A cracking morning in Bolderwood and Blashford Lakes.

Saturday 28th May 2022.

This cute female Chaffinch greeted us once we got to Bolderwood car park.

We were to spend the day in the New Forest area today, though traveling to Kent to see the Eleonora’s Falcon was mighty tempting, with a female Red-footed Falcon in support! Though I knew I had to be back some time in the afternoon to help Becky finish off with the garden, I plumbed for a trip to the Forest and hopefully picked up a few more ‘year-ticks’. The weather was a little cold at first when we arrived at Bolderwood car park, but the heat eventually arrived as we were reduced to t-shirts by midday.

Rusty Shoulder-knot moth. Probably the best moth in Andy's small selection this morning. 

A check of Andy’s moths in his garden at Cowplain Marsh was a bit of a damp squib, seeing that I had over 60 moths earlier this morning. I could only find a few, which included a Rusty Shoulder-knot, Common Pug, Vines Rustic, Bee Moth, Common Marbled Carpet, Eudonia angustea and a Light Brown Apple Moth. Whoosh! So, I drank my coffee and then headed off westbound to the New Forest for some goodies.

This stunning little stream that ran through Bolderwood always attracts Damselflies & Dragonflies in high summer. 

Now, I must find a quicker route to Bolderwood as it seemed to take ages in arriving at the car park, but we did see a few Stonechats along the way on the heath near Milkham Inclosure and also a Skylark hovering just by the roadside. Red-footed Falcons had been reported yesterday in the area and also over the Beaulieu Road area as well, so we carefully scanned the heath as we made our way to Bolderwood. Yes, it was a bit chilly at first when we arrived at a near deserted car park and as we were getting our birding gear out of the car, we were treated to a male Chaffinch hopping about by our feet; no doubt it regularly gets fed by the public!

I found this giant Wood Ant's nest near the main path. Colossal was an understatement. 

We followed the footpath down by the Deer Watch platform and into the woodland where we were quickly onto our first Firecrest of the trip. I have to say, we probably heard so many that it must have been into double figures and at least four birds were seen as well. Our target birds were Wood Warbler, Garden Warbler, Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher and we managed to grab two of those species this morning. Unbelievably, we saw no Redstarts whatsoever, which I found incredible. I suppose on another day, we might have seen 5+? Our first ‘year-tick’ didn't take too long to materialise, when I heard the distinctive call/song of a Spotted Flycatcher and eventually it gave itself up as i spotted it flicking about from branch to branch high overhead in some Oak trees; though grabbing a half decent photo of the very active bird proved difficult.

One of two Spotted Flycatchers seen this morning in Bolderwood and our first of the year.

A Treecreeper was seen by Andy, which I had missed by too busy trying to photograph the Flycatcher, but we saw an adult feeding a juvenile on the way back out of the wood later on. There were plenty of young birds within the wood, with Coal and Blue Tit youngsters being fed by their respective parents. A pair of Common Buzzards drifted over one of the clearings and I was pretty sure a female Sparrowhawk drifted lazily over the woodland. Siskins and Crossbills were constantly heard on our walk through the wood, but it was only the former that we got to see occasionally, including a lovely male doing its display flight. 

One of a few Treecreepers seen this morning.

After checking out a giant Wood Ants nest, Andy was onto a gorgeous Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly and quickly gave me the shout. I managed to grab some lovely photos of the insect, which was my first of the year. I was hoping for some more dragonflies within the woodland, famed for its good numbers of Golden-ringed Dragonfly, but I guess it is still too early for them yet. The only butterfly species seen this morning here were Speckled Woods, but there was a healthy number of them here. I did find a micro moth fluttering about by the main track and as I had a moth pot on me, I quickly potted the said moth and eventually identified it as Musotima nitidalis, a particular moth that enjoys bracken.

The stunning Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly seen by one of the paths this morning. 

After crossing the small stream and then taking the large footpath to the left, we made our way slowly along this track, avoiding the many Cyclists going through the woodland. This is a very popular woodland for both Cyclists on the mountain bikes and Ramblers and we saw many this morning here. The track we were taking was always good for Wood Warbler and was always a reliable site for them, but all was quiet at first. I soon picked up the distinctive song of a Garden Warbler within the woodland, but the bird proved elusive, but we did get to see our second Spotted Flycatcher of the morning and this time, the bird stayed still for me to grab a photo or two. Also present here was a Marsh Tit, seen and heard calling within the woodland and showed well for a while as it went about searching for food. Then, somehow, with my ‘bionic’ hearing, I picked out the delicate song of a Wood Warbler some distance away.

