Saturday 18th April 2026.
One of several beautiful male Redstarts seen today at Pig Bush.
Today, it was just Andy Fisher and myself that went birding and it was both Fishlake Meadows and Pig Bush (New Forest) that was to provide us with a plethora of ‘year-ticks’. The weather was perfect, though a little cold first thing this morning (especially when the sun went behind the clouds), but it warmed up considerably in the afternoon when the wind dropped a little. After the Turkey trip, I was determined to see as many new birds for the year and what better place to start than Fishlake Meadows, where there was a wealth of birdlife on show this morning. But my day started with the Moth Boxes in both mine and Andy’s garden.
My Moth Box:
My first Narrow-winged Grey of the year.
It was dry and bright this morning as I got to check out the Moth Box this morning and a total of 18 moths of 8 species were recorded. The only species new for the year was the micro moth, Narrow-winged Grey (Eudonia angustea), which is a very common species here in Southsea between now and up to November. Another Bloxworth Snout was present last night before I went to bed and after potting it, I released it early this morning, although trying to get a decent photo of this very active moth proved impossible and so I let it go. My second Pale Mottled Willow of the year was also present although perched outside the Moth Box and up to two Silver Y’s were on the egg trays.
My second Pale Mottled Willow moth of the year.
Other sightings here this morning including one Lacewing and overhead, a Linnet flew high west.
Cowplain Marsh (Andy’s Garden):
Andy's garden seems to throw up the occasional excellent moth and this Brindled Beauty was no exception. An absolute stunner.
Though the Moth numbers were low this morning from Andy’s Moth Box, there was some quality there with a superb Brindled Beauty present perched on the inside of his conservatory wall and my first of the year (and probably my last!). Also present were two Brimstone Moths perched quite close to the main bulb and a couple of Brindled Pugs. The only micro moths were Light Brown Apple Moths of various guises.
A pair of Brimstone Moths graced Andy's moth box.
Fishlake Meadows, Romsey:
One of many Sedge Warblers seen at Fishlake Meadows today.
Arriving around 9.15am within the small car park by Fishlake Meadows, our ears were ringing from the sound of Chiffchaffs, Cetti’s Warblers and a variety of other birds in full song. A Willow Warbler was also heard singing nearby, but thinking there would be plenty of these along the canal footpath, we carried on instead to the first viewing platform where we came across fellow ‘Lazee Birder’ Rob Porter. After a brief chat, we watched a host of birds singing close by and that included both Reed and Sedge Warblers, which were both new for the year for both of us.
Above, this singing Chiffchaff greeted us when we arrived and below, I lost count on how many Cetti's Warblers we saw here this morning.
Above, this male Cuckoo was flying all around the reserve and occasionally perching on the dead trees. Below, a Red Kite soared over the reserve.
Walking a little further, our first Garden Warbler was seen singing, though it mostly was partly hidden behind vegetation, but was full of song. We did hear several more along the Canal Footpath but they also remained mostly hidden from view. However, we had no such problems with the Sedge Warblers. The whole reserve was full of them, with most of them in song and doing their display flight. Reed Warblers were hard to see, bar one bird that perched nicely for us out in the open, but most of the birds remained hidden within the reedbeds. Cetti’s Warblers, like the Sedge Warblers, were very co-operative with easily a dozen birds seen singing very close to the main footpath.
Above, one of many Cetti's Warblers by the main footpath and below, a Sedge Warbler close to the footpath.
Above, a pair of Common Buzzards soaring over the reserve and below, a collection of dead trees within the reserve. It looks a bit eery but the amount of birds that actually perch on them is amazing.
Up to three Bullfinches were seen nearby but too quick for a photo and over on the lake in the distance to the west of the reserve, my first Common Terns (in the UK) were seen hawking over the water among the Gulls. A Peregrine flew high over heading south and my first Common Whitethroat of the year eventually put in an appearance. Year-ticks were coming in thick and fast!
Above, a Cuckoo-pint plant growing close to the main footpath and below, another raptor seen here today was this female Sparrowhawk. A flock of Sand Martins flew close by.
Above, this Common Whitethroat was one of several seen today; my first of the year and below, this female Orange-tip butterfly showed well, but literally seconds before this photo was taken, a male Orange-tip came in to mate with her.
We then came across both Andy Tew and Chris Spate (more fellow ‘Lazee BIrders’) and joined them in searching the area for anything of note. Another ‘Lazee’ joined us too, Catherine, as we checked out the reserve and it didn't take long for us to see our first Swifts of the year hawking high over the trees. A Cuckoo had been seen earlier and it didn't take too long for the bird to be seen flying south high over the reserve. The bird actually flew up and down the reserve, but always remained distant from us. A large flock of Sand Martins went through along with several more Swifts and among them, I found my first House Martins of the year (in the UK).
