An early midweek update.

Tuesday 26th April 2022.

The Brindled Pug I found at The Oaks Crematorium on Monday. 

Not quite midweek yet, but I thought seeing I had the time, I thought I would have a quick update on what I have seen over the past few days and also a bit of ‘gen’ of what has been around on the south coast. The weather has been, dare I say it, glorious; with temperatures just below 20 degrees and a lot of sunshine thrown. However, the winds have been coming in from the north-east, but it has been quite cold overnight. Sadly, the moth box is out of action as I have a Landscape Gardener redesigning my back garden for the next two to three weeks, but I will keep an eye out at my usual locations during the week.

This beautiful male Brimstone butterfly was perched on the window at Portchester Crematorium.

Kicking off with moths, Portchester Crematorium has been nearly void of moths with just a few Double-striped Pugs noted, but nothing at all around the exit of the South Chapel, the prime spot. However, over at The Oaks Crematorium, I found a rather smart Pug moth and one of the top experts agreed it was a Brindled Pug, which was perched on the Book of Remembrance building and still present today. Though the moths have been poor this week at Portchester Crematorium, I found a gorgeous male Brimstone butterfly perched on one of the flower bay windows (see photo).

A probable St. Marks Fly at Portchester Crematorium which was found on Monday morning.

Back at Portchester Crematorium, yesterday a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen flying low over the Crematorium. I do know they breed here as I have found the nest site and there is a Green Woodpecker in the vicinity too, but I have not seen or heard it this week so far. At least two, possibly three male Blackcaps are in song here, but have remained elusive this week. Over on Portsdown Hill, at least two Red-legged Partridges have been seen in the arable field close to Skew Road.  

Ground Ivy grows abundantly by the woodland at The Oaks Crematorium. 

Today, there was a bit more excitement when I spotted from our Chichester Branch window, a pair of Swifts flying over the rooftops, the male attracting the female with quivering wings too! My first Swifts of the year, but everyone is talking about how low the number of Hirundines are at the moment. I did see another Swallow today as I took the back road to Chichester this afternoon, along with a very close male Kestrel hovering by the main road. Again in Chichester today, I found a pair of nesting Sparrowhawks high up in a tall Conifer; with both the male and female present near the nest. A Magpie was brave to go near the nest, but the female quickly flushed it away. 

This is Colin the Cuckoo which has returned to Thursley Common, Surrey, for the past few years. It has come down to mealworms put out by the bird photographers and one of the Lazee gang, James, managed to film it earlier this month.

Despite the winds from the North East, up to 14 Arctic Skua and 5 Bonxies went past Selsey Bill today and also all three common Divers went through as well. Back in Hampshire, the long staying Black-throated Diver was still in Chichester Harbour and off Hill Head, a Black Tern was noted among the Terns offshore. A lot of the ‘Lazee Birders’ are in southern Spain at present and regularly send photos of the superb birds on the Whatsapp site, which is thoroughly entertaining. Hopefully, I might be adding a few on here during the week if I am allowed. The laugh of the week so far was the mis-identification of a male Wheatear for a Lesser Grey Shrike. Hopefully, no one made the long journey to go and see the bird. I know we all make mistakes, but really??? 

Peregrine over the Cemy.

Sunday 24th April 2022.

The female Peregrine circling overhead with the Cemy.

A busy day doing household chores, getting the garden ready for the Landscape Gardener to arrive tomorrow and a trip around Highland Road Cemetery with our Isabelle. There was no time to go birding anywhere today, but there was always something to look at throughout the day and to round off with a circling Peregrine over our heads within the Cemy capped a really pleasant day.

This Hairy- footed Flower Bee was my first of the year.

The Borage plant I found this afternoon.

A bright start to the morning with unbroken sunshine, I found my first Hairy-footed Flower Bee was sunning itself on our back door window as I managed to grab a few photos of it using my mobile phone. Both Small White and Holly Blue butterflies were fluttering over my garden during the day and hopefully, once the garden has been straightened, we should get a lot more butterflies being attracted to my garden (and moths!). For now, I have to put my moth box away for the next few weeks and so will have to rely on Andy’s moth box to bring in the goodies.

Above, the female Sparrowhawk showed superbly overhead and below, another photo of the Peregrine over the Cemy.

I took Scruff for a walk with Isabelle (and her bike) around Highland Road Cemetery this afternoon in the sunshine. As Isabelle thoroughly enjoyed herself on her bike, I kept an eye out for anything of note and I finished off with a total of 15 species of bird during my walk round. Easily the best sighting was a female Peregrine soaring overhead for around 3 minutes, closely followed by the female Sparrowhawk which flew very low over our heads calling in doing so. The bird flew into one of the Chestnut trees and I am sure I saw the male literally fall out of the sky into the same tree at speed!

