Yet another very slow 'Sea-watch'.

Thursday 17th April 2025.

My second Silver Y moth of the year.

I did another ‘sea-watch’ from Southsea Beach this morning and it was a bit of a gamble for the sea was again dead calm and a cloudless blue sky with a very light north-westerly wind blowing across the Solent. I then knew it was going to be very slow this morning with not a great deal of birds, apart from Gulls, coming through the Solent; but I persevered for it was Spring and almost anything could turn up; but what did, totally was unexpected and a ‘first’ for me here at this site! 

But before that, I had the Moth Box to check this morning and there was a little selection to be identified.

The Moth Box:

Shuttle-shaped Dart.

A total of 8 moths were present which I consider not too bad considering how cold it was first thing this morning with a clear blue sky overhead. Once the temperature rises overnight, then I should be getting a lot more coming through. The Silver Y was most likely a migrant moth from the Continent, while all the others were localised individuals.

This Double-striped Pug was a small individual. I potted it last night and released it this morning.

• Double-striped Pug x2
• Shuttle-shaped Dart x1
• Silver Y x1
• Light Brown Apple Moth x2
• Common Plume x1
• Ruddy Dart x1

As per usual, I always keep an ear out for birds passing by overhead or in the nearby gardens and yet again, I heard another Yellow Wagtail flying high overhead heading northbound. Good to hear some House Sparrows in the nearby gardens for they have been scarce here during the Winter months and hopefully here to breed in their respective nest sites. 

Southsea Seafront:

It was dead calm again this morning though I could see a lot of low cloud & mist over the Isle of Wight west of Ryde. 

As expected, it was very slow again from Southsea seafront, but I believe as the Spring wears on, the birds will pick up in numbers, especially if we get some rougher weather out there on the Solent when the Skuas and Terns pass through the Solent. But today, it was quiet again, however, I was in for a bit of a surprise when I found a Black Swan drifting on the sea heading very slowly eastbound. It just goes to show that you never know what could pass by over the sea! I have never seen one on the sea or flying by, but sadly, it is a species still considered ‘not wild’ for whatever reason. The species breed in the wild throughout much of the UK, yet the ‘powers that be’ have not added it to the British Bird List.

The sightings this morning of each species are as follows:

• Whimbrel: two single birds both flew east. Whimbrels have a habit of calling when passing by, but these two individuals were quiet.

• Mediterranean Gull: just three birds seen this morning, with a pair and a single bird flying east.

• Sandwich Tern: Very small numbers through this morning, with just two fishing pairs close in to the shoreline and successfully catching a small fish each. Other birds were seen some distance out in the Solent.

• Oystercatcher: Just the one individual seen flying low east over the sea.

• Shag: One adult seen flying west low over the sea heading towards the Southsea Castle area.

• Common Tern: Just the one single bird heading westbound. Hopefully, the big flocks of this species will be passing through soon.

So, despite putting in a couple of hours here in the Yellow Shelter overlooking the Solent from 7-9am, it was another slow morning. A micro moth fluttered around in the shelter but would not settle long enough to get an idea. I have now packed a few Moth Pots ready for the next time one should flutter by! Walking back to the car, the Ragged Robin plants were abundant and I am now wondering if the new grass laid down by the Council during all the repairs here have a lot of wildflower seeds planted in the grass? I could see Knapweed plants growing among the grass, so it is a strong possibility that it could be a ‘Wildflower’ planting going on.

Above, the grassy embankment behind the Yellow shelter full of plants growing out of the grass and below, Ragged Robin were some of the plants coming through.

Some very interesting news coming out of West Sussex is the possible breeding of Hoopoe's in the County, which will be outstanding. A pair have been seen going into a nest hole and calling to one another, but I shall keep the location to myself. This Spring has seen a massive influx of the species as more and more are being found including a few in some Hampshire gardens! I shall, of course, keep an eye out for this amazing species 

This micro moth, a Sulphur Tubic, was on my kitchen window tonight.