The Grasshopper Warbler at Fishlake Meadows. Photo by Graeme Loader.
I didn't put the Moth Box on last night due to the fact I really didn't want to catch a lot of the same moths as yesterday. This morning, Pembroke Road beckoned and with another near clear blue sky overhead and a not so cold morning due to the fact the north-easterly wind had dropped a little. It promises to be a very warm afternoon (if you were to believe the meteorologists!), which could bring in a surprise migrant or two today.
Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:
A good count of 18 species were recorded this morning from this site today. Pick of the bunch included a Swallow flying low north, a couple of Swifts, a high flying Mediterranean Gull heading north and a pair of Mallard flying east! Good numbers of Gulls were going overhead that included mostly Black-headed and Herring Gulls, but at least four Great Black-backed Gulls sailed slowly heading north. The Wren and Robin were in full song nearby and the Pied Wagtail was back on the Bowling Green again. It was good to see and hear the juvenile Starlings flying with their parents in search of areas to feed.
Birders were out in force this morning and Farlington Marshes hosted three Lesser Whitethroats, a Common Sandpiper and up to three Greenshanks and an Osprey graced the village of Dummer in the north of Hampshire.
Mating Little Terns on Normandy Marshes. Photo by Emma Parkes.
My 'Blast from the Past' this week involved a trip to Thursley Common on the 29th March 2003 to see a Great Grey Shrike; a species that has become very uncommon in not only Hampshire, but also the UK. Global Warming perhaps? I had done a trip to Titchfield Haven and also the Canal Path earlier in the day and notched up a few interesting birds on an overcast morning and then headed north into Surrey to see the Shrike. Here is my account of that day:
The cold nights and early mornings continue this week and so checking the Moth Box in the mornings is a bit of a chore which ends up with very cold hands, though I always have a cup of hot coffee to hand. Another pleasant day though with plenty of sunshine, high clouds, but that nagging cold wind from the north yet again. Nothing really to report from Pembroke Road today, with all the usual birds seen and similar to yesterday's birds, but I did find my first Mint Moth of the year on one of the bushes I stand next to and also a species of Caterpillar.
The Moth Box:
There were fewer Moths in and around the Moth Box this morning with just 21 moths of 11 species and nothing new to add to my year list. Boo! Of note, at least 5 Brimstone Moths were present among them and probably the best of the micro moths was a Black Cloak.
Up to 5 Brimstone Moths were present this morning.
The Moths present this morning included the following:
Macro Moths:
Brimstone Moth x5
Common Pug x1
Buff Ermine x1
Angle Shades x1
Garden Carpet x1
Least Black Arches x1
Pale Mottled Willow x1
Micro Moths:
Black Cloak x1
Light Brown Apple Moth x5
Common Plume x3
White-shouldered House Moth x1
Above, a Mint Moth and below, this small Caterpillar was discovered in a bush in Pembroke Road this morning.
The Waved Umber moth was not only new for the year, but only my 3rd ever.
It was back to the Moths early this morning and one thing was most noticeable, it was so cold! Yes, we are back to February again with single figure temperatures, but I was dressed for the occasion. Though there was nothing new among the moths present, I was in for a big surprise later on in the day. Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth, was fairly quiet again, though I did find a new moth for the year. On the birding scene, things are hotting up again with some superb migrants entering the UK locally.
The Moth Box:
A total of 30 moths of 17 moths were present in and around the Moth Box, but it was later in the afternoon, when looking out the kitchen window, I found a Waved Umber moth perched on one of the flower pots! This was only my 3rd ever sighting of this amazing looking moth and the second for the garden too. So I crept up to it carefully and managed to photograph the moth without disturbing it.
Small Dusty Wave. My second of the year.
This afternoon, while on my second shift in Old Portsmouth, I found my first Carnation Tortrix moth of the year perched on a bush where I stand and again, carefully got a photo of the moth. They seem to be annual here on these bushes growing here. The only migrant moths I got this morning were an Angle Shades and a Diamond-back Moth.
Above, a Least Black Arches and below, a Buff Ermine.
The moths present this morning included the following:
Macro Moths:
Waves Umber x1
Buff Ermine x1
Least Black Arches x1
Heart & Dart x1
Double-striped Pug x1
Common Pug x1
Small Dusty Wave x1
Pale Mottled Willow x2
Angle Shades x1
Micro Moths:
Black Cloak x1
Light Brown Apple Moth x6
Common Plume x2
Ruddy Streak x6
Rusty-dot Pearl x1
Brown House Moth x1
White-shouldered House Moth x2
Diamond-back Moth x1
Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:
Nothing really out of the ordinary here in Pembroke Road today, though several Swifts were seen high overhead ‘screaming’! It looks as though they are settled here now and even over Southsea, they seem to be well established. Up to 14 species were noted today, but as mentioned, nothing really different today or even yesterday.
The Nightjars at an undisclosed site in the New Forest. Photo by Andy Dickety.
