A quiet Gilkicker & the Titchfield Canal Path.

Saturday 3rd May 2025.

Like I said to the guys, yesterday, there was supposed to be a weatherfront coming into the south coast with heavy thundery showers predicted; hence I suggested going to Gilkicker for a potentially good sea-watch and hopes were high for a Pomarine Skua passing through the Solent. Well, in fact, there was absolutely no sign of any weather front coming in as the sea state was calm and a mixture of cloud and sunshine dominated the day instead. I, for one, will never ever trust the BBC Weather forecast again.

Yesterday, a Woodchat Shrike was found off the Canal Path at Titchfield, but there was no sign today despite a lengthy search by us after our disappointing sea-watch at Gilkicker. No new ‘year-ticks’ were obtained today either, however, if it wasn't for the superb Moths we saw this morning, the day could have been a complete quiet affair. True, there were some nice birds seen today, but after all these ‘Pom’ Skua’s being seen throughout the week through the Solent, not one of the buggers was seen today and to rub salt in the wound, a flock of 5 Black Terns were seen off Hill Head, but they never passed us during our four hour stint at Gilkicker. Fume!

The Moth Boxes: 

The Puss Moth was again still present by my Moth Box this morning and I could tell it was getting itchy feet and thankfully, when I got back late this afternoon, the moth had flown. There were, however, some excellent moths present this morning that included my second ever Toadflax Brocade and ‘year-ticks’ of Knot Grass, Cream-bordered Sweet Pea and the migrant micro moth, Diamond-back Moth. A total of 38 moths of 23 species that included the following recorded this morning:

Above, my second ever Toadflax Brocade and below, a Cream-bordered Green Pea.

Above, my first Knot Grass of the year.

Macro Moths:

• Puss Moth x1
• Toadflax Brocade x1
• Knot Grass x1
• Cream-bordered Sweet Pea x1
• Blair’s Mocha x1
• Early Grey x1
• Brimstone Moth x2
• Common Carpet x1
• Double-striped Pug x3
• Least Black Arches x2
• Vine’s Rustic x2
• Shuttle-shaped Dart x2
• Garden Carpet x1
• Bright-line Brown-eye
• Pale Mottled Willow x3
• Swallow Prominent x1

Macro Moths:

• Diamond-back Moth x2
• Sulphur Tubic x1
• Rusty-dot Pearl x2
• Light Brown Apple Moth 5
• Black Cloak x1
• Hourglass Mompha 2
• Ruddy Streak

The migrant Diamond-back Moth.

Over at Andy’s Moth Trap, four more moths that were new for the year were discovered that included a Red-green Carpet, Currant Pug, Maiden’s Blush and Heart & Dart. A total of 20 moths were present around Andy’s Moth Box of 13 species. 

Above, a Heart & Dart and below, a Red-green Carpet.

Above, a Maiden's Blush and below, a Currant Pug.

The following moths were recorded this morning here in Andy’s Garden:

Macro Moths:

• Garden Carpet x1
• Red-green Carpet x1
• Oak-tree Pug x1
• Currant Pug x1
• Common Pug x1
• Knot Grass x1
• Maiden’s Blush x1
• Brimstone Moth x3
• Heart & Dart x3
• Bright-line Brown-eye x1

Micro Moths:

• Common Plume x2
• Diamond-back Moth x2
• Ruddy Streak x2

Andy's Moth Box also attracted two Cockchafer Beetles.

The Solent from Gilkicker:

It was the 'bread & butter' birds that kept us entertained this morning. This adult Med Gull flew low over the beach.

Well, despite a nice early start, a quick bit of extra breakfast from Greggs and we were on our way for a busy sea-watch from the shelter at Gilkicker. But I am afraid to say, it was arguably one of the worst or should I say, the quietest sea-watch this year. Thank God I was in such a great company and there were even some interesting plants to look at during the long quiet spells here.

Several Sandwich Terns patrolled the shoreline.

