First Reed Warbler of the year at Milton Lakes.

Wednesday 9th April 2025.

This Red Kite was a nice surprise flying over Fort Cumberland Common.

A bright blue sky with bright sunshine kicked off the day nicely but it was damn cold at 7.30am this morning as I checked my Moth Box. The Easter break is going nicely and so I had the opportunity to get out and about and late this afternoon, I took a stroll around Milton Lakes to see if any of the Warblers have returned. In between times, I was asked to let my daughter's dog Margot out to relieve herself both in the morning and in the afternoon, which was actually a pleasure. She really is a gorgeous dog.

The Moth Box:

My second Angle Shades moth of the year.

Late last night, I found a couple of moths perched on the kitchen door window pane of which they turned out to be a Bloxworth Snout and a Double-striped Pug. The signs were good that I was in for a lot of moths in the morning. How wrong I was. There was in fact just three moths present: and Angle Shades, probably last night's Bloxworth Snout and a Light Brown Apple Moth. Better than nothing, I suppose.

Bloxworth Snout.

Milton Lakes, Portsmouth:

From the southern end of Swan Lake, I could hear the Reed Warbler and a Water Rail calling from this very spot. Then a Brown Rat walked in front of me!

Earlier today, I was driving around Eastney and from Ferry Road, I watched, and was actually quick enough to grab my camera from the boot of my car, a Red Kite sailing over Fort Cumberland Common. Scores of Pigeons, Starlings and Crows took off in panic as this big superb raptor circled over the Common and then headed off eastbound. Very nice.

The Bluebells were out around Milton Lakes and below, this pair of Mallard were on Swan Lake.

After checking on Margot in the afternoon, I made my way down to Milton Lakes and parking up down Moorings Way, I made my way to Swan Lake. A Chiffchaff was singing its heart out in the trees nearby, as I kept an ear out for anything interesting. I was hoping for my first Common Whitethroat of the year, but despite doing a complete circuit around the Lakes, there was no sight or sound of one. I got a text from Matt Parkes to say there were good numbers of Sedge & Cetti’s Warblers present at Fishlake Meadows and minutes later, I heard the distinctive song of a Reed Warbler at the southern end of Swan Lake.

Above, Hogweed was growing beside Swan Lake and below, these Gadwall were also on the same lake.

I waited patiently for the bird to put in an appearance and after 5 minutes or so, the bird popped out briefly and then disappeared again into the thick reedbed. While waiting, a Water Rail called and a Brown Rat popped out in front of me and then scurried back into cover again. Swan Lake held a few birds that included pairs of Gadwall and Little Grebe. On the opposite side of the Lakes, there were sightings of Greenfinch, Chiffchaffs and a close Wren singing from the brambles. Near the end of the walk, the Reed Warbler started singing again, but proved too difficult to see, but I did get lucky with a singing male Blackcap that showed briefly and then flew off further south.

Above, one of two male Greenfinches seen singing and below, one of several Chiffchaffs seen singing in the area.

Above, a large area of scrub and bramble had obviously been cleared to help keep this place up together. Below, this Wren showed nicely by the footpath.

This Brown Rat was by the waters edge near where I was listening to the Reed Warbler.

My first Hogweed and Bluebells of the year were seen around the Lakes and a couple of Small White butterflies were on the wing to round off a nice day here. In Hampshire today, a male Hen-Harrier was seen at Hook-with-Warsash and a lot of migrant birds were seen by many birders out and about including Whitethroats, Sedge & Reed Warblers, Yellow Wagtails and even a Garden Warbler at Martin Down.