One superb 'sea-watch' from Gilkicker.

Saturday 19th April 2025.

A flock of Bar-tailed Godwits with two Black-tailed Godwits heading east over the Solent this morning. This was seen early when we first arrived and a superb prelude on what was to come.

I knew the weather was going to be showery all morning and that some of the ‘Lazee Birders’ were going to watch from Sandy Point on Hayling Island. I most certainly did not want to get a good soaking from there and so took both Geoff Farwell and Andy Fisher to Gilkicker instead and boy, didn't it pay off! As Geoff said, it was arguably one of or even the best Spring seawatches we have ever had in Hampshire. The amount of birds and also the variety of birds was superb and kept us busy from 8.30am onwards although it went very quiet by 2pm. A strong easterly was blowing through the Solent and the overcast and showery conditions produced some amazing numbers of birds today, but once the clouds disappeared, the waders still came through en force.

Even the moths this morning at our respective Moth Traps (mine and Andy’s) produced some excellent moths and a nice variety there too!

The Moth Boxes:

Only my second ever Lunar Marbled Brown moth, which was found in Andy's garden.

I only had a quick look at my Moth Box early this morning before making my way to Geoff's house due to the fact it was both blowing a gale and raining. However, there was an Angle Shades present on the wall beside the Moth Box, but no others I could see; so I made my way to Geoffs.

This Grey Dagger moth was my first of the year and within my Moth Box late this afternoon.

On reaching Andy’s Moth Box, I soon discovered almost immediately a Lunar Marbled Brown moth just outside of his Conservatory. This, I believe, is only the second of this species I have ever seen; the last was seen over The Oaks Crematorium many years ago. Other moths present included my first Brimstone Moth of the year of which there were at least three present. The moths recorded here in Andy’s garden included the following:

• Lunar Marbled Brown x1
• Brimstone Moth x3
• Light Brown Apple Moth x1
• Shuttle-shaped Dart x1

When I got home from Gilkicker this afternoon, I had the inside of the Moth Box to check and thankfully, there were a few more moths to be discovered that included my first Grey Dagger of the year. The following moths were present in my garden today included:

• Angle Shades x1
• Shuttle-shaped Dart x1
• Grey Dagger x1
• Early Grey x1
• Light Brown Apple Moth x1
• Common Plume x2 

This Brimstone Moth was one of three and my first of the year.

The Solent, Gilkicker, Gosport:

A mixture of Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwit heading east.

Even when we first arrived at the Car Park, a Wheatear flew over the road and into a neighbouring field and though it was raining, the sea looked perfect for a good start to our sea-watch from this site. Already, the guys over at Sandy Point had already scored early with sightings of Arctic Skua, a Black Tern and Fulmars; so the omens were most certainly looking good. There were just us three all morning and early afternoon here in the shelter, though reports were coming in from the Lazee Birders Whatsapp from Lepe, Hill-Head, Lee on Solent and Sandy Point to keep us fully informed on what was passing through around us on the south coast.

The following birds were seen today here from Gilkicker:

• Bar-tailed Godwit: As soon as we arrived and set up scope, the first Bar-tailed Godwits came through with a big flock of 35 birds and as Geoff rightly pointed out, there were two Black-tailed Godwits among them, which was most unusual. Other big flocks went through including flocks of 40, 30 and 20 birds and some with much smaller numbers in both summer and winter plumage all flying eastbound. A total of 130 birds had passed by during our stay here.

• Arctic Skua: A total of three birds passed through east that included a pair (a dark-phased bird and my first light-phased bird) and a single dark-phased bird; but unlike yesterday, they were half way out in the Solent.

• Whimbrel: Like the Barwits, this species also went through in good numbers and some of the flocks held a few Barwits among them. Up to 59 Whimbrels passed by eastbound with some quite close to the shoreline too.

• Gannet: Three very distant adult birds moved slowly east over on the Isle of Wight side of the Solent. This was Andy’s first sighting of this species for the year.

• Little Gull: We had heard that a flock of Little Gulls were actually seen from Hill-Head and were actually following a Great Skua! Sadly, we never saw the Great Skua, but a flock of 12 Little Gulls were seen flying very low over the waves heading east and later in the morning, another 4 more birds were flying together also heading east.

