but as I was just leaving Pembroke Road after my first shift, the fog had lifted, but watching the big ships coming out of Portsmouth Harbour and then letting off their fog-horns was something to both see and hear. The 60+ Wood Pigeons didn’t take too kindly to the fog-horns as they scattered in panic after feeding on grass shoots on Governor’s Green!

This morning on my first shift, a total of 13 species were recorded here in Pembroke Road, which was pretty good due to the thick fog. The Jay put in a brief appearance by flying west along the road and landing in the Sycamore trees. Up to three Pied Wagtails were noted, with one on the Bowling Green and two flying north high over the road. A Chiffchaff called several times somewhere in the Holm Oaks, but no sign of the Firecrest this morning. Both Robin and Wren were occasionally in song with both birds seen well on the opposite side of the road by the house.

The weather did improve as it neared 9am, though it was still fairly cool and it has been reported that it will warm up considerably this afternoon.

The birds recorded this morning included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Carrion Crow
• Jay
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Pied Wagtail
• Blackbird
• Dunnock
• Wren
• Robin
• Chiffchaff