Saturday 12th September 2026.
What about that for a view? Old Winchester Hill never disappoints.
As I expected, the Red-backed Shrike departed overnight from
Farlington Marshes; disappointing many birders that made the trip there this
morning. I decided to not put my Moth Box on overnight and leave at first light
to try my luck, but when I looked outside an noticed it was a cloudless sky, I just
knew the bird had gone. Therefore, I walked the dogs and got ready to travel up
to Cowplain Marsh to check Geoffs Moth Box.
With the Shrike gone, I decided to head to Old Winchester
Hill in search of migrant birds, with the option of visiting somewhere else afterwards
if time allowed. As it turned out, there were plenty of migrants to keep us
entertained, along with an abundance of other wildlife.
Geoff’s Moth Box, Cowplain Marsh (Andy Fisher’s garden):
A mixture of Moths from Geoff's Moth Box today.
A reasonable total of 44 moths of 15 species here at
Cowplain Marsh this morning and an incredible number of Square-spot Rustics
with a final count of at least 20 individuals. They were scattered everywhere,
both in the Box and the trays and on the floor and so Geoff and I had to be
very careful where we trod!
Above, a Light Emerald moth was a nice surprise and below, a very well marked Square-spot Rustic.
Migrant moths this morning included a Langmaid’s Yellow
Underwing, 2 Vestals, Turnip Moth, Silver Y and a Pearly Underwing. The latter
was the first one, I think, I have ever seen here at Cowplain Marsh.
Above, one of two Vestal moths and below, a Garden Spider crawling up the gate.
Oddly, there was only the one species of micro moth this
morning, the Light Brown Apple Moths. Possibly the reason for this is the fact
I arrive here a least a couple of hours after dawn and they probably flown off
by the time I get to check the Moths here? The following Moths were present this morning:
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MACRO MOTHS
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MICRO MOTHS
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Willow Beauty
x3
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Light Brown
Apple Moth x3
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Square-spot
Rustic x20
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Large Yellow
Underwing x4
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Lesser Yellow
Underwing x2
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Langmaid’s
Yellow Underwing x1
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Turnip Moth
x1
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Silver Y x1
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Small Dusty
Wave x1
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Light Emerald
x1
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Brimstone
Moth x2
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Blair’s Mocha
x1
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Pearly Underwing
x1
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Vestal x2
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L-album
Wainscot x3
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While checking the Moth Box and enjoying a couple of cups of
coffee and recording the Moths seen, overhead, we had sightings of Chaffinch,
Nuthatch (the bird landed on one of the feeders briefly), 2 House Martins,
Goldfinch and Greenfinch. Cowplain Marsh is getting a bit of a face lift
currently as Andy is busy clearing a lot of vegetation and also will be making
a new pond closer to his Conservatory for the benefit of just Dragonflies and
Frogs etc.
Old Winchester Hill, Meon Valley:
One of two Ravens passing over the Hill.
We arrived at a near empty car park at the site around 9am
and already we were picking out a Firecrest and a Nuthatch calling in the car
park! However, both birds never showed for us and so grabbing our birding gear,
we made our way to the viewpoint overlooking the amazing countryside. There was
a fierce south-westerly wind blowing over the hill and to be honest, it wasn’t all
that warm either. The viewpoint had little bird life to offer and so we then made
our way to the first ‘Comfy Bench’ by the fence line.
Above, the three minus degrees! Myself, Andy and Geoff enjoying a break overlooking the countryside from the Hill. Below, a Kestrel was hovering close to where we sat.
Above, this young male Pheasant must have been avoided being shot last month! Below, a flock of at least a hundred Linnets were in the fields from the pathway leading to the Fort.
One thing was clearly noticed; a huge movement of both House
Martins and Swallows where the former outnumbered the latter by 3 to 1.
This was happening throughout the morning while we were here and even from the South
Slope of the Fort, more were passing overhead. It really was amazing to watch considering how scarce House Martins are now! While enjoying one of Andy’s coffee
from his flask, one of many Kestrel sightings were seen from the bench, hovering
near to where we sat. While enjoying Andy's coffee, a Marsh Tit was heard calling down in the valley below as
we took in the stunning views from this part of the site.
Above, the pathway leading to the Fort. The adjacent bushes and trees always hold something to look at. Below, a Common Field Grasshopper in the tall grass by the footpath.
Above, can you spot the Wheatear? Below, a better photo of the bird.
We soon made our way to the path leading to the Fort,
picking out Clouded Yellows, Common Blue’s and Small Heath butterflies on the
way. A Common Buzzard sailed past as did our first of many Red Kites that
effortlessly dealt with the blustery wind. There were not many plants now in
flower, but there seemed to be plenty of butterflies around to keep us entertained.
Above, another photo of one of the five Wheatears in the ploughed field by the Fort. below, a Hairy Shieldbug. I think this was a 'first' for me.
Above, one of many male Common Blue butterflies seen here today and below, there were hundreds of Corvids out in the fields west of the Fort, with some swirling very high over the countryside.
The footpath leading
to the Fort entrance produced some notable sightings not least several large
flocks of Linnets in the fields and nearby hedgerows. Some were still flying
out of the vegetation within the field and at least two Skylarks were seen
flying over the fields. A Yellowhammer eventually flew out of cover as we were
walking along and a Mistle Thrush was seen flying over the valley. The trees held
some species that were heard only that included Bullfinch, Goldcrest and a Green
Woodpecker. A Speckled Wood was added to our butterfly day list and Common Blue’s
seemed to be the most abundant butterfly along the footpath.