• Sandwich Tern: Though we had the usual birds going up and down the shoreline, though not in the same numbers as yesterday, there were a few flocks going purposely through the Solent that included a flock of 7 birds heading east.

• Common Tern: A flock of 4 birds flew low eastbound over the waves (Andy and Geoff’s first birds of the year) and a single bird was seen heading west about an hour later. I was hoping for some big flocks today, but that didn't happen.

• Yellow Wagtail: I heard a bird calling overhead and thankfully, a flock of three birds flew in off the sea and then flying north heading over the big field behind us. One could clearly see their yellow plumage as they flew off. It does make a nice change actually seeing the birds instead of hearing them.

Above, I was lucky to grab this photo of one of the Swallows that had just come off the sea. They really do fly so very quick. Below, a lone Whimbrel flying east.

Above, Geoff was all smiles with what we saw this morning and below, three more Whimbrels flying east close in.

Above, more waders heading east. They certainly were a magnificent sight to witness.

• Swallow: Swallows were coming in off the sea quite frequently that included a total of 11 birds in all; the most being 4 coming in together.

• Wheatear: As mentioned earlier, one was seen flying over the road to the Car Park and another, a female bird, was seen flying low over the beach and briefly perched on the shingle. Sadly, a lot of people were now out walking their dogs and the bird was soon flushed.

• Tufted Duck: After the strange sighting of a Black Swan seen earlier this week off Southsea Beach, the sighting of a drake Tufted Duck heading east low over the sea had us scratching our heads. Very odd.

• Oystercatcher: Only one bird seen all morning flying east low over the sea.

• Little Tern: I finally caught up with my first Little Tern of the year with a superb individual flying east close to the shoreline. It continued heading east as Geoff watched it actually dive for a fish.

• Sanderling: Geoff picked up a flock of 6 Sanderling flying west low over the sea and another individual was seen with a flock of Dunlin heading east.

• Dunlin: In total, 12 birds were seen including a flock of 6 birds and the rest in pairs. All the birds were in their lovely summer plumage.

• Auk species: a single very distant Auk was flying east low over the sea but was far too distant to get a confirmed ID; very much to Andy’s annoyance. Apparently, a Razorbill was seen flying east and a Guillemot flying west from Lepe this morning!

• Little Egret: A single bird flew west low over the beach.

• Great Crested Grebe: A summer plumaged bird flew west and then landed in front of us on the sea, but quickly disappeared due to nearby Sailborders.

• Peregrine: A male bird, which was virtually our notable sighting, was picked up high flying out to sea and occasionally flew low over the sea only to rise again and head towards the Isle of Wight.

I have to agree with Geoff, that this was one of the best ‘sea-watches’ in Hampshire I have ever had and with the right conditions, who knows what will turn up through the Solent over the coming months? Yes, we might have dipped out on the Black Tern and Great Skua seen by other birders this morning; but that was one good selection of birds seen today.

A pair of Spitfires on their way to Daedalus Airport nearby.

Arctic Skua past Gilkicker this morning.

Friday 18th April 2025.

The dark-phased Arctic Skua passing through the Solent this morning.

There was going to be a ‘Lazee Birders’ sea-watch from Gilkicker today from 7am and so, for a change, I made my way nice and early (after a quick Maccy D’s!) to the Car Park at Gilkicker and duly arrived around 6.50am to a near empty Car Park. The morning looked promising with an easterly wind, overcast conditions and a weather front moving in of which could spell some decent birds going through the Solent. Just three more ‘Lazee’s arrived and a couple of regulars within the Shelter, but I have to say, it wasn’t as productive as I was hoping it was going to be. However, two quality birds did pass through; a Fulmar and my first Arctic Skua of the year.

The Moth Box is starting to produce more moths and a fair selection last night and this morning, which bodes well for the coming weeks.

The Moth Box:

Above, an Angle Shades in one of the egg trays this morning and below, one of two Early Grey's this morning also.

Above, the micro moth White-shouldered House Moth and below, my first Brindled Pug for the garden this year.

