Saturday 20th September 2025.
This cracking Hobby entertained us in front of the Ivy North Hide, Blashford Lakes today.
There were two Moth Boxes to check this morning as both myself and Andy Fisher had the Boxes on overnight. I had another large haul of moths, though nothing new for the year this morning, but there was better luck at Cowplain Marsh. I was not sure on where to go today and what with rain coming in this afternoon, it was both tempting to go over one of the hill sites within Hampshire for possible visible migration or head off westbound over to Blashford Lakes. I decided on the latter.
My Moth Box:
My second Double-striped Tabby moth of the year.
There was yet another large haul of moths this morning with 76 moths of 26 species recorded today here in my garden. The rare Sombre Brocade was still present by the Moth Box in exactly the same spot as yesterday. A Golden Twin-spot and Plumed Fan-foot was also present along with 3 Clancy’s Rustics. L-album Wainscots were increasing in number with 14 seen this morning along with 11 Double-striped Pugs and 12 Lesser Yellow Underwings! Of the micro moths, easily the best of a large number of species was my second Double-striped Tabby of the year. A Jasmine moth came a close second and two well marked Narrow-winged Grey’s were also seen.
Above, a Jasmine Moth was present this morning and below, a rather striking Shuttle-shaped Dart.
The Moths recorded this morning in my garden were as follows:
Overhead, there was a continuous stream of Meadow Pipits flying over, though most were very high up and hard to see. A couple of ‘alba’ Wagtails (Pied or White Wagtails) were seen flying south with the Pipits.
Andy’s Moth Box, Cowplain Marsh:
My first Lunar Underwings for the year were at Cowplain Marsh Moth Box.
Andy’s Moth Box came up trumps when I got to see my first Lunar Underwings of the year with a total of 7 individuals recorded this morning. As Geoff pointed out, they do come in a variety of colours which was evident this morning. My first Silver Y of the month was on one of the egg trays and my second Double-striped Tabby of the morning was just inside the back porch. THREE Blair’s Mocha was a very good number too. A total of 35 moths 12 species were noted here today.
Above, my first Silver Y of September. Strangely, they have been scarce this year for me and below, another form of Lunar Underwing in one of the egg trays.
The Moths recorded at Cowplain Marsh were as follows:
Blashford Lakes, nr Fordingbridge:
The Hobby showed superbly well in front of the Ivy North Hide.
After grabbing a bit of breakfast from a nearby garage, we first made our way to the Tern Hide at Blashford Lakes. The Hide was empty when we first arrived and checking Ibsley Water thoroughly, there was plenty to look at. A large number of Canada Geese were at the northern end of the Lake along with a couple of Grey Lags, while along the shoreline, there must have been around 40+ Egyptian Geese counted. Wildfowl numbers were starting to build up now with Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Tufted Duck present and I counted at least 40+ Great Crested Grebes on the lake.
This was one of many Great Crested Grebes on Ibsley Water.
There was a large number of Herring Gulls, especially juvenile birds, on the islands, with smaller numbers of Black-headed Gulls, but no other Gull species present. Waders present here included up to two Common Sandpipers, a single Redshank and up to 30+ Lapwing. Over the water, good numbers of both House and Sand Martins were hawking for insects and several Swallows were mixed in with them.
Above, one of the Common Sandpipers in front of the Tern Hide and below, this Great Crested Grebe sailed by close to the Hide.
In front of the Tern Hide, a Chiffchaff was flitting about in the vegetation by the shoreline and an adult and juvenile Stonechat were seen in a small tree to the right of the Hide. After seeing so many Meadow Pipits overhead this morning while I was checking my Moth Box, it was nice to see some one the ground, along with Pied Wagtails on the grassy area also to the right of the Hide, which eventually all flew off south.
Toadstools are now becoming more obvious and above, I found a few clumps of Sulphur Tuft toadstools growing on some old tree stumps. Below, a large clump of Brittlegill was growing along the main footpath.
Above and below, there were numerous Brown Rim-roll Toadstools.
After the Tern Hide, we took a drive over the Info Centre Car Park where we made our way over to the Ivy South Hide. On the way, there was a good number of Toadstools growing along the edge of the footpath that included both Brittlegill and Brown Roll-rim toadstools. On reaching the Hide, we only just managed to grab the remaining seats available as it was full of ‘toggers’ hoping for close views of the Kingfishers and Otters. I have never seen an Otter here at Blashford and the water was now looking a bit choppy to actually find one.
Above, an adult Common Tern was on the Tern Raft along with several Cormorants in front of the Ivy South Hide. Below, several flocks of Gadwall flew past the Hide.
Above, Amphibious Bistort growing in the water.
In front of the Hide, the birdlife here was a little sparse with an adult Common Tern seen on the Tern raft (with several Cormorants), the occasional flock of Gadwall passing over and a few Tufted Ducks over on the far side of the water. Sadly, no sign of the female Red-crested Pochard that was seen a few days ago and therefore, no ‘year-tick’ for Andy. I did see the Kingfisher a couple of times, but it was very brief and not the hoped for sighting of one perched in front of the Hide. After 30 minutes and a couple of cups of coffee from my flask, we decided to try our luck at the Ivy North Hide.
Above, more photos of the Hobby in front of the Ivy North Hide.
At first, it was looking a bit quiet in front of the Hide with just a few Cormorants and a Grey Heron keeping us entertained and oh, good numbers of Migrant Hawker dragonflies. The first 15 minutes went slowly and then we heard an unfamiliar bird. It first sounded like a Green Woodpecker and then I said it could be a raptor. Low and behold, a Hobby was tussling with a female Sparrowhawk and flew right in front of us. The Sparrowhawk soon flew off, but the Hobby perched in a tree to the right of the Hide and remained there for the next ten minutes. The Migrant Hawkers were passing by the Hide and the Hobby noticed this and for the next 20 minutes or so, the Hobby put on a superb flying display catching the dragonflies in front of the Hide. Just goes to show what a little patience can do and we were rewarded with this amazing spectacle.
Above, the Great White Egret in front of the Ivy North Hide and below, it was at the end of this clearing within the reedbed, the Egret showed itself.
A Great White Egret then flew into view and landed in front of the reedbed and out of view, but after ten minutes or so, the bird was suddenly in front of the reeds again, but in view as it slowly walked around only to disappear a few minutes later in front of the reedbed. A Water Rail was heard calling deep within the reedbed, but sadly, no sighting.
This showy Robin was on the footpath between the Hides.
This Grey Heron showed relatively well in one of the reedbeds.
To round off our day here at Blashford Lakes, we had one more look from the Tern Hide. The weather was closing in and a heavy rain shower finally arrived as predicted by the Met Office for the area. From the Hide, Geoff finally caught up with a close Common Sandpiper in front of the Hide, after missing the two seen earlier today and I picked out a pair of Goosanders over on the west side of the lake. No idea why a dead sheep was laying on the shoreline over on the west side? I can only assume it was left there deliberately for the raptors to eat? Who knows? Still, a good day’s birding with my best mates.
The Hobby in front of the Ivy North Hide today.
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