Taking Margot out for a pleasant walk.

Thursday 21st August 2025.

There were plenty of footpaths to walk Margot though I did find a path through the scrub, but a lot of vegetation had stuck to her fur and so we turned back and got onto the proper paths. 

I was on ‘looking after my daughter's dog duty’ this morning as I had to go up to Bedhampton and take Margot for a walk. Earlier this year, I took her out a few times around the estate and south of the Forty Acres estate is an area of scrubland that holds a few trees, horse paddocks to the west and the railway line to the south. Most of the scrub here are wild flowers that included Perennial Sow-thistle, Creeping Thistle, Scentless Mayweed, Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Common Ragwort, Narrow-leaved Ragwort, Great Willowherb, Tufted Vetch and lots of Fleabane. 

Above, Perennial Sow-thistle and below, Narrow-leaved Ragwort.

Above, Great Willowherb and below, Fleabane.

There were other flowers about and the list would go on and on, but though ugly and unsightly to some, just think of all the insects inhabiting this area. There were plenty of butterflies around that included Common Blue’s, both Small and Large White’s, Gatekeepers, Small Heath and Meadow Browns and even a Peacock dashed over the vegetation but did not settle. I was hoping for a Clouded Yellow or two, but I could not find one even though there were quite a few sighted on Farlington Marshes this morning.

Above, a Large White butterfly and below, a Small Heath.

Above, one of many Common Blue's here in the scrub. This one was a female. Below, a Small White, which were also abundant.

Most of the large ponds and creeks created here were all dried out and some were full of weeds anyway, but as I walked for the first time here, eastbound, I came across a large pond that held quite a lot of water and of course, this attracted the Dragonflies. Several Common Darters were seen and even a large menacing Emperor Dragonfly was seen going up and down the Pond. Sadly, there were no Damselflies seen which was somewhat surprising, but the lack of water in the area probably was the reason for that.

Above, several Common Darters were seen today, including this male that landed on the footpath near the Pond. Below, I was stunned to see a small flock of Red-legged Partridges here in the scrubby area.

I found this bit of water by a drain (above) which led to this Pond that held a lot of water. In fact, with all the Ponds created here, it was the only Pond that held any water! I do wonder what the future holds if our summers are void of any long periods of rain. We already had a Hose Pipe ban in Hampshire this year, though probably those useless idiots that run Southern Water had a lot to do with that. Just dont get me started on that waste of space. Fume!

Above and below, this Common Buzzard sailed gracefully over the area.

Above, a Honey Bee nectaring on Creeping Thistle flower and below, the scrubby area looking north towards the new Housing Estate.

The birdlife here was somewhat lacking, but I did find a small flock of Red-legged Partridges running along by one of the dried out Ponds. Overhead, a pair of Common Buzzards sailed low overhead and other sightings included a Swallow passing by and a Chiffchaff singing deep within vegetation by the railway line. With the paddocks and a few good areas of bramble, this place certainly has potential for something unusual if it is watched constantly. I did give the area a thorough search and discover for the first time the east side of the area, again the potential here is good, especially with all the neighbouring trees and brambles. Surely, a Wryneck or a Shrike could be lurking about here over the coming weeks?

In Hampshire today:

Farlington Marshes held the two juvenile Ruffs this morning, both seen on the Stream area and a juvenile Little Stint was found on the Lake in the afternoon at the same site. Several Ospreys were noted on the south coast here that included two in Portsmouth Harbour and other sites including Fawley and Fishlake Meadows. The Northney Paddocks held at least one Pied Flycatchers and several Spotted Flycatchers and further north in the county, a Wood Sandpiper was with three Green Sandpipers on Alresford Pond.

This Lesser Whitethroat was filmed at Farlington Marshes by James Cutting.