Stormy conditions bring in the scarcities.

Wednesday 3rd September 2025.

The Grey Phalarope at Hayling Island devouring a Ragworm. Photo by Andy Friend.

Unfortunately, I didn't do any birding today due to work commitments and even the Moth Box wasn't on last night due to the poor weather overnight. Today wasn't much better as I took a couple of soakings while driving around today. The strong winds brought in some very heavy showers throughout the day, but it did clear up late afternoon that encouraged our local birders to catch up with a very obliging Grey Phalarope.

Above, the Grey Phalarope in flight over the Oysterbeds. Photo by Andy Friend and below, the same bird is still showing well. Photo by Graeme Loader.

Yesterday’s Grey Phalarope was still present this morning, though it took some finding at first, but it gave its admirers some cracking close views from the main Car Park behind the Esso Garage and I have been allowed to put on my blog some of the superb photos and film footage. Many thanks to those guys.

The juvenile / 1st winter Caspian Gull off Sandy Point today. Photos by Chris Geary.

The sea was well watched today for some excellent seabirds passing through. From Sandy Point, a 1st winter, juvenile Caspian Gull was found flying among Herring Gulls and even briefly sat on the sea for five minutes before flying off. Also seen were two Arctic Skua’s, a juvenile Black Tern, a Fulmar and up to 40 Gannets. Over at Milford Shelter, near Lymington, the guys checking out the sea there recorded singles of Balearic and Manx Shearwater, 4 Arctic Skua, a Grey Phalarope, 3 Common Scoter and a Kittiwake. TWO Grey Phalaropes were now on Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve today!

I couldn't resist this lovely film footage of the Grey Phalarope at the Oysterbeds. Filmed by James Cutting.

The winds have not quite dropped yet and so what will be discovered tomorrow on the south coast? 

Its a Rustic morning!

Tuesday 2nd September 2025.

Flounced Rustic was one of four species of Rustic moths this morning.

It looks as though it is going to be a very wet week, with overnight showers and more rain today, but it didn't dampen the number of moths still arriving in and around my Moth Trap this morning. Even as early as 8.30pm last night, there was a Square-spot Rustic on the white sheet, even before I had put the light on! A Pipistrelle Bat flew over the garden and headed off south over the other gardens and a final check of the Moth Box before retiring to bed, a Lesser Yellow Underwing was now on the white sheet along with a Beautiful Plume.

My Moth Box:

Clancy's Rustic.

It was a ‘Rustic’ morning when it came to the moths present, with four species present that included three typical Autumn species, Flounced, Clancy’s and Square-spot Rustics. The Old Lady was back again and judging by the torn wings of this individual, I think it was the same one from Sunday morning. There was no sign of last night's Lesser Yellow Underwing, but a single Golden Twin-spot was present resting by the light bulb. The first Common Grass-moth to my garden for quite a while was resting on my outside kitchen wall.

 

Above, the Common Grass-moth & below, a Golden Twin-spot moth.

The Moths recorded this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Flounced Rustic x1	Chevron Grass-moth x1
Double-striped Pug x5	Common Grass-moth x1
Lime-speck Pug x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x3
Old Lady x1	Rusty-dot Pearl x3
L-album Wainscot x5	Beautiful Plume x1
Clancy’s Rustic x1	Common Plume x2
Square-spot Rustic x3	Barred Marble x1
Vine’s Rustic x5	Ruddy Streak x2
Garden Carpet x3	Box Tree Moth x1
Golden Twin-spot x1
Shuttle-shaped Dart x1
Large Yellow Underwing x3
Setaceous Hebrew Character x2
Bright-line Brown-eye x2
Willow Beauty x2
Yellow-barred Brindle x2

Sadly, nothing really of note flew overhead, except for a few Starlings and of course, the very noisy Herring Gulls! Over on the Hayling Oysterbeds, a Grey Phalarope was found by Hayling birder, Gary Fennemore. Well done that man. Another Grey Phalarope is now on the South Scrape on Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve. These heavy showers and windy conditions are starting to turn up some interesting birds. Hopefully, I can get out this afternoon and find something myself.

The Grey Phalarope on Hayling Oysterbeds this morning. Photos by Chris Geary.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

There were plenty of dark clouds around and occasionally some sunshine during my walk around the Cemetery.

Between the rain showers, I took my dogs for a late afternoon walk around my ‘local patch’ and though the Cemy closed at 7pm, I had roughly an hour to see what I could find. Unfortunately, there was a lot of human activity going on, especially with kids riding their bikes and a scooter, which are both prohibited here. I came across a lot of dog-walkers too, but who could blame them for walking the dogs while it was dry?

