Our accommodation for the next week. Could be worse?
Today, with my family, we made the way to Ladies Mile Holiday Park at Dawlish Warren on the south coast of Devon. I have only ever been to Dawlish Warren once before, in 1997 to ‘twitch’ the Semipalmated Plover that summered there, but, to be honest, I can hardly remember anything about it apart from the fact there was hardly anybody there at the time. I did see the bird well, eventually and then took the 3 hour drive back home.
The Swallows nest with young at the Farmshop.
So, despite Storm Antoni raging through the UK, we made our way down there at a reasonable, comfortable speed; stopping only for refreshments and a nice break at Felicity’s Farm Shop just off the A35 west of Chideock. There, the ladies had found a Swallow nest with young on one of the buildings and despite it chucking it down with rain, I grabbed my camera and took a few photos of this delightful little scene (as briefly as I could).
They are most certainly cute.
The journey to the Holiday park was pretty straightforward (well, it is with Sat Nav! Doh!) and on our way there, I saw four species of raptor: a Hobby over the A31, a Peregrine just past the Farm Shop we were at, a male Sparrowhawk over the A35 and a male Kestrel also over the A35. Amazingly, not one Common Buzzard was seen on our journey down!
The view from the beach overlooking the sea with Exmouth in the distance.
Earlier this week, I checked out the Dawlish Warren Latest Sightings website and was pleased to see some good seabirds had been passing through offshore including Pomarine Skuas, various Shearwaters and even Storm Petrels; hence, that's why I brought along my scope to hopefully catch up with these superb birds. After packing all our holiday stuff away, the ladies went off to the local Sainsburys to stock up the fridge and cupboards, while I took a walk down to the beach. There was still a very strong wind blowing (even blew my cap off!), but the walk to the beach was a lot longer than I expected. Just to make things even worse, my camera’s zoom lens had now stopped working! Disaster!!
Just before my camera 'gave up the ghost', I managed to take a few photos of the Sandwich Terns offshore. At least 20+ were seen going through, though I read that over 300+ were seen in the Estuary this week including a few Roseate Terns.
I made my way through all the grim looking fairground atmosphere down near the seafront (all for the tourists) and eventually got to the promenade overlooking the sea. Langstone Rock was to my right and to my left, I could see the entrance to the River Exe and the Exe Estuary, with Exmouth Beach in the distance. Where the local birders actually view from I don't know yet, but checking out the sea with just my binoculars, I could see good numbers of Sandwich Terns passing over the water and some very distant Gannets, but nothing more interesting than that, which was disappointing after walking all the way down here. I have got a good idea on where to park to do Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve, which I shall probably try tomorrow hopefully. But it is a family holiday and therefore, I have to be patient with the rest of the family and what they want to do. I am pretty pissed off with my Nikon camera not working properly, so any future photos from here will probably be from my mobile camera. Groan!
One more photo of the Sandwich Terns offshore.
Back in Hampshire, birding pals Geoff Farwell and Andy Fisher went to the 'seawatching' building at Gilkicker to do a spot of 'seawatching'. Geoff picked up Andy in his car and before setting off, Geoff got to check Andy’s moth box (sounds rude!). Here, he found a Dusky Thorn, Tree-lichen Beauty, 5 Riband Wave, Brimstone, Willow Beauty and a Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing. While at Gilkicker, the boys found their first Arctic Skua for the year plus 8 Common Scoter and 3 Gannets going through the Solent plus a Wheatear on the beach. Fellow ‘Lazee’ Mark Francis had earlier seen an Arctic Skua off Hill Head along with some Kittiwakes and another fellow ‘Lazee’, Andy Friend, had the same species off Sandy Point, Hayling. Meanwhile, 'seawatching' sightings off Dawlish Warren today included 37 Manx Shearwater, 9 Arctic and 4 Pomarine Skua, 3 Storm Petrels and 2 Arctic Terns. Very nice.
