Moth trapping back at The Oaks and a walk around Old Winchester Hill.

Saturday 2nd September 2023.

Rosy-striped Knot-horn. This attractive micro moth was a 'lifer' for me and there were at least four of them in and around the moth box. The grounds of the Oaks Crematorium always throws up a few surprises.

A very early start this morning took me over to The Oaks Crematorium to check out my moth box I left there overnight. I got special permission to do so from the Management there, with special thanks from a friend who works there, who arranged for me to leave my moth box behind the main building, there last night. Once I got there at 5.55am, it was time to check the moth box. It was overcast at first and still fairly dark and it took till 6.30am for it to turn the actual light off.

Above, Satin Wave and below, Straw Underwing, were both new for the year.

There was a good haul of moths present and a few nice surprises that included a ‘lifer’ in the form of the micro moth, Rosy-striped Knot-horn (Oncocera semirubella), a pretty purple and buff coloured moth of which there were at least four of them. New for the year included Light Emerald, Satin Wave, Straw Underwing, Chestnut Tortrix, Straw Dot, Satin Grass-veneer and Common Marble were all present. While I was checking the moths, overhead both Yellow and Grey Wagtails were flying over, but I simply could not locate them in the sky (they do fly quite high when on migration!). Both Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker were also heard calling nearby as was a Common Buzzard in the woods. Among the moths, there were at least four Red-legged Shieldbugs within the moth box.

The very small micro moth Small Dingy Tubic and below, Rosy Footman were both new for the year.

The moths recorded here at The Oaks Crematorium included the following:

• 1 Common Wainscot
• 2 Willow Beauty
• 2 Light Emerald (NFY)
• 1 Common Rustic
• 2 White-point
• 1 Green Carpet
• 1 Satin Wave (NFY)
• 1 Straw Underwing (NFY)
• 2 Vine’s Rustic
• 2 Setaceous Hebrew Character
• 2 Large Yellow Underwing
• 1 Rosy Footman
• 1 Yellow Shell
• 2 Box Tree Moth
• 1 Narrow-winged Grey
• 1 Mint Moth
• 2 Common Grass-veneer
• 2 Elbow-striped Grass-veneer
• 4 Rosy-striped Knot-horn (NFY)
• 1 Satin Grass-veneer (NFY)
• 2 Common Marble
• 1 Straw-barred Pearl
• 1 Apple Leaf Miner
• 1 Chestnut Tortrix
• 1 White-shouldered House Moth
• 1 Small Dingy Tubic (NFY)

It only took me an hour to go through the moths here and after packing everything away, it was now over to grab some breakfast from a shop near Andy’s house and then to check his moth box. Enjoying Chocolate Croissants and a cup of coffee, I recorded the following moths in his garden:

• 1 Brimstone Moth
• 1 Double-striped Pug
• 4 Willow Beauty
• 3 Large Yellow Underwing
• 1 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
• 1 Garden Carpet
• 2 Small Dusty Wave
• 2 Vine’s Rustic
• 2 Narrow-winged Grey
• 1 White-shouldered House Moth
• 1 Common Marble
• 1 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 1 Ash-bark Knot-horn
• 1 Box Tree Moth
• 2 Ruddy Streak
• 4 Elbow-striped Grass-veneer
• 1 Brown House Moth
• 1 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 1 Common Plume

My first Autumn Ladies Tresses for many a year. Geoff found them on the footpath down the south slope of the Old Winchester Hill fort area. They were also very abundant and quite small too for an Orchid.

I had to be home by around 1pm today due to family commitments and so decided, after picking up birding pal Geoff Farwell, to head to Old Winchester Hill. There has been a flurry of migrants this week at this location and as we drove through the countryside from Clanfield, we noticed there was still a lot of mist over the hills, which would ground a few migrants this morning. We arrived at the car park shortly after 9am and made our way to the first bench for a cup of coffee and to admire the superb view from here overlooking the Fort.

Above, a flock of juvenile Goldfinch with a few adults thrown in on top of the Hill. Below, Small Heath was abundant this morning on the Hill.

There were good numbers of passerine migrants here that included a couple of Redstarts (one down the bottom of the south slope and one on the north-east corner of the Fort; at least three, possibly four Tree Pipits over and a Spotted Flycatcher also down at the bottom of the south slope of the Fort. A few Blackcaps, Willow Warblers were seen as well as at least three Common Whitethroats. Sadly, nothing more unusual, but at least three or four Firecrests were seen on the footpath by the main road among a mixed flock of Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits and Chiffchaffs. A Marsh Tit was seen nearby and another by the gate at the Fort Entrance.

Above, we found a couple of Common Carpet moths (well, Andy did actually!). Below, several Blackcaps were seen as well, including this fine male bird on the Hill.

Overhead, raptors this morning included a couple of Common Buzzards (with a few Ravens joining them), a single distant Red Kite and at least two Kestrels. Other notable sightings included a female Bullfinch and at least 5 Yellowhammers this morning. A flock of Red-legged Partridges were seen on the south slope by the Fort, which were obviously spooked by something that flushed them.

Above, the small Carline Thistle growing on the south slope of the Fort and below, well, words simply fail me!!! Arguably, the whitest man in Hampshire? I'm sure he can be seen from space!!!

Butterflies this morning were abundant when the sun came out. We had great views of both Chalkhill and Adonis Blue, the latter of which I have never seen so many for the south slope was alive with them. We even saw just the one Silver-spotted Skipper by the perimeter footpath by the Fort, while the likes of Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Gatekeeper and Small White were literally everywhere. A few Red Admirals were noted along the footpath adjacent to the fields to the south.

Above and below, the Adonis Blue butterflies were abundant. This individual was more than happy with this Rabbit poo!

Regarding the plants, Geoff was quick to point out our first Autumn Lady Tresses on the south slope of the Fort. These tiny Orchids were everywhere too beside the path leading down the south slope. Other plants included Autumn Gentian, Yellow Wort, Carline Thistle and Geoff put me straight on identifying the abundant Wild Basil and Red Bartsia that was growing by the footpath. Yes, there were many other species of plant growing and the area still looked amazing in the morning sunshine. As Geoff said, the south slope of the Fort is one of the most spectacular sites in the UK for chalkland plants.

Above, you can just see the Silver-spotted Skipper on this flower and below, Geoff making his way up the south slope by the Fort.

Above, one of several Willow Warblers seen this morning and below, a Comma butterfly was resting on a Hawthorn Bush in the sunshine.

Emma and Matt Parkes, while we were at Old Winchester Hill, were birding around the Deadmans Hill area of the New Forest. I got a message from her to say they had a female Harrier species flying over and would I try and ID it. In conclusion, it was a female ‘ringtail’ Hen-harrier, a nice early bird roaming the Forest. Matt also sent me a nice photo of a Grayling butterfly; a species I have not seen yet this year. After dropping Geoff off at his home, he later went down Farlington Marshes where he had the following sightings on the reserve: 3 Ruff, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 36 Greenshank and a Marsh Harrier. Fellow ‘Lazee Birder, Nigel Crook, went down the same reserve at dusk and saw the following: 220 Yellow Wagtail going into roost, 2 Whinchat, Green Sandpiper, 4 Ruff, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, 2 Water Rail, Cattle Egret, Osprey and 3 Marsh Harriers.

Above, a 'ringtail' Hen-harrier at Blackgutter Bottom, New Forest. Photo by Emma Parkes. Below, the Grayling butterfly seen also that morning by these guys.