Bloxworth Snout still present in the fog.

Thursday 14th April 2022.

 I found the Bloxworth Snout by the back window, some distance from the moth box this morning.

Well, the fog put paid to a ‘sea-watch’ early this morning and thankfully, I had the moth box to fall back on. Not as many moths as yesterday, but not a bad variety again with the Bloxworth Snout found again and my first White-shouldered House Moth for April near the white sheet. The following moths were present this morning:

• 3 Early Grey
• 1 Brimstone Moth
• 1 Bloxworth Snout
• 10 Common Plume
• 1 White-shouldered House Moth
• 2 Light Brown Apple Moth 

Above, an Early Grey and below, the Brimstone Moth.

White-shouldered House Moth.

Bloxworth Snout added to growing moth year list.

Wednesday 13th April 2022.

My first Bloxworth Snout of the year. They are annual within my garden most years.

Another busy day today with not only a visit to The Oaks Crematorium, but also a trip to the north of the County, to both Basingstoke and Andover. My job could take me anywhere at times, but at least it was a good day with great company. The weather was a little indifferent at first this morning but as the afternoon wore on, it became a lot sunnier, hence wearing the ‘shades’ all the way home from Andover!

This morning's Angle Shades moth suffered from a damaged wing.

The moth box didn't disappoint this morning with yet another new moth for the year, a stunning Bloxworth Snout. With 3 Early Grey, An Angle Shades (which was found when I got home from work by the box) and 19 Common Plume, it really was picking up again.The following moths were present this morning:

• 1 Bloxworth Snout
• 4 Double-striped Pug
• 3 Early Grey
• 4 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Angle Shades
• 4 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 19 Common Plume

Regarding the birds seen today, it kicked off with a perched Common Buzzard again on one of the lamp posts northbound on the M275. A pair of Mediterranean Gulls flew over New Road in Bedhampton, both heading north over the houses. The Oaks was alive with bird song, notably Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Blackbird and Nuthatch from the adjacent woodland; both Great Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker were also heard calling from deep within the woods. Chiffchaffs were seen displaying by the edge of the woodland, while singing birds were seen flitting about around the gardens..A single Long–tailed Tit  was seen flying across the  gardens and into the woodland.

Cowslips were flowering at The Oaks Crematorium.

It was nice to see Cowslips growing here on the neat grass between the woodland and the gardens, which I found totally unexpected. I do not remember seeing them there last year. After our morning job, a work colleague and myself made our way up to Basingstoke first to carry out our second job of the day and on the way up the M3, at least two Red Kites were seen high over the motorway. Once at our Basingstoke branch, a pair of Red Kites drifted very low over our heads and over the rooftops. 

A male Syrphus species of Hoverfly in my moth box this morning.

Even when we reached our Andover branch, I was seeing Red Kites everywhere, but it wasn't till I was making my way back down the M3 that I started seeing Common Buzzards high over the motorway. As we were making our way into Basingstoke Crematorium, a pair of Red-legged Partridges were busy searching for food on the neatly manicured lawn and gardens and were seen again on our exit from the Crem. Brimstone butterflies and a single Peacock butterfly were also seen today.  

In Hampshire today, migrants are pouring in thick and fast and include a female type Montegue’s Harrier heading north over the reserve (after being identified by photographs).  One of the ‘Lazee’s’ had a nice selection this evening with Common Whitethroat, 3 Reed Warbler, 3 Chiffchaffs and a Swallow at Farlington Marshes. A flock of 6 Glossy Ibis settled briefly on the Posbrook Floods before returning briefly a little later.  I am now on a 5 day break from work and hope to do a very early sea-watch tomorrow morning to whet my birding appetite!

Four new moths for the year.

Tuesday 12th April 2022.

My first Brimstone Moth of the year. 

Despite some heavy rain showers overnight, there was a nice selection of moths within the moth box of which four species were new for the year. Thankfully, most of them were actually in the box, though I have to get round to tidying up the egg trays within. The list of moths this morning were as follows:

• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart (NFY)
• 1 Brimstone Moth (NFY)
• 2 Early Grey
• 4 Double-striped Pug
• 2 Tachystola acroxantha (NFY)
• 1 Brown House-moth (NFY)
• 4 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 8 Common Plume
• 1 Beautiful Plume

There were also at least four Lacewings on the white sheet behind the box. I did know that the showers were not going to go away and how right I was. But, despite the inclement weather at times, there were plenty of birds around The Oaks Crematorium that kept me entertained. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen twice during the day there and both Blue and Great Tits were displayed around the grounds throughout the day too. Within the woodland, the songs of Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Nuthatch, Blackbird and even Firecrest were heard and also a distant Skylark could be heard behind the Crematorium.

