A great trip to Fishlake and Whiteley.

Saturday 12th April 2025.

Me and the guys were off to Fishlake Meadows today in search of more migrant birds and also to meet up with Emma & Matt again at this superb Reserve. The weather was fine again, though it did get a little cloudy in the afternoon, but when the sun came out, it most certainly got a lot warmer. After Fishlake Meadows, we were a bit stuck on where to go next, so I made a suggestion in trying Whiteley Pastures for Nightingales. But before this took place, there were the Moth Boxes to check.

The Moth Boxes:

Above, Sulphur Tubic and below, a Hebrew Character.

Bloxworth Snout.

My Moth Box held absolutely bugger all early this morning, which was really disappointing; but last night, there were two Bloxworth Snouts by the Moth Box, but both had gone by the morning. Emma and Matt’s Moth Box also held no moths, so I was up to Andy’s Moth Box to save the day. There was one moth, a Hebrew Character within one of the egg boxes, but a micro moth fluttered past which, after I caught it in one of the pots, was identified as a Sulphur Tubic (Esperia sulphurella), my first of the year.  

Fishlake Meadows, Romsey:

A pair of Gadwall avoiding being lunch to a female Marsh Harrier.

As soon as we arrived at the site, the site was alive with bird song and it didn't take long to catch up with our first Sedge Warblers of the year. There were probably 10-20 birds out there on the reserve and some showed very well indeed and some were already doing their display flight. Other Warblers included large numbers of Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcaps (we watched one group of Blackcaps, 4 males and a female in one location!). There were smaller numbers of Willow Warblers and a Common Whitethroat was found near where the pathway heads west; Andy’s first of the year. We did hear several Reed Warblers, but all were deep within the reedbeds.

Above, the female Marsh Harrier passing a pair of Gadwall and below, the Cetti's Warblers were in good voice and showy too!

Above, a Cetti's Warbler and below, a male Blackcap. Both species showed very well here today. 

A female Marsh Harrier quartered the reserve several times and other raptors seen included  two Sparrowhawks, a Kestrel and numerous Common Buzzards high over the reserve. Two Red Kites drifted over and showed well, but sadly no sign of any Hobbies today. A Kingfisher showed well, though a little distant, perched by a dead tree until flying off over the reedbeds. From the Viewing Platform where we had lunch, the wildfowl present on the water included Gadwall, Mallard, Teal and a pair of Pintail and at least 8 Grey Lag Geese. A few Water Rails were heard calling from the reedbeds, but too deep within them to get a sighting.

Above, a male Blackcap by the main footpath and below, one of the many Sedge Warblers seen today.

Above, the female Marsh Harrier flew in front of us again and below, you can just make out a Kingfisher perched in this photo.

We took a walk on the north trail leading to some open fields that used to be flooded. A Green Sandpiper was reported there recently, but no sign today. We did find a couple of Grey Lag Geese and both Sedge Warbler and Chiffchaff were seen along the path. Other sightings here included a brief sighting of a Bullfinch flying from the pathway back into the bushes and at least three Willow Warblers in the nearby trees. A Raven was circling high overhead and then flew off west and a Kestrel was hunting over to the west of the reserve. A male Stonechat was seen in the field between the bushes to the north and then there were all the butterflies and insects we saw today here.

Above, a Sedge Warbler taking flight low over the reeds and below, Cuckoo Pint plants next to the footpath.

Above, my second Common Whitethroat of the year and below, this Cetti's Warbler was peeking out between the vegetation by the Canal.

Above, a friendly Robin wanting food from Andy! Below, my first Green-veined White butterfly of the year.

Above, a Large Red Damselfly and below, a dead Common Shrew.

Above, my first Small Tortoiseshell butterfly of the year and below, a preening male Reed Bunting by the Canal Path.

Above, a Common Buzzard perched high on a pylon.

Butterflies seen on the wing included my first Orange Tip, Green-veined White and Small Tortoiseshell and many Brimstone, Peacock and Speckled Woods on the wing. At least two Large Red Damselflies were seen and we even found a dead Common Shrew on the footpath. With places like this, there is always something to look at, no matter what time of the year and with such good company. It was good to meet up with Andy Tew along the Canal Path as well.

Whiteley Pastures:

Either side of the footpath, the Nightingales would sing.

Our final port of call was to be Whiteley Pastures for the Nightingales where one was reported earlier this week. We were in luck because we heard at least three birds singing deep within cover and a supporting cast of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs to keep us entertained. It got a bit warmer in the afternoon as we were now down to our t-shirts and there was a variety of insects to be seen including Brimstone, Peacock, Small White and Speckled Wood butterflies and Emma pointed out the Bee Flies on the main footpath. 

Above, there were a good many Bee Flies on the main footpath and below, a Brimstone butterfly on a Dandelion.

Above, Lesser Celandine flowers around the base of this Silver Birch close to a stream.

We will be back probably at the end of the month or the beginning of May for the Nightjars and Woodcock which we saw here last year. In Hampshire today, yesterday's Night Heron was shown just once today early in the morning by one lucky observer. A male Whinchat was by Hayling Oyster Beds, a flock of 8 Little Gulls flew past Brownwich, however, 45 Little Gulls were seen passing Hayling Island from Gunner Point along with a Little Tern.

This Sedge Warbler was one of many, but just listen to the surrounding birds while filming the Warbler.