Saturday 11th October 2025.
Myself, Andy and Geoff overlooking Old Winchester Hill.
There was another thick blanket of cloud overhead this morning and again, fairly cool with temperatures around 12 degrees, but there was hardly any wind again. Today, seeing that a part of the M27 was closed yet again for the weekend to do repairs to a couple of bridges, I decided to go inland again and try our luck with both Butser Hill and Old Winchester Hill to see if we could find our first Ring Ouzel of the year. Two great locations and what with a lot of ‘Visible Migration’ this week, who knows what could fly over.
At last, the Moth numbers bounced back to good numbers at our respective Moth Boxes and I picked up three moth species that were new for the year; all at Cowplain Marsh!
My Moth Box:
This cracking Vapourer Moth was inside the Moth Box this afternoon.
I had to do my Moth Box in two stages today as it was still dark around 6.45am and so I carefully took photos of the Moths on the outside egg trays and also around the Box. I left the inside of the Moth Box when I got home this afternoon of which I had a few surprises waiting for me.
My second Pearly Underwing moth for the year.
Up to 46 moths of 19 species, easily by far the largest total this week, were present today and included some nice moths such as Pearly Underwing (second for the year) and my first Vapourer Moth in my Box this year (I have seen plenty on the wing elsewhere). Four Golden Twin-spots was good (though I doubt certain individuals will believe it!) and my first Jasmine Moth for the month was good too. Two Blair’s Mocha was notable and a late Willow Beauty was a surprise.
The Moths recorded this morning included the following:
Andy’s Moth Box, Cowplain Marsh:
Above & below, the two forms of Blair's Mocha moths.
An excellent count of 32 moths of 20 species were present here today and considering there was only just the one moth last Saturday here, what a difference a week makes! I picked up three moths that were new for the year: Black Rustic*, Red-lined Quaker* and a moribund Barred Sallow* (only my second ever) among the many moths and with a great supporting cast of 2 Blair’s Mocha (two different forms), Common Marbled Carpets, Cypress Carpets, a Red-green Carpet (second for the year) and a Privet Tortrix; I was more than happy with this haul this morning. Even a late Rosy Tabby was a surprise.
Above, the moribund Barred Sallow moth and below, Black Rustic. Both were new for the year.
Above, a Red-green Carpet and below, my first Red-lined Quaker of the year.
The Moths recorded at Andy’s Moth Box included the following:
While checking out Andy’s Pond within Cowplain Marsh and enjoying a hot cup of coffee, both Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest were in the trees nearby and a Meadow Pipit flew high over.
Butser Hill, nr Petersfield:
The view from the top of Grandfathers Bottom, Butser Hill, looking north.
Once we parked up within the Car Pak at Butser Hill, a quick look over the fields produced a distant Common Buzzard soaring over the stunning countryside and to the south, there were lots of Pheasants roaming the edge of the fields including some that were albino birds (pure white!). That should make it a bit more easier for the ‘f***wits’ to shoot!
Above, a pair of albino Pheasants in a distant field seen from the Car Park and below, a 'charm' of Goldfinches on Butser.
Above, a pair of Stonechats and below, a Parasol Toadstool.
We made our way to the top of ‘Grandfathers Bottom’ (who the hell named it that??!!) to view the scrubby bushes and valley below, took out our respective flasks for a hot drink and simply waited for anything to show. Though Ring Ouzel was our target bird, the nearest we got was something very similar to a Ring Ouzel calling below us but out of view. However, though we had no sightings of this species, there were a good number of Song Thrushes around and probably migrant birds too. Several Blackbirds had us reaching for our binoculars double quick, but that was what they were.
Above, one of many Yellowhammers on Butser.
A Kestrel perched in this Yew Tree overlooking the valley below.
Despite a Ring Ouzel no show, we did have a variety of birds flying over that included a Woodlark among the the many Skylarks; Meadow Pipits galore and finches that included Linnets, Goldfinches, Siskin, Chaffinch, one Redpoll that was heard only and a pair of Bullfinches that showed briefly. Both Chiffchaff and Blackcap were heard deep within the scrub and there were good numbers of Yellowhammers around too.
Above, a Great Spotted Woodpecker seen distantly and below, a female Stonechat on the Hill.
Andy searches for the possible Ring Ouzel while the Kestrel looks on.
There were a few raptors around that included a couple of Red Kites, seen soaring over the countryside and a male Kestrel perched up in a Yew Tree before eventually flying off to hunt over the valley below. A male Sparrowhawk flushed a lot of small birds from the scrub as it sailed close to the ground in front of us and overhead, a Green Woodpecker flew over as did a single Raven.
Above, a male Stonechat and below, one of the Red Kites drifting over.
Over the other side, behind the Radio Mast, a pair of Stonechats were on the brambles and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen briefly in one of the dead trees. I did flush a Rush Veneer moth, but it was proving too difficult to get a decent photo and so we carried on to the small Cafe nearby, where Geoff bought us a hot drink. Good man.
Old Winchester Hill, Meon Valley:
A large amount of scrub has been cleared away on top of the Hill.
There was a report on the Hants Birding website that a Ring Ouzel had been seen at 8am at Old Winchester Hill, but to cut a long story short, we did not see it! Our trip here kicked off with a Mistle Thrush flying high overhead from the Car Park and a Chiffchaff calling near the entrance gate. Again, not a drop of wind here and even the sun eventually came out and to be honest, it got rather warm in the sunshine!
Above, a large number of Common Gulls were in one of the ploughed fields seen from the south slope. Below, a rare plant in the UK, this Round-headed Rampion is one of the specialities here on Old Winchester Hill.
As we made our way to the Fort area, overhead, we encountered a group of raptors flying high and picked out a pair of Common Buzzards and a pair of Red Kites. A Marsh Tit was calling among a small flock of Blue and Great Tits, but the sighting of the bird was brief as we enjoyed a hot drink from our respective flasks from the bench overlooking the valley below. To be honest, a lot of other people were making the most of the calm conditions here with a lot of walkers and family groups out and about here and the birdlife was somewhat sparse.
Above, the 'Mitchell Brothers' made a guest appearance! Below, Greenfinches on one of the dead Ash trees.
On reaching the Fort area, we walked anticlockwise around the Fort for a change, hoping to find where the last sighting of the Ouzel was, but all we could pick up were a few Goldfinches and Greenfinches perched up on the dead Ash trees. A Common Buzzard was seen perched in one of the dead trees in the distance, but even that flew off and so we made our way down to the south slope where we encountered a few more birds (thankfully). Both Chiffchaff and Blackcap were heard calling down in the trees and bushes below and a large flock of Starlings were resting in the same vegetation and the noise of their chattering was quite loud in the still air.
Our second sighting of a Woodlark flying over for the day then took place as the bird headed up towards the Fort area and then out of view. A large flock of at least 250 Common Gulls (and around 50 Black-headed Gulls among them) were in one of the ploughed fields and all took off when a Common Buzzard flew low overhead. A male Sparrowhawk flew low over the vegetation in front of us and then sped off north over the hill. A couple of Goldcrests were seen back in the Fort area within a small bush and a small flock of 3 Siskins flew over to round off a pleasant trip for today.
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