THE FINANCIAL BIRDER 2: Hudsonian Godwit climbs onboard my life list.

Saturday 17th May 2025.

The Hudsonian Godwit from the Meonshore Hide, Titchfield Haven.

It was overcast first thing this morning as I made my way into the garden at 5am! I was awake much earlier than that when a Fox was barking outside in the back gardens somewhere and I simply couldn't fall back to sleep after that (around 3.30am!!!) and so I got up much earlier than expected and made a coffee and eventually made my way into the garden. At 10 degrees centigrade and a very light northerly wind, it wasn't too bad searching for the moths this morning,

The Moth Box:

One of two Common Marbled Carpet moths this morning.

There was only one new moth species for the year this morning and that was the Common Marbled Carpet of which there were two present. The Toadflax Brocade was still present on the rainguard from yesterday and the only other insect species was a very small beetle of the Polypore fungus beetle family that looks good for Hallomenus binotatus. A total of 51 moths of 21 species were recorded today which included the following:

Macro moths:

Double-striped Pug x1
Buff Ermine x1
Garden Carpet x1
Heart & Dart x5
Pale Mottled Willow x2
Common Marbled Carpet x2
Toadflax Brocade x1
Bright-line Brown-eye x2
Shuttle-shaped Dart x6
Treble-lines x3
Willow Beauty x5
Brimstone Moth x1
Vine’s Rustic x1
Cabbage Moth x1
Yellow-barred Brindle x2

Micro moths:

Diamond-back Moth x1
Garden Pebble x1
Black Cloak x2
Hourglass Mompha x1
Light Brown Apple Moth x11
Ruddy Dart x1

The small beetle Hallomenus binotatus that was in the bottom of my Moth Box.

Andy’s Moth Box:

My first Mocha moth of the year.

Meanwhile, over Andy’s house in Cowplain, a further two more moths were added to my year list with a superb Mocha found perched up on his back gate and the micro moth, Codling Moth found on one of the egg boxes. Having got my first Common Marbled Carpets this morning in my garden, Andy had up to 8 of this species in his garden! A Knot Grass was my third one of the year. The moths present this morning in Andy’s garden included the following:

Macro moths:

Common Pug x1
Wormwood Pug x1
Knot Grass x1
Treble-lines x5
Mocha x1
Heart & Dart x4
Willow Beauty x1
Common Marbled Carpet x8
Vine’s Rustic x1
Brimstone Moth x1
Flame Shoulder x1

Macro moth:

Codling Moth x1
Ruddy Streak x1

Above, a Knot Grass moth and below, a Codling Moth.

Above, two varieties of Common Marbled Carpet.

Titchfield Haven NR:

My first ever sighting of the Hudsonian Godwit which was kindly pointed out to me by my fellow 'Lazee Birders'

While checking the moths in Andy’s garden, the news that the Hudsonian Godwit had flown onto the south scrape at Titchfield Haven; the news I was hoping for and so after a quick coffee, we made our way to the Reserve. This time, if you paid cash, someone was by the entrance gate taking the entry fee and she gave us the news that the Godwit was still present in front of the Meonshore Hide and showing well.

Above, a few more photos of the 'Hudwit'.

I quickly grabbed a seat within the Hide between fellow ‘Lazee’s’ Steve Pace and Chris Geary who quickly got me on to the Hudsonian Godwit. My first ‘Lifer’ for many a year; the last being the River Warbler in Somerset! To be honest, I never ever thought I would ever see this species of bird in the UK and here we are. One could easily see the difference between the Hudsonian and the local Black-tailed Godwits as I got busy taking many photos. They were not as good as some of the ones that are streaming all the media sites, but I am happy with what I took.

Above, this female Marsh Harrier was most unwelcome from the residents including this Avocet. Below, a lone Common Sandpiper flew across the South Scrape and landed on the east side.

Above and below, Avocets were abundant on the South Scrape.

