Two rare butterflies on year list.

Saturday 7th October 2023.

Turnstone flying over Chichester Harbour this morning.

This weekend was set to be a very warm one on the south coast, completely contrasting what was going on further north in the UK as they were experiencing very heavy rainfall, much lower temperatures and even snow in the Highlands! Yes, it was balmy weather here with bright sunshine and temperatures well into the 20’s. Any good for bringing in migrants perhaps? I wasn't really sure on where to go this morning and I left it to Andy to suggest and he went for Sandy Point and Northney on Hayling Island.

Above, Black Rustic moth and below, Dark Arches moth.

But first, the moths. I had my moth box on last night and this morning, there were a few interesting moths; notably a gorgeous Black Rustic and a very late Dark Arches moth among all the usual moths. It did not get light enough to check the moth box out till just after 7am and so I was in a bit of a rush in checking both the white sheet and surrounding area, then the moth box itself. The following moths were present this morning:

• 3 Lesser Yellow Underwing
• 7 Feathered Ranunculus
• 1 Lunar Underwing
• 1 Square-spot Rustic
• 1 Dark Arches
• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart
• 1 Black Rustic
• 1 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Box Tree Moth
• 1 Pale-backed Clothes Moth
• 6 Light Brown Apple Moth 

Andy’s moth box, at Cowplain Marsh, was near empty unfortunately, though it would have been a lot colder overnight there. As Andy made breakfast, I got about checking the moths present, but there were no ‘year-ticks’ among the few moths present which included the following:

• 2 L-album Wainscot
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow
• 1 Garden Carpet
• 1 Willow Beauty
• 1 Common Plume
• 1 Ruddy Streak 

Above, I rescued this Buff-tailed Bumblebee from drowning in a dogs water bowl by the RNLI Building. Below, some of the Yarrow plants at Sandy Point were of the purple variety.

After picking up Geoff, we made our way down to Sandy Point to kick off our day's birding. It was clear overhead with plenty of visible migration going on that included good numbers of Meadow Pipits, Siskins, ‘alba’ Wagtails and smaller numbers of Skylark; all virtually heading west. The track leading from Seafarers Walk to the beach produced very little at first, but when I realised I had left my mobile phone in the car, as I went back for it, I saw a Firecrest, a small gathering of Long-tailed Tits and on the driveway of the house by the entrance, I found a clump of Shaggy Inkcap toadstools growing out of the cracks of the driveway; my first of the year. Getting back with the guys, the bushes and trees nearby looked promising for a good Warbler or possibly a Wryneck, but the best we could come up with was a few Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest! Geoff pointed out the Yarrow plants growing nearby and several flower heads were coloured a light purple. Apparently, some plants do come out with this colour at this time of year.

Above, these Shaggy Inkcap toadstools were growing on someones driveway! Below, a Blue Tit along the bridlepath.

Making our way to the big (always) empty car park behind the RNLI Building, we picked up a few nice passerines for our day list that included at least four Lesser Redpolls. It was Andy who spotted one first, sitting in the hedgerow in front of us and when they started to call, we were in no doubt, but too quick for me to grab a photo. A female Blackcap, a few Chiffchaffs, a pair of Great Tits and a Greenfinch were also present in the same bush until all flew off. Overhead, more Meadow Pipits, Siskins and even a few Linnets passed overhead, but most were very high up.

Above, one of the Long-tailed Tits along the Bridlepath and below, a Sandwich Tern flying back into Chichester Harbour. 

Sitting on the benches by the RNLI Building, a flock of four Sandwich Terns flew out of the harbour entrance and a single bird flew back into Chichester Harbour. The tide was out and therefore the mudflats were exposed within the harbour and I could see a few waders in the distance through the scope. A Common Seal poked its head out of the sea briefly and Geoff picked up a flock of at least 130+ Brent Geese flying west deep within the harbour.

Above, this Little Egret landed on the shoreline on the way to Black Point and below, Andy found this Wheatear hopping about by the moored boats.

We made our way to Black Point, hoping to see some interesting waders in the harbour and along the way there, we enjoyed a Chiffchaff by the bushes adjacent to the road leading to the Hayling Sailing Club. As expected, it was busy here with Sailing enthusiasts and there were plenty of cars coming up and down the main road. But despite this, we found both a Lesser Marsh and Common Field Grasshopper in the grass by the road. Nature finds a way as they say. As we rounded the Sailing Club, something caught Andy’s eye and it was a Wheatear which thankfully perched on one of the moored boats by the Sailing Club.

Above, another photo of the Wheatear at Black Point. Below, a Common Field Grasshopper by the Sailing Club road.

We looked south and checked out the waders and both Geoff and Andy were quick enough to notice a small wader flying with a flock of Dunlin. It looked good for a Little Stint and when it landed, I confirmed it through the scope. On our side of the water, a lone Sanderling was roosting near a yellow buoy with a pair of Ringed Plover nearby. Small flocks of Grey Plover and Turnstone flew past and among the many Oystercatchers feeding over on the far side of the water, I found at least 6 Bar-tailed Godwits searching for food.

Above, the Great Spotted Woodpecker seen at Sandy Point and below, even Speckled Woods were showing well today.

On the way back, a male Sparrowhawk flew into a garden opposite the creek and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew up to a Conifer, calling in doing so. We rested for a while in the car park again behind the RNLI Building and from here, a small butterfly flew in. We first thought it might be a Comma, but as I got nearer to try and get a photo, it turned out to be a Wall Brown butterfly; my first in many a year. Annoyingly, it flew off before I was just about to take a photo and flew over the hedge behind us. Geoff went to look for it, found it and confirmed my ID on this rare Hampshrie butterfly. So I went to look for it myself and found it perched on a Cat’s Ear flower. Then a couple of dog walkers walked in front of me and flushed the butterfly and it wasn't relocated. I did ask them to stop before they flushed it, but it was too late as the dogs flushed it and though they apologised, the chance of photographing this rare butterfly was lost! Howl!!

Above, a couple of Meadow Pipits dropped in with a House Sparrow at the top of the Hayling Billy Trail. Below, this Great Crested Grebe was swimming close within Langstone Harbour.

Instead of going to Northney, I suggested trying Hayling Oysterbeds as there were plenty of fields and bushes along the Hayling Billy Trail to check out. So walking south from the car park, we had sightings of a Red Kite passing briefly overhead and a female Sparrowhawk that flew across the pathway and out into the harbour. The area was alive with butterflies and nearing the small pools at the end of the Billy Trail, my first Clouded Yellow butterfly of the year flew past, but Andy sadly missed it. Two butterfly ‘year-ticks’ today was completely unexpected. Red Admirals were simply everywhere and many were seen flying over Langstone Harbour and a big westerly / southerly movement of them was on. Other Butterflies seen included a Brimstone, two Common Blue’s and good numbers of both Large and Small White’s.

We found two male Common Blue butterflies on the Hayling Billy Trail this afternoon.

The bird life here was a little quiet to say the least though there was a sprinkle of Meadow Pipits by the pools and a Great Crested Grebe was seen swimming close in within Langstone Harbour. A Blackcap was heard but not seen and to be honest, all was very quiet here indeed. To round off our day, we took a drive to the car park by Fort Widley to check the bushes for a possible Ring Ouzel. It was the right time of year for one to be present and the amount of berries on the bushes should encourage many thrushes to land here.

Despite a good search, the best we could come up with were a few Chiffchaffs, a single Red Kite, up to four Common Buzzards and a distant Green Woodpecker that was in a field down below the Hill. We need a period of easterly or north-easterly winds to bring in the goodies. Maybe next week?