Saturday 23rd September 2023.
Another incredible days birding with two superb Phalarope species added to my year list, another two moth species added to my year list and to round off a fantastic day, we got to see the Long-tailed Blue butterfly this afternoon on Portsdown Hill; a species that was new for me in the UK. The only thing that marred a superb day was the fact I had left the memory card for my camera at home and so, I had to borrow the photos of some of the ‘Lazee’s’ and other birders for my blog entry today. Yet, another senior moment!
Though it was a cold start to the day, there were two new moths added to my year list: a superb Delicate and at least four Lunar Underwings. The former is an uncommon immigrant moth, while the latter is a common Autumn moth, but most welcome addition to my year list. The moths present this morning included the following:
- 1 Large Yellow Underwing
- 1 Delicate (NFY)
- 1 Lesser Yellow Underwing
- 4 Lunar Underwing (NFY)
- 1 Bloxworth Snout
- 1 Pale Mottled Willow
- 1 Square-spot Rustic
- 1 L-album Wainscot
- 2 London Dowd
- 4 Light Brown Apple Moth
- 2 Beautiful Plume
Andy had his moth box on overnight and there was a nice selection there too, which included the following moths:
- 1 Clancy’s Rustic
- 4 Common Marbled Carpet
- 1 L-album Wainscot
- 1 Garden Carpet
- 2 Square-spot Rustic
- 2 Lunar Underwing
- 1 Large Yellow Underwing
- 1 Light Brown Apple Moth
- 1 Common Plume
- 1 Beautiful Plume
The ‘Lazee’s’ were up and about very early this morning and it didn't take long for the rest of us to get a notification that both the Hill Head Grey Phalarope and the Keyhaven Marshes Red-necked Phalarope were both present this morning, that our day was then mapped. So, after picking up Geoff, it was off to Hill Head first. The light was excellent when we arrived with a clear blue sky overhead and a light breeze across the beach. We picked out where the birders were and quickly parked up. It didn't take long for us to get onto the Grey Phalarope, which was feeding on the shoreline fairly close to where we stood, however, the bird was very flighty and didn't hang around long. I quickly grabbed some photos of the bird and then it dawned on me that I had not packed the memory card to my camera. After several very strong expletives, I took it on the chin and carried on watching this beautiful little bird with the guys. I could see some of the regular birders present nearby and said Hello, while enjoying a flock of 5 Yellow Wagtails flying over heading south along with many Meadow Pipits.
Behind us, a flock of 6 Bearded Tits rose from the reedbeds near the roadside and showed well as they climbed the sky and then dropped again into the reeds. They repeated this a few times, something this species does around this time of year. Well pleased with the Grey Phalarope sighting, we made our way back to the car to get some ‘nosh’ for our lunch and then off to Keyhaven Marshes for the Red-necked Phalarope. Earlier today, a Manx Shearwater was reported off Inchmary and heading in the direction of Hill Head, but there were no further reports.
On arrival, we only just managed to get a parking spot at the awful car park at Keyhaven Marshes, which is at the bottom of Lower Pennington Lane. The weather was good and a passing birder told us that the ‘RN Phal’ was still present, although we had a long walk ahead of us. Walking south to the sea wall, a pair of Ravens flew low overhead and good numbers of both House Martin and Swallow were flying low over our heads.
The tide was out within the Solent and I found a small flock of 5 Knot feeding on one of the mud flats. A few Redshank were also present along with singles of both Curlew and Grey Plover. As we neared the main throng of birders present, I realised that it was Andy Friend and several of the ‘Lazee’s’, therefore we joined these guys for a good chat, while waiting for the RN Phalarope to reappear from the grass on the west side of Keyhaven Lagoon. During our time there waiting for the bird to reappear, a Cattle Egret flew in and landed on the small island out in the middle of the pool; my first for several months. Waders already present here included at least 80+ Lapwing, 20 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Redshank, 2 Avocets and a flock of 12 Dunlin briefly flew in, but flew back out onto the mudflats. We knew a Curlew Sandpiper was also present, but there was no sign of the bird at the time.
A fine male Marsh Harrier was seen quartering the fields behind the Lagoon in the distance and several Common Buzzards were noted soaring high in the distance. A Kestrel was hovering over the mudflats in the distance before flying north and earlier today, an Osprey was reported flying over the Solent. Andy Friend and the rest of the ‘Lazee’s’ had their fill of the Phalarope and decided to make their way to nearby Oxey Marshes where the Grey Phalarope was said to still be present.
The Red-necked Phalarope finally gave itself up as it reappeared out of the grass and popped out nicely for everyone to connect with the bird. It was closely followed by the Curlew Sandpiper and the two birds seemed inseparable. The Phalarope flew out onto the water once and showed well, although distant all the time we were there, but it was a good species to get on our year list of which mine now stands at 205 species for the year (198 in Hampshire). A male Dartford Warbler suddenly flew past us and landed in a nearby bramble. It disappeared for a while then was seen again right out in the open until disappearing again. That was a nice bonus. We noticed Red Admiral butterflies were streaming through the reserve, all heading in a westerly direction and behind us, Lesser Marsh Grasshoppers were heard stridulating.
Happy with the Red-necked Phalarope (and it really looked good through the scope), we made our way to where the ‘Lazee’s’ were viewing from Butts Lagoon where we had sightings of a Greenshank, at least 100+ Teal, up to 5 Common Buzzards and a male Marsh Harrier, plus a good chat with the guys again. On the way back to the car, a male Stonechat was seen perched on one of the brambles while more Hirundines passed overhead. All in all, a superb trip to this area of Hampshire.
I was told by my wife to be home earlier than last week, but I had to try for the Long-tailed Blue butterflies that were on top of Portsdown Hill. We should have seen them last Saturday because we were in the area at the time, but after getting the exact location, we successfully found a superb male Long-tailed Blue fluttering around near a bench, resting on some grass in the bright sunshine. I thought the spare memory card I had in the car would work with my camera - it didn't! Aaaaaagh! To make matters worse, I left my mobile phone in the car and so I had to rely on Andy’s mobile phone camera to grab a few photos of my first of this species in the UK. I have seen many abroad, but to get one in the UK is exceptional.
On the way back to drop Geoff back home, I spotted a large raptor over the fields to the north and Geoff agreed it could have been a possible Hen-harrier or a Honey Buzzard, but I was driving at the time and so getting a good view of the bird went begging. Sob! Geoff went back later that afternoon, but failed to locate the bird, but did pick up a Wheatear.
That crazy weather earlier this week produced some amazing Yank passerines to west Wales and not only was the Magnolia Warbler still present at St. Govans Head, Pembrokeshire, but someone found a Canada Warbler there!!!!!! Further north, at Cilan Head, Gwynedd, an Empidonax species of North-American Flycatcher was found, but to tie it to an actual species has not been established yet. We shall see.
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