The beautiful lime-green of the Horse Chestnut trees.

A Small White butterfly nectaring on a Horse Chestnut spike.

There were plenty of plants in flower with mostly Common Speedwell, Daisy, Buttercup and Chickweed, which were all abundant within the Cemy. Groundsel was over a lot of the graves within the Cemy and plenty of seeding plants for the local Sparrows and Goldfinches to feed on. I did find a Borage plant (also known as Starflower) on one of the graves, traditionally a medical plant from the Mediterranean, so why it is growing here is anyone's guess. Both Small White and Holly Blue flew across the Cemy, the former also seen feeding on one of the Chestnut tree spikes. 

My first Chickweed of the year that was growing near the entrance of the Cemy. 

A sea-watch off Selsey Bill & then Chi Pits.

Saturday 23rd April 2022.

A pair of Bar-tailed Godwits heading east low over the sea at Selsey Bill this morning.

Because of Andy’s major hangover from last night, we decided to have a relatively easy days birding with little walking about and so I recommended a sea-watch down Selsey Bill where we can relax with our respective flasks of coffee and a pile of nosh from the local Co-op! It was a bit of gamble as the wind was a blustery north-easterly and though it started off very promising, it eventually fizzled out to near boredom! However, we did finish the trip off with a walk along Chichester Gravel Pits.

I found this Frosted Green moth over at The Oaks Crematorium yesterday morning.

Shuttle-shaped Dart in my moth box this morning. 

It was a bit busy with the moth trap in my garden this morning with up to 11 moths of 8 species including my second Bloxworth Snout of the year. The following moths were present this morning:

• 1 Common Plume
• 1 Beautiful Plume
• 2 Brimstone moth
• 2 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Bloxworth Snout
• 1 Angle Shades
• 1 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart

While putting the moth box away, a pair of Med Gulls flew low over the rooftops calling in doing so as they headed north. It was a grey overcast start to the morning and quite a breeze to keep the temperature down too. However, the weather did improve as the day wore on. I was to go to my Father’s house first before picking up Andy, catching up over the past two weeks for a good chat and a coffee.

Arguably, the UK's laziest birder. Andy spending time catching up with some snooze!

I got to Andy’s house by 9.30am and quickly checked his moth box egg trays where he only had just the two moths: 1 Brimstone moth and 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart, but probably he had a lot more and had simply flown off. Andy was sporting a ‘hangover from hell’ as we made our way down to the Bill and parking up, we noticed a lot of renovation work going on to the Retirement Home here. The owners have lawned a lot of the garden but it is really missing all the shrubs that the tired migrants used to land in, which has really upset the local birders here.

Above, a near deserted beach at low tide at Selsey Bill this afternoon and below, one of a few Gannets seen on our sea-watch today.

We sat on one of the benches overlooking the sea and almost immediately, we were onto Andy’s first Common Terns of the year. A steady trickle of both Sandwich and Common Terns were going through and when two flocks of Bar-tailed Godwit went through, we really thought things were going to be tasty here. One of the local birders here told us that this morning, they had logged over 113 Little Gulls, 14 Great Skua’s, 3 Arctic Skua’s, 8 Fulmar, 5 Kittiwake, 5 Little Tern and 2 Yellow Wagtails; all species I have not seen yet this year! 

Finally, our first sighting of a Reed Warbler this year. This bird was on Chichester Gravel Pits.  

A drake Pochard on Ivy Lake, Chichester Gravel Pits.

Sadly, we never saw any of the above and during the two and a half hours we spent in the bright sunshine there, we logged at least 60+ Common Scoter (in various size flocks), 1 female Merganser, 6+ Gannet, a pair of Brent Geese, a flock of a dozen Whimbrel and at least four separate flocks of Bar-tailed Godwit with one flock having two probable Dunlin trailing them. Coming in off the sea included two female Wheatears and at least 10 Swallows. The last hour was pitifully slow and so I decided to wake Andy up (!) and pack up and make our way to Chichester Gravel Pits, especially when 3 idiots on Jet skis were parading up and down in front of us on the sea.

One of two female Wheatears that flew in off the sea.