It was much cooler in the garden at 5.40am this morning, with a north-westerly wind keeping temperatures down to just 13 degrees centigrade. Again, it was dry with a patchy sky overhead and checking the white sheet behind the moth box, apart from a Brimstone Moth sticking out like a sore thumb, there were relatively few moths present. That was the story for this morning when I finally counted all the moths. However, there was one new moth for the year; the micro moth Horse-chestnut Leaf Miner.
A rather worn Horse-chestnut Leaf Miner.
This particular moth, though mine was a bit worn, is quite an attractive little thing when seen up close, however, it has a dark side to it. Take a stroll around Highland Road Cemetery and check the leaves of the Horse Chestnut trees within there and you will see the results of the mining activity of the grubs this tiny little moth has done. Very few leaves are unaffected, but on the positive side, it does not kill the tree as it eventually sheds its leaves in Autumn and goes on to produce more fresh leaves the following year and start the process all over again. That's nature!
Above, the damage caused by the grubs of the Horse-chestnut Leaf Miner.
Marbled Beauty.
Of the other moths present this morning, one of the smaller types of Silver Y, a Marbled Beauty, my second Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing of the year were probably the pick of the small bunch of macro moths today.
The moths present this morning included the following:
3 Riband Wave
1 Marbled Beauty
2 Garden Carpet
5 Brimstone Moth
1 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
1 Silver Y
1 Common Rustic
13 Light Brown Apple Moth
1 Mint Moth
1 Rosy Tabby
1 Beautiful Plume
7 Common Plume
2 Ruddy Streak
1 Dingy Dowd
1 Apple Leaf Miner
1 Horse-chestnut Leaf Miner (NFY)
In Hampshire yesterday, local birder Amy Robjohns had both Pomarine and two Arctic Skua off Hill Head early in the morning. Both Whinchat and Wheatear were also noted, proving that migration is on its way. Nationally, a Hudsonian Godwit is on the Mainland, Shetlands for its third day at least. Cornwall is still experiencing good numbers of the larger Shearwaters off its various headlands and also Wilson’s Petrels are still being seen too. I was lucky enough to be on one of the last ‘Pelagics’ from Penzance to go out to the infamous ‘Wilson’s Triangle’ to see the Wilson’s Petrels many years ago; an experience I shall never forget. Not only did we go through some stormy conditions (it did eventually clear, though I have never seen so many people sea-sick and ill-looking in one place, lol ), but also experienced first hand the absolutely awful smell of ‘Chum’! A mixture of all things revolting and totally gut-wrenching if you are caught downwind from it. But once the stuff is checked out onto what looks like a totally bird-less sea, they suddenly come pouring in from simply nowhere! Then the birding was simply sublime, with all the seabirds you want to see all close up, including the Wilson’s Petrels.
The Holly Blue butterfly this morning was nice, but occasionally, a butterfly species will be found within the moth box.
After yesterday’s washout, it was nice to get back to some form of nature and so my moth box duly obliged. However, it wasn't any moth that got the ‘star billing’. It was actually a butterfly, a Holly Blue to be exact and as I spent around 5 minutes chasing it around the moth box (where it was walking about between the top of the box and the rain guard (fume!)), it finally settled on the white sheet where it was more than happy to pose for me to take a photo!
A rather worn Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix was new for the year.
Sadly, apart from that lovely insect, there were relatively few macro moths in and around the moth box and if it wasn’t for the many Light Brown Apple Moths, it would have been a very poor showing. The weather probably plays its part, though it was quite mild this morning and a bonus of being dry after yesterday's horrible weather helped bring in a few moths. Last night’s Brimstone Moth perched on the box was nowhere to be seen before I retired to bed.
Thankfully, I did have one new moth for the year when I carefully checked the photos of one particular odd looking Light Brown Apple Moth. On closer inspection, it turned out to be my first Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix for the year, though a little worn I might add.
Square-spot Rustic.
