A great trip to Fishlake and Whiteley.

Saturday 12th April 2025.

Me and the guys were off to Fishlake Meadows today in search of more migrant birds and also to meet up with Emma & Matt again at this superb Reserve. The weather was fine again, though it did get a little cloudy in the afternoon, but when the sun came out, it most certainly got a lot warmer. After Fishlake Meadows, we were a bit stuck on where to go next, so I made a suggestion in trying Whiteley Pastures for Nightingales. But before this took place, there were the Moth Boxes to check.

The Moth Boxes:

Above, Sulphur Tubic and below, a Hebrew Character.

Bloxworth Snout.

My Moth Box held absolutely bugger all early this morning, which was really disappointing; but last night, there were two Bloxworth Snouts by the Moth Box, but both had gone by the morning. Emma and Matt’s Moth Box also held no moths, so I was up to Andy’s Moth Box to save the day. There was one moth, a Hebrew Character within one of the egg boxes, but a micro moth fluttered past which, after I caught it in one of the pots, was identified as a Sulphur Tubic (Esperia sulphurella), my first of the year.  

Fishlake Meadows, Romsey:

A pair of Gadwall avoiding being lunch to a female Marsh Harrier.

As soon as we arrived at the site, the site was alive with bird song and it didn't take long to catch up with our first Sedge Warblers of the year. There were probably 10-20 birds out there on the reserve and some showed very well indeed and some were already doing their display flight. Other Warblers included large numbers of Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcaps (we watched one group of Blackcaps, 4 males and a female in one location!). There were smaller numbers of Willow Warblers and a Common Whitethroat was found near where the pathway heads west; Andy’s first of the year. We did hear several Reed Warblers, but all were deep within the reedbeds.

Above, the female Marsh Harrier passing a pair of Gadwall and below, the Cetti's Warblers were in good voice and showy too!

Above, a Cetti's Warbler and below, a male Blackcap. Both species showed very well here today. 

A female Marsh Harrier quartered the reserve several times and other raptors seen included  two Sparrowhawks, a Kestrel and numerous Common Buzzards high over the reserve. Two Red Kites drifted over and showed well, but sadly no sign of any Hobbies today. A Kingfisher showed well, though a little distant, perched by a dead tree until flying off over the reedbeds. From the Viewing Platform where we had lunch, the wildfowl present on the water included Gadwall, Mallard, Teal and a pair of Pintail and at least 8 Grey Lag Geese. A few Water Rails were heard calling from the reedbeds, but too deep within them to get a sighting.

Above, a male Blackcap by the main footpath and below, one of the many Sedge Warblers seen today.

Above, the female Marsh Harrier flew in front of us again and below, you can just make out a Kingfisher perched in this photo.

We took a walk on the north trail leading to some open fields that used to be flooded. A Green Sandpiper was reported there recently, but no sign today. We did find a couple of Grey Lag Geese and both Sedge Warbler and Chiffchaff were seen along the path. Other sightings here included a brief sighting of a Bullfinch flying from the pathway back into the bushes and at least three Willow Warblers in the nearby trees. A Raven was circling high overhead and then flew off west and a Kestrel was hunting over to the west of the reserve. A male Stonechat was seen in the field between the bushes to the north and then there were all the butterflies and insects we saw today here.

Above, a Sedge Warbler taking flight low over the reeds and below, Cuckoo Pint plants next to the footpath.

Above, my second Common Whitethroat of the year and below, this Cetti's Warbler was peeking out between the vegetation by the Canal.

Above, a friendly Robin wanting food from Andy! Below, my first Green-veined White butterfly of the year.

Above, a Large Red Damselfly and below, a dead Common Shrew.

Above, my first Small Tortoiseshell butterfly of the year and below, a preening male Reed Bunting by the Canal Path.

Above, a Common Buzzard perched high on a pylon.

Butterflies seen on the wing included my first Orange Tip, Green-veined White and Small Tortoiseshell and many Brimstone, Peacock and Speckled Woods on the wing. At least two Large Red Damselflies were seen and we even found a dead Common Shrew on the footpath. With places like this, there is always something to look at, no matter what time of the year and with such good company. It was good to meet up with Andy Tew along the Canal Path as well.