It was very blustery along the footpath by Ivy Lake and a quick scan over the water revealed not one Hirundine, which was very disappointing. However, there was some water skiing going on and so probably kept the local Common Terns away. However, three birds were seen flying over our heads a little later on and another was seen perched on a small post at the eastern end of the Lake. We quickly caught up with our first Reed Warbler sighting of the year. I have heard quite a few singing, but at long last, we eventually caught sight of a singing male bird on Nunnery Lake.

A distant Common Tern resting on one of the posts on Ivy Lake.

This singing male Chaffinch was just above my head. 

A few Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were heard singing and the occasional Cetti’s Warbler exploded into song, but it was rather uneventful stuff, though I enjoyed a smart singing male Chaffinch just above my head. Good numbers of Great Crested Grebe and Pochard were seen on Ivy lake as we made our way back to the car. A Speckled Wood butterfly fluttered past us and gratefully landed to bathe in the sunshine and for me to grab a quick photo.

A Speckled Wood butterfly enjoying the sunshine by Ivy Lake.

Two more 'new for the year' moths.

Thursday 21st April 2022.

Left, Bright-line Brown-eye and right, the Cabbage Moth. Both were new for the year. 

There was a reasonable selection of moths in and around my moth box this morning with two new species added to my year list; a rather early Cabbage Moth and a Bright-line Brown-eye. Both reasonably common moths in my garden during the Spring and Summer months, but always nice to see. Up to 3 Early Greys were counted (I found another one late afternoon near the box). Interestingly, The Fern which I found at Portchester Crematorium could possibly have been the rare Cryptic Fern, a relatively new species that has only just been discovered and quite easily overlooked over the past few years. The Hampshire County Recorder made reference to it when he checked out my moth. I, for one, had never heard of this species, but I am convinced it is The Fern, judging by the markings on my other photos.

Moths present this morning in and around the moth box included the following:

• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 1 Cabbage Moth
• 3 Early Grey
• 2 Brimstone Moth
• 5 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 7 Common Plume.

On my travels today, there were a few notable sightings and it kicked off with Kestrel hovering by the B2166 to Pagham as we were making our way to Rose Green. From our Feltham Branch, there was a singing Chiffchaff seen high up in a small tree. Nearby, some two miles away at Elmer Beach, a Red-necked Grebe was swimming just offshore, but we were too busy to stop working. Sob!

One of three Early Grey moths this morning.

A Common Buzzard was seen soaring in the southern half of Gosport, one of at least 5 birds seen today including 3 around the M275. A Red Kite was seen soaring low over the countryside near Boarhunt as we ‘crossed country’ to get to Denmead from Portsdown Hill. Apparently, a Black Kite was soaring over Martin Down today.

The Fern moth found at Portchester Crematorium.

Wednesday 20th April 2022.

The Fern moth that I found perched on the exit of the South Chapel of Portchester Crematorium. 

Sadly, it was back to work today and of course, I am always keeping an eye for anything of note when I am driving along during my working hours. It was a very early start today and by 7.30am, we were on our way to Rose Green, West Sussex where I had sightings of a Swallow over Hunston, near Chichester and a Med Gull flying over fields on the road to Pagham. The weather was good, with no rain showers like yesterday and it even got up to around 18 degrees in the sun.

On the way to Portchester Crematorium, a Red-legged Partridge was seen in one of the arable fields beside the main road on top of Portsdown Hill, but no raptors whatsoever were seen on the way there. When at the Crematorium, I had a check for moths and the only one found was a real stunner. It was my second ever The Fern, which was confirmed by the guys on Hants Moths. The only one I have ever seen of this species was an individual I found in East Prawle, Devon, many years ago. The moth was in the hotspot of the exit of the South Chapel. Where else!

A Kestrel and a Common Buzzard were seen over the grounds of The Oaks Crematorium as well as several Orange Tip and Small White butterflies flitting along the edge of the woodland. Not  a great deal else seen today, but I was more than happy with a good moth. Over in West Sussex, a male Ring Ouzel was spending its second day in a field at Greenlease Farm, Church Norton along with a variety of warblers in the area. Another Ring Ouzel was seen at Gander Down, in Hampshire today and in the north of the County, one lucky birder had a White Stork flying over her house. 3 Spoonbills were on Farlington Marshes today along with a Yellow Wagtail.

Woolmer Pond & Thorney Island on my last day off.

Tuesday 19th April 2022.

The singing Willow Warbler just south of the Pond.  

My last day off before work and after checking the moths, it was up to Cowplain to pick Andy up (he had the day off) and head north to Woolmer Pond. This morning's weather forecast predicted a few showers around the south coast and of course, I got caught in a big one this afternoon when I went out with Sinead and Isabelle to Thorney Island! At least it wasn't cold and a bit of rain did not really hurt anyone.

