It was very busy with the Moths this morning with my largest number of moths for the year in my garden and then off to Andy Fisher’s Moth Box to check out the moths in his garden. Sadly, Andy never came with us today for he had some jobs to do in his house, but he kindly asked Geoff and I over for coffee and also had his Moth Box on overnight. Our quest today was to meet up with both Emma & Matt Parkes and also fellow birder (and ‘moth-er’) James Cutting and his partner Jo at Alice Holt Forest on the Hampshire / Surrey border. It was predicted to be the hottest day of the year (32 degrees centigrade), though there were possible isolated thunderstorms also predicted and it was stifling hot at times within the wood, though there was plenty of shade.
The Moth Boxes:
My first Scalloped Oakmoth of the year.
I smashed my highest total for the year with a whopping 121 moths of 41 species this morning and although there were no ‘Lifers’ within or around the Moth Box, there were 7 moths that were new for the year. This included the macros Scalloped Oak, Oak Nyctaline, my second ever Haworth’s Pug and only my second ever Beautiful Hook-tip in my garden. New micro moths for the year included Spindle Knot-horn, Netted Tortrix and a very unexpected Olive-tree Pearl (one of my favourite moths). There was a huge influx of Bird-cherry Ermine moths with up to 15 recorded, but I bet there were many more around the garden among the plants. A Middle-barred Minor present on the fence near the Moth Box was my first for the garden this year and my second after the one I saw in Devon earlier this year.
Above, a Haworth's Pug and below, a Beautiful Hook-tip.
Above, an Oak Nyctaline and below, a Netted Tortrix.
The moths present this morning included the following:
Macro moths:
Snout x1
Scalloped Oak x1 *
Oak Nyctaline x1 *
Bright-line Brown-eye x3
Heart & Dart x5
Dark Arches x2
Pale Mottled Willow x2
Lackey x2
Lime-speck Pug x2
Double-striped Pug x4
Haworth’s Pug x1 *
Common Pug x1
Riband Wave x16
Angle Shades x1
Common Emerald x4
White Ermine x1
L-album Wainscot x5
Vine’s Rustic x1
Willow Beauty x11
Middle-barred Minor x1
Beautiful Hook-tip x1 *
Marbled Minor x1
Micro moths:
Hedge Hook-wing x1
Garden Grey x2
Blushed Knot-horn x5
Gold Triangle x3
Garden Mompha x1
Ruddy Streak x3
Bee Moth x4
Brown House Moth x1
Spindle Knot-horn x1 *
Large Pale Masoner x1
Bird-cherry Ermine x15
Box Tree Moth x2
Netted Tortrix x1 *
Rusty-dot Pearl x2
Light Brown Apple Moth x2
Common Plume x6
Coleophora sp. X1
Bud Moth x1
Olive-tree Pearl x1 *
Andy’s Moth Box:
Crescent Plume.
There was a good total of moths within Andy’s garden this morning with up to 53 moths of 28 species recorded. Another three more species were added to my year list with a Dwarf Cream Wave, Swallow-tail Moth and the micro moth Crescent Plume. The latter was only my second ever after I found several on Old Winchester Hill last year. Pale Tussock, Knot-grass and my second Beautiful Hook-tip of the day were notable.
Above, a Dwarf Cream Wave and below, one of two Swallow-tail Moths.
As mentioned before, Andy’s newly created garden Pond is most certainly a big hit with the Dragonflies as we saw a male Broad-bodied Chaser perched up on a post close to the Pond and nearby, both Large Red and Blue-tailed Damselflies were in good numbers too.
Macro moths:
Pale Tussock x1
Knot-grass x1
Willow Beauty x2
Buff Ermine x1
Double-striped Pug x3
Dwarf Cream Wave x1 *
Heart & Dart x3
Riband Wave x3
Riband Wave x7
Oak Nyctaline x1
Swallow-tail Moth x2 *
Beautiful Hook-tip x1
White-point x1
Cypress Carpet x2
Common Emerald x1
Treble Brown Spot x2
Treble-lines x1
Large Yellow Underwing x1
Micro moths:
Bird-cherry Ermine x1
Garden Grass-veneer x7
Codling Moth x1
Diamond-back Moth x2
Bud Moth x1
Double-striped Tabby x1
Garden Grey x4
White-banded Grass Moth x1
Crescent Plume x1 *
Common Plume x3
Brown House Moth x1
Alice Holt Forest, Hampshire / Surrey border:
The beautiful Silver-washed Fritillary.
