A Kumlien's Gull livens up a dull seawatch.

Friday 14th April 2023.

The adult Kumlien's Gull in Stokes Bay this morning.

I knew there was another ‘Lazee Birder’ meeting at Gilkicker for today as the winds were blowing from the South-east, though the weather for the day looked awful. Heavy rain for most of the day was forecast and this time, the Meteorologists excelled themselves for a change! Though one had the comfort of the shelter at Gilkicker from the worst of the rain, I had forgotten my gloves and bloody froze! 

Above, several Sandwich Terns were fishing offshore, but there was no decent movement of this species this morning. Below, a pair of Oystercatchers tried their hardest to liven up this very wet morning.

To round it off, it was packed within the Shelter with hardened (or simply mad!) birders hoped for Skua’s and the such, but were rewarded with virtually hardly anything going through. Some poor soul had been there since 6.30am and with just a few Common Terns and Sandwich Terns going through and the occasional Oystercatcher, it was a pretty glum affair. Thankfully, there was a bit of excitement when the shout went up ‘Iceland Gull’, which had us ‘toggers’ (slang for photographers) rushing out to grab a half decent photo.

The adult Kumlien's Gull in Stokes Bay this morning.

Somebody checked Andy Friend’s photos of the bird and on closer inspection, the bird actually looked good for a probable Kumlien’s Gull, a sub-species of Iceland Gull, as it was showing some dark feathering on the primaries and also sporting a dark eye. It being an adult bird as well was most certainly not something to be scoffed at, for it has been a number of years that I have seen an adult Iceland Gull. The bird, however, decided to fly back west along the beach and settled about a third of a mile away near the tide line and so Andy Friend and a few others went off to see if they could get a better photo. They didn't and took a damn good soaking for their efforts!

This immature Mediterranean Gull added a bit of spice to this morning's procedings!

Despite the squally showers (very heavy at times), the banter was always good and also listening to some of the sightings of late is always good. Other sightings were far and few this morning, though a flock of 20+ Meadow Pipits heading west and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull fairly close in over the sea really made up all the sightings. I left at 10am and got a damn good soaking just getting back to the car, leaving behind some determined and dare I say it, optimistic birders in my wake to thrash out the next few hours of a near empty sea! Nigel Crook did have a Swallow actually heading SOUTH over the sea though Andy’s Friends scope. Better weather tomorrow is forecast, thankfully. I just might catch up with some of these migrants being reported.

Two more moth species were added to my year total this morning. Above, a Common Quaker and below, the micro moth Tachystola acroxantha.

Earlier today, I had the moth box on overnight and was rewarded with my first Common Quaker moth of the year and also the micro moth, Tachystola acroxantha. Other moths present included 2 Early Grey and a Common Plume.

Later this afternoon, one of the birders present this morning in the Gilkicker Shelter refound the Iceland Gull around the Hill Head area and confirmed with some excellent photographs that the Gull was in fact a Kumlien's Gull. Well done that man.

A soggy walk around the Cemetery.

Thursday 13th April 2023.

Large heavy rain clouds east of the Cemetery and 40 minutes later, a huge long one decided to empty its load on the Cemetery! Fume!

There were a lot of heavy showers around here on the south coast today and also a lot of very bright sunny spells, but I took a gamble during one of those bright spells and went for a stroll around my local patch, Highland Road Cemetery, in the hope there might be a few migrants here. Nope! Apart from all the usual birds present, I could not find one single migrant bird during the hour I was there. True, the heavy rain that set in after 40 minutes of being there, dampened my enthusiasm; but hey, Spring migrants are very unpredictable here and when you do happen to come across one, they are usually in spanking breeding plumage.

From top to bottom: Mouse-ear Chickweed, Starlings on the hunt for food in the recently mown grass and Lords & Ladies (Cuckoo Pint) plant in the southern half of the Cemetery.

I notched up 18 species of birds either heard or seen during my walk around the Cemetery and also, despite the grass being cut throughout the Cemetery, there were plenty of plants in flower including my first Mouse-ear Chickweed of the year by the main entrance. The Lords & Ladies plants over by the south wall was showing well and there was a good spread of Dandelions showing well throughout the Cemetery, which is good for the local Bees. Sadly, there were no insects seen at all within the Cemetery during my walk, which was probably due to the rain.

From top to bottom: a male Blackbird, the Horse Chestnut Trees coming into leaf and a preening Wood Pigeon in the same stretch of trees.