Geoff and I took a look at the various plants growing on the beach that included flowering Sea Kale, Sea Campion, Beaked Hawksbeard, Buckshorn Plantain, Dovesfoot Cranesbill and Birds-foot Trefoil. Many of the plants were occupied by Soft-winged flower Beetles that seemed to be everywhere. If I got a £1 for every time someone asked us what we were looking at, it would have paid for a slap-up nosh for three; but we were very hospitable giving the same answer time and again. Pays to be friendly to the public.

Above, Sea Campion and below, Sea Kale.

Above, Buckshorn Plantain and below, Beaked Hawksbeard covered in Soft-winged flower Beetles.

Above, Birds-foot Trefoil.

The birds seen here this morning included the following:

• Sandwich Tern: Several birds flew up and down the shoreline and more were seen flying mid-channel, but I could not tell for sure if these were migrant birds or local birds.

• Common Tern: Just the one bird was seen flying west over the Solent.

• Mediterranean Gull: About a dozen or so birds were seen throughout the morning; some coming in quite close while others were seen mid-channel on the sea.

Above, a pair of Linnets searched for seeds amongst the vegetation on the beach. Below, a few Swallows came off the sea.

Above, an adult Med Gull patrolling the beach and below, even a Jackdaw kept us briefly entertained.

Andy checked out the scopes while Geoff and I checked out the beach vegetation. Yes, it was that quiet! Below, one of several Cormorants fishing offshore, This individual caught a flatfish as we watched him devour it.

• Grey Heron: Two adult birds were seen coming in off the sea from the Isle of Wight, while another bird was making the opposite crossing.

• Swallow: Four birds were seen twittering above our heads and eventually flew off north while a single bird was actually seen coming in off the sea and headed off over the fields behind us.

• Oystercatcher: A single bird was seen heading east and another west.

• Great Crested Grebe: A single bird was seen flying low over the sea heading west.

Titchfield Canal Path:

A male Marsh Harrier over the reserve.

Though we did not get to see yesterday’s Woodchat Shrike, despite putting some severe effort in, there were a few notable birds seen as well as a variety of insects to keep us entertained. There was the amazing sight of the Willow Trees discharging their woolly-like seeds along the Canal Path, which covered the edges of the footpath and also a lot of the shallower stretches of the Canal.

Above, Speckled Wood butterflies were abundant along the footpath. Below, Red-headed Cardinal Beetle. 

Above, we found many Nursery Web Spiders on the brambles enjoying the warm sunshine.

Our walk north, after parking at the seafront, kicked off with a Hairy Dragonfly patrolling a part of the Canal; our first of the year. A little later, the first sighting this year of a Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly was seen flying over the brambles by the edge of the Canal, but would not settle for a photo. However, an Azure Damselfly was far more obliging. Singing Cetti’s, Chiffchaff, Reed and Sedge Warblers were heard and a few Blackcaps joined in too as we walked north up the footpath and our first notable birds were up to three Marsh Harriers over the reedbeds and fields. These were joined by two Kestrels and I was sure I had a Peregrine flying over heading south, but was lost behind the trees.

Above, the male Marsh Harrier displaying a nice pair of legs and below, a female Stonechat just east of the footpath.

On reaching Hammonds Bridge, we searched thoroughly the fields adjacent to the main footpath but the best we could muster was four House Martins, 2 Swifts, a Common Buzzard and a male Sparrowhawk. A Common Whitethroat was seen displaying in a nearby hedge and a pair of Stonechats were on the barbed wire fence on the opposite side of the main footpath. The long hot walk back was pretty quiet, but there were a lot of Speckled Wood butterflies on the wing here. We gave the Posbrook Floods a good scan and notched up the following wildfowl: Mallard, Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler and a single drake Wigeon. A Little Egret and three Grey Herons patrolled the shallows in search of prey while a couple of Swallows dropped in and took a drink.

My first Azure Damselfly of the year along the footpath.

When we finally reached the Car by the beach, up to 6 Common Terns were seen over the Reserve and another two more were seen chasing each other very high up. OK, today didn't really go to the script, but it was still a good day with these guys.