Yet another still, quiet day that was first overcast and then late in the afternoon, it became sunny with a gorgeous sunset to round off another day. My moth box attracted a lot of moths for this time of year (because it is so mild), which included an Angle Shades, 6 Double-striped Pug, 8 Light Brown Apple Moths, 4 Common Plume and a solitary Blastobasis lacticollela. While checking the moth box, a Redwing was heard to fly over in the dark.
The micro moth Blastobasis lacticolella.
On my travels today, Portsdown Hill provided two raptor species. At least two Kestrels were seen at different times of the day and a Red Kite was sailing low over the road near the Burger Van, heading south towards Cosham. As I was making my way to Bedhampton across the same Hill, I noticed a Curlew flying south, having probably been feeding in the nearby fields. Over at The Oaks Crematorium, I had a job to do at 4pm and during a half hour period, I watched a Song Thrush flying high overhead with two Blackbirds into the neighbouring woodland. A small flock of three Long-tailed Tits were flying from tree to tree behind the main chapel and in the woodland nearby, I could hear a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling as was a Firecrest and Marsh Tit.
The Oak Bush Cricket at Portchester Crematorium this morning.
Back at the Portchester Crematorium earlier today, a check for moths around the back of the Crem revealed one Double-striped Pug, several Common Plume and just the one Beautiful Plume. I did find, however, a smart Oak Bush Cricket perched on the door frame at the South Chapel exit.
The trees within the Crematorium are starting to take colour now that late Autumn has arrived.
In Hampshire today, Hayling Island still hosted the 7 Snow Buntings at Gunner Point and a Red-necked Grebe was found on the sea from Shearwater Court. The Great Grey Shrike was still present again at Backley Common. Up to 10 Purple Sandpipers are now at Southsea Castle.
The Speckled Bush Cricket I found at The Oaks Crematorium today.
Though mostly overcast the last few days, it has been exceptionally mild with midday temperatures around 15 degrees, though the gloom and doom merchants from the Met Office have us to believe a nasty cold snap is imminent! We shall see. I have been putting my moth box out again overnight and this morning's catch revealed a few moths: 2 Double-striped Pugs, 4 Light Brown Apple Moths and just the one Common Plume. It is back on tonight, so I just might catch something more unusual I hope.
Yesterday, while driving about during my work time, I had a few notable sightings including a pair of female Sparrowhawks flying together over the M275 heading east towards Tipner Lake. The usual two Common Buzzards were perched on the lamp posts on the same stretch of road and a Kestrel was seen briefly flying over the top of Portsdown Hill. While working over The Oaks Crematorium, a small flock of 4 Mistle Thrushes flew out of the woodland beside the car park and then headed off north and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling loudly in the neighbouring woodland and seen all too briefly.
One of two Double-striped Pug moths seen by my moth box today.
Today, I was working over The Oaks Crematorium again and at least two very high flying Song Thrushes were seen heading north, which were probably migrant birds. A flock of 8 Goldfinch were seen flying over the car park and in both woodlands beside the car park, there was a Nuthatch in each wood calling loudly. Though there were no moths around the Book of Remembrance building, I did find a very late Speckled Bush Cricket perched on the main glass door of the Crematorium.
Though Andy did not have his moth box on at Cowplain Marsh last Saturday, this White-shouldered House Moth was perched on the wall inside his kitchen!
The only other notable sighting today was of a Grey Wagtail flying over the road and buildings in the village of Denmead. There are now up to 7 Snow Buntings at Gunner Point, Hayling Island; the largest total for this species in Hampshire for many a year. A Black Redstart has been seen in Buckland, Portsmouth this week and a Slavonian Grebe was on the calm waters of the Solent seen from Hill Head. I had a report from a friend of mine that a Short-eared Owl was seen at dusk at Milton Lakes earlier this week. Might be worth a visit one evening.
A Common Snipe in front of the Spurgin Hide this morning.
It is the last of my day’s off and my, that has gone quick! Being just two species away from the magic 200 species for the year was too close for comfort and with a few species that could possibly be ‘ticked’ off today and the weather looking good, it was a ‘no brainer’ for me to grab my target with both hands! A quick check on Birdguides revealed that the two female Velvet Scoters were still in Chichester Harbour, viewed from the end of Ellanor Lane in West Wittering. But was the Jack Snipe still from the Spurgen Hide on Titchfield Haven?