Tachystola acroxantha, one of two this morning. This species is common in my garden for at least 7 months of the year. 

Other birds seen during my day included a flock of 12 Mediterranean Gulls flying east over Waterlooville and a Red Kite slowly flapping low over the rooftops while I was driving through Leigh Park. There was just the one Common Buzzard seen today, a stationary bird perched on a lamp post beside the M275. Again, I have the moth box on overnight as it is meant to be fairly mild. Fingers crossed.  

A Shuttle-shaped Dart with a Light Brown Apple Moth for company.

This Brown House-moth was also my first of the year.

Though nowhere near as busy as yesterday, there was still a reasonable seabird movement through the Solent again, with plenty of Arctic and Great Skua passing both Hampshire and West Sussex today and another Pomarine Skua past Selsey Bill. There was also a good Red-throated Diver passage with 20 past Sandy Point and 35 past Selsey Bill. More migrants have been found this morning with up to 5 Common Whitethroats seen along the Canal Path at Titchfield Haven. Reed and Sedge Warblers were noted plus a few Nightingales heard singing in both counties. Good, I shall have to go back to Marlpit Lane again for my ‘year-tick’!   

A good 'sea-watch' for the lucky few today.

Monday 11th April 2022.

One of two Angle Shades moths in my moth box yesterday.

While I was busy at work today, the south coast experienced a really productive superb sea-watch and whether you were watching from Hampshire or West Sussex, it certainly was a red-letter day for those lucky enough to be either retired or having the time off to be on the south coast to experience a superb passage of birds through the Solent.

The Light-bellied Brent Goose filmed earlier this month at Farlington Marshes. I don't often come across this race of Brent Goose on my travels, but this bird performed nicely in the sunshine.  

After yesterday's lack of wind and the hopeful South-easterlies never really materialised, today was completely different. A blustery south-easterly came in and produced a good array of birds for those lucky birders. Kicking off with Hampshire, 2 Pomarine Skuas and good numbers of both Arctic and Great Skua went through as well huge numbers of Sandwich Terns with smaller numbers of both Common and Little Terns! 6 Little Gulls went through off Hill Head and 3 Garganey were on the sea, while Andy J had 6 off Sandy Point! As well as seabirds, a Merlin came in off the sea at Sandy Point and a Hobby flew over Hill Head. A few Ring Ouzels were found today, with a male at Old Winchester Hill and a pair at Burridge, near Southampton.

The sound of Spring. This vocal Chiffchaff was seen a week Saturday ago at Chichester Gravel Pits.

Off Selsey Bill, I think the guys there had the lion's share of the goodies seen today with totals including: 3 Pomarine Skua, 22 Arctic Skua, 6 Great Skua, 1,300+ Sandwich Tern, 2 Little Tern, 3 Garganey, 21 Velvet Scoter, Merlin and 3 Yellow Wagtails in off the sea. One of the ‘Lazee Birders’ said it was one of the best sea-watches he has ever been on.

A couple of dark-phased Arctic Skua's through over the Solent this morning. Photo by Andy Friend.

Meanwhile, I had to work and it was The Oaks Crematorium where I had the most notable sightings. A female Sparrowhawk flew over the woods and a Common Buzzard was also seen a few seconds later. Both Chiffchaff and Blackcap were in full song within the woods as well as a Nuthatch, but all were singing deep within the woodland. On Sunday morning, my moth box held a couple of cracking Angle Shades, but absolutely nothing else due to the very cold temperatures overnight. It is supposed to be getting a lot warmer this week and so I might be a bit more successful with the moths this week. Stop Press: as I write this update to my blog, my first Brimstone moth of the year has just settled by my moth box tonight along with a Double-striped Pug!

A very enjoyable sea-watch from Gilkicker.

Sunday 10th April 2022.

Sandwich Tern offshore from Gilkicker Point.

Though I had chores to do as demanded by my wife (!), I decided to get up early and make my way to join the ‘Lazee Birders’ at Gilkicker Point for a sea-watch. That meant setting the alarm for 6am and arriving there for a 7am start. Though very cold again overnight, I had put my moth box on. I was pleased to find a couple of Angle Shades within the moth box, though nothing else whatsoever! These were probably migratory individuals and looked quite stunning in the early morning light.