Above, one of the Blue Tits seen from the flock I found over in the south-east corner. Below, this Dark Mullein plant was growing by one of the graves. I don't think I have ever seen this plant growing here.

Above, I found just the one Ox-eye Daisy growing in the Cemy and below, I nicknamed these Silver Birches the 'Flycatcher' trees. I normally see one or two here in Autumn, but none so far this year.

Birdlife here was minimal with only one Chiffchaff seen and a flock of Blue / Great Tits seen throughout my trip here; it really was that quiet. I just saw one insect, a Buff-tailed Bumblebee and a few flowers were noted along the way including, which was a big surprise, a Dark Mullein plant growing near a graveside.

Above, it is looking quite Autumnal in the Cemy and below, a few Knapweed were growing still.

Of course, on the way back home the drizzly rain eventually came, but we didnt get too wet. Still, a nice end to the day. Up to three Grey Phalaropes were reported today: Keyhaven Marshes, Titchfield Haven and Hayling Oysterbeds and some excellent photos of the birds too.

A couple of superb photos of some recent birds in our area. Above, a Spotted Flycatcher and below, a Wryneck, which was photographed last week over at Hayling Oysterbeds. Both photos by Graeme Loader.

September begins with another 'year-tick'.

Monday 1st September 2025.

This Old Lady moth was present last night and still present this morning.

I had the Moth Box on overnight, knowing that rain was expected some time throughout the night, but with a rainguard to my Moth Box, I have every faith that when I check the Moths this morning, I should get a few goodies among them. Last night, before I headed off to bed, there was an Old Lady moth and also a Bloxworth Snout, but only the former was still present this morning. It had obviously rained heavily in the night as the garden was sodden and literally seconds after checking the Box this morning, the rain came again! A southerly wind blew over Southsea and some dark menacing clouds drifted over, but thankfully, it was dry when I walked the dogs.

My Moth Box:

One of two Golden Twin-spot moths today.

The Old Lady moth was still present this morning, perched on the white sheet, though it did fly off after I finished checking the Moth Box. Immigrant moths present included TWO Golden Twin-spots, 2 Lesser Yellow Underwing and 5 Rusty-dot Pearls. A new moth for my year list was a micro moth, the Dark-spotted Moss-moth (Bryotropha basaltinella), which are normally annual for this time of year. The only other insects within the Box were a few Leafhoppers.

Above, one of two Lesser Yellow Underwings and below, my first Dark-spotted Moss-moth of the year.

The Moths recorded this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Old Lady x1	Rusty-dot Pearl x5
Double-striped Pug x1	Chevron Grass-moth x1
Golden Twin-spot x2	Beautiful Plume x2
Willow Beauty x1	Common Plume x2
L-album Wainscot x6	Box Tree Moth x1
Vine’s Rustic x2	Ruddy Streak x2
Square-spot Rustic x1	Dark-spotted Moss-moth x1
Lesser Yellow Underwing x2
Large Yellow Underwing x1

Other than the Moths, both Yellow Wagtail and a Greenfinch were heard flying overhead.

In Hampshire today:

There was a lot of bird action around Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve and the Canal Path today with a showy Pied Flycatcher along the Canal Path for its second day and on the reserve itself, up to 5 Ruff were present in front of the Meonshore Hide (yet to see one this year!) along with a Green Sandpiper and a superb group of three Glossy Ibis.

The Pied Flycatcher by the Canal Path today. Photo by Mark Francis.

On Ibsley Water, Blashford Lakes, there were now two Black Terns and a Grey Phalarope dropped in briefly in front of the Goosander Hide. A Merlin was seen at Deadman Hill, in the New Forest this afternoon (another species I have not seen this year!). Yesterday, birding pal Geoff Farwell spent the day on Farlington Marshes where he saw the following: 3 Ruff, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 30 Yellow Wagtails, Wheatear, Kingfisher, 2 Spoonbills, Swift, 2 Ravens and a Common Buzzard. 

My local patch & Moors Valley Country Park.

Sunday 31st August 2025.

One of at least two Willow Warblers in Highland Road Cemetery this morning. Both birds sang a little.

The dogs got their walk this morning around Highland Road Cemtery where I was hoping there might be a migrant or two lurking about on my ‘local patch’. The weather was good this morning with a clear blue sky overhead and bright sunshine with a bit of a breeze. Not too bad. However, I knew rain was coming this afternoon and my wife had booked the ‘Go Ape’ at Moors Valley Country Park late this morning for our Granddaughter, Isabelle.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

The leaves are starting to turn brown on the Horse Chestnuts but they bear a lot of fruit.

