Cowplain Marsh moths & a Quail 'twitch'.

Saturday 9th July 2022.

Our view of the Wheat field in Bishops Waltham.

Our quest today was for the Quail that was reported yesterday at Bishops Waltham and so knowing full well it was going to be a hot one, I donned shorts and a polo shirt, which it turned out I was a little under-dressed! More on that later. Firstly, Andy was suffering from his usual Friday night hangover as I put the kettle on in his kettle and made my way to the moth box by his back door. I knew that if I got over 100 moths this morning, he is bound to have something decent to look at today.

Above, my first Scalloped Oak moth of the year, which was by the back door. Below, a good moth added to my year list, the Small Fan-foot moth. This moth was quite flighty within the pot, so I had to take a photo of it within the pot for the record. 

In fact, not a bad selection including a few new ones for the year that included Scalloped Oak, Small Fan-foot and the micro moths Euzophera pinguis, which is a quite distinctive and striking moth which I see most years and the smaller Ancylis achatana. A large Garden Spider has taken up residence in the same area as the moth box and a Swallow-tailed Moth took a liking to be near its web, but safe for now. However, one of the same species looked to be not so fortunate having got ‘chomped’ last night by the look of it! 

The striking micro moth, Euzophera pinguis.

The following moths were present at Cowplain Marsh (Andy’s garden):

• 3 Riband Wave
• 2 Box-tree Moth
• 3 Willow Beauty
• 3 Swallow-tailed Moth
• 1 Scalloped Oak (NFY)
• 1 Garden Carpet
• 1 Common Footman
• 1 Uncertain
• 1 Small Fan-foot (NFY)
• 2 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Nut-tree Tussock
• 1 Brown House Moth
• 1 Eudonia mercurella
• 1 Eudonia lacustrata
• 3 Chrysoteuchia culmella
• 1 Common Plume
• 1 Anania coronata
• 1 Tachystola acroxantha
• 1 Endotricha flammeas
• 1 Crambus pascuella
• 1 Euzophera pinguis (NFY)
• 1 Ancylis achatana (NFY)

After getting the directions to the actual site on Birdguides, it took as through to Corhampton and then onto the countryside of Bishops Waltham where we eventually parked up by a five bar gate, climbed over and then walked across a bit of a meadow which we assumed was the Portsmouth Water Reservoir? It looked like an underground bunker covered with grass, but it did support a lot of wild flowers and insects that kept me entertained while waiting for the Quail to begin singing again. It was virtually as soon as we got there, looking north over a large expansive Wheat field, that we heard just one quick burst of song from the Quail and that was it. We waited at least 90 minutes for the bird to call again, but not another note from the bird. We both agreed that we would not add it to our year list, but I would have done if it had called again, but that didn't happen and therefore the opportunity of adding Quail to our year list went begging.

Above, a Common Buzzard drifted low over the fields in front of us and was joined by a second bird. Below, good numbers of Marbled Whites were present including this individual feeding on Greater Knapweed.

As I wrote earlier, it was cloudy and very windy on arrival and mocking Andy earlier about his attire kind of backfired. The sun did come out finally, but that was about 15 minutes before we left (I had family plans later in the day). During the time we were there, both Kestrel and two Common Buzzards put in an appearance and both Linnet and Goldfinch were also noted on the rough ground between the hedgerow in front of us and the Wheat field. A Common Whitethroat was also seen briefly as I was walking around the small area checking out the butterflies that included Marbled White, Meadow Brown and singles of Peacock and Dark Green Fritillary. There were a lot of small grasshoppers jumping up as I walked around the area, which I think were Meadow Grasshoppers. There was even an Emperor Dragonfly patrolling a hedgerow, going up and down at an incredible speed.  

Above, a Peacock butterfly sunning itself on one of the metal bunkers. Below, the stunning Pyramidal Orchids were dotted around.

Wildflowers were abundant here including the lovely blue Field Scabious, Ragwort (one stem had a Cinnabar Moth caterpillar climbing it), Agrimony, both Birds-foot Trefoil and Lesser Birds-foot Trefoil and several spikes of Pyramidal Orchid. Sometimes, though we don't get to see all that we go for, there is always something interesting to look at, no matter where you are and if you take your time and just watch, you can see so much more, which adds to a trip well spent. 

Above, a Soldier Beetle enjoying nectaring on Cow Parsley. Below, Ragwort growing among the plants & grasses. 

Andy carefully negotiating this gate on the way back to the car. Great entertainment!