Last night, I had a quick check of the Moth Box where I counted at least ten moths. My first Brindled Pug in my garden this year was present on the white sheet and on the opposite side of the Box, a Bloxworth Snout was present. Last nights moths included the following:

• Bloxworth Snout x1
• Brindled Pug x1
• Double-striped Pug x3
• Common Plume x3
• Light Brown Apple Mothx1
• White-shouldered House Moth x1

This morning, there was just the five moths present that included the following:

• Early Grey x2
• Angle Shades x1
• Shuttle-shaped Dart x1
• White-shouldered House Moth x1

This Bloxworth Snout was opposite my Moth Box last night.

What I did enjoy last night was the whirring of wings from one of the Pipistrelle Bat over my garden. There was no wind last night and I could hear the Bat flying over my head and even see the Bat clearly from the light of my Moth Box. An amazing experience, here in my own garden.

The Solent, Gilkicker:

Just the one Brent Goose was seen this morning.

I was the first to arrive at the Shelter overlooking the Solent and there was certainly an easterly breeze going over the Solent. But would the birds come through? As the morning wore on, the wind did get a bit stronger and though not quite as slow as yesterday when ‘sea-watching’ at Southsea; it was not as busy as I was hoping for, despite perfect conditions. But the good news is that I got another new bird species for my Hampshire year list, the dark-phased Arctic Skua; a species I never saw in 2024. The birds seen this morning included the following:

• Arctic Skua: Obviously, the bird of the morning as it came in from the east, but this time, it came in close and showed very well, with all us ‘toggers’ reaching for our cameras as the bird powerfully headed low over the water. It was later seen both off Sandy Point and Selsey Bill.

• Fulmar: We got the heads up off a birder at Lee on Solent that a Fulmar was flying east over the sea and it didn't take long to pick it up through the scope flying eastbound and again, seen off Sandy Point some 20 minutes later. This was my second of the Spring after no sightings last year.

• Mediterranean Gull: Just the three pairs were seen during the three hours while we were there, all adult birds, including a pair that flew low over the beach.

• Sandwich Tern: There seemed to be a constant stream of this species passing through throughout the morning and though a good many birds were fishing up and down the shoreline, a large flock of 27 birds were seen heading east.

Above and below, the Arctic Skua heading east this morning. Photos by Andy Tew.

Above and below, good numbers of Sandwich Terns passed through the Solent.

Above, another Sandwich Tern passing through close in and below, the view from the Shelter looking over the sea.

• Common Tern: Three separate flocks were seen that included three, five and a flock of nine birds all heading east.

• Brent Goose: Only one bird seen flying east this morning.

• Whimbrel: Three birds were seen in total with two birds heading west probably having come off the shoreline and a single bird heading east.

• Shelduck: one distant bird was flying over the Solent heading west, though more over the Isle of Wight side of the Solent.

• Swallow: Three birds flew in off the sea and headed quickly north towards the houses.

• Common Whitethroat: When having to pay for my Parking Ticket, I saw the bird singing perched on a bramble nearby, close to the Toilet Blocks.

Another photo of the Arctic Skua close to the shoreline.

All in all, not a bad morning’s ‘sea-watch’. Most of us had to leave by 10am, though Mr Andy Friend gave it another hour there. Now that the first Arctic Skua has gone through, hopefully that will open the floodgates for many more.

Film footage of the Arctic Skua this morning.

Yet another very slow 'Sea-watch'.

Thursday 17th April 2025.

My second Silver Y moth of the year.

I did another ‘sea-watch’ from Southsea Beach this morning and it was a bit of a gamble for the sea was again dead calm and a cloudless blue sky with a very light north-westerly wind blowing across the Solent. I then knew it was going to be very slow this morning with not a great deal of birds, apart from Gulls, coming through the Solent; but I persevered for it was Spring and almost anything could turn up; but what did, totally was unexpected and a ‘first’ for me here at this site! 

But before that, I had the Moth Box to check this morning and there was a little selection to be identified.

The Moth Box:

Shuttle-shaped Dart.

A total of 8 moths were present which I consider not too bad considering how cold it was first thing this morning with a clear blue sky overhead. Once the temperature rises overnight, then I should be getting a lot more coming through. The Silver Y was most likely a migrant moth from the Continent, while all the others were localised individuals.

