Two moth 'Lifers' and a pair of Honey Buzzards.

Saturday 10th May 2025.

Though the Moth numbers were low this morning in my Moth Box, Andy Fisher’s Moth Box attracted not only a very nice ‘year-tick’, but also a micro moth ‘Lifer’ and on that note, we had a good time within the New Forest again today, with an excellent trip to Acres Down. Though we were hoping for Wood Warbler; a species that is getting harder to find now, we came up trumps (after photo evidence) of a pair of Honey-buzzards from the raptor viewing area and also a host of other New Forest specialities.

My Moth Box: 

Another cold clear night produced a poor showing of just 10 moths of 5 species this morning, despite getting up at 5am to check I got all the moths attracted to my Moth Box. I suppose the pick of a very small number of moths was a Buff Ermine moth, the third one of the year. The Moths present this morning included the following:

Macro moths:

• Buff Ermine x1
• Bright-line Brown-eye x1

Micro moths:

• Light Brown Apple Moth x6
• Hourglass Mompha x1
• Brown House Moth x1

Andy's Moth Box: 

Over at Andy’s Moth Box, moth numbers were also low, with just 13 moths of 8 species, but among them, was my first ever Large Longhorn (Nematopogon swammerdamella) micro moth. It was perched high up on a window, but luckily for me, I had brought along my Moth Pots and so quickly potted the moth and after it had settled nicely, I managed to grab a few decent photos. The antennae of these beauties are so long, hence the name Longhorn and close up, it was quite an attractive delicate little moth.

Above, the Large Longhorn micro moth. A new moth for my UK life list. Below, a Pale Tussock that was added to my year list.

We were just getting used to the fact that there was not much else of note, when I pulled back the back door and revealed our first Pale Tussock moth of the year perched on Andy’s hung up jacket. Also present on the egg trays was a species of Caddis Fly, called Mottled Sedge and a Cockchafer Beetle.

Above, the Caddis Fly, Mottled Sedge and below, another Cockchafer Beetle for Andy's Moth Box.

The Moths present here this morning included the following:

Macro moths:

• Garden Carpet x2
• Heart & Dart x3
• Bright-line Brown-eye x2 
• Treble-lines x1
• Pale Tussock x1

Micro moths:

• Ruddy Streak x3
• Large Longhorn x1

Acres Down, New Forest:

Our search for the elusive Wood Warbler begins.

After parking up in the car park within Acres Down, we took the footpath passing the 'Lesser Spotted Woodpecker' tree (which was now densely covered with leaves) and then took the bridle-path north to make our way to where we saw the Wood Warblers at Puckpits Enclosure. On our way there, we kicked off with a pair of Mistle Thrushes in the trees and a singing Firecrest seen high up in one of the tall trees by the main footpath. Shortly afterwards, our first Goshawk of the day flew low overhead and headed off being chased by a Carrion Crow! Not a bad start to our walk.

Above, Tormentil flowers were abundant by the footpaths along with native Bluebells. Below, a large number of trees had been strategically cut down in the woodland here.

Above, a male Stonechat out on the heath.

We came across the footpath to the left and took this route as a male Redstart was heard singing. Eventually, we found the bird, a gorgeous male perched on an outward growing branch; Andy’s first one of the year. Shortly before the Redstart, we heard both the ‘bubbling’ call of a female Cuckoo and also a singing male Cuckoo of which that latter was chasing the former through the woodland! In the same woodland, some Crossbills were heard calling and I managed to get a very brief sighting of a bird flying away from where I found it. The big clearing on the opposite side of the wood held up to three singing male Tree Pipits and also a male Stonechat.

Above, the underside of the Common Heath moth and below, the upperside.

Above, I potted my first ever Pale Water-veneer moth and below, a male Brimstone butterfly on a Bluebell.