Above, one of many Sandwich Terns going through the Solent, but no Common Terns yet. Below, one of the 'Continental' race of Cormorant. 

Arriving just before 7am, I joined fellow ‘Lazee Birder’, Andy Dickity and his wife in the car park and then made our way to the shelter overlooking the very calm Solent. There was hardly a breath of wind and also hardly a cloud in the sky as we started checking out the sea. Good numbers of Sandwich Terns were within the Solent, either passing by or fishing, with the occasional few perching on some of the buoys offshore. Another ‘Lazee Birder’ was watching from Hill Head and later this morning, he messaged ahead that there were both Common Tern and a Little Gull offshore there.

Freshly arrived Wheatears on the beach and also on the field behind the shelter. 

My trip here got off to a great start with my first Shag of the year seen flying east low over the water. There were a lot of Cormorants out on the Solent, but I was happy with my identification. A few waders went through including up to four Oystercatchers and I even picked up a distant Curlew flying high west over the Solent. Andy picked up a passerine flitting about on the beach and it was a superb male Wheatear, one of four we saw this morning, although a fifth was seen after I had left by 10am. The Wheatears were really good value with one female bird perching on the shelter close to where we stood! Other passerine's seen included a few Linnets and Greenfinches.

This particular male Wheatear was sporting a ring on its right leg, but too distant to get a number.

More of the ‘Lazee Birders’ turned up and by 9am, there were at least 8 present including a real blast from the past, Nigel Crook, of which we had a good chat about the past and present. A very knowledgeable birder I might add, just like his brother Jason, who mostly does his birding around Farlington Marshes. Andy House was giving out generous amounts of Wine Gums to keep everyone happy as the sightings trickled by. I picked up two Hirundines to add to my year list that included a Swallow which Nigel Crook pointed out as it flew over the house and I found a Sand Martin flying in and also quickly headed off north.

A good gathering of Lazee Birders this morning at Gilkicker.

Divers, always good value on a seawatch are notoriously not easy to tell apart when flying at distance, but I was happy in identifying a pair of Black-throated Divers heading east (I did think Great Northern at first, but on reflection, I changed my mind) and a solitary Great Northern Diver also flying east. The Black-throated Diver was my first of the year and now I had four ‘year-ticks’ under my belt. A single female Common Scoter belted past east and three Eider (a drake and two females) distantly headed west. We also had a lone Gannet on the sea, but it was nearer the Isle of Wight than our side as it eventually took off and headed slow west. Possibly the oddest bird seen was a Great Spotted Woodpecker flying over our heads heading east!

This female Wheatear perched on the roof of the Shelter.

We even had a flypast from this beautiful bird over the Solent.

A very enjoyable 3hrs birding with great banter and good chat from the ‘Lazee’ gang and sure to be repeated soon. I normally sea-watch from Southsea, but I will probably see a lot more with more guys looking from Gillkicker in the future. Good times to come. News was coming in that a Cuckoo and a Sedge Warbler were on Fishlake Meadows this morning and Andy Fisher texted me to say he managed to see his first Wheatear and Barnacle Goose of the year on Farlington Marshes this morning.

Both the Bonaparte's Gull and RC Pochard seen this morning.

Saturday 9th April 2022.

The Bonaparte's Gull on East Trout Lake, Chichester Gravel Pits this morning.

This morning, it was back to Chi Pits for the Bonaparte’s Gull and this time, Andy and I were in luck and not only that, the drake Red-crested Pochard showed reasonably well too. I knew it was going to be cold last night, but I did not realise how cold it was, especially as I was scraping ice off my windscreen at 7am this morning! I did not bother with my moth box this morning, but Andy had his own and of course, it was a complete blank for moths. Never mind, there was bigger fish to fry as they say.

A flock of Cormorant heading south high over the Gravel Pits this morning. 

This muddy drake Pochard had obviously been feeding while on Ivy Lake. 

A preening Great Crested Grebe and Tufted Duck on East Trout Lake. 

I had a good chat with my Dad first thing this morning at his house and then made my way to Andy’s house to pick him up for the trip into West Sussex again. It was a bright sunny morning and though a bit fresh, I did not have to don my coat and so parking up in the lay by on Selsey Road, we slowly took a stroll along the footpath adjacent to Ivy Lake. A Common Tern was present yesterday here but no sign of any this morning nor any Hirundines whatsoever, which was very disappointing. We regularly checked Ivy Lake for anything of note, but apart from good numbers of both Tufted Duck, Pochard and Great Crested Grebe, it was rather quiet.