Whiteley Pastures:

Either side of the footpath, the Nightingales would sing.

Our final port of call was to be Whiteley Pastures for the Nightingales where one was reported earlier this week. We were in luck because we heard at least three birds singing deep within cover and a supporting cast of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs to keep us entertained. It got a bit warmer in the afternoon as we were now down to our t-shirts and there was a variety of insects to be seen including Brimstone, Peacock, Small White and Speckled Wood butterflies and Emma pointed out the Bee Flies on the main footpath. 

Above, there were a good many Bee Flies on the main footpath and below, a Brimstone butterfly on a Dandelion.

Above, Lesser Celandine flowers around the base of this Silver Birch close to a stream.

We will be back probably at the end of the month or the beginning of May for the Nightjars and Woodcock which we saw here last year. In Hampshire today, yesterday's Night Heron was shown just once today early in the morning by one lucky observer. A male Whinchat was by Hayling Oyster Beds, a flock of 8 Little Gulls flew past Brownwich, however, 45 Little Gulls were seen passing Hayling Island from Gunner Point along with a Little Tern.

This Sedge Warbler was one of many, but just listen to the surrounding birds while filming the Warbler.

Another great day in the New Forest & to finish off at Posbrook Floods.

Friday 11th April 2025.

One of the many male Redstarts seen in Pig Bush woods today.

I arranged to meet up with both Emma & Matt Parkes at Fareham to arrange a trip into the New Forest. The plan was to go to both Pig Bush and Acres Down, but because the news filtered through that an adult Night Heron had been found by Posbrook Floods this afternoon, we scrapped the Acres Down trip to make our way there after a superb trip to Pig Bush. It was so hard to believe that we had a frost this morning and this afternoon, the temperature got up to at least 73 degrees Fahrenheit! 

Pig Bush, New Forest:

A lot of the Redstarts were in the tops of the trees.

I had brought along my Emperor Moth Lure to try out on the heath and we were successful with at least three moths attracted to the Lure, but the moths simply wouldn't settle and no photos were obtained, which was really frustrating. From the Car Park, we made our way around the outskirts of the wood, where we heard the likes of both Redstart and Blackcap singing deep within the woodland. Meanwhile, out over the heath, Emma found a Common Lizard but it was too quick for me to grab a photo. A pair of Stonechats were out on the heath near some Gorse bushes. A pair of Common Buzzards soared overhead and a Tree Pipit was heard flying over and another singing on the opposite side of the road. A Large Red Damselfly was seen fluttering about over the old bracken and trying out my Lure for the first time, it didn't take long for the first Emperor Moth to arrive, but as mentioned earlier, the moth would not settle and eventually flew off over the heath.

Above, a male Sparrowhawk soaring over the woodland and below, we found a few of these Click Beetles flying around or walking on the floor.

Above, a male Stonechat on the heath and below, a Redstart on the edge of the woodland

There were plenty of Brimstone butterflies on the wing and a few Peacock butterflies, whereas within the woods, a few Small Whites and Speckled Woods were noted. Rounding the first wood we came too, we found our first Redstart singing high up in the branches and had to go within the wood to finally get some reasonable photos. Above us, another Common Buzzard was seen soaring over and was joined by a male Sparrowhawk of which Matt exclaimed they fly like a miniature Spitfire!

Above, one of many Brimstone butterflies seen today and below, this male Stonechat showed well by the Car Park.

We made our way south across the heath and came across more Stonechats and Redstarts, but best of all, we came across at least three Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. I shall not name the area of which we saw these delightful birds for they are a Schedule One species and need protection at all times. The New Forest is probably the last stronghold they have in the UK and watching them this afternoon was very entertaining and afforded us some nice photos of the bird too. What was memorable was when the female was calling and flapping her wings to attract the male birds present; something none of us had seen before. Memorable to say the least.

Above, the female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker seen today.

Above, film footage of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.

Making our way back to the car, we had sightings of a Kestrel hunting over the heath and a Red Kite was also seen soaring overhead. Up to four Common Buzzards were seen soaring over the heath and a Swallow was actually flying quite close to one of the Buzzards! A Curlew was heard calling over the heath in the distance to round off a memorable trip here at Pig Bush.

Posbrook Floods, Titchfield Haven:

Our first Common Whitethroat of the year.