There were a few migrant birds around the Cemetery and it kicked off nicely when I found a couple of Willow Warbler flitting about high up in the trees in the south-west corner of the Cemy. A Blackcap was heard ‘chacking’ deep within vegetation over on the east side, but I did not get a sighting of the bird. 

Above, Horse Chestnuts bearing fruit and below, the walk to the southern half of the Cemy from the west side. The Willow Warblers were in the tall tree in the background. 

Above, there were two clumps of Honey Fungus growing and below, a juvenile Robin coming into adult plumage.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew out of cover and flew off west before I could get a photo of the bird and the only other bird of note was a Jay; first heard calling near the Mausoleum and then seen trying to hide behind leaves in the trees by the Holm Oak clump. Up to 15 species of birds were recorded here today, so it was well worth the journey over there. 

Above, I found this Common Field Grasshopper on the fence panel near the main entrance, which I found unusual to be so exposed. Below, a Jay was being coy in the trees.

Above, several Blue Tits were present and below, this Starling was lit up by the early morning sun.

Above, Yarrow plants were everywhere on the short turf. Below, a pair of Starlings on the roof of one of adjacent houses.

Above, Lady Bedstraw was still in bloom around the graves at the southern end.

Regarding the insects, both Migrant Hawker and a male Common Darter were seen, but proved too difficult to get a photo of the dragonflies as were the few butterflies seen: Large White and Speckled Wood. At least plants don't hardly move and although very few were in flower now, there was a lot of Yarrow still in bloom in the grassy areas. Two large clumps of Honey Fungus were growing where the old Beech Tree used to stand, reminding me that Autumn is now around the corner. 

Moors Valley Country Park, Ashley Heath, nr Ringwood:

The Lake within the Country Park.

As mentioned earlier, Isabelle had been booked to go on the ‘Go Ape’ and we had to be there for 11.15am of which we got there nice and early. While Isabelle and her Dad took part, I kept an eye out around the site for anything of note and I did find a few interesting birds to keep me entertained.

Above and below, one of the Chiffchaffs by the Lake.

Above, there were two Water Strider's on the Lake close in from one of the Swims. Below, sleeping Mallards.

Within the woodland, there were sightings of a large Titmice flock that included a few Coal Tits, several Long-tailed Tits and a Treecreeper nearby. Both Siskin and Crossbill were heard flying over (not seen), but a Great Spotted Woodpecker was a bit more obliging as we watched it flying over the trees.

Above, a male Mute Swan and below, one of its offspring.

Above, a family flock of Mute Swans on the Lake and below, Purple Loosestrife was still growing by the edge of the Lake.

While Becky sat on one of the park benches, I took a walk by the large lake there and heard a couple of Chiffchaffs and saw them flitting about in the Willows and a Cetti’s Warbler was heard calling deep within the reedbeds there. A calling Mistle Thrush was seen flying high over the lake, but nothing on the lake itself bar a family flock of Mute Swans and several Mallard. What fascinated me was the Water Strider insects on the still water and below them, I could see small fish swimming about in the clear water. Realising that nearly 45 minutes had passed, I quickly made my way back to Becky and then returned to the ‘Go Ape’ to pick up the guys and then get a bite to eat. It was a mixture of sunshine and showers there, but, thankfully, it wasn't too wet. On the way back home, along the A31, I saw a pair of Ravens flying low over the road and then flew back over the neighbouring heath.

In Hampshire today:

Mark Francis found this leucistic Arctic Tern on the foreshore at Hill Head this morning.

The Wryneck at the Oysterbeds did not show for the small crowd present today and that included Matt & Emma Parkes, but on a plus side, they did see their first Osprey this morning with a bird perched on North Binness Island, within Langstone Harbour. They then went off to Blashford Lakes and got to see the juvenile Black Tern, of which they added to their year list.

This Magpie gave this Sparrowhawk a bad time over at the Oysterbeds today. Photo by Emma Parkes.

Hill Head regular, Mark Francis, found a stunning leucistic Arctic Tern on the beach among the Gulls (see photos), but little else of note there today. Over at Keyhaven Marshes, there was no sign of yesterdays Bonaparte’s Gull, but up to 4 Ruff and a Curlew Sandpiper were present and two Pied Flycatchers were noted; one at Northney Paddocks and another at the Old Cemetery, Southampton.