A trip with Mr Fisher to Sandy Point.

Saturday 7th November 2026.

Sunrise over Highland Road Cemetery this morning while I walked the dogs for their early morning walk.

The rain showers that were predicted for today here in the south never materialised and it turned out to be a very nice day here on the coast. However, I planned to go to Woolmer Pond this morning and as Andy and I got to the site, we realised that the fog here was simply too thick to do any birding and so even before we got out of the car, we decided to head south to Sandy Point on Hayling Island instead where it was bright and sunny.

But first, I had two Moth Boxes to go through and for once, Geoff’s Moth Box held more moths than my Moth Box!

My Moth Box:

There were just 10 moths of 5 species this morning with only two macro moths present: a pristine Green-brindled Crescent (it certainly has been a good Autumn for this species) and the usual Golden Twin-spot. Among the micro moths, my first Beautiful Plume moth for October was perched on the fence behind the Box.

There was absolutely no birds flying over while checking the Moth Box, which was disappointing and so I packed everything away and finished my breakfast and headed off north to see the guys at Cowplain Marsh.

The Moths recorded this morning included the following:

 

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Green-brindled Crescent x1	Rusty-dot Pearl x3
Golden Twin-spot x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x4
	Beautiful Plume x1

 

Geoff’s Moth Box, Cowplain Marsh (Andy’s garden):

Above, a Red-line Quaker, Feathered Thorn and the Green-brindled Crescent.

Twelve moths of 6 species beat my total back in Southsea and among them, I found my first Water Veneer moth for the year, though I think it was on its way out! Four Feathered Thorns and four November Moths was exceptional for Cowplain Marsh and thrown into the mix was a Red-line Quaker and a Green-brindled Crescent; two excellent moths species. The Moth Box also attracted an Ichneumon Wasp which I carefully released from the Box and back into the garden.

Above, this Water Veneer was my first for the year and below, up to 4 November Moths were present at Cowplain Marsh this morning.

I certainly cannot moan about this selection but I am hoping for a few other Autumn species to come along soon. The Moths recorded here included the following:

 

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Feathered Thorn x4	Rusty-dot Pearl x1
Green-brindled Crescent x1	Water Veneer * x1
Red-line Quaker x1
November Moth x4

 

While checking the Moths and enjoying a couple of cups of coffee, there was plenty of birdlife going on in and over Cowplain Marsh. The female Great Spotted Woodpecker came down to the feeders again (see photo) and a Green Woodpecker was heard calling several times near the garden, but there was no sighting of the bird.

I took a few photos of the birds at Cowplain Marsh. From top to bottom: Robin, female Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tit and the rear end of a Goldfinch!

A Nuthatch was heard calling nearby and overhead, we saw 3 Siskins heading north-west, a Pied Wagtail heading north as did a Greenfinch and a Redpoll was heard flying over but not seen. A Grey Wagtail flew low over the house and possibly a second bird was heard seconds later but not seen. An update of this week’s sightings at Cowplain Marsh is written below.

 

Sandy Point NR and Chichester Harbour, Hayling Island:

Brent Geese making their way into Chichester Harbour.

After parking up in Seafarers Walk, we walked along the pathway to the Harbour entrance. Though the potential of something rare or unusual here, the only bird noted was a calling Goldcrest somewhere high in a Conifer. When we reached the beach, we decided to split up where Andy walked along the shoreline of the beach, hoping to flush up a possible Snow Bunting, Shorelark or rare Wheatear. Sadly, none were seen. I, however, walked along the footpath close to the trees and bushes, hoping to find a rare Warbler. Again, none seen!

Above, this area of Fern looked so promising for something unusual. Certainly a good place for a mist net to do some ringing? Below, several Evening Primrose plants were still in bloom, though with this very mild weather, I wasn't too surprised to see some flowering plants here.

Above, a Jackdaw flying over our heads at Sandy Point.

