A moth surprise over the Cemy.

Thursday 12th October 2023.

Nearing the end of the east side pathway, it was in the Conifer in the distance that I found the Red-green Carpet moth.

The dogs got a walk around Highland Road Cemetery again this morning after my first shift and though a bit overcast at first, the sun did pop out now and then, but it was still very mild for this time of year. There were only 19 species recorded this morning and to be honest, not the most exciting array of birds to be had, but at least I had a good view of a Goldcrest in a Pine tree near the main entrance and a Jay that flew right in front of me. Up to 6 Blackbirds were seen near the Mausoleum, taking advantage of the bountiful berries present.

Above, a pair of Great Tits were near a garden feeder and below, this Magpie stood proud on top of the Conifer in the south-west corner.

Above, the Red-green Carpet moth was my first of the year and completely unexpected.

Red Admiral butterflies were still very abundant throughout the Cemetery, making the most of the still flowering Ivy Bushes along with all the usual Hoverflies and Bees. It was nice to see a few Marmalade Hoverflies this morning on a Prickly Sow-thistle (see photos). A Migrant Hawker dragonfly was seen hunting near the top of one of the trees, but would not come down any lower. I think the sighting of the trip here actually involved a moth. A small moth was fluttering about close to the Pine in the south-west corner and so I watched it till it settled and then grabbed a few photos of it. I can confirm from my photos that it was a Red-green Carpet, my first of the year.

Above and below, Red Admiral butterflies were still abundant throughout the Cemetery.

There was nothing very exciting about the plants present that were in flower including both Smooth and Prickly Sow-thistle. One grave had a spray of Common Field Speedwell and Yarrow was present in all areas of the Cemy.

Above and below, a Marmalade Hoverfly nectaring on a Prickly Sow-thistle.

The weather turned worse in the afternoon with a few light showers and the wind picking up a bit. There is a ‘yellow’ weather warning tonight and tomorrow does not look very enticing either, but cooling down considerably over the weekend.

On the north-east footpath, a headless Wood Pigeon was being pecked at by up to three Carrion Crows. It looks like a Sparrowhawk kill judging by the head missing on the Pigeon.

The birds seen or heard this morning included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Magpie
• Carrion Crow
• Jay
• Goldfinch
• Greenfinch
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Goldcrest
• Chiffchaff
• Robin
• Wren
• House Sparrow
• Starling
• Meadow Pipit
• Blackbird

Above, the Jay was present again this morning and below, this was one of six Blackbirds in the south-west corner. There is a bumper crop of berries this Autumn, which should attract a good number of thrushes.

In Hampshire today, this morning on the Posbrook Floods, there were 3 Glossy Ibis, 2 Great White Egrets and further north among the livestock, two Cattle Egrets were present. On Farlington Marshes today, two Cattle Egrets and a pair of Dartford Warblers were recorded and a Bittern flew over the Lake late afternoon. A Ring Ouzel was still at Lower Test Marshes and a juvenile bird was seen yesterday here in the Bushes area (see photo below).

This juvenile Ring Ouzel was feasting on the berries on Farlington Marshes. Photo by Sheila Williams.