Above, Andy searching for more 'year-ticks' and below, I just had to take a photo of this gaudy male Pheasant looking stunning in the sunshine.
Above, a male Brimstone Butterfly nectaring on a Dandelion and below, a male Stonechat was perched on a reedstem at the back of the Reserve.
Andy and I soon made our way north up the Canal Path, for Andy was getting a bit cold with the sun hiding behind some large clouds overhead. A juvenile Great White Egret flew briefly by the edge of the lake, but settled out of view. As well as a couple of Common Buzzards sailing overhead, a Red Kite was also present and showed very well in the blue sky. Hobbies should be arriving here soon, but no sign of the birds during our stay here. A White Stork had been seen twice this week flying high over the reserve, so we were a bit hopeful that the bird might make an appearance today. Nope!
Above, a Common Whitethroat in mid hop! Below, the stream, beside the main footpath, was full of fish including Rudd, Perch and possibly Dace.
Above, Andy found this Holly Blue butterfly on the footpath and below, another singing Sedge Warbler.
Butterflies were on the wing and easily the most numerous were the Orange-tip Butterflies which were literally everywhere. These were my first of the year, but the male Orange-tip proved very difficult to get a photo, but I got better luck with a female. Peacock butterflies were present in reasonable numbers and Andy also found a Holly Blue resting on the footpath. We walked up to the River Test and then slowly made our way back to the car, but not before we saw a pair of Ravens flying south and a stunning male Stonechat perched on reed stems close to the main footpath. A male Reed Bunting showed well briefly singing from one of the Birch trees within one of the reedbeds and a couple of Water Rails were heard calling deep within the reedbeds. Yes, we were hoping for Grasshopper Warblers, but none were reported here this week or today and the White Stork or an Osprey never put in an appearance either. Never mind, eight ‘year-ticks’ is nothing to be scoffed at from this superb reserve.
Pig Bush, New Forest:
One of the male Redstarts at Pig Bush this afternoon.
After grabbing a bite to eat from a local convenience store near Fishlake, we then made our way to Pig Bush. Earlier today, a Spotted Flycatcher along with Redstarts and Cuckoos although there was some doubt that a Spotted Flycatcher could be here this early in the year. We came across fellow birder Pete Appleton, fresh from his trip to India. During our time here, Andy finally got to see his first Willow Warbler of the year and a second individual showed very well as we walked south to the small bridge.
Above, Andy's first Willow Warbler of the year in the woods by the car park. Below, my first UK male Redstart was seen shortly afterwards.
A female Redstart flew down and searched for insects on the ground.
Redstarts were in good numbers here as we managed to see at least 5 individuals, four males and one obliging female (another species added to my Hampshire year list) and at least two Cuckoo's showed very well when we made our way south along the footpath. I was sure I heard a Tree Pipit singing, but failed to locate the bird as we walked west over the recently mown heath. It looks as though the Forestry Commission had mown down last year's Bracken judging by what I saw, but it seemed the local Meadow Pipits took full advantage of it.
Above, a much more showy Willow Warbler was present a little later and below, a female Stonechat on the heath.
Above, the woodland and heath at Pig Bush.
While there, a couple of Swallows flew over as did a Siskin and nearby, a pair of Stonechats were seen close by near the main footpath. Brimstone & Peacock butterflies were everywhere over the heath and now I had wished I had bought the Emperor Moth lure after all. I'm sure there would have been loads around now.
Above, a male Stonechat and its mate below.
Above, a Mistle Thrush flew in and showed well.
We sat down by the entrance of a wood and Pete Appleton came up to talk to us. We watched a Cuckoo fly into the woodland, but the local birds did not like that at all and harassed the Cuckoo until it flew off through the woodland and back out over the heath. The birds harassing the Cuckoo included a Chaffinch and a couple of Redstarts! After a good chat, we all walked back together to the car park, but not before getting a superb, very obliging male Redstart by the edge of the wood near the car park. Pete showed us some of the trees where the Spotted Flycatchers nested last year, but there was no sign of the reported bird here while we were there. Pete said his Goodbyes as Andy and I finished off my flask of coffee, a Willow Warbler was still singing nearby and a Marsh Tit was within the canopy of a nearby Conifer. A Raven soaring over the heath rounded off a very good day birding. I finished off with 9 ‘year-ticks’ while Andy had 7.