Overhead, there was some visible migration going on with Goldfinches, Siskins, Chaffinches, Linnets, Skylarks, a single Redpoll and a few Meadow Pipits flying over. On reaching the RNLI Building, we stopped to have a cup of coffee and finishing my drink, I had a quick walk to check the nearby hedgerows where I found at least 6+ Chiffchaff in the area. A female Goldcrest showed well in a Sycamore tree, but no sign of any Yellow-browed Warblers today.

Above, a Robin was skulking low in the brambles and below, Andy wandering across the beach dreaming of a Shorelark!

Both adult and juvenile Brent Geese within the small lake near the Sailing Club.

Looking north into the harbour, good numbers of Brent Geese were swimming on the water and I could see at least two Sandwich Terns flying over the harbour. I could see the wader roost at Black Point and rather walk all the way up there which would undoubtedly flush the birds, there were good numbers of waders present including Sanderling, Dunlin and Oystercatchers.

Above, the male Dartford Warbler found in the Brambles and Gorse bushes and below, waders at the Black Point roost.

Above, Sanderling, Dunlin and Oystercatchers at the Black Point roost.

Andy wanted to try the sea for a possible Gannet (he needed this species for his year list) and on the way there, I heard the distinctive call of a Dartford Warbler in the brambles. It eluded us for some time and then it perched out in the open on a Gorse Bush. Pleased with seeing and photographing the bird (it was a male bird), we made our way to the rocks by the Nature Reserve, but all we could see on a flat calm sea was several large Gulls flying over the sea and a few Sandwich Terns among them. We couldn’t see anything really of note on the Gorse Bushes looking north over the reserve and so we made our way back to the car to try Sinah Warren where this weeks Yellow-browed Warbler was seen.

Sinah Warren, Hayling Island:

We parked up and made our way to the benches to finish off Andy’s coffee as several Chiffchaffs were seen flitting about by the perimeter fence. Fellow ‘Lazee Birder’ Pete Gammage was also here and after having a good chat with Pete, we all made our way back to our respective cars and headed off back home.

This weeks sightings at Cowplain Marsh:

 

The female Great Spotted Woodpecker at Cowplain Marsh.

Last Sunday, a Lesser Redpoll flew south at 9am over Cowplain Marsh, the first for the year here at this site. A Nuthatch paid a visit to the garden and overhead, 3 Chaffinches, Redwing and up to 5 Goldfinches went over.

On Monday 2^nd, there was a variety of notable sightings of which Geoff mostly saw or heard. This included flyovers of 2 Siskin, 3 Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Redwing, Sparrowhawk, Meadow Pipit, Red Kite and a Goldcrest seen in the garde. There were also two Mammel sightings; a Grey Squirrel and amazingly, a young Hedgehog at 3pm! Sadly, Hedgehogs are now on the endangered list of British Mammels, and I have not seen on in the UK for many years now!

On Tuesday 3^rd, another good variety of birds were noted by Geoff and that included a couple of raptors; a Red Kite low over the rooftops and a Sparrowhawk. Birds flying over included a Grey Heron flying low north, 20+ Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Grey Wagtail, Lesser Redpoll (heard), Chaffinch and Redwing. The female Great Spotted Woodpecker was back on the feeders again.

On Wednesday 4^th, a bit quieter today though both Grey and Pied Wagtail flew over the garden as well as a Linnet (heard only), 23 Goldfinch, Siskin (heard only) and a Nuthatch on the Fat balls. A Goldcrest was also in the garden.

On Thursday 5^th, the female Great Spotted Woodpecker was on the feeders, and a minimum of 20 Goldfinches were in the garden. Overhead, a Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Song Thrush and a Jay flew over Cowplain Marsh.

On Friday 6^th, an excellent 'garden tick', a Woodlark, flew over the garden heading east at 8.52am. Other notable birds flying over included a Chaffinch, Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Linnet, Greenfinch, Song Thrush and Redwing. Once again, the female Great Spotted Woodpecker was on the feeders and a Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit and only a few Goldfinches were present in the garden.