Ring Ouzel on Butser Hill.

Saturday 19th October 2024.

My first Ring Ouzel of the year.

There was a lot of overnight rain and so I left it till 8am to check the Moth Box. I am hoping to go to either Butser Hill or Portsdown Hill this morning with the guys, though today will be cut short. The poor weather finally dissipated and picking the guys up an hour later this morning, it was Butser Hill that we made our one and only destination this morning. Some of the ‘Lazee’s’ were already onto the female Ruddy Duck on Ibsley Water this morning, but my goal was to hopefully see the Ring Ouzels at Butser Hill. Both Emma & Matt Parkes were already at Butser and from the Cafe area, they had seen three Ouzels already.

Moth Boxes:

This Dark Sword-grass moth was a nice surprise.

From my Moth Box there were a total of 30+ moths present that included a few goodies, that included a Dark Sword-grass, Silver Y, 2 Jasmine Moths, Rush Veneer and a Rusty-dot Pearl of which were all probably immigrant moths. A smart Common Marbled Carpet was present also plus a good number of Light Brown Apple Moths.

One of two Jasmine Moths.

The moths present this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS:

• Common Marbled Carpet
• Feathered Ranunculus x6
• Double-striped Pug
• Silver Y
• Dark Sword-grass

MICRO MOTHS:

• Light Brown Apple Moth x15
• Jasmine Moth x2
• Rusty-dot Pearl
• Rush Veneer
• Ruddy Streak

Common Marbled Carpet.

Over at Andy’s house this morning, I found my first Red-line Quaker of the year, quietly perched on the inside door frame near the Moth Box. Just 9 moths present here but it did also included a Blair’s Mocha, 2 very smart Common Marbled Carpets and a very late Garden Carpet.

My first Red-line Quaker of the year near Andy's trap.

The moths recorded at Andy’s Moth Box included the following:

• Red-lined Quaker (New for Year)
• Common Marbled Carpet x2
• Garden Carpet
• Blair’s Mocha
• Common Plume
• Light Brown Apple Moth x3

Overhead, a flock of around 20 Redwing headed south-west high over the garden and a couple of Song Thrushes flew over.

Butser Hill, nr Petersfield:

Skylarks greeted us when we arrived at Butser Hill.

After parking the car just before the car park (the parking charges here are ludicrous), we slowly made our way to meet both Emma and Matt by the Cafe. Skylarks were flying all around us in the neighbouring fields and several flocks of Redwing flew high overhead. Andy pointed out our first Red Kite of the day flying to the north of us over the countryside. Emma and Matt had earlier seen at least three Ring Ouzels around by the Car Park area and so we slowly made our way overlooking the area known as ‘Grandfathers Bottom’; a huge ravine to the north where we had seen the Ring Ouzels over the past few years. Waiting patiently for the Ring Ouzels to show, we spent the next couple of hours or so with fellow ‘Lazee’ Graeme Loader and another chap.

Above, a Green Woodpecker was seen in the ravine to the north of Butser. Below, one of many Common Buzzards seen this morning.

A female Kestrel was one of a pair hunting around the Hill and below, one of the Bramblings flying over.

It took a while for one of the Ring Ouzels to show, but it was a very quick affair as I saw a male bird flying low up the ravine and landing out of view in the scrub on the summit of the Hill. It did sport the silvery upperwings and looked all the part for a Ring Ouzel. Happy with that, we did have a good variety of birds during our time at this particular spot. This included several raptors which included a pair of Kestrels, a male Sparrowhawk (that dived bombed a perched Kestrel nearby), several Common Buzzards and at least three Red Kites. Even a pair of Ravens came in and showed well, with one individual ‘tumbling’ to its mate. A Green Woodpecker was also seen flying over the short turf on the hill and then settled on the ground.

Above, a charm of Goldfinches flew over and landed on these plants. A pair remained and showed well. Below, this female Kestrel perched nearby.