The moths recorded this morning included the following:
1 Shuttle-shaped Dart
1 Square-spot Rustic
2 Lime-speck Pug
2 Silver Y
1 Small Dusty Wave
6 Common Plume
2 Dingy Dowd
1 Marsh Dowd
18 Light Brown Apple Moth
3 Ruddy Streak
2 Four-spotted Obscure
1 Beautiful Plume
1 Bird-cherry Ermine
1 Apple Leaf Miner
1 Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix (NFY)
Update: 1 Dark Neb (NFY)
I read that some of the ‘Lazee Birders’ were doing a seawatch from the Milford Shelter yesterday morning, hoping for some good seabirds to pass their way. Sadly not. I am not sure what they saw but the weather was dire. I was even tempted to do a couple of hours from my Southsea shelter but the rain was consistent throughout the afternoon here. The place to be for seawatching must have been down on the Cornish headlands where incredible numbers and a variety of seabirds were pouring through on 50mph winds!
For example, Porthgwarra (a superb seawatching site that I have been and been successful with in the past) reeled off at least 5500+ Cory Shearwaters, 250+ Great Shearwaters, 100+ Sooty Shearwaters, Balearic Shearwaters, 3 Pomarine Skua, several Wilson’s Storm Petrels, numerous Storm Petrels, at least 2 Fea’s type Petrels, Great Skua and nearby Pendeen fared superbly with the above species too. Nearby St. Catherine’s Point on the Isle of Wight (I have done some seawatching from there in the past too!) had a Cory’s Shearwater heading west as well as a few Balearic Shearwaters. With the right strong winds and late July early August viewing, one should come up with the goods. Years ago, I remember seawatching off both Pendeen & Porthgwarra one weekend in exactly the right conditions and saw all the big Shearwaters in big numbers and a cracking supporting cast of seabirds. Simply amazing.
The back of my fathers garden in Lovedean. The Buddleia dominates the garden, but plenty of other plants around to attract the insects.
Later this morning, I went north to visit my father up in Lovedean and during the three hours I was there, there was a good list of butterflies and a few birds seen. My father has turned his back garden into a ‘wildlife garden’ and though he grows a lot of his own vegetables and some plants, the rest of the garden is allowed to run wild; which in turn benefits the insects and invertebrates within the garden.
A huge Buddleia tree dominates the back of the garden which, during the time I was there, attracted an array of butterflies including Red Admiral, Peacock, Gatekeeper, Small and Large White, Brimstone, Meadow Brown and a Holly Blue. There were plenty of Buff-tailed Bumblebees nectaring on the flowers and even a Hornet-mimic Hoverfly came into the garden and took full advantage of the flowering Buddleia. I used to have a large tree attracting plenty of the above last year, until my ‘better half’ decided to have the tree chopped down and replaced with some ornamental Buddleia that blooms different coloured flowers. It is currently about 18 inches tall at the moment! My father was growing Mint in the garden as well as other plants and sure enough, a Mint Moth flew in and landed several times on the plants!
My father even had a Hummingbird Hawk-moth in this garden yesterday, his first of the year and he told me that he is hoping to put the moth box on tonight. He has had some decent moths in the past and so will keep me updated on his catches by taking photos and sending them to me via Whatsapp.
I checked the garden and my fathers bird feeders, noticing good numbers of House Sparrows on the feeders, but my sharp eyes picked out a female Sparrowhawk soaring high overhead and the Sparrows hadn't even noticed! I bet she had noticed them! One male Sparrowhawk flew between my fathers house and his neighbours yesterday, no doubt after the local Sparrows. My father has a big passion for wildlife (he introduced me to birding when I was very young) and at the age of 78, it's good that it keeps him occupied and not sitting in front of a telly all day. He is passionate about gardening and growing his own plants and the wildlife is a big bonus. Even the Tench and Goldfish came up to the surface in his pond to show themselves while I was there.
While chatting to him in the Conservatory, a Large White butterfly flew in and fluttered around us, totally oblivious of us as it explored the area and then eventually flew out back into the garden. Amazing. As my father said, who needs television when you can watch all this wildlife on your doorstep?