We made our way here last year and successfully saw some superb butterflies so the arrangement was made by Emma Parkes to all meet up in the Car Park at Alice Holt for another try for the Purple Emperor and other butterflies here at this fantastic site. Yes, the heat here was rather stifling at times, but with the comfort of the shade on the edges of the footpath, it was bearable…..just! Not only the butterflies entertained us, but there were a variety of birds (including a real unexpected surprise), moths and a variety of insects to be seen.
Above, a Brown-lipped Snail and below, a Silver-washed Fritillary.
Above, my first Purple Hairstreak butterfly of the year. Below, a Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly.
Kicking off with the birds, the biggest surprise here was a couple of juvenile Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers! We first heard one calling nearby and then I saw one of the birds fly overhead and land in the canopy of an Oak tree close by. I managed to get a good look at the bird and confirmed it was a juvenile. James was sure he saw a second bird fly off north, while the other bird flew off in front of us and landed somewhere in the woods. We heard it call again a little later, but that was the last time we encountered the bird.
Above, one of many Meadow Brown butterflies and below, another Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly.
Above, a pair of mating Silver-washed Fritillarys and below, a Comma butterfly.
Other birds present included several singing Firecrests and Goldcrests; a singing male Blackcap was deep within cover and a family flock of Nuthatches with Coal Tits showed well by the footpath. There was also a family flock of Treecreepers in the woods and a Marsh Tit showed briefly while we were checking the butterflies.
Above, one of several Large Skipper butterflies and below, a Green-veined White feeding on Bramble flowers.
Above, one of several Ringlet butteflies. Below, the Variegated Golden Tortrix moth.
There was a nice variety of Moths present along the footpath and almost immediately, Emma found a Scarlet Tigermoth flying by the edge of the footpath, but it flew down deep into the vegetation. Sadly, no photos could be taken, but this was my first of the species I have seen in many a year. Matt found an interesting micro moth sitting on a leaf and using his Obsidentify App, it turned out to be my first Variegated Golden Tortrix moth of the year. Shortly afterwards, I found a White-pinion Spotted moth perched close to the footpath; my third ‘year-tick’ of the morning here!
Above, Geoff found this instar Dark Bush-cricket along the footpath and below, I found this White-pinion Spotted moth nearby.
Above, the Purple Emperor butterfly shows very well.
Not just the moths were found, but Dragonflies were on the wing along the footpaths. An Emperor Dragonfly was seen a couple of times and my first Brown Hawker and Golden-ringed Dragonfly of the year were also seen. Beautiful Demoiselle damselflies were abundant along the footpaths and showed very well at times. Spotted Longhorn beetles were abundant along the footpaths too, most feeding on the Bramble flowers and a few Hornets were on the wing too. Geoff found a couple of ‘instar’ Grasshoppers: Dark Bush-cricket and a Speckled Bush-cricket.
Above, the Purple Emperor and below, James getting a closer look of the butterfly.
Above, one of many Spotted Longhorn Beetles seen today and below, another photo of one of the Silver-washed Fritillarys.
On the subject of butterflies, we managed to see up to 13 species of butterfly on our way to Alice Holt this morning. Pride of place was the Purple Emperor butterflies which showed superbly along the footpaths. Up to four were seen in one spell and many posed nicely sitting either on the footpath or nearby trees. Other superb species included the one Purple Hairstreak and good numbers of both White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary.
Butterflies seen here in Alice Holt included the following:
Silver-washed Fritillary *
White Admiral *
Meadow Brown
Purple Hairstreak *
Red Admiral
Small White
Large White
Marbled White
Green-veined White
Comma
Ringlet *
Holly Blue
Large Skipper
Above, a Purple Emperor butterfly on the footpath.