The Turnstone by the small harbour at Hill Head are always showy birds.
The only answer to that question was to take a drive down to the reserve and check for myself. Yes, reluctantly, I paid the two quid parking fee at Hill Head and paid the additional £6 entrance fee in the main building before I parked the car by the reserve entrance and made my way slowly to the Spurgin Hide. There was not a breath of wind here and one could pick out both Chiffchaffs and Cetti’s Warbler scurrying about in the reedbeds, calling in doing so.
Sanderling on the beach off Hill Head.
The female Pied Wagtailon the beach at Hill Head.
A large flock of Long-tailed Tits flew out of the bushes along the footpath, with a few Great and Blue Tits among them, but nothing more unusual like a Firecrest. As I neared the Spurgin Hide, I could see someone already in there and hopefully, that person might be on the Jack Snipe. I said Hello but got no response from the three birders already there. I put that down to either bloody ignorance or they were all deaf! Anyway, they looked all intent on studying something in the nearby reeds and sure enough, there was the Jack Snipe. Or so I thought!
This evening, I put some photos of the bird on the Facebook Hampshire Birds and it didn't take long for some people to question the identity of the bird. In fact, it had me questioning myself on the identity and then checking myself on YouTube some of the videos of the bird feeding, I had then had to accept, the bird I was looking at and indeed the others in the Hide at the time, was a Common Snipe! Call it what you like, but my credibility seemed to fly out the window, but hey, the best of us all make mistakes and in a way, one learns from them. I have to admit, I did think the bill was quite long and the flanks did not seem dark enough on this bird, but when I saw the bird 'bobbing' while it was feeding, then that swayed me entirely over to Jack Snipe. However, Common Snipe do this as well, though I don't think I have ever seen one do that in my defence.
A Common Snipe doing a damn good impression of a Jack Snipe.
Video footage of the 'bobbing' Common Snipe this morning in front of the Spurgin Hide.
Other birds noted here included a male Stonechat perched on a reed stem and a very brief view of a running Water Rail running between the reeds. Both Gadwall and Teal swam on the water and both Little Egret and Grey Heron were seen in front of the Hide. Happy in the knowledge that I had grabbed my 199th species for the year, I made my way out of the Hide and back to the car.
One of the Great Crested Grebes offshore this morning at Hill Head.
Making my way back to the car along the footpath, a couple of moths grabbed my attention and even though I followed them through my binoculars, hoping they might land, they both disappeared into thin air, or so it seemed! Bugger! Another flock of Long-tailed Tits flew out of the bushes and a Cetti’s Warbler showed very well along the footpath too. Even a Common Snipe got in on the act as it flew low overhead and then flew back to probable the South Scrape.
A mixed flock of waders over the Solent this morning.
The Brent Geese off Hill Head before the tide moved them on westwards.
When I reached the car, I checked the very calm Solent for anything of note. The large flock of Brent Geese seen earlier had dispersed to the west and a large mixed flock of Sanderling, Ringed Plover and Dunlin were circling low over the water. A lone Great Crested Grebe was fishing on the sea, a Rock Pipit flew overhead and a female Pied Wagtail was searching for food on the beach, but nothing else on the Solent. My next stop was the long drive to this Ellanore Drive over on West Wittering.
One of the two female Velvet Scoters in Chichester Harbour.
When I reached the end of Ellanore Drive, it was high tide within Chichester Harbour and in front of me on the small islands, a good gathering of waders was present including Oystercatchers, Dunlin and a few Turnstone. I quickly swept the harbour for the Scoter and my first attempt only picked up three Great Crested Grebes. The water was dead calm and so my chances were good in seeing the birds if they were there and on my second attempt, the two female Velvet Scoters showed very well having been fishing and now sailed quietly on the flat calm water. Their distinctive head pattern easily tells it apart from the Common Scoter.
Oystercatchers and other waders gathering on the small islands from the end of Ellanor Drive. The Velvet Scoters were close to the yellow buoy you can see in the background.
Having seen the Velvet Scoters, I was wanting to go and view the 3 Glossy Ibis in the nearby fields off Redland Lane, but according to Birdguides, they had gone east and probably over to Medmerry RSPB Reserve. However, when I got back home, they did return to the same field. Never mind, that was a very good morning’s birding. And now I have to wait a little longer to claim my 200th species and with news of the returning Ferruginous Duck back on Kingfisher Lake at Blashford, maybe I can celebrate then? Today, there are now FIVE Snow Buntings on the beach near Sinah, Hayling Island although the Warsash bird was not seen this morning.