I suppose the pick of the bunch regarding the birds probably goes to either the Mediterranean Gull or Jackdaw which were both heard only! Jackdaws are a scarce bird in or over the Cemetery and although I did probably see it, it quickly was lost to view behind the trees. I did find a Field Mushroom upside down near the footpath and was probably mown down by the Council Workers this week. It was a shame that there were no migrants picked up today during my walk round, but there are plenty of birds being seen elsewhere in Hampshire. Checking the bird sightings on the Hants Birding website, there were many migrants recorded today including Cuckoo, Redstart, Osprey and Little Terns. I have the next three months to catch up with these lovely birds, so patience is the key. 

From top to bottom: One of many Goldfinches still in the Cemetery, a lone Dandelion among Common Field-Speedwell and Geranium and finally, a male Greenfinch slightly obscured among the budding branches.

Birds recorded in the Cemetery this afternoon included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Mediterranean Gull
• Feral Pigeon
• Wood Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Jackdaw
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Robin
• Wren
• Starling
• Blackbird
• Dunnock
• Goldfinch
• Greenfinch

Away from birds, I found a Brown House Moth in my living room this morning; my first of the year and most likely hatched somewhere in the house I expect!

Above, some of the local House Sparrows within the Cemetery. Below, possibly one of the oldest trees in the Cemetery. It looked down and out during the winter, but every year, its leaves suddenly awaken it into something beautiful. 

Above, yes, it does look a bit like an apple, but in fact, it is a stone covered in a species of moss called Barbula streblotrichum and very common throughout the Cemetery. Below, the first flowers of the Oak tree in the north-east corner.

 

The Brown House-moth in my house this morning.

No new moths this morning.

Tuesday 11th April 2023.

One of 6 Early Grey moths this morning by my moth box.

After yesterday's good moth count for this time of year, I thought I would repeat putting the moth box on overnight. Weather conditions seemed to be good and no rain for a nice change, though it is predicted to come in later today. So, this morning was nice and dry as I went about checking both the outside and inside the moth box. As predicted, a lot of yesterday's moths hung around due to the light being on, so tonight, I will not have the box on.

Three of the four Angle Shades moths seen by my moth box.

There was nothing new to add to my moth year list among the 17 moths of just 5 species:

• 4 Angle Shades
• 2 Double-striped Pug
• 9 Early Grey
• 2 Common Plume
• 1 Light Brown Apple Moth 

This drake Ring-necked Duck was a brief stay on Ibsley Water, Blashford Lakes, last Saturday afternoon. I was still driving back from North Yorkshire and too tired to drive all the way there to view the bird. Grumble! Photo by Andy Tew.

On the bird front, the Black-crowned Night Heron is still by Ilford Bridge, near Christchurch and showing to the many admirers. I do hope the ‘toggers’ behave themselves and not frighten the bird, unlike the unruly behavior of some of the North Yorkshire bird!

Above, the adult Black-crowned Night Heron showing well by the River Stour, near Christchurch over the weekend. It wasn't always this obliging and some birders had to wait a very long time for it to appear, let alone get a good photo of the bird. Photo by Emma Parkes. Below, one of three Little Gulls hawking over the Stream area on Farlington Marshes last weekend. Photo by Andy Friend. 

Reasonable Moth haul despite the rain.

Monday 10th April 2023.

My first Hebrew Character moth of the year, though it had to be rescued.

It looks as though it is going to be a very wet Easter Monday and most likely no birding at all today. On a positive note, I put the moth box on overnight and was rewarded with at least 14 moths of 6 species by the moth box, however, it was too wet to check inside the moth box. I am hoping the rain will ease later in the day for me to check the egg trays inside the box.

Above, an Early Grey moth and below, one of two Angle Shades moth.

I did have to rescue one of the moths as it was upside down and stuck in water on the rain guard and so I quickly put it inside one of the moth pots for it to dry out and check on what species it was. It turned out to be my first Hebrew Character of the year and as I write, it looks as though it is drying itself out quite nicely.

This Double-striped Pug was resting on the white sheet behind the moth box.

The following moths present so far include the following:

• 2 Angle Shades
  
• 1 Hebrew Character (NFY)
• 1 Double-striped Pug
• 5 Early Grey
• 2 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 3  Common Plume

One of two Light Brown Apple Moths this morning.

