Saturday 20th June 2026.
A female Four-spotted Chaser dragonfly on Woolmer Pond this afternoon. Woolmer Pond was simply 'alive' with both Dragonflies and Damselflies.
Another very busy Saturday with not only two Moth Boxes that were full of new Moths, but a trip out into the countryside to search for a Quail. I honestly thought it was going to be a scorcher today and so wore shorts and a t-shirt, though, thankfully, I did take my fleece, which proved a Godsend first thing this morning. It did get a lot warmer in the afternoon when we took a slow stroll around Woolmer Pond, but our walk around the cereal fields of Kilmeston was a lot cooler. All in all, a cracking day for birds and insects and plenty to keep both Andy, Geoff and I entertained. After the Moths at Cowplain Marsh, Geoff went off to do his own thing in Upham where he carried out one of his early morning bird surveys, leaving Andy and myself to try and ‘year-tick’ a Quail.
My Moth Box:
This MAPLE SNOUT micro moth was a new Moth to my Moth Life List.
Another very good total of at least 85 moths of 34 species present this morning in and around my Southsea Moth Box and a ‘Lifer’ within the mix too, the smart micro moth MAPLE SNOUT (Anarsia innoxiella). Four more moth species were added to my year list this morning and that included the macro moths Nutmeg and Uncertain and the micro moths Bud Moth (Spilonota ocellana) and the smart Banded Honeysuckle Leaf-miner (Phylloroycter trifasciella). This morning was the highest number of Riband Waves recorded so far, with 14 individuals present and both Clancy’s Rustic and Snout probably the most notable macro moths.
These five Moths were all added to my year list this morning. From top to bottom: Uncertain, Banded Honeysuckle Leaf-miner, Bud Moth, Hawthorn Moth and Nutmeg.
Regarding the micro moths, 2 Diamondback Moths are always good to see and also good to see a Garden Grey returning again. Micro moths are always tricky and sometimes, you cannot simply rely on Obsidentify to ID them, for it occasionally makes mistakes; so I go on several references to double check. The Moths recorded in my garden this morning were the following:
Also attracted to my Moth Box overnight included several interesting insects that included 2 Lacewings, another Green Immigrant Leaf Weevil, a Candy-striped Spider (getting quite common within my garden now) and a very smart Malthinus flaveolus, which is a colourful type of Soldier Beetle.
Cowplain Marsh Moth Box (Andy's garden):
Yellow Shell. Another new moth for the year.
An excellent total of 64 moths of 31 species in Andy’s garden today where up to 6 more ‘year-ticks’ were added to my Moth year list. Though I can only get to his garden by about 7.30am, I expect that many more Moths had flown before I arrived. In fact, around ten Moths actually flew off before I had a chance to check them out after we had turned the Moth Box off from the mains!
Above, Scarce Footman and below, Double-striped Tabby.
New for the year from the macro moths included the quite stunning Yellow Shell, 2 Fan-foots and a smart looking Scarce Footman. Among the micros was the Juniper Webber (Dichomeris marginella), the common Elderberry Pearl (Anania coronata), the Double-striped Tabby (Hypsopygia glaucinalis) and finally, the very colourful Long-horned Flat-body (Carcina quercana). Why this attractive small Moth has such a ridiculous vernacular name is anyone's guess!
Above, Elderberry Pearl and below, the Long-horned Flat-body. Both new for the year.
Also present was my second Heart & Club, Dark Spectacle and Dwarf Cream Wave for the year and two more Uncertain Moths after the individual was seen in my Moth Box this morning.
One of two Fan-foots at Cowplain Marsh.
As I made my way to Andy’s house up the A3, it looked quite grim with the weather as a heavy overcast sky produced a bit of drizzle on the way there and I was beginning to think that I was going to be under-dressed for today's birding! Thankfully, the weather did brighten up a little. A few notable birds were heard by Andy’s house that included a singing Blackcap, a Nuthatch in nearby trees and a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling nearby as well.
Kilmeston, nr Alresford:
Andy contemplating the very long walk ahead of us to find the Quails.
