An unusual Fly and a trip to the Cemy.

Friday 14th June 2024.

Field Poppies were abundant throughout the Cemy.

A blustery, showery day today though with plenty of sunny intervals with south-westerly winds. After my first shift at Pembroke Road (14 species recorded this morning and no Cats got run over either!) the dogs got their second walk of the day with a nice stroll around Highland Road Cemetery (I think the Council have now named it simply Highland Cemetery and dropped the ‘Road’ bit!).

Above, the underrated beauty of Mallow plants and below, a pair of Carrion Crows within the Cemy on top of one of the ornamental Conifers.

Though a low number of species was recorded this morning, we must remember the numbers of  birds seen here as numbers of nearly every species is declining in the UK. The lack of insects is extremely worrying yet the ‘powers that be’ in our City still want all the grass mown and looking boring and miserable. The insects heavily depend on our small pockets of grassland, which will reward the birds and produce more young. I noticed the banks by the Curtain Moat in Old Portsmouth has just been mown and looks absolutely dreadful for it!! 

Above, just a few Goldfinches were seen here today and below, the customary Herring Gulls on the neighbouring houses. The Herring Gulls are nesting now and I can hear the youngsters calling when I walk down my street.

Though there was a lack of bird species this morning, I tend to concentrate on the insects and plants this wonderful place has to offer and a few more plants were now coming into bloom along with the more regular ones. Field Poppies are now in bloom along with the likes of Common Nipplewort, Cut-leaved Crane’s-bill,  Smooth Tare, Hoary Willowherb and Creeping Cinquefoil as well as good sprays of Ox-eye Daisies, Purple Toadflax and both Prickly and Smooth Sow-thistle provide plenty of flowers for the smaller insects to nectar on including the Marmalade Hoverfly I found today enjoying the flower heads of the latter plant. I did find a Caterpillar which I eventually identified as a Knot Grass moth caterpillar feeding on the leaves of a Green Alkanet plant that was growing close to the Mausoleum.

Above, a Marmalade Hoverfly on Smooth Sow-thistle. Below, Hoary Willowherb.

Above, Creeping Cinquefoil was abundant by the footpaths and below, a Knot Grass caterpillar on Green Alkanet.

Sadly, I expect soon one of the Council workers will start spraying the graves with weedkiller shortly, which I wish they would stop. It has to be said that most of the graves here are very, very old and very few people come here to pay their respect. Why not just let nature take its course and think of the wildlife?

Above, Common Nipplewort was growing along the footpaths and below, my dogs making their way along the footpath by the Holm Oak clump. Note the remains of the flowers from the trees laden covering the footpath. I saw a car in Old Portsmouth absolutely covered with the flowers of the same tree it sat under.

The birds recorded this morning on my walk around the Cemy included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Wren
• Robin
• Blackbird
• Starling
• House Sparrow
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Goldfinch
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie

When I got home and fed the dogs, a strange looking Fly / Bee was in my kitchen. I quickly potted it and came to the conclusion and narrowed it down to a Lliona lineata type of Fly. There was very little information on this creature on the internet, so I shall put it on the relevant Facebook page to get more info on it. Amazingly, I got a quick response this afternoon and it is in fact a Phoenix Fly (Dorycera graminum) and apparently, quite rare.

The male Phoenix Fly that was in my kitchen this morning.

Ive put out dried Mealworms for the birds now and it didnt take long for the birds to come down and feed on them. I have to top the feeder up every day now and not only the House Sparrows are coming down to them, but a family party of Blackbirds are coming into the garden to feast on them too. Great stuff. This afternoon, on my second shift at Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth; sadly, one of the juvenile Carrion Crows was found dead lying on the pavement, but on a positive note, a female Peregrine sailed overhead heading low west and then south-west towards Portsmouth Harbour entrance, upsetting the local Gulls in doing so.

A 'lifer' moth in the Box today.

Thursday 13th June 2024.

The micro moth Dusky Marble was added to my life list.

A bright cool start to the day and this morning bodes to be quite nice, however, rain is expected for this afternoon and though it's not going to be very nice to work in this afternoon, at least it gets me out of watering the garden! I’m pleased to say that my Moth Box came up with another ‘lifer’ moth; a smart looking micro moth called DUSKY MARBLE (Orthotaenia undulana). I am surprised that I have not had one of these moths over the years as they are relatively common. 

Above, my third Light Emerald moth of the year and below, the micro moth Birch Tortrix.

Other notable moths included my 3rd Light Emerald moth of the year and another Angle Shades. Of the micro moths, both Birch Tortrix and Tawny Grey are always nice to see and just the one Box-tree Moth. Just 27 moths of 17 species today, but at least I beat the Sparrows to my Moth Box with another ‘Whathebloodyhellsthetime’ o’clock again!!! Overhead, a small group of three Goldfinches headed south and a Pied Wagtail flew high north.

The micro moth, Tawny Grey.

The moths recorded this morning were as follows:

• Willow Beauty 6
• Light Emerald
• Angle Shades
• Shuttle-shaped Dart
• Pale Mottled Willow 3
• Heart & Dart 2
• L-album Wainscot
• Garden Carpet
• Marbled Minor
• White Ermine 2
• Vines Rustic
• Bright-line Brown-eye 2
• Large Yellow Underwing
• Birch Tortrix
• Tawny Grey
• Box-tree Moth
• DUSKY MARBLE (LIFER)

A Cat has nine lives?

Wednesday 12th June 2024.

