Monday 2nd November 2026.

A much brighter start to the day with wall-to-wall blue sky and as the sun rose, it remained relatively cool throughout the early part of the morning with a northerly wind making it around 8 degrees centigrade tops. The Moth Box was on again overnight, but skant reward for my efforts, though there was one surprise to be had.

It was back to Pembroke Road after the Autumn break, but what with the low sun in the morning sky, a lot of motorists were driving far too fast and three times I had to jump out of the way in case I got run over!!! On the plus side, I still got to see or hear well over double figures of bird species this morning.

This afternoon the weather could not make its mind up! One minute there was bright sunshine and then it clouded over and even drizzled for around ten minutes, followed by bright sunshine again!

 

My Moth Box:

There was just the one Golden Twin-spot this morning.

A real surprise was a Hummingbird Hawk-moth flying around the garden and probably accidentally flushed from my Kitchen back wall after I had closed the back door to the Kitchen. The Moth flew around for a while and then disappeared into one of my neighbours garden.

The only other macro moth present this morning was a Golden Twin-spot that was perched on one of the egg trays inside the Box. My first Tree-mallow Tortrix (Crocidosema plebejana) for the month was also inside the Moth box and the usual Rusty-dot Pearls (Udea ferrugalis) and Light Brown Apple Moths (Epiphyas postvittana) were present.

My first Tree-mallow Tortrix for November.

The following Moths were recorded this morning:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Hummingbird Hawk-moth x1	Rusty-dot Pearl x3
Golden Twin-spot x1	Tree-mallow Tortrix x1
	Light Brown Apple Moth x5

 

The only birds noted flying over the garden while checking the Moth Box was a small flock of 4 Linnets heading east. The House Sparrows were heard again south of my garden.

 

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

A bright start to the day in Pembroke Road, too bright for some idiotic motorists!!

As mentioned, the sun was low in the sky when I started my first shift in Pembroke Road this morning and so it was a bit difficult for motorists to see in front of themselves; but I do wish they would slow down when driving along this very busy road. Back to the birds; the Jays showed well all morning with at least two birds flying up and down the road with Acorns in their bills and probably one of the same birds on my second shift. A couple of Meadow Pipits flew over but it was near impossible to pick them up in the bright blue sky, as was the Pied Wagtail. Again, good to hear the House Sparrows calling somewhere in the hedgerow by the Bowling Green.

This afternoon, two more species were added to the day total with a single Goldfinch flying low east over the road and a Black-headed Gull made an appearance by flying north over the road.

The birds seen or heard this morning included the following:

• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Jay (2+)
• Magpie
• Carrion Crow
• Pied Wagtail (heard)
• Meadow Pipit (2 heard)
• Robin (heard)
• Wren (heard)
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit (heard singing)
• Herring Gull
• House Sparrow (heard)
• Starling

 

In Hampshire today:

The Pacific Golden Plover (centre) among Golden Plovers, Dunlin and Ringed Plover at Keyhaven Marshes recently. Photo by Kathryn Crouch.

Apparently, the Pacific Golden Plover that has been residing over the Isle of Wight paid Keyhaven Marshes a visit yesterday, but there was still no sign of it today much to the annoyance of the handful of ‘Lazee Birders’. However, there was a Ruff on the reserve to enjoy.

Hil Head offered a few nice birds to look at including 18 Eider offshore and 3 Greenshank flying over to the reserve. Two Bearded Tits were on Titchfield haven. A Purple Sandpiper was still at Southsea Castle today.

Little Gulls and Black-headed Gulls off Hayling Island last week. Photo by Lewis Hooper.