A trip around Eastney Outfall.

Thursday 3rd November 2022.

The immature Shag off the Harbour Entrance this afternoon.

The relentless rain from last night and into this morning, eventually let up around midday, being replaced by a bright blue sky with occasional large clouds drifting through. I was itching to go for a walk and decided that Eastney Outfall and the Harbour Entrance deserved a good look for a change and almost immediately I noticed how colder it was when I stepped out of the car. Parking up within the small car park opposite the Harbour Entrance, it was a job to get somewhere where there was not a large expanse of water to step out into, but I did manage to grab a suitable spot.

Above, a cheery singing Starling greeted me and below, a very showy female House Sparrow.

The south-westerly wind blew across the exposed mudflats within Langstone Harbour and though I wasn't wearing a coat, my fleece was sufficient for today's conditions as I slowly made my way to the Hayling Ferry to scan the harbour to the north. Almost immediately, I came across an immature Shag preening on the water and seemed unperturbed by my presence as it swam quietly on the very calm water. They are regular here most of the winter and nearly all immature birds too as it soon eventually up sticks and flew off south towards the Solent.

Above, another photo of the immature Shag and below, a male Pied Wagtail on the spit near the Hayling Ferry.

The usual Starlings and House Sparrows were present in numbers including one ‘Spadger’ perching about 2 feet away from where I stood, hoping, most likely, to be fed a bit of bun burger. Not today! A good gathering of Starlings on the roof of the RNLI Building included a few singing birds, making the most of the sunny weather after the deluge of rain they all experienced this morning. A lone Dunnock was also seen scurrying into cover as I approached the only bramble in the area!

Above, a couple of Grey Herons were perched on the sunken bridge in the harbour. Below, Oystercatchers and Brent Geese in the harbour looking north.

From the spit overlooking the west and south side of Langstone Harbour, a few Rock Pipits were noted, while Oystercatchers, Curlews and Redshank were seen among the many Brent Geese on the mudflats. The sunken WW2 bridge out in the harbour provided a useful perch for a couple of Grey Herons, but little else of note to raise the pulse. I made my way back to the car and took a drive to the other car park further south overlooking the harbour entrance, being extremely careful as I negotiated the rain filled pot holes within the car park. Successfully getting my vehicle safely through, I parked up and took a slow walk down to the Outfall.

Above, several Meadow Pipits were feeding in the grass near the Outfall until I spooked them! Below, the Outfall looking south out into the Solent.

For a change, I was surprised to see no rubbish dumped here by ‘Fly Tippers’ and made a mental note of how many Meadow Pipits were flying up from the short grass by the beach. At least 6 birds flew up and were also joined by a much more friendly pair of Pied Wagtails by the car park. Some workmen were doing something in the Water Treatment Works, causing some sort of smoke to pour out where they stood, so I kept my distance as I took a walk down the southern end of the concrete Outfall.

Above, the view looking north into Langstone Harbour from the Outfall and below, one of several Common Gulls swimming in the Harbour Entrance.

A good scan over the Solent revealed nothing but Gulls and even the Harbour Entrance was rather quiet too, though I did see a few Common Gulls among the Black-headed and Herring Gulls. Over on the Hayling Island side, I could see a small flock of Sanderling flying along the shoreline, but they did not venture over this side of the harbour unfortunately. Never mind, it was very peaceful and sunny, so what's not to like? Apart from a few more Meadow Pipits rising as I made my way to the car, all was pretty quiet here. No lurking rare Wheatear here today,  but I do hope someone comes across one here on the south coast. Just got a message via 'The Lazee Birder', that a Red-throated Diver has been seen swimming off the Hayling Oysterbeds. 

Above, there were a few flowering Oxford Ragwort around and below, a Meadow Pipit waiting for me to pass by. 

Blustery winds still in the Cemetery.

Wednesday 2nd November 2022.

One of the larger branches that has came down within the Cemy.

Not a great start to the day when I discovered that the light bulb from my moth trap was broken. I, therefore, ordered a couple of light bulbs off the Anglian Lepidopterist website and hopefully, it will not be too long before I can get back to ‘moth-ing’ in my back garden. For now, Andy’s moth box must come up with the goods. No pressure mate, lol! The windy conditions are still here on the south coast as I decided to take a walk around Highland Road Cemetery and see how much storm damage the Cemy took.

Above, Common Groundsel growing on and in between the graves. Below, a few Cat's Ear plants were growing in the tall damp grass.

Though winds gusted up to 100 mph in some areas (normally the Needles, Isle of Wight gets the worst of it), there were a lot of small branches down within the Cemy and a few very large branches had succumbed to the strong gusts. A lot of the leaves are down too, with a lot of the Chestnut and a few other trees quite bare of leaves now. Though the number of bird species within or over the Cemetery was a lot lower than last Thursday, 16 species were not to be sniffed at, especially in such blustery conditions for at times, whilst walking under the taller trees, I was looking up making sure nothing was falling down!