Above, Matt, James, Emma, Geoff and Jo enjoy the Purple Emperor butterfly on the footpath. Below, Matt and Geoff discuss the possibility of finding Woodcock feathers.
We spent a good two and a half hours there in the woods and once we got back to the Car Park, we had lunch. A Common Buzzard flew over the Car Park and another Silver-washed Fritillary flew over the area, As Matt & Emma drove off, Geoff and I made our way back to Andy’s house and chilled out with a coffee, enjoying checking out his Pond and its inhabitants for the next 40 minutes or so. There were sightings of both the Large Red and Blue-tailed Damselflies as the sun started to break from the clouds, but no further sign of the Broad-bodied Chasers. We also had a sighting of a Froglet swimming across the Pond and plenty of Semaphore Flies on the water.
Above, one of the Large Red Damselflies in Andy's garden today and below, film footage of a pair of mating Silver-washed Fritillaries in Alice Holt Forest.
We found something good....possibly a copy of Swish?
Another balmy night produced the largest haul of moths for the year as I was up early again,checking the Moth Box and the surrounding area. There was a bit of a breeze this morning blowing over the garden, which I have to say was actually pleasant, though I was in company with an adult Herring Gull perched on top of our kitchen roof, watching my every move. I think it was after the dried Mealworms I had put out earlier for the House Sparrows!
At dusk, it was nice to sit out in the garden for a while over a nice ice cold beer and watch the Pipistrelle Bats hunt over the gardens. Up to three were seen and flew quite close to me a number of times. Three Med Gulls flew south heading towards the beach, calling as they passed and the Swifts had gathered up into small flocks overhead, screaming low over the rooftops. A lovely evening.
The Moth Box:
My first Snout moth of the year.
I finally broke the 100 species of moth barrier this morning with a grand total of 103 moths of 34 species. This included my first ever Miller moth; a species on my ‘most wanted’ list. I have seen a lot of other Hampshire ‘moth-ers’ having caught this species and so the long wait is finally over! Huzzah! The only other species new for the year was a Snout moth that sat on the brick keeping my rainguard down. Having seen 7 micro ‘year-ticks’ yesterday, not one was new for the year this morning! My first Elephant Hawk-moth in my garden this year was present (I had a few earlier this year in Devon), but it didn’t play ball and quickly flew out of the Moth Box. Easily, the most numerous species was the Riband Wave’s again with exactly the same number as yesterday, 15. Up to 9 Willow Beauties, 10 Common Plume’s and 8 Box Tree Moths were notable.
Drinker moth. Photo by 'Northern John'.
Birding pal, ‘Northern John’ had a Drinker moth on his back door this morning; a species I have only encountered just once at that was several years ago in Norfolk.
I was joined by this adult Herring Gull this morning while checking the Moth Box!
The moths present this morning included the following:
Macro moths:
Willow Beauty x9
Marbled Minor x2
Small Dusty Wave x1
White Ermine x2
Garden Carpet x4
Riband Wave x15
Straw Dot x1
MILLER x1
Double-striped Pug x5
Lime-speck Pug x1
Heart & Dart x1
L-album Wainscot x2
Snout x1 *
Common Emerald x4
Dark Arches x3
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x1
Bright-line Brown-eye x3
Elephant Hawk-moth x1
Micro moths:
Ruddy Streak x1
Common Plume x10
Large Pale Masoner x4
Box Tree Moth x8
Garden Grass-veneer x3
Privet Tortrix x1
Brown House Moth x1
Meal Moth x1
Blushed Knot-horn x5
Light Brown Apple Moth x3
Bird-cherry Ermine x3
Brown Bark Moth x2
Bee Moth x1
Rusty-dot Pearl x1
White-shouldered House Moth x1
Gold Triangle x1
Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:
Thirteen bird species were noted on my first shift in Pembroke Road this morning that included up to four species of Gull: Herring, Great Black-backed, Black-headed and a Med Gull; the latter two species were on Governor’s Green where there were 7 Black-headed Gulls and a lone Med Gull searching for food on the recently cut grass. Just three Pied Wagtails were on the Bowling Green this morning and just a pair of Swifts were seen overhead.