The beautiful Wood Warbler in full song. Arguably, one of my favourite Spring birds.

At first, I thought my ears were deceiving me, but as we walked further along the track, I heard it again and sure enough, we were watching our first Wood Warbler of the year. We never got to see one here last year and this bird most certainly made up for that. Walking very carefully into the woodland, we waited patiently for the bird to show and eventually, we picked it up within the canopy of some trees. In one superb moment, the sun came out behind a cloud and lit up the bird that was perched nicely right out in the open until it moved to a different perch to sing. It then virtually remained high up in the canopy and proved more difficult to photograph; but later on today, I read that Wood Warblers actually nest on the ground and so I was glad we didn't spend too much time in its territory.

This juvenile Goldcrest was waiting for its parents, nearby, to feed it.

Well happy with this sighting, we made our way back through the woodland to the car and although we heard a very distant Garden Warbler, we could not see the bird. After having a quick and well-deserved Ice-cream in the car park, a quick check on Birdguides revealed that yesterday's Long-tailed Duck was still on Ibsley Water, Blashford Lakes. So we made our way there to hopefully notch up another ‘year-tick’.

It was a good idea to go to Blashford Lakes where we were quickly onto our first Garden Warblers of the year.

Parking up within the car park near the Tern Hide, as I brought my telescope, I decided to make our way from the viewing platform where we bumped into one of the ‘Lazee Birders’, James Cutting and his two offspring! As per last year, the area was surrounded by singing Garden Warblers and it didn't take long for at least three birds to show reasonably well and climb onboard our year list! But it wasn't all good news as James said there was no sign of the Long-tailed Duck, but the female Red-crested Pochard was still showing well, which I glimpsed briefly while swimming on Ibsley Water. He kindly also gave us the location where the Dipper was in Romsey and so I shall probably pay that area a visit next week.

This stunning Hobby entertained us to make up for the no-show Long-tailed Duck.

After a good chat with James, who went off to check out the Woodland Hide with his kids, I got about checking the water for the Long-tailed Duck, but proved unsuccessful. However, there was plenty to look at including a superb Hobby overhead, flying back and forth over the Lake and into the woodland behind us and giving us some great views and Andy’s first of the year. 

One of at least 5 Common Terns on Ibsley Water this morning.

Even a pair of Common Buzzards soared low above us and in this bright sunshine (and it was certainly warming up now), we saw at least 5 Common Terns, probably about a dozen Great Crested Grebes and good numbers of Tufted Duck on Ibsley Water. I was trying to find a Little Ringed Plover for Andy’s year list, but no diamonds there, but there was a Lapwing and Oystercatcher along the small spit. A few Swallows were noted and a Sand Martin flew low overhead, calling in doing so. 

Common Blue Damselfly by the Info Main Building at Blashford Lakes.

After around half an hour, Andy was desperate for the toilet and knowing they had one by the main centre, we made our way to the car park there. Andy went off to do his thing while I had a quick chat with the two Voluntary wardens who pointed out the Hobby overhead, which was most likely the same bird we had seen earlier. Good numbers of Common Blue Damselflies were zipping about the place, especially around the edge of the woodland, enjoying the very warm sunshine. Once Andy came out of the Portaloo, we went around the back of the Main Building to check if any of the moths seen this morning from their moth box were perched on the building wall. Sure enough, I found three moths including a Tawny-barred Angle (NFY), Pale Tussock and my second ever Brussell's Lace moth.

Above, a Tawny-barred Angle moth behind the Info Centre and below, only my second ever Brussell's Lace moth.

Realising it was now 1.30pm, I decided to make tracks for home and so took the drive back through the New Forest instead where we had lovely views of three very young Donkeys with their Mums! Aaah! Some interesting birds in Hampshire today including a Stone-curlew at the Fishtail Lagoon in Lymington. The Iberian Chiffchaff was still singing in Otterbourne Park Wood and close by, a Black Kite was reported flying over there in the early evening.

Five new moths for the year.

Saturday 28th May 2022.

Maiden's Blush.