If I was going birding anywhere, I would like to use the comfort of a Hide and some chap at Blashford Lakes this morning had a nice haul of birds, most likely from the Tern Hide that included 1 Common Tern, 500+ Sand Martin, 1 House Martin, 10 Swallows and the female Scaup. Birding pal, Geoff Farwell, was birding at Oxenbourne Down yesterday afternoon and had the following sightings: 6 Firecrest, 4 Chiffchaff, Raven, 2 Buzzard and a probable Goshawk. Also several butterfly species including 2 Comma’s, numerous Brimstone and a Peacock.

A superb seawatch at Gilkicker.

Sunday 9th April 2023.

One of the dark-phased Arctic Skua's flying close in over the Solent. This individual came in and harassed a Sandwich Tern.

It was arranged today by the ‘Lazee’s’ a sea-watch from Gilkicker would take place and looking at the weather map, south-easterly winds were going to be present throughout the day. These winds can bring in some nice seabirds and migrants and so getting up around 5.30am, I made my way to this very unpredictable site. I have seen some nice birds here last year and with its close proximity to both the Isle of Wight and Hill Head, birds do funnel through and sometimes, quite close to shore.

Above, some of the Little Gulls seen this morning heading east and below, this Common Tern came in high and close to the shoreline.

When I arrived around 6.30am, it was still quite misty within the Solent, but when local birder and fellow ‘Lazee’, Mark Francis turned up, he told me that this was perfect conditions for seabirds to come through on a south-easterly wind. For the next hour, I notched up another three ‘year-ticks’. First of all was a small flock of three Common Terns that flew fast and low over the Solent, but some distance out. Next, a pair of Gannets were seen going low east across the sea and followed quickly by a male Common Scoter heading west. Another flock of four birds of the latter species were seen about 20 minutes later.

Above, one of the three Wheatear that flew onto the beach in front of us and below, one of the tight bunch of Sandwich Terns purposely heading eastbound on migration.

We could see there was most certainly a good ‘movement’ of Terns going through including both Sandwich and Common Terns pulsing through in tight flocks, all heading east. Mark was quick to pick out 5 Little Gulls flying east with a couple of Black-headed Gulls and although not a ‘year-tick’, still a very good sighting. Earlier, a few minutes after I arrived, I heard a Yellow Wagtail fly over, but annoyingly, I did not get a sighting of it. I was luckier with the flock of Linnets flying over heading north as was a Meadow Pipit (another two more were heard). Up to three Wheatears flew in on the beach (I assume they were flushed by dog-walkers in the field behind us) as Mark and I rushed over to grab a few photos.

Above and below, adult Med Gulls heading east close in.

A mixed flock of both Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls close in.

By 8am, we were joined also by Andy Friend, Nigel Crook and a little later by Andy Tew and Mark Manley; so now more eyes out looking over the Solent. More Terns flew east and my final total was 36+ Common Tern and at least 60+ Sandwich Tern, with many flying in tight flocks close in. A few waders went through including a pair of Curlew, 4 Oystercatchers and a sizable flock of small waders which we think were Sanderling, although they were a long way out and heading towards Hill Head. Up to four Swallows were seen coming in off the sea and two birds showed superbly as they belted past.

Some of the better photos of the Arctic Skua's this morning.

Easily the birds of the morning were the Arctic Skua’s. Possibly everyone's favourite seabird, we had five birds in total this morning, all dark-phased birds. Andy Friend picked out two birds flying low over the Solent and these were joined by a third and then a fourth bird all heading fast east. However, this sighting was eclipsed by another dark-phased bird coming in and then harassing a Sandwich Tern to disgorge its fish it had just recently caught. Some of the guys rushed onto the beach to get better photos of the bird chasing the hapless Tern, but who could blame them as the bird was quite close in.

Some of the Lazee Birders enjoying a good mornings seawatch from Gilkicker. From R to L: Nigel Crook, Andy Tew, my good self, Mark Francis and John Manley. Photo by Andy Friend.

By 10am, I made my way home reflecting on a good morning's sea-watch with the ‘Lazee Birders’. Earlier in the day, John Manley went to see the Black-crowned Night Heron on the River Stour, near Christchurch that was found yesterday (possibly three birds there last night)  and was still present this morning. Birding pal, Geoff Farwell, took part in the Wildfowl and Wader Count yesterday down at Farlington Marshes. He notched up the following sightings: 2 Little Gulls, 2 Ruff, 40 Avocet, Greenshank, Whimbrel, Short-eared Owl, Peregrine, Reed Warbler, 2 Wheatears and a Swallow!   

The Black-crowned Night Heron on the River Stour this morning. Photo by John Manley.