A few butterflies were on the wing this morning that included a Red Admiral flying around and a Large White in Pembroke Close. There were a few moths flying around too, but none would settle near me. Hurrumph!
Small Magpie moth. Always a striking moth to see and annual to my Moth Box.
With the evening temperatures rising, it is safe to say that the moths are coming in thick and fast and that includes all those that are new for the year plus a few ‘Lifers’ as well. Already, I have had 16 micro moth ‘Lifers’ this year, which is incredible seeing how long I have been studying moths over the many years and we are only half way through the year! Yesterday, I put a photo of the micro moth Dark Spruce Knot-horn on Hants Moths and a reply of Assara terebrella was put up in the comments section. I would like to point out that this blog appeals not to just the experts, but also the novices out there who are just starting into moths and also those who have a mild fascination and so I do like to put the vernacular name of the moth rather than the Latin name. I take the vernacular name from Norfolk Moths website, which I find easier. My old mentor, the late John Langmaid, said to me that he hated vernacular names. Sorry John.
The Moth Box:
My first ever HEATH KNOT-HORNmoth.
I think this was the highest total of moths recorded so far this year with 93 moths of 38 species, with more micro moth species than macro moths! Easily the most numerous were the Riband Waves with 15 counted and up to 9 species were added to my year list. The rarest for me was another micro moth ‘Lifer’, a HEATHER KNOT-HORN (Pempelia palumbella). What on earth it is doing in my garden is a mystery for it frequents heather like the New Forest for example. Two macro moths that were new for the year was the ever so long name of Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing and the small Short-cloaked Moth; both annual species to my Moth Trap.
My first Short-cloaked Moth of the year.
It was micro moths that I had the most ‘year-ticks’ that included a Gold Triangle, Common Clothes Moth, Case-bearing Clothes Moth, Meal Moth, Brown Bark Moth and finally, a Small Magpie Moth; which were all annual to my Moth Box. So yes, a cracking morning with the moths and I am now getting used to getting up at 4.30am. Good grief!!
My first Meal Moth of the year.
The first thing I did when I walked into my back garden was to put out dried Mealworms for the House Sparrows and it certainly paid off. However, though I flushed a Wood Pigeon from eating them, an adult Herring Gull literally perched itself on the fence about 4 feet from where it stood! So I flushed it away! Overhead, the Swiftswere in good numbers with around a dozen flying low over the rooftops. I believe their young are starting to get quite vocal in the nest boxes and it will not be long now before they start peeking their heads out of the nestbox. While checking the Moth Box, I saw an Emperor Dragonfly fly over the garden, but it flew off so fast and was gone before I could really get a good look at it as it headed off south.
Birding pal, Matt Parkes, found a Blood-vein moth at his place of work today; a species I have yet to see this year.
A Blood-vein moth. Photo by Matt Parkes.
The moths present this morning included the following total:
Macro moths:
Marbled Minor x2
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x1 *
Large Yellow Underwing x1
Common Rustic x1
Heart & Dart x2
Riband Wave x15
Lackey x1
Willow Beauty x7
Double-striped Pug x3
Common Pug x2
Common Emerald x4
Short-cloaked Moth x1 *
Uncertain x1
Bright-line Brown-eye x5
Pale Mottled Willow x1
L-album Wainscot x2
Dark Arches x1
White Ermine 2
Micro moths:
Bee Moth x2
Apple Leaf Miner x1
HEATHER KNOT-HORN x1
Bird-cherry Ermine x1
Gold Triangle x1 *
Brown House Moth x1
Bud Moth x1
Blushed Knot-horn x8
Ruddy Streak x4
Common Clothes Moth x1 *
Case-bearing Clothes Moth x1 *
Diamond-back Moth x1
Common Plume x6
Garden Grass-veneer x1
Meal Moth x1 *
Privet Tortrix x1
Brown Bark Moth x1 *
Large Pale Masoner x1
Small Magpie Moth x1 *
Barred Marble x1
Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:
I parked out of the sun this afternoon underneath the Holm Oak trees in Pembroke Road.