Later in the afternoon, two small micro moths that I had potted earlier today were checked out and while one of them was new for the year, a Dark Neb (Bryotropha affinis), the other micro flew off before I could grab a photo. You can't win them all!
A cool, blustery westerly wind kicked off the new month, with a few clouds overhead, but was relatively clear and dry at 5.15am and judging by the white sheet behind my moth box, I think I was in for a low turnout of moths, which turned out to be true. It really has been a ‘hit and miss’ sort of Summer this year, where we had that hot two weeks in June, where I was getting well over a hundred moths during that hot spell and now, apart from one drizzly morning last month, numbers have dropped considerably.
Dark Sword-grass.
Only 27 moths of 17 species were present this morning, which was disappointing, though among them, immigrant moths included a Dark Sword-grass, Rusty-dot Pearl and a Silver Y. Ten of those moths present this morning were Light Brown Apple Moths and in all probability, there were more around though hiding out of sight. A Mother of Pearl was a smart moth, sitting on one of the outside egg trays; though I will bring the egg trays back into the house today as more rain is forecast in what is going to be a very showery, windy week ahead.
Rusty-dot Pearl.
Moths recorded this morning included the following:
The Fishlake Meadows Osprey. Photo by Pete Appleton.
Though I am not birding today, I have noticed how many superb photos there have been on various social media sites by some of my birding pals. I am really lucky to have such good birding friends who are more than happy to put their superb photos on my blog and so, enjoy this montage of brilliant photos.
Another superb shot of the Fishlake Meadows Osprey. Photo by Pete Appleton.
The Osprey was still on Fishlake Meadows this morning and I have learnt since that this individual, which is sporting a blue ring on one of its legs, was actually ringed at Kielder Forest, in Northumberland and now spending late summer at this superb reserve. It certainly has its steady stream of admirers, judging by the excellent photos on Facebook. The returning Pink-footed Goose has returned to the northern end of Hampshire, Tundry Pond, where it is associating with the Grey Lag Geese again. Whether this is a genuine wild individual, we will never know, but again, it is getting a steady stream of admirers who want to ‘tick it’ off for their respective year lists. Will I go? Possibly, as I have never seen a Pink-foot in Hampshire. If you can ‘tick off’ the Ruddy Shelducks, then why not?
Above, a Swallow in the rain and below, a Privet Hawk Moth. Both photos by Emma Parkes.
Birding pal, Geoff Farwell, went birding down Farlington Marshes yesterday and notched up the following sightings: Marsh Harrier, 2 Ravens, 40 Gadwall, 5 Avocets and 2 Little Ringed Plovers.
Above, this juvenile Reed Warbler was at Titchfield Haven from the Meonshore Hide. Photo by Christine Whiffen. Below, a Great White Egret stands proud. Photo by Andy Dickety.
My second Langmaid's Yellow Underwing of the year.
It was much quieter in my moth box this morning, back in my garden where on a cool, breezy early morning, there were a total of 47 moths of 19 species. The best moth would have to be the Langmaids Yellow Underwing, which was my second of the year. I confirmed it when it was flying about in the pot I had put it in and then released it. The most numerous moth was easily the Light Brown Apple Moths with at least 17 recorded today.
Above, an underside view of the Langmaid's Yellow Underwing and below, one of the two Lackey moths.
Moths present this morning included the following:
1 Langmaids Yellow Underwing
2 Lackey
1 Silver Y
4 Common Rustic
1 Garden Carpet
1 Riband Wave
2 Bright-line Brown-eye
2 Brimstone Moth
1 Pale Mottled Willow
1 Marbled Beauty
2 Dingy Dowd
3 Marsh Dowd
1 Rosy Tabby
3 Box Tree Moth
1 Brown House Moth
17 Light Brown Apple Moth
1 Bird-cherry Ermine
1 Common Plume
2 Privet Tortrix
Fellow ‘Lazee Birder’ Andy Tew reported the Osprey still present again at Fishlake Meadows this morning and even went one better when he saw a Night Heron flying over the reserve! Yesterday, another fellow ‘Lazee’, Mark Francis and another birder saw a Storm Petrel go past Hill Head. Some nice birds around it seems. Roll on Autumn.