Above, this was the only Field Mushroom on show today while below, Honey Fungus has spread to many parts of the Cemetery.

The plants were all of the usual that included Smooth Sow-thistle, Yarrow, Common Groundsel and a few Cat’s Ears were around the gravestones too. A lot of Honey Fungus was around the Cemetery, including some new clumps growing over the far northern path close to one of the Chestnut trees. I did find one large Field Mushroom on the southern end of the Cemy, close to the footpath and although edible, I still will not take a risk and pick it. Because of the wind, insects were relatively far and few between, but the hardy old Common Wasps were enjoying the flowering Ivy plants all to themselves. Still, a good ¾ of an hour well spent I think and l shall look forward to going there probably Sunday, when Isabelle and myself will pop her Pumpkin up a tree for the Squirrels.

Above, a juvenile Herring Gull easily negotiating the strong winds. Below, this Jay was busy burying acorns within the Cemy. 

Birds present in or over the Cemetery today included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Feral Pigeon
• Blackbird
• Robin
• House Sparrow
• Starling
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Jay
• Goldcrest
• Greenfinch
• Goldfinch
• Chaffinch  

Above, there were quite a few Common Wasps on show today, again busy on the Ivy Plants. Below, Yarrow was still in bloom in a few places.

In Hampshire today, Mark Francis recorded two Arctic Skua going west through the Solent along with good numbers of Kittiwake from Hill Head. This morning, while checking my broken moth box (sob!)There was a bit of movement overhead with a Grey Wagtail flying low south and a small flock of 3 Meadow Pipits also heading south. A Siskin was heard and of course, not seen again!!! The garden looked like a mess with a lot of leaves all over the patio, but that will keep me busy and it always makes good compost for the back of the garden.

Photos from top to bottom: The path to the Mausoleum within the Cemetery; a Carrion Crow looking sinister on a gravestone; another of the large branches down within the Cemy; a male Black Redstart in Lee-on-Solent this morning: photo by James Cutting. Bottom photo is a Lapland Bunting that I saw at Pagham Harbour exactly 13 years ago to the day!

Leach's Petrel's off Hill Head.

Tuesday 1st November 2022.

The Leach's Petrel off Hill Head with a Herring Gull below it. Photo by Pete Appleton.

As Storm Claudio officially battered the south and south west of the UK overnight, I awoke to see my moth box laying on the floor, but thankfully, not broken and the light still on, though no moths to look at. Harrumph! Reluctantly, as the wind and rain seems to have come back again while I was walking Scruff tonight, I have put my moth box on again, but this time weighting down the rain guard even more.

Earlier today, with the heavy prolonged showers and gale force south-westerly winds hammering the coastline, a few brave souls checked out the sea in atrocious conditions, but were well rewarded with at least three Leach’s Petrels passing through; one bird coming in quite close to land and judging by the superb photos, quite close to the Sailing Club at Hill Head. Sadly, I had too much on today to try my luck, so I am a bit jealous of not being able to make the drive down there to view such an amazing little seabird.

A cracking photo of one of the Leach's Petrels off Hill Head today. Photo by Mark Francis.

It's been a long time since I saw my last Leach's Petrel; I think the last one was an individual flapping about in Langstone Harbour, just south of the harbour entrance many years ago. I have seen a few, notably my first one off Portland Bill that was going through a wicked storm at the time, with my birding pal, Geoff Farwell. Not a great deal else in Hampshire, though a very late juvenile Arctic Tern was seen off Weston, Southampton, earlier today.   

Last month, I had a total of 53 moth species seen of which 35 were macro species and 18 were micro species. Twelve of those seen were new for the year including the Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Marveille du Jour and Scarce Bordered Straw. However, I think this month will be remembered by all those into moths for the African species that turned up many European moths found on our shores. I think November will be quieter, but once I shall be trying my luck.   

Very few moths in the rain this morning.

Sunday 30th October 2022.

A rather late Vine's Rustic.

Heavy rain early this  morning stopped me from checking my moth box and I had to wait until well past 8am to get out there to see if any goodies had turned up. Talking about rare moths with Dave Wallace yesterday really whetted my appetite, but it all turned out to be a bit of an anticlimax.

Lesser Yellow Underwing.

The best of the small bunch was a Vine’s Rustic, which was rather late I thought and followed by Lesser Yellow Underwing. The following moths were present this morning:

• 1 Vine’s Rustic
• 1 Lesser Yellow Underwing
• 4 Double-striped Pug
• 12 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 1 Common Plume
• 1 Rusty-dot Pearl

Rusty-dot Pearl.

Overhead, there were singles of Meadow Pipit and Greenfinch over, but nothing else of note on a soggy Sunday morning. The heads are up looking for Pallid Swifts today as another was reported yesterday in Hampshire, from Trig Point Hill, Timsbury.