This Garden Carpet moth was my first of the year and quickly joined by a second in Andy's garden. 

Kicking off with my moth trap this morning, there was another moth that was new for the year - a Garden Carpet. Again, a very common moth in my garden and no doubt will see many more as the year progresses, but it is always nice to get my first one of the year. A total of 16 moths of 6 species this morning including the following:

• 1 Garden Carpet
• 2 Brimstone Moth
• 5 Double-striped Pug
• 2 White-shouldered House Moth
• 1 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 6 Common Plume

At Cowplain Marsh this morning, Andy’s moth only attracted two moths: a Garden Carpet and a Double-striped Pug. Not a great deal flying over his house as I drank my coffee and soon we were off north to Woolmer Pond. It felt like another Saturday all over again and there were hardly any cars in the small car park which was a bonus. The clouds had gathered overhead, but there was a bit of sunshine and being here, I was hoping we might catch up with our first Garden Warbler and Redstart of the year. Sadly, it wasn’t to be, but some lucky bugger somehow saw 5 Redstarts here today. Though I was sure I heard one behind the Cottage garden, we failed to find or even hear one during our trip here!

Another shot of the Willow Warbler at Woolmer Pond this morning.

The male Siskin at the southern end of the Pond.

Nevertheless, it didn't take Andy long to notch up his first Willow Warbler sighting of the year, with a singing bird high in the trees to the south of the Pond. A pair of Siskins showed well for us here too, with the male displaying occasionally. Good numbers of Chiffchaffs were singing and plenty were seen on our trip around the area including through the Woolmer Forest bridle path. A lone Red Kite drifted low north across the Pond and a pair of Goldcrests were seen exploring the trees for insects close to the main footpath. The Cottage garden was rather quiet, though both Coal and Long-tailed Tit showed well and a few Linnets and Chaffinches were noted. Alas, no Redstart again. 

The Silver Birch trees that are now in leaf look stunning in the sunshine.

The only Red Kite seen here today at Woolmer Pond.

Making our way to the Forest, a pair of Lapwing showed well on the ground near the main footpath and a male Pied Wagtail dropped in and landed nearby, carefully scrutinised in case it was a White Wagtail. There was no sign of any Tree Pipits in the area, but they began to appear once we exited the Forest. In fact, at least three could be heard singing and one showed relatively well on the top of a Conifer; Andy’s second ‘year-tick’ of the year. The Cuckoo was heard somewhere distantly, but failed to show this time, but we had more luck with a couple of Woodlark close to the main footpath. I did also hear a singing Dartford Warbler, but I failed to locate the bird out on the heath. A tractor was cutting up the ground beside the main footpath here, something to do with the Amphibian Society I believe! The sky overhead now threatened rain and so we made our way back to the Cottage again for a second bite in finding a Redstart, but no diamonds there either. We did have a nice male Stonechat instead and a Common Buzzard flying past us. Apart from the Lapwing, no waders again on the Pond, but it did hold a handful of Tufted Duck again along with the usual Geese. 

A few Lapwing were about on the site today.

Chiffchaff were abundant around the Pond and even noted in the Forest as we walked through.

Before dropping Andy off home, we paid a visit to the sleepy village of East Meon for there is a good number of House Martins that nest in the village most years. We parked up and sat on the small village lawn bench and waited patiently for anything to show. We did have a Swallow overhead a few times and a Red Kite drifted high over the village, but no sign of any House Martins to add to our year list. Haroo! Never mind, they will be seen eventually.

A pair of Goldcrests showed well in the trees beside the Pond. 

A Woodlark in the heath area behind the Forest.

After dropping Andy off, I made my way home to relax for a bit and then drove over to Sinead’s house to pick both her and Isabelle up for a walk down the west side of Thorney Island. Fortunately for them, I had an umbrella in the back of the car as the heavens opened as soon as we arrived. I took a gamble and we made our way along the footpath to the harbour wall. From the footpath, we clocked the singing Sedge Warbler Andy and I saw on Saturday in exactly the same bramble as last time. Cetti’s Warblers exploded into song along the path and even showed quite well at times, while Chiffchaffs sang close by.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker high up in a Silver Birch near the Forest.

The male Stonechat not too far away from the Cottage.