Above, the male Ring Ouzel in flight and below, you can just about see the bird within the tangle of all these branches in the centre of the photo.

There were some interesting passerines around too that included our first Bramblings of the season. Two birds, quickly picked up by the call, flew north-west and were joined by a male Yellowhammer until the two species split up and went their own way. Song Thrushes and Redwings occasionally flew over and a nice ‘charm’ of Goldfinches flew north. A few Meadow Pipits flew over, but there was no further sign of any Ring Ouzels here, despite the sun now breaking through the clouds.

Earlier, Graeme had seen the Ring Ouzels further west around the Hill and so we all checked out this particular area, but again, there was no sign of the Ouzels. A Pheasant Shoot was going on in the fields in the distance (dickheads), but the noise of the guns going off did not help in finding the birds and so we decided to make our way back to the car. As I was leading the pack of birders, I, along with a few others, heard the distinctive ‘bubbling’ call of a Ring Ouzel somewhere in the scrub below us and sure enough, out popped a male bird that eventually showed very well to us all before flying off down into the valley below. Finally, a smart male Stonechat was flitting about on the hill in front of us while we watched the Ouzel to round off our morning here. Happy with that, we soon made our way back home. My wife has recently come out of hospital after an operation and so I had to get home early to look after her, which cut my birding short for today. A storm is due tomorrow, which has already had the Great South Run cancelled; so it must be bad! 

Above, Emma Parke's superb photos of the Ring Ouzels this morning.

Heavy fog early this morning.

Friday 18th October 2024.

A very foggy start to the day. You can only just see the Royal Garrison Church in the background within Pembroke Road.

I walked the dogs at 6.45am this morning only to find that it was very foggy outside. The ship's sirens were going off in the Solent for it was a real ‘Pea-souper’ as I made my way along my usual route with the dogs. As I neared St. Margarets Church, I could hear a lot of Redwings flying high overhead and a few Song Thrush thrown in too! The Moth Box was on last night and again, I left checking it properly till I got back from my first shift at Pembroke Road.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

Despite the foggy conditions, I could still see some of the birds around, but the vast majority of birds noted were heard only; though only around 13 species were noted. The weather improved much in the afternoon, but it was so bright and sunny that looking up into the sky wasn't an option for I did need sunglasses. There wasn't anything really outstanding here this morning for I was more concentrating on the passing cars (like a speedtrack at times!), but the 13 species came thick and fast that included a small flock of 3 Greenfinches heading north.

The Moth Box:

An Angle Shades was the pick of the moths this morning.

Just 10 moths of 5 species this morning and, unfortunately, there was nothing new for the year among them. Grumble! Pick of the bunch was the Angle Shades, a species of moth that I can never tire from.

One of the many guises of the Light Brown Apple Moth.

The Moths recorded this morning included the following:

• Lesser Yellow Underwing
• Angle Shades
• Common Plume
• Light Brown Apple Moth x6
• Rusty-dot Pearl

Above, a selection of photographs taken by fellow 'Lazee' Andy Tew over the past week. From top to bottom: Marsh Harrier x2, Kingfisher and a Great White Egret.

Ring Ouzels were seen in two locations within Hampshire today where fellow ‘Lazee' , James Cutting, had four birds at Butser Hill and a pair were seen on Portsdown Hill in exactly the same spot we were birding last Saturday. A real surprise was the discovery of a female Ruddy Duck on Blashford Lakes, although the exact site is being kept a guarded secret; just in case the RSPB decide to shoot it out of the water!!! I was furious with the RSPB in eradicating the Ruddy Ducks and promptly cancelled my membership. However, I have since rejoined; but I do question their motives sometimes. There were also three Black-necked Grebes on Ibsley Water today. Two Yellow-browed Warblers were found at Fishery Creek, Hayling Island and a Brambling over was a good find there.

Reed Bunting over Pembroke Road.

Thursday 17th October 2024.

The walk to the Mausoleum. More often than not, there is always something to look at around this vegetation.