I managed to see or hear up to 14 species on my first shift here in Pembroke Road this morning with probably the Great Spotted Woodpecker being the best sighting this morning. I heard it first somewhere perched in the Holm Oaks and then it flew right over my head heading north over the rooftops. Another good sighting was a Goldcrest flying out of theSycamore treesand also headed northbound. I have not seen a Goldcrest here since the winter and probably just a brief visitor here. Also within the two Sycamore trees were the brood of Blue Tits that were busy searching for food within the leaves and on the Bowling Green, up to 6 Pied Wagtails were seen.
A very brief film footage of the Hummingbird Hawk-moth this afternoon.
This afternoon, it was most certainly very warm and there were plenty of insects flying about including my first Hummingbird Hawk-moth of the year. The moth took a liking to the nearby Lavender plants and although I managed a very brief film footage of the moth, it didn't hang around long and quickly flew around the corner and out of sight. Also present was a Large White butterfly that flew over the road and settled on some vegetation on the opposite side of the road. I did see a very small light brown butterfly also nectaring on the Lavender but the Hawk-moth flushed it and was gone when I tried to relocate it.
In Hampshire, the Osprey was seen over by Fawley perched on a post and the summering Long-tailed Duck was still on Normandy Marshes.
As promised, it was another very warm day with temperatures getting into the 70’s and hardly a cloud in the sky. Another good moth haul this morning and more moths to add to my year list. Pembroke Road, in Old Portsmouth, was busy as usual around my first and second shift there and I suppose the most unusual sighting was of a Great Spotted Woodpecker perching on the weather vane of the Royal Garrison Church!
The Moth Box:
My first ever Dark Spruce Knot-horn.
A total of 73 moths of 36 species were recorded this morning and not only did I get two ‘Lifer’ micro moths: BANDED HONEYSUCKLE LEAF MINER (Phyllonorycter trifasciella) and a DARK SPRUCE KNOT-HORN (Assara terebrella), but also my first Eyed Hawk-moth for the year. Other moths new for the year included a Box Tree Moth, Hawthorn Moth, Hedge Hook-wing and a Rufous Pearl. It looks as though another night for the Moth Box coming up tonight and probably the rest of the week, though I do not like getting up before 5am every morning!
Above, a Hedge Hook-wing and below, the infamous Box Tree Moth.
Two more moths new for the year included above, a Hawthorn Moth and below, a Rufous Pearl.
The Moth Box also attracted a couple of Summer Chafer beetles too, of which I quickly released.
The moths present this morning included the following total:
Macro moths:
Cabbage Moth x1
Eyed Hawk-moth x1
Dark Arches x6
Common Pug x1
Green Pug x1
Heart & Dart x1
White Ermine x4
Buff Ermine x1
Uncertain x1
Garden Carpet x1
Marbled Minor x2
Willow Beauty x7
Riband Wave x3
Brimstone Moth x1
Lackey x2
Angle Shades x1
Micro moths:
Brown House Moth x2
Ruddy Streak x3
Box Tree Moth x1
Barred Marble x1
Bronze Alder Moth x1
BANDED HONEYSUCKLE LEAF MINER x1
White-shouldered House Moth x1
Blushed Knot-horn x4
Narrow-winged Grey x1
Hawthorn Moth x1
Hedge Hook-wing x1
DARK SPRUCE KNOT-HORN x1
Green Oak Tortrix x1
Rufous Pearl x1
Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:
One of the pathways that leads from Pembroke Road to Curtain Moat. Note the wild flowers growing along the fringes, which attracts a lot of insects, which in turn attracts the birds.
I managed to notch up 16 species today in Old Portsmouth over the two shifts there and as mentioned, the surprise sighting was of the Great Spotted Woodpecker on the Church Weather vane! Up to 5 Pied Wagtails were on the Bowling Green again and another pair on Governor’s Green. The fledgling Blue Tits were making a lot of noise within the Holm Oaks, though hopefully not attracting too much attention to the local Jays! All the usual Gulls were seen today, though no Mediterranean Gulls which was disappointing.
The insect life was a little sparse with just one Harlequin Ladybird seen on the ‘Lime and Lemon’ Bushes and a Parasitic Wasp species was making sorties over the plants this morning and the afternoon.