A cold start to the morning as I went outside into the garden to check my moth box. It was much milder last night, which resulted in a plethora of Light Brown Apple Moths and a cracking probable November Moth. I did a check on the moth box last night and found 2 Light Brown Apple Moth, a Common Plume and a Double-striped Pug and this morning, the numbers had greatly increased.
One of the more strikingly marked Light Brown Apple Moths.
Up to 16 Light Brown Apple Moths, of various guises, were counted along with 4 Common Plume moths this morning. There was also a small micro moth, Monopsis crocicapitella (though I cannot rule out M. obviella yet) one one of the egg trays. The probable November Moth is always a problem to ID. This species can so easily be confused with two other Epirrita species at this time of year: Pale November Moth and Autumnal Moth and the only way to tell them apart accurately, is by dissection of the genitalia (again, no thanks!); finally, two Double-striped Moths were resting on the fence panel near the box; so all in all, quite a good morning regarding the moths.
A probable Monopsis crocicapitella micro moth.
While checking the moth box last night, I heard a couple of Redwings flying high over and this morning, the Grey Wagtail was heard calling again nearby and another bird calling repeatedly somewhere south of my garden, was reminiscent of a Black Redstart! Now, that would be a very nice garden ‘tick’!
This female Sparrowhawk showed well as it soared overhead over the Cemetery this morning.
Scruff got another walk and this time, Highland Road Cemetery beckoned. It was bright and sunny and to be honest, for this time of year, quite mild. My walk at my ‘local patch’ produced a good total of 17 species this morning, with ten species seen within 10 minutes of walking from north to south. OK, they were all common species, but as I have written before, in ten or twenty years time, will these species still be on our doorstep?
The only butterfly seen in the Cemetery this morning, the Red Admiral.
Among the good variety both heard and seen, the female Sparrowhawk ‘grabbed the biscuit’ or so to speak. I don't often get reasonable flight shots with my Bridge Camera, but this one I have put on my blog is not too bad. The bird drifted in from the south and circled the Cemy until heading off north. The Jays put on a great show today with some nice close photos obtained as they perched on various gravestones. I would estimate that there must have been at least 6 birds involved today, numbers obviously swollen by the birds from the Continent seeking a warmer climate.
The Jays showed very well today and if I was to be honest, a typical daily sighting at present.
I kept an eye out for a Black Redstart lurking about the gravestones, but there was no sign of any today. A few have been seen in Portsmouth, notably one female type near the Dockyard, though I guess a lot more could be nearby. As mentioned, all the common birds were noted today, but it's time the winter thrushes came in and maybe a Firecrest or two?
The Common Banded Hoverfly were abundant today.
Tapered Drone Fly.
The sunny weather brought out the insects still with the Ivy attracting the delicate Common Banded Hoverfly Syrphus ribesii,the chunky Tapered Drone Fly Eristalis pertinax and also the Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus. Common Wasps also took a great liking to the flowering Ivy while over on the other side of the Cemetery, the northern end, I found good numbers of Harlequin Ladybirds of various colours sunning themselves on the large leaves. Just the one butterfly seen today within the Cemy, a Red Admiral sunning itself on a gravestone.
Another photo of the handsome Jay.
When Scruff and I got home, the Ivy in my garden held another Red Admiral as well as the above Hoverflies already mentioned. Always entertaining, these can keep you spellbound for quite some time as they go about their business. Hence why I refuse to get rid of the Ivy growing on my fence. A lot of gardeners start pruning their gardens to a bare minimum at this time of year, but I am more than happy to let the leaves fall when nature dictates.
And another!
In Hampshire today, the 4 Snow Buntings entertained the crowd on the beach near Sinah on Hayling Island and the bird at Warsash remained faithful as well. The Great Grey Shrike at Backley Bottom was still present in its usual haunt. A showy Jack Snipe also entertained the public by the Spurgin Hide on Titchfield Haven, a species I hope to see this year. Medmerry had a good day with a ringtail Hen-Harrier, 3 Glossy Ibis (which eventually settled in a field at West Wittering), Spoonbill and a Merlin. I have always said that this area is too underrated and needs more birders to cover the area properly.
A Winter's day, in a deep and dark November..........