Eventually, we came out to the edge of the woodland and had a rest overlooking the heath to the north-west. We could see the A31 way in the distance while over a refreshing cup of coffee, we saw a couple more Stonechats on the heath and a few Meadow Pipits flying low over the heath. I was fascinated by all the day-flying moths over the heath of which most were Common Heath moths. However, a small pale micro caught my attention and so I quickly potted it and had a closer examination. I knew it was one of the Veneer micro moths, but which one? It certainly wasn't one I have ever encountered and tonight, I managed to track down its identity and I am very pleased to say it was yet another ‘Lifer’, a Pale Water-veneer ( Donacaula forficella). 

Above, we came across many Green Tiger Beetles and below, a Common Buzzard over the woodland.

Four Swallows were seen flying over the woodland, but there was no sight or sound of any Wood Warblers, unfortunately, but we did hear at least three more Redstarts singing in the woodland. We took a long walk back to the car park and with a bit of luck, we managed to find the car park about 30 minutes later. On our way back, we encountered a Woodlark, Marsh Tit, and my first Rose Chafer Beetle of the year, flying low over the heath, but sadly, it didn't settle.

A Meadow Pipit alighting on a conifer after displaying. What a beautiful sight.

After a nice bit of lunch, we decided to make our way to the Raptor viewing area overlooking the woods to the south, west and north. However, while just about to leave, a Spotted Flycatcher popped into a tree right in front of us and then I realised what it was and quickly got the guys onto the bird. The bird did not linger long and flew off strongly into the woodland beyond. Andy had grabbed yet another ‘year-tick’ for his Hampshire year list. Could we get anymore? There was a bit of a wind blowing over the area and for a while, we thought we were actually wasting our time here and then a pair of Common Buzzards took off in front of us low over the woodland.

The stunning view overlooking the woods at Acres Down.

Things got a bit better when a Hobby flew north and a Goshawk was also seen a little later flying low over the woodland. While checking out a distant raptor, something caught my eye and it turned out to be a Hawfinch flying south over the woodland and then disappeared into the woodland. A Meadow Pipit was displaying in front of us and behind us, another male Stonechat could be heard and eventually seen on the heath. A small flock of three Stock Doves flew north and a Raven was seen behind us and then I saw a pair of raptors that really grabbed my attention. They were slimmer winged than Buzzards and longer tailed and though distant, I grabbed my camera and took a few photos. It wasn't till I got home and checked my photos on my laptop when I realised they were in fact Honey-buzzards! We had met a fellow birder on our way back to the car who told us that we were 10 days too early for Honey-buzzard; though Selsey Bill had one a few days ago and others had been reported in the UK already. So a great end to a great day.

A good count of species at Pembroke Road.

Friday 9th May 2025.

The Grasshopper Warbler at Fishlake Meadows. Photo by Graeme Loader.

I didn't put the Moth Box on last night due to the fact I really didn't want to catch a lot of the same moths as yesterday. This morning, Pembroke Road beckoned and with another near clear blue sky overhead and a not so cold morning due to the fact the north-easterly wind had dropped a little. It promises to be a very warm afternoon (if you were to believe the meteorologists!), which could bring in a surprise migrant or two today.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

These Bushes in Pembroke Road have held some interesting insects over the years including my first Mint Moth of the year yesterday.

A good count of 18 species were recorded this morning from this site today. Pick of the bunch included a Swallow flying low north, a couple of Swifts, a high flying Mediterranean Gull heading north and a pair of Mallard flying east! Good numbers of Gulls were going overhead that included mostly Black-headed and Herring Gulls, but at least four Great Black-backed Gulls sailed slowly heading north. The Wren and Robin were in full song nearby and the Pied Wagtail was back on the Bowling Green again. It was good to see and hear the juvenile Starlings flying with their parents in search of areas to feed.

Birders were out in force this morning and Farlington Marshes hosted three Lesser Whitethroats, a Common Sandpiper and up to three Greenshanks and an Osprey graced the village of Dummer in the north of Hampshire.