Earlier this morning, when I walked the dogs, I took some photos of the fledgling Herring Gulls on the roof of a house within our street here in Southsea. This will become a common sight from now on over the coming months and the continuous noise of their begging calls too.
I photographed this family of Herring Gulls down my road whilst walking the dogs early this morning.
In Hampshire today, a couple of Common Sandpipers were seen early morning on Farlington Marshes and the Tree Pipits were again seen on Martin Down and most likely the two we saw last Saturday. An Osprey was seen over Fawley early this afternoon and chased by a couple of Oystercatchers! Over in West Sussex, another 'Yank' wader was on the Stilt Pool, a Lesser Yellowlegs at Medmerry RSPB Reserve following the well-watched Least Sandpiper earlier this year and fellow birder Andy Scarborough kindly allowed me to put his film footage of the bird on my blog.
The Lesser Yellowlegs on the Stilt Pool. Film footage by Andy Scarborough.
My first Dun-bar moth for the year. This is an annual species for my garden of which I get about a handful most years.
After yesterday's excellent moths that were in and around my Moth Box, I just had to put the Box on last night, especially due to the fact that it is going to be a very warm week and should bring in some possible migrant moths. This morning, I was blessed with another reasonable number of moths and with a trip to Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth this morning. It looks like yet another very warm day coming up with a very light west south-westerly wind blowing this morning, though it is supposed to get into the high 70’s this afternoon.
The Moth Box:
My second Gold Twin-spot moth for the month and year. This is a very scarce immigrant moth for the UK, but it seems they seem to like my garden.
Up to 64 Moths of 29 species were recorded this morning, which included three more species added to my year list: Cloaked Minor, Clancy’s Rustic and a Dun-bar. Continuing with the theme of migrant moths, I had my second Gold Twin-spot of the year, having had one earlier in the month and a Diamond-back Moth was also a migrant.
Above, a Common Emerald and below, the immigrant moth, Clancy's Rustic.
I have been reading on the various Moth Facebook pages where some guys are getting well into treble figures of moths already. One particular guy had over 800+ moths of 135 species! The hot weather on its way will no doubt bring in large numbers of moths over the coming week, so I wait with anticipation on what my Box will attract.
Macro moths:
Gold Twin-spot x1
Cloaked Minor x1
Willow Beauty x7
Riband Wave x8
Clancy’s Rustic x1
Marbled Minor x2
Lime-speck Pug x1
Common Pug x4
Double-striped Pug x2
Dun-bar x1
Lackey x3
Common Emerald x2
Pale Mottled Willow x3
Large Yellow Underwing x1
Dark Arches x2
White Ermine x4
Bright-line Brown-eye 1
Heart & Dart x4
L-album Wainscot x1
Garden Carpet x1
Yellow-barred Brindle x1
Macro moths:
Common Grey x1
Garden Grass-veneer x4
Diamond-back Moth x1
Apple Leaf Miner x1
Ruddy Streak x2
Common Plume x2
Bud Moth x1
Blushed Knot-horn x2
Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:
The view from Pembroke Road looking south.
Yet again, the bird species total at Pembroke Road produced just 12 species this morning. There was a clear blue sky overhead, but it was a little nippy at 8am in the shade. So I opted as much as I could in keeping in the sunshine. Overhead, a trio of Swifts flew low west over Governor’s Green and on the Bowling Green, up to 5 Pied Wagtails chased insects on the short grass and were joined by a male Blackbird and several Starlings. A Wren was in full song by the Bowling Green and a juvenile Blue Tit could be heard in the Holm Oaks throughout my morning shift.
Regarding the insects, the usual Harlequin Ladybirds and a Parasitic Wasp species was seen around the ‘Lemon and Lime’ Bushes.
Last night, birding friends, Matt & Emma Parkes took a trip over to Whiteley Woods last night. Not only did they hear Nightjars, Woodcock, Tawny Owl and Nightingale, but also had a sighting of a Glow Worm.
Above and below, the Glow-worm. Photo by Matt & Emma Parkes.