Before Geoff left for Upham, he gave us directions on where to go for the Quail at Kilmeston from his map. We tried in exactly the same place as last year and failed then too to find a calling bird; but maybe we would get lucky this time. Apparently, two birds were heard here yesterday although some distance apart; so it did look promising. However, the weather didn't look that great for calling Quail, with heavy dark overcast sky above us and a bit of a breeze too.
Above, the footpath cutting through the cereal fields at the start of our walk. Below, one of many Skylarks singing overhead.
Above, a singing Corn Bunting and below, we flushed several young Pheasants but this female stayed put for a few seconds.
Above, this Hare was seen by the edge of the Cereal field.
After parking carefully in the layby off the Wheely Down Farm Lane, Andy and I walked down the Bridlepath that cuts through the large cereal fields. Within these fields are large tracts of ‘setaside’ which is so ideal for not only the insects, but breeding Skylarks etc., of which they were simply everywhere singing close by and over our heads. There must have easily been about 20+ birds seen during our walk across the fields.
Above, a Corn Bunting in the Cereal field and below, a Red Kite soaring over nearby fields.
Above, only my second Small Tortoiseshell butterfly of the year and below, a Marmalade Hoverfly and a Long Hoverfly nectaring on a Chickory flower.
Above, one of several Yellowhammers within the fields and hedgerows.
To ‘cut to the chase’ there was no sight or sound of any Quails during our trip here, which, yes, was very disappointing, but there was a wealth of wildlife to see. Of the birds, Corn Buntings seemed to be doing very well here with at least ten birds seen and extremely well too. The large hedgerows that border the cereal fields (well done to the Farmer here to think of the wildlife; a refreshing change from some of the inconsiderate Farmers who simply grub up the hedgerows or cut them till there is hardly anything there).
Above, a Corn Bunting within the Cereal field and below, many insects were attracted to both the Chickory and Ox-eye Daisies in the 'set-aside' areas.
Above, a Skylark sitting stationary on the edge of the Cereal field and below, Solitary Wasps entrance holes along the footpath.
Above, several Marbled White butterflies were found.
Yellowhammers were also in good numbers with many male birds seen singing from the hedgerows and with a supporting cast of finches that included Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Linnet; there was always something to look at. Raptors also played their part too. Earlier, on our way up Wheely Down Farm Lane, we saw a Red Kite try to grab a roadkill (a female Pheasant I think?) right in front of us and slowing down, we watched the Kite eventually give up and fly off over into the neighbouring fields!
Above, a Skylark singing over the countryside here and below, a Goldfinch was in the 'set-aside'.
Above, a Painted Lady butterfly resting on the footpath and below, another Corn Bunting seen singing in the hedgerow.
The plant Sainfoin was growing abundantly in the 'set-aside'.
Several Red Kites were seen over the Cereal fields along with at least 6 Common Buzzards, both male and female Sparrowhawk and finally, a distant Kestrel. Several singing Common Whitethroats were seen holding territory or giving off their alarm calls and both Blackcap and Chiffchaff were seen singing too. A large group of 7 Mediterranean Gulls were making a din overhead before flying off south and of the insects, the Butterflies seen included only our second Small Tortoiseshell of the year (our first one, funny enough, was also by the Cress Beds in Alresford earlier this year) along with several Marbled Whites and Small Heaths and large numbers of Meadow Browns.
Above, a Corn Bunting in the Cereal field and below, Kidney Vetch growing also in the 'Set-aside'.
We rounded the main field on the way back, keeping close to the hedgerow and from here, we caught sight of a gorgeous Hare just sitting on the edge of the Cereal field until it ran off into the hedgerow and out of sight. So, though there was no sign of any Quails on our walk, it was still filled with many interesting sightings.
Woolmer Pond, Borden:
Sunshine at last! However, the sun didn't linger that long and more clouds rolled in.
Where to go next? I think Andy, after seeing a beautiful Demoiselle damselfly in his garden this week, was getting a craving for Dragonflies and what better place than Woolmer Pond. So, after grabbing some lunch at the Service Station on the A32; we then made our way to Woolmer Pond and by around 1.30pm, we arrived at the small car park, walked very carefully across the busy main road and made our way to the perimeter fence. Luck was on our side, for the red flags were down which meant we could walk beside the Pond itself.
Above, a Cinnemon Moth showed well by the Cottage garden and below, this Lesser Marsh Grasshopper was a surprise find in the Cottage garden.