It was a wet drive up to Andy’s house this morning which resulted in a good thing and a bad thing. Before driving up the A3, I popped to the petrol station first of all and while filling up, a female Peregrine was seen with prey in its talons, heading south over Fratton Park. A good start to the day. However, on my way up the A3, with rain coming down, I saw a Blackbird try to cross the dual carriageway, but was hit by the car in front of me. To see its poor wing flapping loosely in the road was not what I wanted to see first thing in the morning.
Another new moth for the year, a gorgeous Rosy Footman.
Andy had his moth box on again last night, though I didn’t. I don’t normally trap two nights running and so kept mine off overnight. Fortunately for me, Andy had a very good selection that included three more new for the year: July Highflyer, Scalloped Oak and Rosy Footman. There were 45 moths of 27 species recorded this morning and as well as the above mentioned, there were also some nice moths along with it including 2 Maidens Blush, Garden Pebble, Blair’s Mocha, Tree-lichen Beauty and a three species of Grass-veneer.
One of three Scalloped Oak moths this morning.
Moths present in and around Andy’s moth box included the following:
2 Riband Wave
1 Rosy Footman (NFY)
3 Willow Beauty
1 July Highflyer (NFY)
3 Uncertain
1 Double-striped Pug
3 Scalloped Oak (NFY)
1 Single-dotted Wave
2 Maiden’s Blush
1 Blair’s Mocha
1 Tree-lichen Beauty
1 Common Pug
1 Common Rustic
2 Shuttle-shaped Dart
1 Silver Y
1 Garden Pebble
2 Bird-cherry Ermine
1 Bud Moth
1 Codling Moth
2 Common Plume
1 Marbled Piercer
5 Rosy Tabby
1 Light Brown Apple Moth
2 Common Grass-veneer
3 Inlaid Grass-veneer
2 Garden Grass-veneer
1 Small Grey
These dead trees on Fishlake Meadows provide excellent posts for birds to perch on including today's Osprey.
Our destination today was going to be Fishlake Meadows, Romsey, where, after picking up birding pal, Geoff Farwell, we done the 30 miles in a reasonable time (though Andy had to get some food from a nearby shop first!) and once in the car park, we made our way northbound along the Canal Path. Some of the ‘Lazee Birders’ had already reported that they had seen an Osprey over the reserve on the Whatsapp site and it didn't take long to see my first one of the year, perched up in one of the dead trees, eating a fish!
Sadly, the Osprey was over on the other side of the Meadows and from where we viewed the bird from the Canal walk, it always remained distant. But still a great sighting. Another bird was found today in Langstone Harbour.
I knew it was going to be a showery day today, but apart from the occasional shower, it was mostly dry and sunny and quite warm; excellent conditions for both Butterflies and Dragonflies. This is only the second time both Andy and myself had been to this reserve, but it was a first for Geoff and he told me later that he was really impressed with the place. I shall kick off with the bird sightings first of all and of course, the Osprey took the honours. Geoff picked the bird up first of all, perched on top of one of the dead trees, tucking into his breakfast. I quickly put a fellow birder onto the bird as all four of us enjoyed prolonged views of the raptor.
Above, a Carder Bee on Greater Burdock. Below, the poisonous Fools Watercress.
Above, Whirlygig Beetles and below, a Yellow-legged Mining Bee.
It wasn't a bad day for raptors and along with the Peregrine and Osprey, we had sightings of a couple of Red Kites, a Common Buzzard and a female Sparrowhawk. Sadly, no Hobbies were seen today, despite ideal conditions. Water Rails were heard several times calling in the reedbeds and though we were so close in seeing our second ‘year-tick’ of the day, there were no sightings at all of this elusive species. I think we have a better chance when Autumn arrives when they are much more showy.