A much better day today with plenty of sunshine after a night of rain showers. Temperatures got up to 16 degrees this morning, quite balmy for this time of year and a light south-westerly blowing in off the Solent. Up to 16 bird species were seen or heard at Pembroke Road this morning, though only 15 species were seen in Highland Road Cemetery.

A bright start to the day in Pembroke Road.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

A bright, sunny start to the day here on Pembroke Road and it looked perfect for a bit of visible migration too. My day started off with a Goldfinch flying over; a species I have not seen here for a few weeks. The best sighting of all here this morning was a Reed Bunting flying high over heading west. I picked it up and identified it by its distinctive call; the first time I have encountered this species here. A Song Thrush was heard and a Blackbird was seen and heard over by the Bowling Green. Two large distant thrushes flew south-west, but I could not hear them calling as the cars passing by drowned out any calls. I suppose they were more than likely Mistle Thrushes, but I could not rule out Fieldfare. Meadow Pipits trickled over, but no Wagtails were seen this morning.

In the afternoon shift, a Pied Wagtail finally showed up, running around on the Bowling Green and a Wren was heard to sing somewhere along the footpath leading to the Curtain Moat. A total of 17 species for the day here. I rescued a Large White Caterpillar from a certain death by picking it up and placing it carefully into the nearby vegetation. A Red Admiral was the only butterfly seen here today.

Honey Fungus growing by the footpath in the Cemetery.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

Above, a Scaly Earthball toadstool and below, more Toadstools growing near a grave.

It was a pleasant walk around the Cemetery this morning with not only birds and various insects on show, but there were a few species of Toadstool present around the Cemetery. A lot of the leaves on the trees have fallen, with trees now showing their branches and a carpet of leaves along the footpaths.

Various Toadstools were found within the Cemy.

Though some of the birds seen today showed very well, there wasn't all that much variety this morning, with just 15 species seen this morning.  A Crest species was seen among a small flock of Blue Tits, but only showed very briefly and didn't call either. In fact, it was very quiet within the Holm Oaks, which are normally reliable for Crest’s and so I was checking the ground a lot for Fungi.

Above, I flushed a Blair's Mocha moth from the grass and below, a Robin showing well near the Mausoleum.

The birds seen or heard this morning included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Meadow Pipit
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Jay
• Starling
• Blackbird
• Robin

Above, a Blue Tit was with a few Great Tits near the Mausoleum and below, this Robin showed very well close by.

Above, a male Blackbird skulking in the bushes and below, a Painted Lady butterfly along with Batman Hoverflies and a Drone Fly share the same Ivy plants.

The insect life was more agreeable with five species of butterfly seen that included many Red Admiral’s and singles of Large White, Speckled Wood, Comma and best of all, a Painted Lady. Drone Flies, Batman Hoverflies, Common Wasps and Ivy Bees were all numerous on the flowering Ivy as per usual in the sunshine.

There were a good number of butterflies present today in the Cemetery that included (above) Red Admiral and (below) Comma. 

Above, numerous Drone Flies and below, Batman Hoverfly, were within the Cemy.

Above, a Red Admiral butterfly and a male Drone Fly.

Yesterday, a Pallas’s Warbler was found by Andy Johnson at the same location on the bottom of Seafarers Walk on Hayling Island. Sadly,  Andy was the only birder who connected with the bird; but he did get a photo of the Warbler. Three Ring Ouzels were seen over Portsdown Hill early this morning.

Rare moth in my Moth Box.

Monday 14th October 2024.

Only my second ever Radford's Flame Shoulder moth.