This Double-striped Pug was a small individual. I potted it last night and released it this morning.

• Double-striped Pug x2
• Shuttle-shaped Dart x1
• Silver Y x1
• Light Brown Apple Moth x2
• Common Plume x1
• Ruddy Dart x1

As per usual, I always keep an ear out for birds passing by overhead or in the nearby gardens and yet again, I heard another Yellow Wagtail flying high overhead heading northbound. Good to hear some House Sparrows in the nearby gardens for they have been scarce here during the Winter months and hopefully here to breed in their respective nest sites. 

Southsea Seafront:

It was dead calm again this morning though I could see a lot of low cloud & mist over the Isle of Wight west of Ryde. 

As expected, it was very slow again from Southsea seafront, but I believe as the Spring wears on, the birds will pick up in numbers, especially if we get some rougher weather out there on the Solent when the Skuas and Terns pass through the Solent. But today, it was quiet again, however, I was in for a bit of a surprise when I found a Black Swan drifting on the sea heading very slowly eastbound. It just goes to show that you never know what could pass by over the sea! I have never seen one on the sea or flying by, but sadly, it is a species still considered ‘not wild’ for whatever reason. The species breed in the wild throughout much of the UK, yet the ‘powers that be’ have not added it to the British Bird List.

The sightings this morning of each species are as follows:

• Whimbrel: two single birds both flew east. Whimbrels have a habit of calling when passing by, but these two individuals were quiet.

• Mediterranean Gull: just three birds seen this morning, with a pair and a single bird flying east.

• Sandwich Tern: Very small numbers through this morning, with just two fishing pairs close in to the shoreline and successfully catching a small fish each. Other birds were seen some distance out in the Solent.

• Oystercatcher: Just the one individual seen flying low east over the sea.

• Shag: One adult seen flying west low over the sea heading towards the Southsea Castle area.

• Common Tern: Just the one single bird heading westbound. Hopefully, the big flocks of this species will be passing through soon.

So, despite putting in a couple of hours here in the Yellow Shelter overlooking the Solent from 7-9am, it was another slow morning. A micro moth fluttered around in the shelter but would not settle long enough to get an idea. I have now packed a few Moth Pots ready for the next time one should flutter by! Walking back to the car, the Ragged Robin plants were abundant and I am now wondering if the new grass laid down by the Council during all the repairs here have a lot of wildflower seeds planted in the grass? I could see Knapweed plants growing among the grass, so it is a strong possibility that it could be a ‘Wildflower’ planting going on.

Above, the grassy embankment behind the Yellow shelter full of plants growing out of the grass and below, Ragged Robin were some of the plants coming through.

Some very interesting news coming out of West Sussex is the possible breeding of Hoopoe's in the County, which will be outstanding. A pair have been seen going into a nest hole and calling to one another, but I shall keep the location to myself. This Spring has seen a massive influx of the species as more and more are being found including a few in some Hampshire gardens! I shall, of course, keep an eye out for this amazing species 

This micro moth, a Sulphur Tubic, was on my kitchen window tonight.

A very busy morning.

Tuesday 15th April 2025.

This Harbour Seal was seen swimming just off the shoreline at Southsea seafront this morning.

A rather busy morning during this Easter Break with not only the Moth Box to look at, but another ‘Sea-watch’ from Southsea seafront and then walking the dogs around Highland Road Cemetery. We had some overnight rain (at last!) and I thought it was going to be showery this morning, hence the sea-watch from Southsea Castle, but it was dry and bright when I arrived, although the cloud did come in and then a mixture of sun and cloud. It remained mild too throughout my sea-watch but the sea was very calm as I was in for another very slow morning. The Cemetery wasn't too bad either with plenty of plants now coming through and even though I could not find any migrant birds, there was still quite a lot of birdlife going on within there.

The Moth Box:

This Nut-tree Tussock moth was my first of the year which was found last night.

Last night, while checking the Moth Box before I retired to bed, I found my first Nut-tree Tussock moth of the year perched behind the Box upon the white sheet. I quickly potted the moth and kept it indoors overnight so I could get a better photo in the morning.

Above, one of three Shuttle-shaped Darts. Below, an early Lychnis moth.