Above, one of the six Common Terns flying over the reserve in front of the screen. Below, one of the Sphaerophoria species of Hoverfly on Fleabane.
While watching the Osprey, there were at least two Great White Egrets near the bird; one perched on one of the dead trees and another wading on the marsh below. Later in the day, up to four birds were seen on the reserve from one of the viewpoints looking west. A few Grey Herons and several Cormorants were also perched on the dead trees. Overhead, there was a good number of Hirundines hawking for insects that included mostly House Martins. There were sightings of a few Swallows, Sand Martins and the occasional Swift too. A family flock of Nuthatches flew past us in the trees by the Canal Path and warblers present seen today on the reserve included Reed and Sedge Warblers, Cetti’s Warblers, Chiffchaffs and a female Blackcap.
Above, some of the Gadwall seen swimming in front of the main Screen. Below, a rather early male Migrant Hawker dragonfly perched up near the footpath.
From the Viewing Screen (which was the first time we had been here due to the footpath being flooded earlier in the year), we encountered at least 6 Common Terns flying around the lake. We believe one was probably a male bird which was carrying a fish, courting a female bird and excitedly calling to her. Could they be late breeders? A Kingfisher flashed past twice over the lake and at least a dozen Gadwall were on the water swimming near the reeds and occasionally taking flight. One of the Water Rails was literally around 10 feet away from us ‘squealing’ loudly deep within the reedbeds. How frustrating was that!
Above, the tranquil and most beautiful River Test viewed from the west side of the reserve.
Above, a gorgeous female Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly gracing the River Test and below, a male Southern Hawker dragonfly nearby.
There was a good haul of butterflies around the reserve that included up to 10+ Brimstones in just one particular area, nectaring on Greater Burdock. Geoff, who is a very good botanist, told me that these plants are not very common and was pleased that so many were on the reserve. Other butterflies included Peacock, Large & Small White, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and Comma. Regarding Dragonflies and Damselflies, there were sightings of Southern Hawkers, a male Black-tailed Skimmer, a male Common Darter, a female Demoiselle Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and several Blue species of Damselfly. A lot of these insects were seen along the River Test that borders the western side of the reserve. The slow, chalk stream water attracted a lot of fish that included some very large Perch, probably Gudgeon and a lot of smaller fish.
Above, a female Brimstone butterfly on Greater Burdock. This was one of at least 10 individuals around these plants in just one area. Below, a male Common Darter dragonflyresting by the Canal Path.
Geoff posed the question to one of the reserve wardens about why the Willow Tree leaves were all brown and it turned out that there was a Beetle, a Willow Leaf Beetle was the actual cause of this. On closer inspection, Geoff picked one of the infected leaves and sure enough, out popped one of the Beetles! Apparently, the Willow Tree does recover from the infection after a while. Interesting stuff!
Above, from left to right, the Osprey, Grey Heron and Cormorant making the most of the tall dead trees on the reserve. Below, the water plant, Arrowhead with their distinctive shaped leaves. Also, Water Forget-me-not present there too.
Along the footpaths, Geoff was pointing out to both of us the fascinating plants along the way that included Water Speedwell, Water Forget-me-not, Greater Plantain, Enchanters Nightshade, Fools Watercress (which is a very poisonous plant!), the colourful pink Amphibious Bistort and the attractive Arrowhead plants. The likes of Ragwort, Spear Thistle, Purple Loosestrife and Great Willowherb, all of which dominated the footpaths.
Above, probably the UK's laziest birder and below, another view of the male Common Darter dragonfly.
We spent a good seven hours on the reserve, which was well spent on this excellent area. We will most certainly return again, most likely in the Autumn where there could be a wealth of migrant birds arriving here. Judging by the recent sightings board, there were some decent sightings including a Bittern heard here.
Whirlygig Beetles and Pondskaters at Fishlake Meadows.
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