We managed to get to the small Car Park by the Canal Path around 4.30pm and then made our way south to hopefully see the Night Heron. However, our first Common Whitethroat of the year stopped us in our tracks as the bird showed well in some brambles by the main footpath; exactly where I saw one last year (same bird?). As we made our way down the Canal Path, I could see up to 5 Black-tailed Godwits on the Bridge Street Floods along with a few Teal, Mallard and Gulls. 

Common Whitethroat.

We came across birding pal Pete Appleton along  the footpath and he said he did not manage to see the Night Heron and the last time it got reported was around 3.30pm. However, while we were talking to him, Emma saw some Hirundines high over Posbrook Floods and on closer inspection, one of the three birds present was most definitely a House Martin; my first of the year. The other two birds were Sand Martins and all three headed off northbound.

Common Whitethroat.

We spent a good hour checking thoroughly the Willows and Bushes over on the far side of Posbrook Floods, but to no avail. Another male Stonechat was seen and on the Floods, there were two drake Pochards among the Teal and Mallard. A pair of Red Kites were seen overhead as we made our way back to the car, which rounded off a cracking afternoon's birding. Shame about the Night Heron for there were some great photos of the bird that were taken today. Apparently, the Night Heron reappeared just before dusk and then flew up north towards the Bridge Street Floods. Hopefully, it could be refound tomorrow? Here's hoping!   

Muslin Moth & migrants in the Cemy .

Friday 11th April 2025.

A male Blackcap was a pleasant surprise in the Cemy this morning.

I decided not to go ‘sea-watching’ this morning at Southsea Seafront and made breakfast for my wife instead. OK, that's not just the reason as I took my dogs for an early morning walk around Highland Road Cemetery and it paid off too with some nice birds seen. I had the Moth Box on overnight and was rewarded with very few moths, but judging by the frost in Highland Road Cemetery this morning, I am not surprised if it only just got above freezing!

The Moth Box:

I think this is only the second Muslin Moth I have ever had in my garden.

Last night, I had rescued a Common Quaker moth from a web near my Moth Box, but though it was flapping about within the web, I quickly potted it and removed all the spider web I could find. Sadly, the Moth must have been bitten by the Spider as it was dead this morning when I went to check. On a positive note, I found a Muslin Moth on the white sheet behind the Moth Box. This is a rare moth to my garden as I have only ever had one before here. The only other moths present were a Common Plume and a Light Brown Apple Moth. A Chiffchaff was heard singing in the gardens behind mine while I checked the Moth Box.

Above, I found this Red Mason Bee in my kitchen last night and gently released it back in the garden. Below, the moribund Common Quaker moth.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

A frosty start in the Cemy this morning but the sun was shining and there were migrant birds in the Cemy, What's not to love?

My walk with the dogs was a pleasant one and when I heard the distinctive song of a Willow Warbler singing somewhere near the edge of the Holm Oak clump, I took a bee-line in that direction for a change. Thankfully, the bird did eventually show, but not easily as it remained high up in one of the Holm Oaks and occasionally in the bushes below. While searching for the Warbler, a male Blackcap popped out of the bushes and showed well enough for a few photos. Then a little later, I heard it singing as I carried on walking around the Cemy with the dogs. At least two, possibly three Willow Warblers were heard singing; so there must have been a fall of this species here on the south coast.

Above, another photo of the male Blackcap and below, the back end of a Willow Warbler high up in one of the Holm Oak trees.

Above, Bluebells are always a welcome bit of colour here and below, the Mallard flying over the houses was not only a surprise but also a 'Patch tick'.

Above, a pair of Med Gulls heading north and below, a Black-headed Gull heading westbound over the Cemy.

Above, a pair of Great Black-backed Gulls also flew over the Cemy.

Above and below, I watched this Wren singing in its territory and even displaying  to a nearby female.

Four species of Gull were seen this morning that included Herring, Black-headed, Great Black-backed and Mediterranean Gull, which isn't a bad record here and I even saw my first ever Mallard at this site flying over the Cemy and then carrying on over the houses in a north-easterly direction. A good ‘patch tick’! No Woodpeckers or Jays this morning, but great views of the Wrens singing their little hearts out.