Above, a singing male Reed Bunting just south of the Hide. Below, the Hudsonian Godwit on the South Scrape.

A female Marsh Harrier suddenly flew over the South Scrape and all the Gulls, Terns and waders took flight, including the Hudsonian Godwit that took off with a small flock of Black-tailed Godwits and then eventually settled with others at the back of the Scrape where it remained during the rest of the time when I was in the Hide. Other waders present included good numbers of Avocets, a few Oystercatchers and a single Common Sandpiper. A few Common Terns flew in and rested on some of the islands and a fine male Reed Bunting was singing on one of the brambles near the main footpath. So very pleased with seeing the Hudsonian Godwit, we made our way to the seafront to grab a coffee, but being a tad early, I said to the guys how about going to Fishlake for Osprey and other goodies there. It was when we were travelling westbound on the M27, we found out that Mark Francis had found a Black Tern among other Terns off Hill Head. Bugger!

Fishlake Meadows, Romsey:

A pair of juvenile Stonechats along the top footpath.

Though it was cold at first this morning, it certainly warmed up this afternoon. This in turn brought out a lot of Dragonflies & Damselflies on our walk around this Reserve. The bird life wasn't too bad either and although we never got to see an Osprey here, there was a good variety of birds to be seen today.

Above, one of a pair of Red Kites soaring over the reserve. Below, one of three juvenile Stonechats.

Above, the male Stonechat that kept close attention to his offspring. Below, Geoff and Andy watching the Stonechats.

Kicking off with the Raptors, a pair of Red Kites soared high overhead when we started walking along the Canal Path and from one of the benches, I picked out a Peregrine heading low south over the reserve. Common Buzzards were soaring high over the reserve with at least four birds seen during our time here and one bird was seen being mobbed by a Common Tern and also a Jackdaw! There was just the one Hobby seen today, but it was seen well from the Viewing Screen hunting for Dragonflies. A male Kestrel was seen hunting over the reserve and later seen perched on an overhead wire. Before we arrived at the site, we stopped off briefly for our lunch and a female Sparrowhawk flew over. A total of seven species of raptor were seen today.

Above, this male Reed Bunting was singing near the Viewing Screens. Below, there was only one Hobby showing for us this afternoon, but what a bird.

Above, the fantastic view from the Viewing Screens. Yellow Iris plants were flowering everywhere. Below, a brood of Mallards on the lake.

Warblers were in fine voice, but somewhat a little quieter than the last time we were here. Sedge and Reed Warblers were seen and Cetti’s Warblers exploded into song along the Canal Path. Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap and Garden Warblers were all seen, but with so much vegetation in the trees and bushes, it was hard to grab any decent photos of the birds. A male Bullfinch was seen twice in flight and we even found a Spotted Flycatcher from one of the viewpoints, perched on a dead tree. A lone Cuckoo flew over the reserve, seen from the Viewing Screen, though this bird was silent as it made its way westbound. Water Rails were heard all over the place, but we got some great views of one particular bird from the Viewing Screen, though too quick to get a decent photo. Up to two Great White Egrets were also seen from the Screens of which one of them, flew over the lake and settled by the edge of the reeds. A family flock of Stonechats were just north of the path that included up to three juveniles and a male Stonechat, but no sign of the female.

Above, my first young Coot of the year with its parent. Below, a Great White Egret flew out of the reeds.

Above, the Great White Egret flying over the lake and then settling by the reeds.

As mentioned earlier, both Dragonflies and Damselflies were abundant. Hairy Dragonfly is a speciality here and we saw at least a dozen along the pathways including one pair that were joined in copulation. Andy found our first Emperor Dragonfly of the year and Four-spotted Chasers were in good numbers also. Both Azure and Large Red Damselflies were also abundant along the main footpaths and allowed me to take some nice photos of these insects. Other insects seen were the Hoverfly, Marsh Tiger Hoverfly and both Orange Tip and Red Admiral butterflies.