The drake Red-crested Pochard eventually came out of its coma and showed nicely for a while on Ivy Lake.

The Black Swan was present again this morning and a lot closer than last week.

Lesser Celandine were in flower along the main footpath. 

Both Chiffchaff and Blackcap were in good numbers and in good voice, but where were the Sedge Warbler and Willow Warblers? It seems migration is a little slow at present, though the winds are due to change to southerly over the next week which should provide the floodgates  for migration. When we reached East Trout Lake, the favoured lake for the Bonaparte’s, there was no sign of the bird, but on nearby Ivy Lake, I found the drake Red-crested Pochard asleep under the branches of a large bush. It was a tad distant, but eventually, the bird was pushed out of its roosting place and came out for a swim for around ten minutes or so. 

The flowering plant, Honesty, growing abundantly along Peckham's Copse Road.

This female Sparrowhawk was soaring over New Lake with its mate. 

This Chiffchaff came very close to where we stood by New Lake. 

After having a good chat with Titchfield Haven birder, Dave Wallace, we made our way east along the footpath, checking the other pools for anything of note. A few Cetti’s Warblers were seen as well as three Reed Buntings seen searching for food among the Willow trees. Checking New Lake, off Peckham's Copse Lane, the Cormorants were nesting again in the trees and bushes, while around the area, we had sightings of Chiffchaffs, Stock Doves, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a pair of Sparrowhawks, but again, no Hirundines.

Several photos of the super Bonaparte's Gull on East Trout Lake this morning.

The walk back was fairly quiet as we made our way back to East Trout Lake and a passing birder gave us the good news as we passed, saying the Bonaparte’s had returned. It did not take long to find the bird, but it was flying over the far side of the lake, although one could clearly see it was much different than the neighbouring Black-headed Gulls. This was my second of this species in West Sussex after a bird we saw quite a few years ago on Pagham Lagoon. This bird was starting to grow its dark hood feathers and probably in the next few weeks, it should be in full summer plumage. Eventually, the bird came a lot closer and sat on the water to preen (see video) till it flew off back down over the far side of the lake. Happy with adding this superb North American gull to our year list (162 species for the year), we made our way back to the car, but not before enjoying a brief view of a Kingfisher perching on the edge of the same lake.

Alder Flies were abundant along the footpath as the day got warmer.

One of the male Reed Buntings seen along the main footpath.

One of many male Blackcaps seen along the footpath.

Our next stop was to pay the North Wall at Pagham Harbour a visit, but not before visiting the Fish & Chip shop in Pagham Village. Andy suggested eating out lunch on one of the benches by Pagham Harbour, which wasn’t one of his smartest ideas. It was bloody freezing with that wind blowing in off a harbour at low tide! Stupidly, I decided to risk not taking my coat and paid the price by freezing my nuts off! Hey ho, but the food was delicious and I still had my flask of coffee to take the cold away (briefly!). 

One of many drake Teal on the Breach Pool. 

Above and below, Marsh Harriers over the reedbeds at the Breach Pool.

From the Breach Pool, I was surprised at how low the water level was there. This, I thought, would attract some waders and a fairly large flock of both winter and summer plumage Black-tailed Godwits duly obliged. Nothing else though! Around a dozen Teal were swimming on the water, but best of all was at least three female Marsh Harriers quartering the reedbeds behind the pool. They were most entertaining during our short stay there, but more raptors were on show with a nearby Kestrel hunting near White’s Creek, a female Sparrowhawk flying low over the fields and a distant Peregrine soaring over the Harbour, putting up a large flock of Curlew and the Gulls. 

Above and below, a couple of photos of the Black-tailed Godwits on the Breach Pool.

On the walk back to the car, we watched the Kestrel stoop down near the Sluice and after taking several photos, a close up of the bird revealed that it had caught a lizard. I was so pleased to simply get out of that wind as we made our way back to the car and headed home. Not a bad morning with a good species of Gull on our year list and even though we saw the Blashford RC Pochard earlier in the year, it was nice to get a decent view of this species. Apparently, a Kittiwake was discovered on Vinnetrow Lake, the lake just past New Lake! Never mind, I should pick up one on a sea watch soon.  

A Little Egret feeding in White's Creek.

A female Kestrel enjoying her lunch!