This afternoon, it was rather hot and so I wore shorts for the first time in a few months on my second shift. The only addition to my bird sightings this afternoon was a Black-headed Gull flying low over the road. This evening, while watering the garden, I heard the alarm call of a Starling and so looking up expecting to see a raptor going over, I was right as a male Peregrine flew low overhead heading west over the houses. The watering flushed up some of my moths from this morning and one of them was a male Bee Moth. Considering I had not seen one this morning, I was pleased with that.
My first ever SMALL MARBLED moth. It is hard to believe that this tiny moth had flown from Southern Europe to be here in Southsea!
The beginning of a new week and I simply had to get up early to check the Moth Box this morning and at 4.30am, I was out and about in the garden checking the Moths and it was certainly most worth getting up at the crack of dawn. Though not as many as Saturday morning here in my garden, there was still a reasonable number, but a total of 7 more species added to my year list and included a very good immigrant moth, which was new to my Moth Life List! The weather was clear and bright and the moon was still shining brightly to the south with no wind whatsoever.
The Moth Box:
Only my second ever Blue-bordered Carpet was in the bottom of my Moth Box this morning.
A fairly good total of 57 moths of 30 species were recorded this morning with two real stunners amongst them. The first was a very small micro, a SMALL MARBLED. This is a migrant species from Southern Europe and most sought after by Moth enthusiasts. The second ‘stunner’ was my second ever Blue-bordered Carpet moth that was in the bottom of my Moth Box. The only other one seen of this species was many years ago of which I found in our Conservatory!
Another two species added to my year total. Above, a Lackey moth and below, a Dark Strawberry Tortrix.
Other moths that were new for the year included Common Emerald, Lackey, Common Rustic and the micro moths, Dark Strawberry Tortrix and Marbled Orchard Tortrix. We have a week of very warm weather, which in turn should produce not only a good haul of moths, but plenty of ‘year-ticks’. Fingers crossed.
My first Common Rustic agg. Sadly, it could be one of a few species but needs dissection to ascertain its true ID.
The Moths recorded this morning included the following:
Macro moths:
Uncertain x1
Riband Wave x4
Blue-bordered Carpet x1
Heart & Dart x1
White Ermine x7
Common Rustic x1
Bright-line Brown-eye x1
Dark Arches x6
Light Emerald x1
Common Emerald x1
L-album Wainscot x2
Pale Mottled Willow x2
Willow Beauty x5
Lackey x1
Double-striped Pug x4
Bloxworth Snout x1
Lime-speck Pug x1
Micro moths:
Barred Marble x1
Bee Moth x2
Bramble Shoot Moth x1
Garden Grass-veneer x1
Ruddy Streak x3
Brown House Moth x1
Dark Strawberry Tortrix x1
Large Pale Masoner x1
Narrow-winged Grey x1
Bud Moth x1
Common Plume x2
SMALL MARBLED x1
Marbled Orchard Tortrix x1
Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:
I found this Harlequin Ladybird emerging from its cocoon on the 'Lemon and Lime' Bushes in Pembroke Road this afternoon.
Another fairly quiet day regarding the bird life in Pembroke Road where only 13 species were recorded during my two shifts here at this site. I heard the Jay calling this morning, though didn't get a sighting this time. A pair of Swifts flew low overhead and looked stunning in the morning sunshine. Up to six Pied Wagtails were seen this morning; five were on the Bowling Green and one nearby on Governor’s Green; all busy chasing insects. A couple of adult Mediterranean Gulls were flying low over the seafront when I was driving back home. Last night, while I was in the back garden, at least 20 Swifts were circling overhead; easily the highest number so far this year here over my garden.
Andy had this female Broad-bodied Chaser dragonfly in his garden yesterday.
Yesterday, birding pal Geoff Farwell took a trip to Fawley Down / Longwood Warren area and saw the following species: 4 singing Corn Buntings and a very pale male Marsh Harrier quartering a field for about 90 minutes. Also, 6 singing Blackcaps, 4 singing Common Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs, a Raven, a Red Kite and a Common Buzzard. Meanwhile, over at ‘Cowplain Marsh’, Andy Fisher had a female Broad-bodied Chaser dragonfly by his garden pond plus three Large Red Damselflies. Excellent stuff.