Yesterday, a 1st summer male Red-footed Falcon was found in the Pig Bush area and seen several times throughout the early part of the afternoon. There has been a bit of an influx in the UK with this species with one site actually having 10 birds in all! Today, a small flock of three Bee-eaters flew over Snowhill Marsh, West Wittering, sparking a bit of a ‘twitch’ over that part of West Sussex no doubt. But the birds didn't linger and headed off north. A pair of Common Cranes flew over the Avon Causeway on the Hampshire Border. It is certainly hotting up with rare migrants.
Don't let the beautiful day fool you. A strong freezing cold wind blew along the coast here, but the birds were superb.
I met up with both Emma & Matt Parkes very early this morning to take a trip down to Normandy Marshes for a possible Roseate Tern and a Curlew Sandpiper, both of which were present yesterday on this superb site. The weather was looking good for the day though cloud was coming in from the north in the afternoon, but we didn't realise how cold it was going to be this morning. Once we had finished with Normandy Marshes, we would then take a trip to the New Forest for Spotted Flycatchers at an undisclosed site, for we had the chance to see a Nightjar in broad daylight.
Normandy Marshes, nr Lymington:
This Grey Heron greeted us on our arrival from the Car Park first thing.
To say it was cold down here at this site was a major understatement for I was simply unprepared for such a cold wind blowing over the Marshes. Thankfully, the birds here did help to take my mind off it as we made our way to join several other birders present, checking out the island the Roseate Tern was using again this year. Last year, we were very successful in seeing the Roseate Terns nesting on the island, but during the hour or so we were there, the Roseate Tern only put in one appearance as it briefly landed on the island with all the Common Terns, but quickly flew off again and flew out to sea. My photos were very poor, but thankfully, Emma managed to get some great shots of the bird.
The Roseate Tern showed well, but briefly, over on Normandy Marshes. Photos by Emma Parkes.
There was a good variety of birds to look at here this morning with large numbers of Common Terns present and at least a dozen or so Little Terns using the islands too including one pair actually mating on one of the islands. There was just the one Sandwich Tern seen here as it flew over the site and then flew back into the sea. Also on the islands, there were a few Mediterranean Gulls nesting with the Black-headed Gulls, of which the latter species turned out to be real scoundrels.
Above and below, Common Terns over the Reserve.
Above, Little Terns getting amorous and below, mating has begun. Photo by Emma Parkes.
Avocets were well in double figures here and many had young feeding with the adults, which proved to be quite vulnerable to Gull attacks as we witnessed a Black-headed Gull taking an Avocet chick to devour. But it wasn't all one-sided as the Avocets chased any Gull or Crow that got too near their young; but it must surely put so much pressure on the adult birds. There were plenty of waders to look at but there was no sign of the Curlew Sandpiper, though it was seen earlier that morning. Other waders present included at least 20 Dunlin, Oystercatchers, Lapwings, Redshank, Ringed Plover and a few very smart looking Turnstone. A lone Sanderling going into summer plumage was on its own on a strip of mud in front of us and I believe that this bird was mistaken for a Little Stint.
Above, a Common Tern resting with Dunlin. Lovely to see so many of the Dunlin in their summer plumage. Below, a couple of Ringed Plovers were present.
Above, a Sanderling on one of the nearer islands and below, at least two Turnstone, both in their gorgeous summer plumage, were seen.
Other birds noted on our trip here included several singing Reed Warbler's and Common Whitethroat's within the ditches and a pair of Gadwall on the pools. The Terns were most impressive with some hovering over the water, but I thought the water was too shallow to hold fish? The freezing northerly wind was getting too much as I suggested we should all make our way back to the car before my fingers froze off!
Undisclosed site, New Forest:
This was only my second ever sighting of a Nightjar during daytime. What a beautiful looking bird.
For obvious reasons, we saw a Nightjar (there were in fact two birds in the same tree) on the edge of some woodland and among a few birders, it was a tree that the birds were seen in last year. We met up with fellow birder Andy Tew, who kindly told us exactly where to look and we had no problem in finding the bird perched nicely on one of the thicker branches. This was only my second ever sighting of a Nightjar during the daytime and I managed to get some lovely photos of this beautiful bird. Looking through the scope, I could see every intricate detail of the plumage that included all the different shades of grey and brown on the feathers. The bird actually ‘churred’ briefly but quietly; so we knew it was definitely in the tree.
Above and below, totally unexpected, this adult White-tailed Eagle flew over the heath heading east.
Above, just seconds after the Eagle, this Red Kite flew over and below, a Double-striped Pug moth on the heather.
Above and below, a Grey Heron flew over close to us.
