Saturday 27th August 2023.
It's been a busy couple of days for Becky and myself as we have two new members of the family to attend to. We picked up two one year old rescued dogs, Jack Russells to be exact, who we have named Ted and Buddy and yes, they are going to be a handful at first, but so far so good. We have even taken them for several walks already and sadly, this was something they were never used to, so plenty of training to come.
However, as Becky, Sinead and Isabelle had the pleasure of looking after them today, I did a runner and made my way to Andy’s house for another day's birding. I knew the weather was going to be somewhat showery, but we didn't expect a couple of very heavy downpours that got me, Andy and Geoff totally soaked! Yes, you have to suffer for your art and to compound things, I only left the battery for my camera still at home in the charger! A serious ‘Senior moment’!!! So, all my photos today are from my mobile camera.
Andy’s moth box came first this morning and there was a small selection of moths to check out including my first New Oak Slender (Caloptilia robustella) of the year, which is a very small micro moth, but an attractive little moth. Two Maiden’s Blush were present and up to three Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing.
The moths recorded this morning included the following:
- 2 Maiden’s Blush
- 4 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
- 1 Small Dusty Wave
- 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart
- 3 Vine’s Rustic
- 1 Garden Carpet
- 1 Bright-line Brown-eye
- 5 Willow Beauty
- 3 Double-striped Pug
- 4 Square-spot Rustic
- 1 Pale Mottled Willow
- 1 Box Tree Moth
- 1 Common Grass-veneer
- 1 Brown House Moth
- 1 Light Brown Apple Moth
- 1 New Oak Slender (NFY)
While checking the moths, I heard a familiar call coming from a nearby tree and I could have sworn that it was a Yellow-browed Warbler. I quickly called out to Andy to come and see, but the bird soon went quiet and totally disappeared. One that got away, I’m afraid. Yesterday, Andy rushed down to Farlington Marshes last night as local birder, Jason Crook, had found a juvenile Temminck’s Stint on the reserve, but it didn't hang around long and flew off and never to be seen again, to Andy’s disappointment. So, was it back to Farlington Marshes this morning or somewhere else that was full of migrant passerines? Birdguides soon flashed up that 3 Glossy Ibis were on the Meander Pools on the Hook-with Warsash Nature Reserve early this morning and as we have not been here this year, I decided to head there this morning with the guys.
When we parked up at the lay-by off Hooks Park Lane and made our way to Hook Spit and overlooking Southampton Water. Geoff, as always, kept an eye out on the plants growing along the footpath that included the purple Sea Aster, the ‘daisy- like’ Scentless Mayweed and he also found a rare plant called Slender Hare's-ear Ear, which was a small dainty little plant. Out in the small harbour, a lone Black-tailed Godwit was feeding, but without my camera now, I could not get a photo of it. Hurrumph! Out on Hook Spit, a large contingent of Oystercatchers were resting and contained a few Curlew. An adult and juvenile Sandwich Tern came in and flew close in, calling as they passed by.
Making our way to the first pool, we could see the huge freight tankers making their way out of Southampton Water and in the distance, a few of the huge pleasure Liners were moored in the Docks. Dark clouds were over the Isle of Wight and we could see the rain falling down over that side of the Solent. Good, it could stay there.
On the biggest main pool, we counted up to 65+ Black-tailed Godwit, 23+ Avocet, 2 Common Snipe, a single Common Sandpiper and at least two pairs of Little Grebe. A Whitethroat was flitting about in the brambles in front of us and then a Sedge Warbler joined it as they both scurried about within a small bush out on the reedbed. A Water Rail was heard deep within, but no sighting today. Geoffs sharp hearing picked up both Lesser Marsh Grasshopper and Field Grasshopper and we got to see a couple of the former species close up. A few butterflies were on the wing that included both Small Copper and Small Heath over the shingle.
As we moved onto the next pool, which was a lot smaller, a Wheatear flew up and circled us before disappearing over the shoreline. It was hotting up. What other migrant passerines lay in store? Another butterfly went through, a male Common Blue and then a Ringed Plover flew over our heads, calling as it headed off north. A flock of Linnets flew over our heads and landed nearby and that's when we met local birders, Dave Wallace and his wife again (we saw them at Titchfield Haven last week) and I resumed our conversation about our recent moth sightings etc. Another local Hampshire birder, came up to us and so I left Dave to chat with him as we made our way further south.
After watching a fine male Stonechat on a fence wire, Andy had seen something interesting perched out on the reserve to the east. As it turned out, it was my first Whinchat of the year and a second bird was found nearby as well. Happy days indeed, with my 203rd species of the year under my belt. Just a shame about my camera. Grrrr! We then took the bridle path to the east and made our way along here, picking out a Chiffchaff call and flitting about in the trees. At the end of the bridle path, there was a large gathering of Cows near the edge of the field and here, a very large flock of Yellow Wagtails were seen. We must have easily counted at least 50+ birds here, with some coming very close to where we stood. And then it rained literally ‘Cats and Dogs’! It was a huge downpour and it even unsettled the Cows who walked off to seek cover under the trees nearby. Yes, it dispersed the Yellow Wagtails, but they soon slowly came back. Eventually, the rain stopped and we had a long spell of sunshine before the rain came back in again. Watching the Yellow Wagtails again, I turned round and found a superb Red Underwing moth perched on a wooden fence panel, my first of the year as I carefully prized open the wings with a bit of grass to reveal the amazing red and black underwing panel to the guys.
We walked down Workmans Lane and then took a footpath east towards the Horse fields where we enjoyed several Swallows and House Martins perched on overhead wires. Even a Spotted Flycatcher joined them briefly and was later seen again in some dead trees on the way back. There wasn't a great deal of note by the Horse Fields, bar a few Whitethroats and a couple of Common Buzzards, though a large flock of around 100+ Goldfinch were noteworthy. I picked out a Small Heath butterfly on the ground to round off our trip here as we walked back in the rain to the car.
Before we headed off back home, the rain had now gone and I fancied the last hour on Portsdown Hill for possible migrants. We therefore parked up in the car park near Pigeon House Lane and walked down a footpath behind Fort Widley. From here, we had a sub-singing Blackcap, a Chiffchaff and a few more common birds. The area had great potential for possible migrants and I expect there were many here this morning. I noted some of the plants growing here including the beautiful blue Field Scabious, Ragwort and a small delicate plant called Burnet Saxifrage, which Geoff identified for me. So, another cracking day birding where I got not only another new species for the year list, but also another moth for my year list.
Later on today, Geoff went back up to Portsdown Hill area between Portchester Lane / Fort Southwick area where he had 3 Wheatears, Whitethroat and a Curlew! The Black Stork that was seen in the Brockenhurst area of the New Forest recently was seen again today, soaring over the Wood Fidley / Pig Bush area of the New Forest and even over Lyndhurst; but it never settled on the ground. I know both Andy and Geoff need this species for their life list, however, I would be happy with it on my Hampshire list as the only one I have seen in the UK was on the Isle of Wight many years ago.
No comments:
Post a Comment