Above, the Bracken has taken over in the Cottage garden and below, a female Four-spotted Chaser.
Above, my first Nettle-tap moth of the year by the garden.
The water level on Woolmer Pond was noticeably declining, but there was a good count of 7 Little Egrets wading in the water and a few Tufted Ducks and Little Grebes were also present. We made our way to the waters edge and quickly came across many Common Blue and Azure Damselflies all over the place and especially on the edge of the Pond. Both male and female Black-tailed Skimmers were in very good numbers along with Four-spotted Chasers over the Pond (the former was a new species of Dragonfly for Andy) and also close by, dancing about within the heather were our first Silver-studded Blue butterflies of the year!
A Brown Silver-lines moth also by the Cottage and below, a juvenile Stonechat wasn't too far away from its parents.
Above, an adult male Stonechat and below, a Willow Emerald Damselfly.
A male Black-tailed Skimmer Dragonfly.
One of the big ponds just south of the main pond held more Dragonflies and Damselflies to look at and these were joined by a female Grey Wagtail exploring the waters edge for food.
Above, a female Common Darter and below, a Willow Emerald damselfly.
Above, a lone Little Grebe and below, a pair of Tufted Ducks.
Above, a female Black Darter.
Overhead, family parties of Sand Martins were flying over the Pond, the darker juveniles clearly standing out among the adult birds. A few Swallows were mixed in among them, but surprisingly, we didn't find one Hobby all the time we were here. Several Red Kites and a few Common Buzzards were seen, but with all the many Dragonflies around, I was really surprised that no Hobbies were present. A single Emperor Dragonfly was seen among the Black-tailed Skimmers and Whirlygig Beetles were spinning about by the waters edge.
Above, Little Egrets on the Pond searching for fish. Below, a female Silver-studded Blue butterfly.
Above, this female Grey Wagtail was searching for food by the small pond and below, a pair of Egyptian Geese were by the waters edge of the main pond.
A male Silver-studded Blue butterfly resting.
As we walked anticlockwise around the Pond, we came across more interesting Dragonflies and Damselflies that included our first Black Darters of the year and also Willow Emeralds. I only saw my first Willow Emerald last year, but today, there must have been around a dozen seen by the main footpath around the perimeter of the Pond. Incredible stuff. As well as the Silver-studded Blues, a few Small Heath butterflies were seen too. As we neared the start of Woolmer Forest, a male Stonechat showed very well and nearby, a juvenile bird was seen perched on a Gorse Bush.
Above, the female Grey Wagtail and below, another male Silver-studded Blue butterfly.
A few Sand Martins and a Little Egret on the main pool.
Instead of heading through the Forest, we made our way to the Garden instead and I found both Cinnabar Moth and Brown Silver-lines Moth close to the garden. Ragwort was growing abundantly in and around the garden and nearly all the plants had Cinnabar Moth caterpillars on them! A female Common Darter was seen perched on one of the tall Bracken plants which now covered the area where the large fallen Oak tree was. It was fairly quiet for birds here and after receiving news that the Quails were calling again at Kilmeston, we decided to give it one more try there. It turned out that we were searching in totally the wrong place and after one of the ‘Lazee Birders’ gave us a ‘pin drop’ on where exactly to look; we then made our way back to the car.
Hinton Ampner:
In fact, we weren't too far from where the correct location was and using my Google Maps App on my mobile phone, it was only around 25 minutes away from Woolmer Pond. Andy slept all the way there and the next thing he knew was me shoving him awake to find us by the edge of a field along with several other ‘Lazee Birders’. It didn't take long for us to hear our first Quail calling for the year and in fact, two birds were actually calling although the guys said there were at least three birds calling in the same field.
One was calling a bit distant away, but the one bird that was calling where I had parked the car earlier was easily the loudest. OK, we never actually saw the birds, but just to hear them doing their familiar ‘Quip-ip-ip’ calls is always a welcome sound to hear. Not much else to write about here, but it was good to hear the guys talking about the showy Roseate Tern on Titchfield Haven earlier today. Some good photos too!
So, not only did we finish the day on a high with the calling of Quails, but a good number of insect ‘year-ticks’ too. Happy days.
Another from the back catalogue from Funky Wardens!
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