I was up around 4.45am this morning and although it was a cold night with temperatures dropping to around 8 degrees, I was ever hopeful in getting something special in the moth box first thing. In fact, though there were 5 new moth species for my year list, that something quite special did not materialise, but there were at least 66 moths of 29 species for me to check out. A bright and clear morning, with a near cloudless sky overhead bodes well for today.  The following moths were present this morning:

• 7 Lime-speck Pug
• 3 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Green Pug (NFY)
• 3 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 4 Garden Carpet
• 7 White Ermine
• 3 Willow Beauty
• 1 Pepper Moth
• 3 Shuttle-shaped Dart
• 2 Yellow-barred Brindle
• 3 Vines Rustic
• 1 Maiden’s Blush (NFY)
• 3 Common Marbled Carpet
• 1 Buff Ermine
• 1 Freyer’s Pug
• 1 L-album Wainscot (NFY)
• 1 Heart & Dart
• 1 Brimstone Moth
• 1 Common Wainscot (NFY)
• 2 Common Pug
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow
• 1 Marbled Minor (NFY)
• 2 Common Plume
• 1 White-shouldered House Moth
• 6 Tachystola acroxantha
• 3 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 1 Celypha striana
• 1 Platyedra subcinerea
• 1 Diamond-back Moth

Common Wainscot.

L-album Wainscot.

Celypha striana.

Marbled Minor.

Freyer's Pug.

Green Pug.

No new moths today.

Friday 27 May 2022.

Shuttle-shaped Darts come in various guises and this one threw me a bit, though I was correct on the ID.  

A drizzly, yet bright, start to the morning and thankfully, it was a 5.10am start and the local Spadgers had not been attacking my moths yet. Phew! Unfortunately, nothing new in the moth box this morning for the year, but a nice variety nonetheless. The ornamental Rabbit I keep as a weight on top of my rain guard on top of the moth box, actually held a few moths, which I did not not notice at first when I took it off the box first thing this morning. When I put it back, there were 3 more moths hiding within it, including a Diamond-back Moth! This morning's moth present today were the following:

• 1 Willow Beauty
• 3 Lime-speck Pug
• 1 Double-striped Pug
• 4 Shuttle-shaped Dart
• 1 Common Marbled Carpet
• 2 Yellow-barred Brindle
• 3 Pale Mottled Willow
• 3 Heart & Dart
• 3 Vines Rustic
• 1 Garden Carpet
• 2 White Ermine
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 1 Diamond-back Moth
• 1 Brown House Moth
• 2 Tachystola acroxantha
• 7 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 1 Common Plume

Yesterday was fairly quiet for me, with a few Common Buzzards seen overhead including one over the M275 and another over The Oaks Crematorium. Two different Kestrels were seen hovering by the road along Portsdown Hill. Back over The Oaks Crematorium, yesterday's Buff-tip moth was still present by the Book of Remembrance building and what was probably an Iron Prominent moth was on the wall just above the exit doors, but was just too high to get a decent photo.

My second Diamond-back Moth of the year hiding on the ornamental Rabbit above my box!  

A female Red-necked Phalarope was seen on Salterns Marsh, Lymington, yesterday but flew off and was not reported again. Today, I was a bit disappointed that Portchester Crematorium held literally no moths at all. There was just one Common Marbled Carpet yesterday, but I could not find anything around the exit of the South Chapel and neither the Flower Bay. However, I was a lot more successful over The Oaks Crematorium where I found THREE Pale Tussock moths by Chapel exit and the Buff-tip moth was still present by the Book of Remembrance building yet again.

One of three Pale Tussock moths at The Oaks Crematorium and all relatively close to one another this afternoon.

A few Common Buzzards made the most of a glorious afternoon, sailing high within a clear blue sky as the temperatures climbed into the low 70’s. A House Martin was seen flying from a house as I was exiting Hayling Island this morning and when I was walking back home down my road, I saw plenty of Swifts overhead including one bird that actually flew into one of my Swift nest boxes. Yippee! A few top rarities are in the UK at present, including a stunning pale morph adult Eleonora’s Falcon at Worth Marsh in Kent and a Little Swift at Eltham in South-east London. I do hope both birds are around tomorrow as I am tempted to do a ‘twitch’!

Quieter in the moth box.

Wednesday 25th May 2022.

One of two White Ermine moths this morning by the box.

Another early rise (it gets earlier, 4.35am!!) and I really do hope I last the day at work, but one must suffer for their art it seems and to avoid the local House Sparrows devouring a lot of my catch, one must get up early before they raid my garden. Becky kindly bought me a new bird feeder for the garden, one that takes the sunflower hearts of which the Sparrows, Goldfinches and tits adore and will hopefully deter some of the Sparrows from my moths.

The immigrant moth, Dark Sword-grass was a welcome addition to my year list.