Emma had earlier seen a Spotted Flycatcher in a small stretch of woodland and before checking out the Nightjar, I took a walk deeper into the wood and found a Spotted Flycatcher perched on a dead tree briefly until it flew off back into deeper cover. Redstarts were calling in the woodland, but we only got a brief view of a bird flying out of a tree and into the woodland. Several Stonechats and Meadow Pipits were seen on the heath and a group of three Swallows were also seen hunting for insects by the woodland edge and a pair of House Martins headed south high over the heath.
Above a 'teneral' Large Red Damselfly and below, a Meadow Pipit.
Above, a Woodland Dor Beetle crossing the main footpath through a wood. Below, Swallows were landing briefly on a tree beside a wood.
Above, this Willow Warbler was in song by the heath. Below, the Nightjar roosting in a tree.
Raptors put on a good performance over the heath and on our arrival we were walking around the edge of the woodland when Emma found a large raptor some distance away making its way towards us. I quickly got onto the bird and then realised it was an adult White-tailed Eagle! The bird sped over the heath on those huge wings and headed eastbound probably heading towards Beaulieu River, but I did manage a few photos of the bird, despite being some distance away. A Red Kite, a couple of Buzzards and a Kestrel were also seen on our trip here.
Normandy Marshes, Lymington:
I was so pleased in making another journey to Normandy Marshes to see this superb Curlew Sandpiper. I never got to see one last year, but this bird made up for that.
When we got back to the car park, a quick check on Birdguides revealed that the Curlew Sandpiper had returned to Normandy Marshes and also a report of a Little Stint. It was a 'no-brainer' and so we made our way back to this site again. It didn't take long to find the Curlew Sandpiper searching for food along the water edge with a Redshank on our arrival. The bird showed superbly well and I even managed to film the bird too. We then made our way to the area we stood at this morning and searched in vain for the supposed Little Stint. I picked up theSanderling on the Tern Island and I could see why someone could potentially make the mistake of misidentifying the Sanderling for a Little Stint. But the latter bird is much smaller than a Sanderling and the upperparts did not match a Little Stint either. Shame; for I would have liked to have 5 ‘year- ticks’ in one day.
Above and below, the near summer plumage Curlew Sandpiper.
Above, a parent Avocet protecting her young from Gulls and below, one of the adults feeding in the shallow water.
Above, these Mallard ducklings swam close to where we stood and below, anxious parent Avocets with one of the young.
Above, the parent Avocet protects her young.
Above, the Curlew Sandpiper on Normandy Marshes.
A Common Sandpiper joined the long list of waders seen here today and showed distantly on the opposite side of the reserve. A Little Grebe in full summer plumage was fishing by the Tern island and within the creek in front of us, a Mallard and her broods passed by in front of us, totally unaware of our presence. Gorgeous. There were a few species of wildfowl present, which included Gadwall and Tufted Duck to make up a good list of birds present on the reserve today. I had to be back home by 2pm as I promised my wife I would not be out all day and though I managed to get back at exactly 2.03pm, she still moaned at me!
I took my dogs for their morning walk a little later than expected and I must say, it was certainly a lot cooler than yesterday and a bit more breezier. However, it was pleasant enough for a nice slow walk around the Cemetery and though only the usual birds were encountered, there were a few insects on the wing and a lot of plants in bloom too. On the way to the Cemy, I could hear the cries of Swifts and the sounds from which they were coming from were two Swift Boxes that had been installed on a house in Highland Road. I had never noticed them before here and so must have only been recently installed. Excellent stuff. These boxes had Swift calls coming out of them to entice the Swifts to nest there.
Above, this female Blackbird was busy searching for worms within the tall grass and below, one of the Swifts heading north over the Cemetery.
Above and below, more photos of the Swifts going over.
Above, a Robin perched on a gravestone close to the footpath.
The Cemetery had all the usual birds showing fairly well and included a Dunnock that actually showed very well for a change by the Holm Oak clump. There were no migrants seen here this morning, except for the Swifts overhead, where two birds followed one another low over the Cemetery. The birds are now busy caring and looking after their youngsters and that included the Starlings nesting in the guttering of the surrounding houses where you could hear the youngsters calling within. Blackbirds were collecting worms etc, for their broods as well and it will not be long for the youngsters to venture out into the world, if they can avoid all the Corvids and Cats in the area.
Above, Birds-foot Trefoil growing along the footpath and below, a Wood Pigeon inone of the old and smallest Horse Chestnut trees.
Above, this Horse Chestnut, laden with 'spikes' looked amazing in the sunshine. Below, a Buff-tailed Bumblebee nectaring on a Green Alkanet.
More flowering plants were on show this morning including Herb Bennet, both Smooth and Prickly Sow-thistles, Wintercress, Common Vetch and Green Alkanet (the latter attracting a Buff-tailed Bumblebee). Though fairly quiet with the birds (around 14 species seen or heard), it was a pleasant walk with the dogs and relatively few dog-walkers too.
Despite being totally butchered, this tree within the southern perimeter of the Cemetery, still finds a way to produce leaves. Below, a Wren in full song proclaims its territory to a rival nearby Wren.
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