Semipalmated Sandpiper & Denny Wood.

Saturday 10th August 2024.

The Semipalmated Sandpiper remained distant and so I highlighted where the bird was off Church Norton among Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Oystercatchers.

It was back birding with both Geoff and Andy today after a break of three weeks and we most certainly had a good day with a wealth of superb wildlife to look at within two destinations. I was hoping that yesterday's Rose-coloured Starling would reappear today, but it was not to be. Even birding pals, Emma and Matt Parkes went for the bird yesterday evening and it was sadly a ‘no-show’. So, the other good option was to go for my 3rd ever Semipalmated Sandpiper at Church Norton and then to check out Denny Wood in the New Forest for the reported Pied Flycatcher. The only thing that didn't play ball was the weather for I thought it was going to be a scorcher of a day…..well it most certainly wasn't in the New Forest! Not only were we in for an excellent ‘year-tick’ with the Sandpiper (which, incidentally, was a ‘lifer’ for Andy), but I also got to see my first ever Wood Crickets!

The Moth Box

Above, there was a surprise visit from this Migrant Hawker dragonfly and below, my first Tawny-fronted Straw micro moth of the year.

But first, I had a Moth Box to check out and was pleasantly surprised with a total of 51 moths of 28 species that included another new moth for the year, the micro moth Tawny-fronted Straw. Tree-lichen Beauty, Willow Ermine and a Copper-fringed Drab. It wasn't till I got home this afternoon when I found a Poplar Hawk-moth perched in the plant by the Moth Box and I identified a Copper-fringed Drab which I potted earlier to add to my day total here. A total of 51 moths of 28 species were recorded from my Moth Box today.

Above, my second Willow Ermine of the year and below, my second Poplar Hawk-moth for the year in my garden.

The moths present this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS:

• Marbled Green
• Poplar Hawk-moth
• Uncertain
• Cabbage Moth
• Common Rustic
• Willow Beauty
• Garden Carpet
• Pale Mottled Willow
• Lime-speck Pug
• Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
• Double-striped Pug
• Garden Carpet 4
• Brimstone Moth 9
• Tree-lichen Beauty

MICRO MOTHS:

• Common Plume 6
• Common Masoner
• Willow Ermine
• Ruddy Streak
• Black-banded Masoner
• Light Brown Apple Moth 6
• Garden Grey
• Four-spotted Yellowneck
• Apple Leaf Miner 2
• Mint Moth 2
• Italian Bark Moth
• Tawny-fronted Straw (New for Year)
• Brown House Moth
• Copper-fringed Drab

Another insect surprise was this Supertramp Beetle, a species of Diving Beetle.

Last night, before retiring to bed, I had a quick check of the Moth Box and found a Migrant Hawker dragonfly perched on the white sheet behind the box! I reeled off a few photos and then called it a night. As I checked the egg trays within the Moth Box, there was the Migrant Hawker kind of fast asleep it seems, so I placed the egg tray near the box and after ten minutes or so, watched the insects vibrate its wings and then took off over the gardens. Another interesting insect I found on the white sheet was a Supertramp Beetle (Rhantus suturalis); a species of Diving Beetle. So, where is the nearest water for these insects to roam? My neighbour has a discontinued Koi Carp tank in his garden. From there perhaps?

My first Common Grass-moth of the year at Andy's garden.

I returned Andy’s Moth Box to him this morning which I had used in Devon and he kindly obliged to say that he left two outside lights on to hopefully attract some moths overnight. Apparently, he successfully recorded two more ‘year-ticks’ for me. The moths present included the following:

• Black Arches
• Willow Beauty
• Grey Knot-horn (NFY)
• Common Grass-moth 2 (NFY)
• Common Plume

The micro moth Grey Knot-horn. Another new moth for the year.

Church Norton & Pagham Harbour, West Sussex.

Another distant photo of the Semipalmated Sandpiper among the waders off Church Norton.

Earlier today, there was a report that the Semi-palmated Sandpiper was at the back of the Ferry Pool and so we headed there first. Sadly, there was no sign of the Sandpiper, but at least 6 Avocet and two Common Sandpipers on the Ferry Pool along with about 25 Black-tailed Godwit. A quick check on Birdguides revealed that the ‘Semi-P’ was now in front of the benches off Church Norton; so we ‘hot-footed' it to this destination. We joined a small gathering of birders (including a few regulars here) who kindly pointed out where the Semipalmated Sandpiper was. The bird certainly looked good through the scope, but it was a little distant, feeding among a flock of Ringed Plover and a few Dunlin. This was my third time I have seen this species, with previous sightings being at Dairy Lane, Chichester (sadly, now a Housing Estate) and one on the Lake at Farlington Marshes.

Above, this Mistle Thrush was seen on our arrival to the Car Park at Church Norton. Below, a Gatekeeper butterfly enjoying a Common Knapweed within the graveyard.

Other sightings in the harbour included Oystercatcher, Curlew, Redshank, Whimbrel and a few Sandwich Tern; while behind us, we could hear both Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker and a few Willowchiffs calling. Some Red Admiral butterflies were fluttering around by the bushes and a probable Migrant Hawker dragonfly flew overhead. 

Above and below, we took a walk inside St. Wilfrid's church and was amazed to see this beautiful stained glass window showing lots of birds.

Above, this Red Admiral butterfly posed nicely by the entrance to the Churchyard and below, this Common Whitethroat also showed well enjoying the Blackberries.