There were three moths that were new for the year, White Ermine, Dark Sword-grass and the micro moth, Pyrausta aurata; but numbers were much lower than Monday with just 24 moths of 17 species recorded. The following moths were recorded:

• 3 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 2 White Ermine (NFY)
• 1 Yellow-barred Brindle
• 1 Willow Beauty
• 2 Vines Rustic
• 1 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Brimstone Moth 
• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart
• 1 Dark Sword-grass (NFY)
• 1 Chrysoteuchia culmella
• 1 Tachystola acroxantha
• 3 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 1 Ephestia woodiella
• 1 Agonopterix arienella
• 1 Pyrausta aurata (NFY)
• 2 Lime-speck Pug
• 1 Common Pug

Pyrausta aurata.

Away from moths, a Vixen Fox was seen walking away along the back wall of my garden and onto a neighbours shed roof and away south! Some cracking birds recorded in the country yesterday including a superb Roller in Cornwall, the White-tailed Plover in Norfolk and a few Great Reed Warblers reported in the country including a probable in Hampshire, at the Hook-with-Warsash site; though it was not seen, it was picked up by its song.  

This magnificent Roller was at a place called Praze-an-Beeble. just south of Cambourne, Cornwall. I have only ever seen one Roller and that was a distant bird many years ago at Broxhead Common in North Hampshire. Photo by John Manley.

I found this Buff-tip moth by the Book of Remembrance building at The Oaks Crematorium this morning. There was also a Pug species present, but I think it was just a Common Pug. Not many birds of note in windy and drizzly weather, though a Common Buzzard was seen struggling against the wind and a Little Egret was seen flying near our Leigh Park branch off Dunsbury Way. Thirty years ago, this would have been classed as an amazing sighting, but they are simply everywhere now.  

More immigrants moths pour in.

Monday 23rd May 2022.

My first Pepper Moth for many a year.

I was up again very early (4.50am!) to go and check on my moth box and my God, I did not want to get up at all! Aching from a load of gardening and getting it all straight was tough on this old body and as this morning wore on, I felt a tad ‘under the weather’, but I persevered and went to work anyway, only to be yawning nearly all day!

I rarely get a Delicate moth in the Spring time; much more of an  Autumn moth. 

A Pearly Underwing moth was also a nice surprise, proving there must of been a lot of immigrant moths around last night.

There was another superb collection of moths this morning, which included 5 new for the year, though one moth eluded me on its identity and so I put a photo on Hants Moths Facebook page and sure enough, the Author of the site quickly came back with a Pearly Underwing. There seems to be a large influx of immigrant moths coming into the UK with a lot of Striped Hawk-moths being reported. This morning, immigrant moths I had in and around my moth box included Silver Y, Delicate, Rusty-dot Pearl and of course, the Pearly Underwing. 

The very common Chrysoteuchia culmella micro moth.

The Pepper Moth was a nice surprise as I have not had one in my box for a few years and my first Chrysoteuchia culmella of the year will probably signal an avalanche of this very common Grass Veneer species. The following moths were present in and around my moth box: 

• 3 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 3 Vines Rustic
• 1 Pepper Moth (NFY)
• 5 Brimstone Moth
• 8 Lime-speck Pug
• 2 Ephestia woodiella
• 3 Tachystola acroxantha
• 1 Delicate (NFY)
• 1 Yellow-barred Brindle
• 1 Common Marbled Carpet
• 1 Bee Moth (NFY)
• 5 Willow Beauty
• 1 Chrysoteuchia culmella (NFY)
• 1 Eudonia angustea
• 1 Pearly Underwing (NFY)
• 1 Garden Carpet
• 1 Agonopterix arenella
• 1 Brown House Moth
• 1 Heart & Dart
• 1 Silver Y
• 1 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow
• 1 Garden Pebble
• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart
• 1 Angle Shades
• 1 Buff Ermine
• 1 Rusty-dot Pearl

Over at Portchester Crematorium today, I really struggled to find any moths around the Flower Bay and exit of the South Chapel. Singles of Garden Carpet, Eudonia angustea and Common Plume were all I could find. Even the birdlife was somewhat quiet with only a Green Woodpecker heard only in Kingston Cemetery that was of note.

Iberian Chiffchaff within Otterbourne Hill Wood.

Saturday 21st May 2022.

The Iberian Chiffchaff showing well singing high up in an Ash tree within Otterbourne Park Wood.

For well over a week now, a ‘putative’ Iberian Chiffchaff had been found within Otterbourne Park Wood and after days of discussion on the bird's biometrics and its song, the good news is it has now been confirmed as a true Iberian Chiffchaff. This would be a Hampshire ‘tick’ for both Andy and myself and so we took ourselves the 35 minute journey up there to view the bird on a pleasant sunny morning.

