An early morning walk to kick off the new month.

Sunday 1st October 2023.

Another new month has started and arguably one of the most exciting months of the year for rare birds. September will take some beating for many, what with those ‘Yank’ passerines on the west coast, but October normally turns up the big stuff. Hopefully, some might actually be found in Hampshire? Before I took the dogs over Highland Road Cemetery this morning, I had to check the moth box first and with a slate grey sky overhead, it was easy to pick up any migrating birds flying overhead as well.

Kicking off with the moths, it was all the usual suspects present this morning, with 52 moths of 16 species recorded today. A good number of Light Brown Apple Moths with at least 16 found though probably more dotted around nearby. I think the pick of the moths was the Common Marbled Carpet, a species that is on its second generation this year.

Overhead, there was a bit of bird movement going on with at least 7 ‘alba’ Wagtails (White or Pied) heading south and a trickle of Meadow Pipits going over too. The moths present this morning included the following:

• 6 Lesser Yellow Underwing
• 1 Brimstone Moth
• 2 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Large Yellow Underwing
• 1 Willow Beauty
• 1 Garden Carpet
• 4 Feathered Ranunculus
• 1 Lunar Underwing
• 1 Common Marbled Carpet
• 1 White-shouldered House Moth
• 7 Box Tree Moth
• 4 Rusty-dot Pearl
• 2 Common Plume
• 2 Ruddy Streak
• 16 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 2 Pellitory Cosmet

I only found the one Field Mushroom this morning on my early morning walk around the Cemetery. This individual was over on the south side amongst the fallen leaves. 

As the morning wore on, I decided to take the dogs for a walk earlier than usual and arrived at the gates of Highland Road Cemetery around 7.45am. With the sky like a light grey canvas, I was hoping to pick out some migrating passerines overhead and was rewarded with a good movement of Meadow Pipits and Siskins going over. Several Chiffchaffs were seen and heard and a flock of 6 Swallows sped low overhead heading east.

• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Chiffchaff
• Goldcrest
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Swallow
• Meadow Pipit
• Wren
• Robin
• Starling
• House Sparrow
• Collared Dove
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Blackbird
• Goldfinch
• Siskin

Above, a flock of Goldfinch flew overhead on the south-east side of the Cemetery. Below, a photo of some of the trees looking west from the east side. A heavy overcast sky didn't really help photography this morning.

Above, there were a few Chiffchaffs were seen this morning and below, I was lucky to grab this photo of a Siskin (honestly!) flying over my head.

At least three Goldcrest were recorded today in the conifers, with two being seen in the centre of the Cemy and another heard over on the north side. Siskins flew over with one flock of three birds seen well flying south, but too quick for me to grab a photo. The most notable occurrence was when at least 50+ Carrion Crows gathered in the Holm Oaks and made the loudest din amongst themselves. I am not sure I have seen such a spectacle from this species here, especially the amount of birds present too. It even made my dogs stop and look up! 

Above and below, I couldn't emphasise enough how loud these Carrion Crows were as they swarmed around the Holm Oaks within the Cemetery, with more and more joining them. Some spectacle!

It looks as though it is going to be a pleasant day today with light south-westerly winds and some sunshine. Maybe I might go for another bit of birding today. We shall see.

An adult male Anyphaena numida spider that was sitting on my moth box this morning.