We then took a walk around the Graveyard and even had a look inside St. Wilfrids Church, which was open to the public today. Regarding the bird sightings here, there was quite a variety. Overhead, there was a large flock of House Martins hawking for insects and a few Swallows joined them also. Andy saw a Swift among them and a second bird was seen a little later on. A few Warblers were noted that included a showy Common Whitethroat feeding on the Blackberries; a male Blackcap and at least one Willow Warbler. A large flock of Titmice went through near the main gate that included good numbers of Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tit and several Warblers went through with them, which were most likely both Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler. I was sure I heard a Firecrest calling, but there was no sighting. A pair of Mistle Thrushes flew over and the Great Spotted Woodpecker put in a few appearances too, flying overhead.

The Common Whitethroat in the Church Norton graveyard.

Denny Wood & Bishop’s Dyke, New Forest.

The gorgeous view from Shatterford Car Park with the purple Heather showing nicely as far as the eye could see.

After picking up some breakfast at the Piggery Farm Shop, we made our way west. We got lucky with a Kingfisher flying over Beaulieu River, near Aldermoor Lodge, before we got to Shatterford Car Park and on arrival, there was a large Police presence here due to a lot of ‘Travellers’ being present opposite the Hotel. From Shatterford, it was still overcast and there was a cool breeze blowing over the purple Heather. You could of been fooled for thinking it was Lavender due to the colour of the flowering plants. Geoff pointed out THREE varieties of Heather here that included the smaller Common Heather and the more larger Bell Heather; but there was a third species, Cross-leaved Heather! I never knew there was a third species. The walk to Denny Wood produced a few Stonechats on the Heath, but sadly, we found a dead juvenile on the path. We couldn't see any sign of injury, so probably natural causes? A Meadow Pipit was calling and seen on the Heath close to the footpath and when we arrived on the outskirts of Denny Wood, there was a large flock of both Swallows and House Martins hawking for insects around the trees.

Above, Geoff pointed out this Lesser Gorse flower growing by the footpath and below, both Common and Bell Heather growing on the Heath.

We entered the Wood and took the footpath close to the edge of the woodland. Geoff picked up the stridulation of Wood Crickets and after a short time locating some, I couldn't believe how small they were. This was an insect ‘first’ for me as we found several in a small area, but, best of all, I now knew what they sound like and we soon discovered that they were in very good numbers throughout the woodland and even into Bishop’s Dyke. There was no sign of the Pied Flycatcher reported earlier today, but as we took the footpath leading to Bishop’s Dyke, we could hear the call of a Redstart nearby and eventually found the bird in a bramble by one of the small bridges. Stonechats here were in good numbers too, including a few juvenile birds. Looking east, the large pool in the distance held both Grey Heron and Little Egrets and at least six Mallard swimming on the water. On reaching the bridge where the Redstart had been, we checked out the insects swimming in the water below that included a Great Diving Beetle, Water Boatman and even some Pond Skaters. It was only a small area of water, but it can hold so much!

Above, a sad find of a dead juvenile Stonechat along the footpath to Denny Wood and below, a Meadow Pipit on the Heath.

Above, my first Wood Crickets were found within Denny Wood and below, Crossed-leaved Heather.

Walking through Bishop’s Dyke, we came across a large flock of Titmice again that included Coal, a couple of Marsh, Blue and Great Tits with a few Chiffchaffs among them as well. However, when we looked at the footpath, we found many holes in the sandy soil which seemed to go on for miles. Even a passer-by told us that she had seen these holes a long way back. We soon saw the owner of the holes coming in to land by their holes and they turned out to be the European Beewolf. I’ll be honest, I have never heard of them before now, but doing a bit of research (which I always do when I discover something new), they are a species of large Solitary Wasp that inhabit sandy locations including Heathland. However, there is a dark side to them as they hunt Honey Bees and we found quite a few carcasses of the Honey Bee and even some actually bringing in their prey too. Fascinating stuff. Nearby, we also found a Kite-tailed Robberfly sat on a large pebble near the Wasps.

The Redstart just before the entrance to Bishop's Dyke and below a Great Diving Beetle on the small pond by the same bridge. 

Above, one of several Water Boatman in the small pool and below, a male Common Darter on the footpath within Bishop's Dyke.

Above, the Kite-tailed Robberfly along the same footpath and below, a European Beewolf bringing in its catch, what looks to be a hapless Honey Bee.

Above, the European Beewolf at its entrance hole and below, another one with its catch.

Above, a Woodland Dor Beetle and below, the poisonous The Sickener toadstool.

Above, Geoff found this female Silver-studded Blue butterfly and below, Andy found this male Black-tailed Skimmer dragonfly on the footpath.

Exiting Bishop’s Dyke, another small flock of Titmice flew around the area by the small bridge that included another Marsh Tit. We found another Redstart seen distantly bathing and preening itself and incidentally, both birds looked good for being male birds. More Stonechats were seen on the heath near the Railway Line and a male Dartford Warbler was seen briefly flying over the bracken, but it was a very quick view. Geoff found a female Silver-studded Blue butterfly perched near the main footpath and a Woodland Dor Beetle was found on the same footpath. Two interesting species of fungi were found on our trip here that included a Grey Spotted Aminita Mushroom and the very poisonous The Sickener! Yet another great day with the guys, tiring, but what a variety of interesting wildlife today.