Mating Little Terns on Normandy Marshes. Photo by Emma Parkes.

'Blast from the Past'.

My 'Blast from the Past' this week involved a trip to Thursley Common on the 29th March 2003 to see a Great Grey Shrike; a species that has become very uncommon in not only Hampshire, but also the UK. Global Warming perhaps? I had done a trip to Titchfield Haven and also the Canal Path earlier in the day and notched up a few interesting birds on an overcast morning and then headed north into Surrey to see the Shrike. Here is my account of that day:

Mint Moth discovered in Pembroke Road.

Thursday 8 May 2025.

The cold nights and early mornings continue this week and so checking the Moth Box in the mornings is a bit of a chore which ends up with very cold hands, though I always have a cup of hot coffee to hand. Another pleasant day though with plenty of sunshine, high clouds, but that nagging cold wind from the north yet again. Nothing really to report from Pembroke Road today, with all the usual birds seen and similar to yesterday's birds, but I did find my first Mint Moth of the year on one of the bushes I stand next to and also a species of Caterpillar.

The Moth Box: 

There were fewer Moths in and around the Moth Box this morning with just 21 moths of 11 species and nothing new to add to my year list. Boo! Of note, at least 5 Brimstone Moths were present among them and probably the best of the micro moths was a Black Cloak.

Up to 5 Brimstone Moths were present this morning.

The Moths present this morning included the following:

Macro Moths:

• Brimstone Moth x5
• Common Pug x1
• Buff Ermine x1
• Angle Shades x1
• Garden Carpet x1
• Least Black Arches x1
• Pale Mottled Willow x1

Micro Moths:

• Black Cloak x1
• Light Brown Apple Moth x5
• Common Plume x3
• White-shouldered House Moth x1

Above, a Mint Moth and below, this small Caterpillar was discovered in a bush in Pembroke Road this morning.

Waved Umber moth a real surprise.

Wednesday 7th May 2025.

The Waved Umber moth was not only new for the year, but only my 3rd ever.

It was back to the Moths early this morning and one thing was most noticeable, it was so cold! Yes, we are back to February again with single figure temperatures, but I was dressed for the occasion. Though there was nothing new among the moths present, I was in for a big surprise later on in the day. Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth, was fairly quiet again, though I did find a new moth for the year. On the birding scene, things are hotting up again with some superb migrants entering the UK locally.

The Moth Box: 

A total of 30 moths of 17 moths were present in and around the Moth Box, but it was later in the afternoon, when looking out the kitchen window, I found a Waved Umber moth perched on one of the flower pots! This was only my 3rd ever sighting of this amazing looking moth and the second for the garden too. So I crept up to it carefully and managed to photograph the moth without disturbing it.

Small Dusty Wave. My second of the year.

This afternoon, while on my second shift in Old Portsmouth, I found my first Carnation Tortrix moth of the year perched on a bush where I stand and again, carefully got a photo of the moth. They seem to be annual here on these bushes growing here. The only migrant moths I got this morning were an Angle Shades and a Diamond-back Moth.

Above, a Least Black Arches and below, a Buff Ermine.

The moths present this morning included the following:

Macro Moths:

• Waves Umber x1
• Buff Ermine x1
• Least Black Arches x1
• Heart & Dart x1
• Double-striped Pug x1
• Common Pug x1
• Small Dusty Wave x1
• Pale Mottled Willow x2
• Angle Shades x1

Micro Moths:

• Black Cloak x1
• Light Brown Apple Moth x6
• Common Plume x2
• Ruddy Streak x6
• Rusty-dot Pearl x1
• Brown House Moth x1
• White-shouldered House Moth x2
• Diamond-back Moth x1 

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

Nothing really out of the ordinary here in Pembroke Road today, though several Swifts were seen high overhead ‘screaming’! It looks as though they are settled here now and even over Southsea, they seem to be well established. Up to 14 species were noted today, but as mentioned, nothing really different today or even yesterday.