And yet another wet start to the working week with drizzly and sometimes heavy rain coming down throughout the night. The wind was coming from the south and therefore the temperatures were abnormally high for this time of year and that most likely prompted more immigrant moths to reach our shores. Well it did in my garden as I notched up my first ever Radford’s Flame Shoulder moth for my garden. I have seen this species only once before, when Becky and I stayed down East Prawle, Devon, around five years ago. I have been looking on the Migrant Lepidoptera Moths Facebook page and have been quite envious on some of the numbers of Radford’s Flame Shoulder moths on some of the coastal hotspots. Though it was a wet morning at Pembroke Road, it was much drier and sunnier in the afternoon,

The Moth Box:

Two Jasmine Moths were present today.

Though the number of moths were small, 16 moths of 8 species; there were some quality moths present and virtually nearly all were migrant moths. October does bring some real quality at times and with the Radford’s Flame Shoulder being present on the bottom egg tray within the Box; it really did put a big smile on my face. Two Jasmine Moths added a splash of beauty (they really are surreal looking moths) with one inside the Moth Box and the other on the wall opposite. Because of the weather, I had to wait till when I got back later in the day; but it was worth the wait.

Silver Y moth.

The Moths present this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS:

• Radford’s Flame Shoulder (New for Year)
• Lesser Yellow Underwing
• Feathered Ranunculus x3
• Angle Shades
• Silver Y

MICRO MOTHS:

• Light Brown Apple Moth x3
• Rusty-dot Pearl x4
• Jasmine Moth x2

One of three Feathered Ranunculus moths.

While checking the moths, a Chiffchaff was heard in the neighbouring gardens again.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

The weather was drizzly first thing this morning on my first shift and I only managed to notch up 11 species this morning here in Old Portsmouth, that included the pair of Jays showing on and off and most of the usual birds. A further four more species were added in the afternoon, which included my first Common Buzzard for this site since I have been working here. The bird was seen circling quite high overhead until I watched it close its wings and zoom off to the west. A small flock of House Sparrows flew over and headed north and to round it off, a pair of Great Black-backed Gulls were seen flying east behind the Royal Garrison Church. The Large White Caterpillars were still present nearby, but it looks as though they have totally demolished the Nasturtiam plants!

I had to put another photo of this rare moth.

Firecrest seen again in the Cemy.

Sunday 13th October 2024.

This male Firecrest showed well briefly in a bush close to the main footpath.

It was back over Highland Road Cemetery this afternoon with a 45 minute stroll with the dogs which turned up a few nice birds. It was rather cloudy and cool this afternoon (around 11 degrees), but there was hardly any wind, which made it a comfortable walk today. There were not too many dog-walkers either, which made viewing any bird easy. Squirrels were literally everywhere which my dogs kept a sharp eye on, though I always have my dogs on a lead.

Above, this Jay showed well high up in a tree then flew off into neighbouring trees, to join a couple of Wood Pigeons.

There was a nice variety of birds this afternoon of which the first notable bird seen was a male Firecrest. I first heard the bird calling deep within a bush and eventually, it showed briefly but long enough to grab a half decent photo. The bird soon flew off to another bush, but I was sure there were more than one in the area and probably the same pair I saw last week. Shortly afterwards, a Jay flew in and landed in the top of a tree and although I grabbed a few photos, the bird soon flew off towards the trees close to the Mausoleum. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard in the distance and despite being quite a vocal bird, I never actually got a sighting of it.

Above, the various shades of green on all these trees are really eye-catching. Autumn brings with it the variety of colours and never fails to excite me. Below, there were not many flowers still in bloom, but this clump of Ox-eye Daisies caught my eye.

Above, the usual insects were nectaring on the flowering Ivy including this Ivy Bee.

In all, 17 species were seen or heard during my walk round my local patch, which included the following birds:

• Herring Gull
• Feral Pigeon
• Wood Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Starling
• Great Spotted Woodpecker
• Jay
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Firecrest
• Blackbird
• Wren
• Robin
• Goldfinch
• Meadow Pipit

In Hampshire today, a Yellow-browed Warbler was seen briefly near Hammonds Bridge along the Canal Path, Titchfield. Nearby, up to 3 Glossy Ibis were on the Bridge Street Floods early morning.