Some good insect activity today.

Sunday 19th February 2023.

Spring is on its way and judging by the warm weather today, hopefully it isn't too far away. However, late Winter normally has a sting in its tail! Several clumps of Daffodils were sprouting up by some of the graves.

I was pottering around in the garden this morning, enjoying the unseasonably warm weather and after finishing what I was doing, I sat down enjoying a cold drink and watched the developing nature going on in my small garden. Overhead, the Gulls gave their warning cry over a raptor nearby and sure enough, a male Sparrowhawk was soaring high over and then went into a stoop somewhere east from my house. The temperature easily got up to around 14 degrees centigrade, though it could have been even warmer than that in the bright sunshine.

Above, the Light Brown Apple Moth that flew into my house last night and below, the Silver Y moth that I found in the garden this morning.

A quick look on my mobile and fellow ‘Lazee’ Ollie Crabbe found TWO Barn Owls in the holes where the Little Owls used to reside on the south side of Fort Cumberland! The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Acres Down was also seen again this morning by another ‘Lazee Birder’ this morning. Back to my Gaff; a pair of Goldfinches came down to try their luck on the feeders, but the many House Sparrows present put them off I think as they both flew off. When the House Sparrows departed, a Robin came in briefly, but did not hang around long.

Above, this Great Tit was singing its heart out and below, this Robin was going for it too!

While cleaning the leaves and munge around the flower pots, I found a Silver Y moth perched on our Hare garden ornament; which most likely was the individual I caught earlier this week by the moth box. Yesterday, a Light Brown Apple Moth (my first of the year) flew into the house when I opened the front door and quickly potted it. I let it go into the garden this morning. I shall probably put the moth box on tonight and maybe get my first Early Grey Moth of the year?

Above, the Heather on one of the graves attracted quite a few Bees including this Early Bumble bee and below, a female Hairy-footed Flower Bee enjoyed the flowering Heather.

While enjoying nature in my garden going about its business, I noticed a Bee species high up in my neighbours tree, but what species it was I really do not know. This spurred me on in taking a stroll over to Highland Road Cemetery this morning and so grabbing my binoculars and camera, I gave the Cemy another good look. Though the number of bird species was very low this morning, with just 13 species noted, at least there was a bit of insect life and a few more flowering plants on show. There weren't too many dog walkers this morning and it was nice to see the young birder/photographer lady out and about within the Cemy.

Above, a lone Dandelion was found over on the east side of the Cemy and below, this male Blackbird was searching through the leaf litter for food near the Mausoleum.

Yes, regarding the birds, it was rather quiet in variety today and arguably the lowest total I have had here for a very long time; but that's the way it can go sometimes I suppose as birds do move on as Spring arrives. Though there was nothing to get the pulse racing, it was nice to hear the likes of all the Robins and Great Tits singing in the bright sunshine. The following birds were seen this morning:

• Herring Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Great Tit
• Blue Tit
• Goldfinch
• Robin
• Wren
• House Sparrow
• Starling

Insects were most certainly active this morning, especially by the grave that is covered in flowering Heather. Early Bumble bees were evident within the heather with at least four individuals counted fumbling their way through the vegetation. There were two Hairy-footed Flower Bees seen briefly by the heather, one, a male individual would not settle and quickly flew off, however, a female individual was much more cooperative as she was nectaring on the heather among the other Bees. I do get these in my garden in the Spring, so I shall be keeping an eye out over the coming weeks. I was hoping for an early butterfly to be on the wing today, but I didn't spot any at all despite perfect conditions. I wouldn't be surprised if there were a lot of Brimstones on the wing today.

The male Blackbird turning over the leaves.

All the usual plants were present this morning that included Common Speedwell, Common Groundsel, Daisies and a single Dandelion and with a few garden flowers springing through including a few Crocuses, Grape Hyacinth and Daffodils all adding a splash of colour to the leaf litter.     

This Robin was singing just above my head over on the east side.

Just a late bit of news; I saw my first Red Admiral butterfly of the year while walking with our Isabelle down our road in Southsea. Strangely, it was by a house and then seen a little later further south out in Albert Road. Birding pal, Geoff Farwell, texted me later in the evening to say he had his first Brimstone butterfly of the year at Warnford Park this afternoon.