The Nightjars at an undisclosed site in the New Forest. Photo by Andy Dickety.

Yesterday, a 1st summer male Red-footed Falcon was found in the Pig Bush area and seen several times throughout the early part of the afternoon. There has been a bit of an influx in the UK with this species with one site actually having 10 birds in all! Today, a small flock of three Bee-eaters flew over Snowhill Marsh, West Wittering, sparking a bit of a ‘twitch’ over that part of West Sussex no doubt. But the birds didn't linger and headed off north. A pair of Common Cranes flew over the Avon Causeway on the Hampshire Border. It is certainly hotting up with rare migrants.

A fantastic day at Normandy Marshes & the New Forest.

Monday 5th May 2025.

Don't let the beautiful day fool you. A strong freezing cold wind blew along the coast here, but the birds were superb.

I met up with both Emma & Matt Parkes very early this morning to take a trip down to Normandy Marshes for a possible Roseate Tern and a Curlew Sandpiper, both of which were present yesterday on this superb site. The weather was looking good for the day though cloud was coming in from the north in the afternoon, but we didn't realise how cold it was going to be this morning. Once we had finished with Normandy Marshes, we would then take a trip to the New Forest for Spotted Flycatchers at an undisclosed site, for we had the chance to see a Nightjar in broad daylight.

Normandy Marshes, nr Lymington:

This Grey Heron greeted us on our arrival from the Car Park first thing.

To say it was cold down here at this site was a major understatement for I was simply unprepared for such a cold wind blowing over the Marshes. Thankfully, the birds here did help to take my mind off it as we made our way to join several other birders present, checking out the island the Roseate Tern was using again this year. Last year, we were very successful in seeing the Roseate Terns nesting on the island, but during the hour or so we were there, the Roseate Tern only put in one appearance as it briefly landed on the island with all the Common Terns, but quickly flew off again and flew out to sea. My photos were very poor, but thankfully, Emma managed to get some great shots of the bird.

The Roseate Tern showed well, but briefly, over on Normandy Marshes. Photos by Emma Parkes.

There was a good variety of birds to look at here this morning with large numbers of Common Terns present and at least a dozen or so Little Terns using the islands too including one pair actually mating on one of the islands. There was just the one Sandwich Tern seen here as it flew over the site and then flew back into the sea. Also on the islands, there were a few Mediterranean Gulls nesting with the Black-headed Gulls, of which the latter species turned out to be real scoundrels.

Above and below, Common Terns over the Reserve.

Above, Little Terns getting amorous and below, mating has begun. Photo by Emma Parkes.

Avocets were well in double figures here and many had young feeding with the adults, which  proved to be quite vulnerable to Gull attacks as we witnessed a Black-headed Gull taking an Avocet chick to devour. But it wasn't all one-sided as the Avocets chased any Gull or Crow that got too near their young; but it must surely put so much pressure on the adult birds. There were plenty of waders to look at but there was no sign of the Curlew Sandpiper, though it was seen earlier that morning. Other waders present included at least 20 Dunlin, Oystercatchers, Lapwings, Redshank, Ringed Plover and a few very smart looking Turnstone. A lone Sanderling going into summer plumage was on its own on a strip of mud in front of us and I believe that this bird was mistaken for a Little Stint.

Above, a Common Tern resting with Dunlin. Lovely to see so many of the Dunlin in their summer plumage. Below, a couple of Ringed Plovers were present.

Above, a Sanderling on one of the nearer islands and below, at least two Turnstone, both in their gorgeous summer plumage, were seen.

Other birds noted on our trip here included several singing Reed Warbler's and Common Whitethroat's within the ditches and a pair of Gadwall on the pools. The Terns were most impressive with some hovering over the water, but I thought the water was too shallow to hold fish? The freezing northerly wind was getting too much as I suggested we should all make our way back to the car before my fingers froze off! 

Undisclosed site, New Forest:

This was only my second ever sighting of a Nightjar during daytime. What a beautiful looking bird.