Walking down towards the Little Deeps, I pointed out a female Marsh Harrier quartering the reedbeds to the ladies. A singing Reed Warbler was very elusive again, keeping deep down in cover of the reeds as was a second bird on the south side of the Little Deeps! Very frustrating! The rain started to come down a bit heavy at times and Sinead asked if we could go back to the car, of which I agreed. No point taking a risk and getting completely soaked. However, it did stop on our way back as we got sightings of both a Common Whitethroat and also a female Blackcap along the footpath back to the car. On arrival to the site, I heard a singing Lesser Whitethroat opposite the car park, but too deep in cover to go and search for it.

Tufted Duck on the Pond today, but not a great deal else.  

A Common Whitethroat on Thorney Island this afternoon, along the track leading to the seawall.

The elusive Cetti's Warbler showing well this time along the pathway at Thorney Island.

Isabelle was trying to get used to her binoculars I had bought her a while ago, but saw the male Kestrel hovering south of the footpath. Several Med Gulls flew overhead, mewing loudly as they passed overhead and a lovely pair of Swallows showed well hunting for insects low down over the pathway to the north. There was also a brief sighting of a Bullfinch as it flew out of a tree to land in trees over the other side of the road near the small car park. Such a shame about the weather, but we did see a nice variety of birds on our short journey here this afternoon. Below, the singing Willow Warbler at Woolmer Pond this morning.

A Willow Warbler in my garden.

Monday 18th April 2022.

The micro moth, Psychoides filicivora. A tiny, yet common day-flying moth I regularly get in my garden. 

I did not go birding anywhere as such today, but I did have a relaxing hour in the garden this afternoon, enjoying a lovely Willow Warbler and other birds in and over the garden in the warm sunshine. I was up stupidly early this morning, one of those situations where I could not fall back to sleep but I eventually got up and made my way downstairs to put the kettle on at 5am! Thankfully, I had my moth box on overnight and although it wasn't that unusual, I did have one micro moth (though it was nearly dead!) to add to my year list.

The Brimstone Moth. Another common moth, but attractive moth, that I see most weeks.

Another clear night produced just 12 moths and even though I had sorted out the egg trays yesterday afternoon, it did not encourage many moths to go inside the box. The best moth on display was a micro moth, Psychoides filicivora, which was sat on top of the roof of the box, but it did not look too healthy and most certainly on its way out of this world. The following moths were present this morning:

• 1 Brimstone moth
• 4 Double-striped Pug
• 4 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 2 Common Plume
• 1 Psychoides filicivora

While checking the moth box, a Green Woodpecker called loudly somewhere in the gardens behind me and most likely the Highland Road Cemetery bird, but better still, was the song from a Willow Warbler coming from a neighbours garden. One of my neighbours has a tall Silver Birch within it and I had to crane my neck to try to get a view of the bird, but it was nowhere to be seen. I had to wait until the afternoon to get a good view of it and I most certainly did.

Another common micro moth in my moth trap, Tachystola acroxantha.

After taking a trip to Waterlooville with my wife to test drive a new car, where I had sightings of a Jay over the A3M and a pair of Mediterranean Gulls in a field near Asda in Waterlooville; we got home and had a bit of lunch. Afterwards, I grabbed a chair from inside the house and sat outside in the sun, armed with my binoculars. I regretted not taking my camera as both the Willow Warbler and a pair of Goldfinches showed very well in my garden. The former came out of hiding (it was now uttering its song very quietly as it went about my neighbours overhanging tree), in search of small insects and eventually popped right out in the open. 

Above, from top to bottom, Cuckoo, a male Dartford Warbler and a male Redstart all photographed by John Manley at Thursley Common today. 

The Goldfinches came down to feed on my bird feeders and after having their fill, off they went as a Starling came in to feed on the food pellets. Once again, Starlings are using the Swift Box opposite my house, but the young will most likely fledge before the Swifts reclaim their nesting site. Back in my garden, a pair of Holly Blue butterflies were chasing each other and occasionally settled briefly on the Buddleia plant. Another butterfly, the Small White, also belted through the garden briefly, a flash of white in the bright sunshine. Sadly, no raptors were seen flying over, but with a White-tailed Eagle soaring over Pagham Harbour reported today, it was always worth checking the sky.

Locally in Hampshire, Whiteley Pastures are currently hosting at least 4 Nightingales and a Yellow Wagtail, a species that nested commonly on the south coast, including Farlington Marshes, when I was a teenager, dropped onto the fields by the Canal Path, Titchfield Haven, that also hosted 50+ House Martins and a Lesser Whitethroat. I have my last day off tomorrow and I expect I will probably go to the Canal Path or see what drops around the South Coast.