Yet another Golden Twin-spot Moth & a walk with Isabelle.

Sunday 3rd November 2024.

This Golden Twin-spot moth was my fifth of the year.

I had my Moth Box on overnight and though it was a bit windy, there was always a chance of a migrant moth or two. Thankfully, I was rewarded with yet another superb moth, a Golden Twin-spot. This was my 5th individual of this species and there seems to be an influx of them here on the south coast. A fellow ‘Moth-er’ also had one during the week, so proving I wasn't the only one here in Portsmouth getting them.

Rusty-dot Pearl.

However, that was the only moth in my Moth Box though outside the Box, there was one Rusty-dot Pearl, one Common Plume and two Light Brown Apple Moths. Again, it was overcast with a light easterly wind though a mild 14 degrees.

My HOS (Hampshire Ornithological Society) Bird Report arrived yesterday and proved, yet again, a very interesting read. Some alarming statistics were noted, including the demise of both Willow Tit and Wood Warbler in Hampshire and the two Hampshire ‘firsts’ that included a Forster’s Tern and a Kumlien’s Gull. The latter bird I actually saw along with a dozen or so birders present at Gilkicker on a seawatch on the 14th April. This is a sub-species of Iceland Gull that breeds in Canada and was only considered when the photos taken of the bird were studied well by the Hampshire authorities and agreed upon that it was indeed a Kumlien’s Gull.

However, the Report also is now stating that most if not all sightings of Willow Tit in Hampshire, especially in the last few areas where they were seen last in North Hampshire are in fact most likely Marsh Tits. I would like to dispute that theory. I have very good experience on the call and in particular, the ‘jizz’ of this species and the bird I saw with Andy Fisher was indeed a Willow Tit after noting its call and seeing it well. Though I feel that this species is near lost to Hampshire, while its close cousin, the Marsh Tit is thriving. Swings & roundabouts, as they say.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

I had the pleasure of walking the dogs with our Isabelle late this afternoon over Highland Road Cemetery and boy, this girl can chat. That I wouldn't knock it one little bit, for too many youngsters are simply glued to their mobile phones or telly and now she is 10yrs old, I was amazed at how she remembered things from previous visits from a long time ago. She walked Buddy and I walked Ted as we made our way around my usual walk around the Cemetery.

Honey Fungus growing in the Cemetery.

This time, I didn't take my binoculars or camera and I was starting to regret it as a pair of Jays showed very well reasonably close to the footpath. But it was when we got to the south-east corner that I saw a young lady looking at something by a grave. I was not sure if she was looking at an insect or plant, but she moved on and carried on walking behind us. That was when something caught my eye and I couldn't believe that a Woodcock flew past us and close too! That young lady must have flushed it from the grass as the bird flew off heading east and quickly out of view. However, I saw the bird again, further north this time, but the sighting was brief as it disappeared from view behind the trees. This was a ‘patch tick’ for me and put a big smile on my face.

Agaricus species of Toadstool were abundant here this afternoon.

A little while later, a Sparrowhawk belted low past us and westbound low over the footpath. The Jays were seen again and noisy birds they were too, squawking noisily within the trees. A lot of the leaves on the trees have now fallen and the footpaths were carpeted in the fallen leaves. So very Autumnal. I did take some photos from my mobile phone as we came across some large Toadstools that included Honey Fungus and some Agaricus species on the grass.