For obvious reasons, we saw a Nightjar (there were in fact two birds in the same tree) on the edge of some woodland and among a few birders, it was a tree that the birds were seen in last year. We met up with fellow birder Andy Tew, who kindly told us exactly where to look and we had no problem in finding the bird perched nicely on one of the thicker branches. This was only my second ever sighting of a Nightjar during the daytime and I managed to get some lovely photos of this beautiful bird. Looking through the scope, I could see every intricate detail of the plumage that included all the different shades of grey and brown on the feathers. The bird actually ‘churred’ briefly but quietly; so we knew it was definitely in the tree.

Above and below, totally unexpected, this adult White-tailed Eagle flew over the heath heading east.

Above, just seconds after the Eagle, this Red Kite flew over and below, a Double-striped Pug moth on the heather.

Above and below, a Grey Heron flew over close to us.

Emma had earlier seen a Spotted Flycatcher in a small stretch of woodland and before checking out the Nightjar, I took a walk deeper into the wood and found a Spotted Flycatcher perched on a dead tree briefly until it flew off back into deeper cover. Redstarts were calling in the woodland, but we only got a brief view of a bird flying out of a tree and into the woodland. Several Stonechats and Meadow Pipits were seen on the heath and a group of three Swallows were also seen hunting for insects by the woodland edge and a pair of House Martins headed south high over the heath.

Above a 'teneral' Large Red Damselfly and below, a Meadow Pipit.

Above, a Woodland Dor Beetle crossing the main footpath through a wood. Below, Swallows were landing briefly on a tree beside a wood.

Above, this Willow Warbler was in song by the heath. Below, the Nightjar roosting in a tree.

Raptors put on a good performance over the heath and on our arrival we were walking around the edge of the woodland when Emma found a large raptor some distance away making its way towards us. I quickly got onto the bird and then realised it was an adult White-tailed Eagle! The bird sped over the heath on those huge wings and headed eastbound probably heading towards Beaulieu River, but I did manage a few photos of the bird, despite being some distance away. A Red Kite, a couple of Buzzards and a Kestrel were also seen on our trip here.

Normandy Marshes, Lymington:

I was so pleased in making another journey to Normandy Marshes to see this superb Curlew Sandpiper. I never got to see one last year, but this bird made up for that.

When we got back to the car park, a quick check on Birdguides revealed that the Curlew Sandpiper had returned to Normandy Marshes and also a report of a Little Stint. It was a 'no-brainer' and so we made our way back to this site again. It didn't take long to find the Curlew Sandpiper searching for food along the water edge with a Redshank on our arrival. The bird showed superbly well and I even managed to film the bird too. We then made our way to the area we stood at this morning and searched in vain for the supposed Little Stint. I picked up the Sanderling on the Tern Island and I could see why someone could potentially make the mistake of misidentifying the Sanderling for a Little Stint. But the latter bird is much smaller than a Sanderling and the upperparts did not match a Little Stint either. Shame; for I would have liked to have 5 ‘year- ticks’ in one day.

Above and below, the near summer plumage Curlew Sandpiper.

Above, a parent Avocet protecting her young from Gulls and below, one of the adults feeding in the shallow water.

Above, these Mallard ducklings swam close to where we stood and below, anxious parent Avocets with one of the young.

Above, the parent Avocet protects her young.

Above, the Curlew Sandpiper on Normandy Marshes.

A Common Sandpiper joined the long list of waders seen here today and showed distantly on the opposite side of the reserve. A Little Grebe in full summer plumage was fishing by the Tern island and within the creek in front of us, a Mallard and her broods passed by in front of us, totally unaware of our presence. Gorgeous. There were a few species of wildfowl present, which included Gadwall and Tufted Duck to make up a good list of birds present on the reserve today. I had to be back home by 2pm as I promised my wife I would not be out all day and though I managed to get back at exactly 2.03pm, she still moaned at me!