Heart & Dart moth. Another first for the year.

I checked Andy’s moth box, which was put on overnight and though the number of moths were small, the egg trays contained my first Heart & Dart moth of the year. Other moths present included 2 Common Pugs, 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart and 1 Brimstone Moth. The coffee was nice too which Andy had made while I laboured outside!

 

A Mistle Thrush seen while enjoying a coffee by the Otter Pub within the village.

 

Another photo of the showy Iberian Chiffchaff. I have only ever seen one of these species before and that was many years ago on the Isle of Portland. 

After getting the information to park near the Otter Pub within Otterbourne village, we made our way up Chapel Lane to enter the mostly deciduous Otterbourne Hill Wood. But where was the bird habiting within the woodland? Thankfully, with the power of Whatsapp rare birds group, a chap called John was already within the woodland and having seen the bird earlier in the day, he took us over to view the bird and within a few minutes, we were viewing our first Hampshire Iberian Chiffchaff. The bird has a very distinctive rattle call after the ‘Chiff-chaff’ bit and was easily noticeable, but to tell the difference between it and a Chiffchaff based on biometrics would have been impossible as the bird was quite up within an Ash tree. However, it did show relatively well as I managed to grab some half decent photos of it and a bit of video footage.

A well hungover Andy struggling to cope with the hills within the woodland.

Foxgloves were abundant within the woodland.

After ten minutes of so, we slowly made our way back up the hill, much to Andy’s suffering with his hangover (shame!) to exit the lovely wood behind us. We also saw a close Nuthatch within the woodland and several Long-tailed Tits, while Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff and a Bullfinch were all heard. Nearing the Otter Pub, we noticed that a Coffee Bar was by the car park and so Andy bought us breakfast as we enjoyed views of Swallow, Common Buzzard and a pair of Swifts overhead (the latter Andy missed and he still needs them for a ‘year-tick’ !). He had to be back by midday to pick his car up from the Garage and so we made our way back home with another species added to my year list, which currently stands at 186 species for the year so far.  Below, some video footage of the Iberian Chiffchaff singing.

Another 'lifer' moths added to my life list.

Friday 20th May 2022.

True Lovers Knot moth was a nice surprise and my second 'lifer' within a week!

Another very early start this morning (4.50am) to check the moth box I put on overnight resulted in a ‘lifer’! It wasn't till I was at the last egg tray when I turned it over and it revealed my first ever True Lovers Knot, which begs the question, how on earth did someone come up with this name for this moth? Truly baffling. I realised straight away I had something very interesting here and so very quickly got round to potting the moth so it would not fly off while photographing it. However, another very interesting Pug species eluded identification despite putting a photo of the moth on Hants Moths, only to be told that a better angle would be required to get a correct ID. The moth had promptly flown off before I could grab any more photos!

Willow Beauty.

Yellow-barred Brindle.

Right, a Buff-tip and to the left of it, a Bright-line Brown-eye.  

Pale Mottled Willow.

Never mind, I still got a ‘lifer’ and at least 10 more moths that were new for the year. The weather was very mild overnight and for a change, no thunderstorms or any rain either, which produced 40 moths of 21 species. The following moths were present in and around my moth box:

• 1 True Lovers Knot
• 5 Willow Beauty (NFY)
• 2 Yellow-barred Brindle (NFY)
• 5 Lime-Speck Pug
• 1 Buff Ermine (NFY)
• 1 Silver Y
• 3 Bright-Line Brown-eye
• 2 Garden Carpet
• 2 Common Marbled Carpet
• 1 Buff-tip (NFY)
• 1 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow (NFY)
• 1 Vines Rustic )NFY)
• 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character (NFY)
• 3 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 5 Tachystola acroxantha
• 1 Agonopterix arenella
• 1 Garden Pebble
• 1 Mompha subbistrigella (NFY)
• 1 Bryotropha affinis (NFY)
• 1 Ephestia woodiela (NFY)
• 
  

Vines Rustic.

Setaceous Hebrew Character.

Buff Ermine.

Most certainly, the most moths I have had this year to date and should it stay mild, I could possibly get some higher numbers. Of course, the Sparrows had a feast on some of my moths once I went back into the garden and I have been moaned at on Social Media by some morons  for not getting up early enough to check my moth box, hence getting up so early! That is why I am only ‘moth-ing’ just 3 days of the week. It's too knackering! I have put photos of the moths that were new for the year on today's entry.