Port and Wey: September 2025

5 Sep 25

Wakeham

The moth trap went out last night and this morning I had exactly the same number of moths as I did on 24 Aug 25, which was 59 moths. However this time there were just 23 species, including 2 new moth species for my Port & Wey moth list.

Also trapped was an ichneumon wasp, a gnat sp., Hairy Shieldbug nymph, and a Copper Sun-jumper spider

Also about in and around the garden were 3 Ravens overhead and 2 Large White butterflies Pieris brassicae.

Moths Recorded:

#1 - Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis (x2)

#2 - Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella x(5)

#3 - Starry Pearl Cynaeda dentalis (x1)

#4 - Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana (x2)

#5 - Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana (x2)

#6 - Mullein Wave Scopula marginepunctata (x1)

#7 - Orange Swift Triodia sylvina (x6)

#8 - Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla (x4)

#9 - Flounced Rustic Luperina testacea (x5)

#10 - Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa (x5)

#11 - Light Emerald Campaea margaritaria (x1)

#12 - Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata (x1)

#13 - White-point Mythimna albipuncta (x3)

#14 - Vine's Rustic Hoplodrina ambigua (x4)

#15 - Lesser Yellow Underwing Noctua comes (x4)

#16 - L-album Wainscot Mythimna l-album (x1)

#17 - Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla (1)

#18 - Pale Mottled Willow Caradrina clavipalpis (x4)

#19 - Chevron Grass-moth Agriphila geniculea (x1)

#20 - Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba (x3)

#21 - Straw Underwing Thalpophila matura (x1)

#22 - Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua janthe (x1)

#23 - Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea (x1)

#1 - Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis

#2 - Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella

#3 - Starry Pearl Cynaeda dentalis

#4 - Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana - Obsidentify had this as 97% a Varied Tortrix Acleris hastiana. Well I suppose it would do, as this a worn Light Brown Apple Moth and thus looking varied.

#4 - Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana- in slightly better condition

#5 - Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana

#5 - Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana - a very worn/pale individual

#6 - Mullein Wave Scopula marginepunctata

#7 - Orange Swift Triodia sylvina

#8 - Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla

#8 - Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla - with an unknown spider next to it

#9 - Flounced Rustic Luperina testacea

#10 - Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa

#11 - Light Emerald Campaea margaritaria

#12 - Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata

#13 - White-point Mythimna albipuncta

#14 - Vine's Rustic Hoplodrina ambigua

#15 - Lesser Yellow Underwing Noctua comes

#16 - L-album Wainscot Mythimna l-album

#17 - Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla

#18 - Pale Mottled Willow Caradrina clavipalpis

#19 - Chevron Grass-moth Agriphila geniculea - AKA an Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer

#20 - Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba

#21 - Straw Underwing Thalpophila matura

#22 - Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua janthe

#23 - Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea

Wasps, Ichneumon Wasps, Parasitic Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:

1 Ichneumon Wasp sp.

Also in the moth trap was this Ichneumon wasp sp.

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:

1 Midge sp.

A Midge sp

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:

1 Hairy Shieldbug Dolycoris baccarum

Hairy Shieldbug Dolycoris baccarum - nymph

Spiders Recorded:

1 Copper Sun-jumper Heliophanus cupreus

Running around inside the moth trap as opposed to jumping was this Copper Sun-jumper Heliophanus cupreus

4 Sep 25

Chesil Cove

How does the saying go! " If at first you don't succeed, try, try again". Well this is my third attempt at finding a Grey Phalarope, and conditions couldn't have been better, with plenty of "rafts" just off the shoreline, but apparently not enticing enough.

I stayed on the beach at the cove for a good hour or more, but the best I could do was tick off 20+ Black-headed Gulls, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 15+ Herring Gulls and 7 Great Black-backed Gulls, plus one Carrion Crow.

Well I haven't given up yet, but a lot depends on whether the rough conditions out to sea continue.

Birds Recorded:
20+ Black-headed Gull
6 Mediterranean Gull
15+ Herring Gull
7 Great Black-backed Gull
1 Carrion Crow

And adult Winter Black-headed Gull.

An adult Winter Mediterranean Gull.

And two more adult Winter Mediterranean Gulls.

A 1cy Herring Gull - Example here

A 4cy Great Black-backed Gull - Example here.

These two Great Black-backed Gulls are at either end of what looks like a deceased Conger Eel.

The Great Black-backed Gulls were joined by another one and a 1cy Herring Gull.

General Shots:

There were plenty of "rafts" but no Grey Phalaropes.

Hmm, I don't..............

..................think I would want to fish in these conditions.

3 Sep 25

Chesil Cove

Two days ago there was a report of 2 Grey Phalaropes in the cove, followed by another yesterday and another one this morning.

As I was having a blood test in the surgery close by, it would have been a bit silly not to have a look, and so late morning I parked up by the cove and had a look.

To say that the sea was a bit rough would have been an understatement, as the waves were rolling in and crashing onto the beach.

Speaking to several birders close to Quiddles Cafe here, it became apparent that I had yet again missed out. Not only that, whilst I was having my bloods taken, there were sightings of a Storm Petrel and a couple of Common Sandpipers here as well.

However it wasn't all doom and gloom, as another duo of Common Sandpipers flew west along the beach. Every now and then they would land, before moving off sharply when a wave threatened to swamp them. After several attempts to land they gave up and continued there journey west.

As I attempted to photograph them by following them along the esplanade, I gave up when they finally flew off, but not before I came across two Sanderlings settled on the shingle opposite Quiddles. Can you believe these are the first Sanderlings I have recorded this year!!

Also noted were several Black-headed Gulls and Herring Gulls, plus a Pied Wagtail. The latter thought about landing on the beach and on seeing all that spray flew back inland.

Right in the corner of the cove a Grey Seal seemed quite happy with the waves breaking over its head.

Mammals Recorded:
1 Grey Seal