Above, Hoary Ragwort growing by the Fort entrance gate. Below, a Red Kite soaring over the countryside near the Fort.
Above, we found many Carline Thistle's found on the South Slope and below, two of the inquisitive Herdwick Sheep that came down the South Slope to check us out!
On reaching the Fort entrance, we sat on the new benches
that were available and then checked the birdlife from this magnificent
viewpoint. Geoff had pointed out a Perennial Sow Thistle growing nearby and
Hoary Ragwort plants and I pointed out a Sparrowhawk landing in the dead trees
within the valley below! A Chiffchaff was calling and seen briefly in the large
Sallow tree in front of us, keeping us on our toes should something unusual
turn up.
Above, a pair of Red Kites soaring over the South Slope at Old Winchester Hill and below, a Clouded Yellow butterfly enjoying a Devil's Bit Scabious plant.
Above, Andy walking to the main entrance of the Fort and below, the two Spotted Flycatchers seen from the Fort perimeter footpath.
I watched another Chiffchaff flying up ahead of us and land
in a tree and with Andy ahead of us, he thought he had a Whinchat on the vegetation
growing on the fenceline, but it turned out to be a Wheatear. Out in the ploughed
field to the south, Geoff and I counted at least 5 Wheatears in the field here,
but because they were either running over the field or flying, they sometimes
hid behind the mud boulders, but five birds was most likely to total number
here. How many more Wheatears were out in the countryside in the distance?
Above, a distant Andy Fisher walking along the perimeter of the Fort and below, a Carmine Thistle.
Above, can you spot the three male Blackcaps?
The Herdwick Sheep were out and about on the South Slope and
just below the Fort as we made our way down the Slope to hopefully find more migrant
birds lurking about. More and more House Martins and Swallows were passing
overhead as Geoff pointed out the various chalkland plants around our feet that
included Carline Thistles, Devil’s Bit Scabious, Small Scabious and best of
all, the small Orchid species, Autumn Lady Tresses of which we found at least 7
spikes in flower.
Above, another photo of the Spotted Flycatcher and below, Geoff yapping away about the plant life here on the South Slope while having lunch.
Above, one of at least 7 spikes of Autumn Lady Tresses plants. below, a Willow Warbler (I thought it was a Chiffchaff until I saw the colour of the legs and the length of the primaries in the photo) among the flock of passerines near the Fort.
When we reached the bottom of the slope, we had our lunch
while enjoying the Kites soaring overhead and a party of three Kestrels. There weren’t
many migrants around here though, with only a few Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs
heard calling within the bushes. It was when we were walking back towards the
Fort entrance that we came across a good number of migrant birds feeding in the
trees and bushes below us. Up to two Spotted Flycatchers were chasing insects
within the trees and at least 5 Blackcaps were seen along with a few Chiffchaffs.
A small flock of Goldfinch took off and landed nearby and a flock of 5 Linnets
shared the same bush that held the Blackcaps earlier.
Above, the amazing view of the Fort from the Hill looking west and below, a Red Kite sailing low overhead.
Above, another photo of the Spotted Flycatcher by the Fort and below, good numbers of Devil's Bit Scabious were growing on the northern end of the Fort.
We took another welcome, leisurely break on the benches
beside the Fort entrance gate. Unfortunately,
I spotted a drinks can lying in the nearby vegetation. As I have been doing
lately, I picked it up and put it in my rucksack to dispose of properly later.
I also found a glass drinks bottle, which I collected and later placed in a
recycling bin. I sometimes wonder
whether some younger visitors simply cannot be bothered to take their litter
home. It frustrates me that people make the effort to visit such a beautiful
place only to spoil it by leaving rubbish behind. On
a more positive note, it had been a thoroughly enjoyable morning at one of my
favourite sites.
Catherington Downs, nr Clanfield:
Andy arriving at Catherington Downs.
Our last stop today was to be Catherington Downs; again, for
possible migrant birds and to be honest it was a lot quieter than expected.
Maybe too much disturbance by dog-walkers or simply the wrong time of day; it
certainly was a little quiet for Warblers and Flycatchers. However, it kicked
off superbly when a Firecrest flew over our heads and landed in nearby trees.
Above, a Red Kite graced the site and below, we found a Migrant Hawker dragonfly at the top of the Downs.
Despite a nice Red Kite flying low over our heads and a
distant Common Buzzard sailing high over the countryside, the only other
sightings were brief and few which included a Nuthatch, Bullfinch, Coal Tit and
a small flock of Long-tailed Tits; all were seen at the top of the Downs. The
Cattle was grazing on the Downs and so avoiding ‘Cow Pats’ was forever on our
minds!
Above, I found my first Common Carpet moth for the year here at Catherington Downs. Below, I also found this Carmine Thistle growing here as well.
Both Small Heath and Common Blue’s were the most numerous
butterflies on the wing here, though there numbers were nowhere near as common
than Old Winchester Hill. As we were leaving the Downs, a Chiffchaff was heard
briefly singing in the distance. Then it was back to Cowplain Marsh for coffee
and some dodgy biscuits before heading home again. Another enjoyable day with the guys.
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