Two Small Dusty Wave moths on the wall where I parked in Pembroke Close.

The weather has not been too bad over the past few days, although a lot cooler than this time last year, it was bright and sunny with some high clouds. When the sun did come out behind the clouds, it was most certainly warm. No Moth Box this time around, but I did keep an eye out on the birdlife in the area, especially around Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth, today. However, it has been an interesting day where I witnessed a Cat virtually getting run over in Pembroke Road and some outrageous claims by a dodgy birder on the Hampshire site Going Birding, that had us all laughing out loud.

This Spotted Flycatcher was in the New Forest recently. Photo by Pete Appleton.

In Pembroke Road, parking the car up in Pembroke Close, I found a pair of Small Dusty Wave moths perched up near the front door of the house opposite. I always keep an eye out for possible moths here as the walls are painted white and the times I have found moths sat on white walls are numerous to say the least. On the birding scene here, a total of 14 species were noted during both shifts here that included four species of Gull again, that included a Mediterranean Gull making its way towards Portsmouth Harbour. What was interesting this afternoon was the Pied Wagtail chasing insects on the Bowling Green EVEN while people were actually playing Bowls!!

Cetti's Warbler at Fishlake Meadows. Photo by Rob Porter.

A Carrion Crow was making a loud din opposite where I was and then out of the blue, a young Crow flew out of cover, quickly followed by a Cat chasing the bird. They say that Cats have 9 lives, but running straight into a moving car, I don’t think that Cat knew about the car and I heard a loud bump and then the Cat ran back into the brambles and nettles where I think it probably sadly died from its injuries. A couple of ladies quickly ran into the area to see if the Cat was showing, but I think it ran deep into cover, though a Crow was making a din above it within a tree, looking down at the Cat. Cats take millions of birds each year and I have no fondness of the animals at all as there is enough pressure on our native wildlife to survive, let alone Cats to make their lives short. However, I am an animal lover and I don't like to see any animal suffer.  Again, I have added some fellow birders superb photos they  have taken recently. A big thank you to you guys.

Little Tern at Normandy Marshes. Photo by Emma Parkes.

Another four more moths added to year list.

Tuesday 11th June 2024.

My first Maiden's Blush moth of the year.

After an awful night's sleep, I was up at 4.30am to check my Moth Box! Yes, totally mad, but I had to beat the Sparrows and successfully did. Phew! A Fox nearby in someone's garden was making quite a racket while I checked the outside of the Box, much to the annoyance of my dogs! A dry start to the day with a bit of cloud overhead and very little wind. It was around 10 degrees this morning, hence I wore my fleece while checking the moths.

Above, the Uncertain moth.

Another two more added to my year list; the micro moths Pied Grey (above) and Garden Grass-veneer (below).

There were a total of 43 moths of 26 species that included another four more species that were new for the year. Two ‘macro’ moths, Maiden’s Blush and Uncertain and two ‘micro’ moths Pied Grey (Eudonia delunella) and Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) were present and although most of the other species were in single figures, including my second Sycamore of the year, there were up to 8 White Ermine moths recorded.

The moths present this morning included the following:

• Sycamore
• Pale Mottled Willow 3
• Garden Carpet
• White Ermine 8
• Shuttle-shaped Dart
• Maiden’s Blush (NEW FOR YEAR)
• Double-striped Pug 2
• Angle Shades
• Lime-speck Pug
• Willow Beauty 3
• Heart & Dart 4
• Marbled Minor
• L-album Wainscot
• Uncertain (NFY)
• Dark Arches
• Bright-line Brown-eye
• Green Pug
• White-shouldered House Moth
• Brown House Moth
• Garden Mompha
• Pied Grey (NFY)
• Beautiful Plume
• Garden Grass-veneer (NFY)
• Blushed Knot-horn 2
• Apple Leaf Miner
• Ruddy Streak 2

A trip up to Oxfordshire.

Sunday 9th June 2024.

Swallows perched by the Pig Pen at Millets Farm Centre.

We took a long drive as a family up to Millets Farm Centre up in Abingdon, Oxfordshire for Becky to finally take part in her Birthday present; feeding the Racoons! But she was in for a surprise as part of the Racoon feeding, Becky, Isabelle and Emma got to check out and stroke very young Spectacled Owls and also they got to feed the Wallabies. The Centre is a huge area and with plenty for everyone to be entertained, including myself as I brought along both my Binoculars and Camera.

Above, Jackdaw walking close to where we stood and below, a Rook was also by the Pig Pen.

Above, one of the Red Kites soaring overhead.

Though nothing exceptional was found, there were sightings of Grey Wagtail, Swallows, plenty of Red Kites and a lot of Corvids too. Families of Blue Tits were seen and heard and a Goldcrest remained hidden deep within a small Conifer, singing continuously. One of the large lakes held a flock of Canada Geese on the perimeter and a few Tufted Duck on the water. The Swallows came down occasionally to perch on the wooden fence by the Pig Pen, showing very well at times.

Above, a pair of Rooks by the Pig Pen. Below, a Robin laden with food in its bill.

Above, a lone Swallow checking out its surroundings and below, a juvenile Blue Tit wanting to be fed by its parents.

It was a very pleasant trip here to this site where I counted at least 10 Red Kites on the way up and 6 Common Buzzards seen. Just the one Kestrel was noted along the A34. On the way back home along the M27, I pointed out to my wife a Ring-necked Parakeet flying high north over the motorway; only my second sighting of this species this year and both in Hampshire!