Above, another first for the year, a Ruddy Streak.

This morning, after releasing the Nut-tree Tussock, I checked my Moth Box and the surrounding area thoroughly and found three more moths that were new for the year: 3 Shuttle-shaped Darts, a Lychnis and the micro moth Ruddy Streak. Very good. No other moths were found but a Linnet flew high overhead and headed north.

Southsea seafront;

This Sandwich Tern had just caught a fish near the shoreline.

As mentioned earlier, the sea was flat calm and a very light north-easterly wind (apparently) going across the Solent. I got a seat in my usual shelter (that was also being used by some homeless person on the opposite side of the window!), set up scope and poured myself a coffee from my flask. Then down to business. Yes, it was very slow again and at times, I thought I was going to give up, but something popped up flying over the Solent to keep me interested for a little longer. On the way back to the car, I found a lot of Ragged Robin plants growing by the edge of the Promenade, which is unusual here. I put in a two and a half hour shift here from 7am and notched up the following:

• Common Scoter; a flock of 5 birds, 4 drakes and a female, flew distantly east over the Solent. Seen almost as soon as I arrived but proved to be a false dawn for a big movement today.

• Med Gulls: Though singles and pairs did pass through quite regularly, there were some larger flocks going through that included a flock of 4 and 5 birds respectively. When they are in big groups, it's always worth taking a look through the scope at them even though they are probably heading towards their stronghold in Langstone Harbour.

• Sandwich Tern: Many were fishing up and down the shoreline and also over the Solent, but possible migrating flocks were heading east including flocks of 5 and 6 going east.

• Common Tern: Just the one bird seen all morning that went westbound across the Solent.

• Shag: Just the one bird heading west this morning.

Above, a Cormorant about to land just offshore and below, a record photo of the adult Kittiwake flying east over the Solent.

Above, the only Swallow seen this morning coming in off the sea and below, the only waders to be seen this morning, three Oystercatchers.

• Kittiwake: Two single adult birds flew eastbound. That is the 3rd and 4th sighting of this species seen so far on my sea-watches this year.

• Yellow Wagtail: one flew in from the sea heading north. Again heard first as it flew off overhead.

• Linnet: A flock of 4 flew in off the sea heading north. 

• Swallow: just the one bird seen coming in off the sea and then headed off north over the beach.

• Oystercatcher: the only waders seen all morning here with three birds flying together heading east low over the water.

Sandwich Tern heading east along the shoreline.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

This flock of seven Med Gulls flying over the Cemy was quite exceptional.

The weather remained mild and bright when I took the dogs for their morning walk around the Cemetery. It's starting to look a lot greener here in the Cemy with many trees having leaves now and more and more plants starting to appear in flower. The likes of Smooth Sow-thistle, Nipplewort, Bulbous Buttercup, Common Groundsel and Daisies all starting to bloom abundantly and I even found several clumps of Cuckoo Flower growing over on the east side of the Cemetery.

Above, Spanish Bluebells are always a welcome flower here. Below, Common Groundsel also flowering in large clumps are always good for insects.

Above, Nipplewort and below, Bulbous Buttercup.

No migrant birds seen within the Cemetery this morning despite a good search for them, but a few birds of note seen on my walk around the site. The Green Woodpecker was heard distantly somewhere within the Cemy and then seen flying away from me near the Holm Oak tree clump. A flock of 6 Mediterranean Gulls flew over heading north, the most I have seen here in one flock for many a year.

Above, the white creamy 'spikes' of Horse Chestnut flowers now growing and below, a large Smooth Sow-thistle plant.

Above, a bedragged Robin looked as though it had just had a bath and below, Cuckoo Flowers.

The birds seen or heard within the Cemy today included the following:

• Blackbird
• House Sparrow
• Starling
• Wren
• Robin
• Great Tit
• Blue Tit
• Black-headed Gull
• Herring Gull
• Mediterranean Gull
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Feral Pigeon
• Wood Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Goldfinch
• Greenfinch

 

Above, not only the white 'spikes' of Horse Chestnut were showing but also the red ones too. Below, a flock of Herring Gulls within the Cemy. More than likely, someone had been throwing bread out for them!