Damn cats!

Wednesday 15th June 2022.

Goldfinches enjoying my sunflower hearts in my back garden this evening.

Another very warm day today with temperatures getting into the mid 70’s and with bright sunshine and just a hint of cloud, it was quite hot at times this afternoon. There was no checking of the moth box this morning as I am restricting it to three times a week, so I am not so knackered during the day! However, it will be on tonight. 

A Robber Fly with prey at Woolmer Pond. Photo by Andy Friend.

Today took me over the Chichester and Emsworth area where I was working most of the day and most of my sightings I noted were by Chichester Crematorium. The female Sparrowhawk was seen sitting on her nest at this location and nearby in the trees, a Blackcap was singing still. Behind the Crematorium, both Chiffchaff and Common Whitethroat were also heard singing. A flock of Long-tailed Tits were busy searching the canopy of the trees and I noticed a lot of small butterflies high up in the tops of the trees and looked good for a Hairstreak species, most likely being Purple Hairstreak, but without my binoculars, I could only guess, but they did look dark in the sunshine. 

A Dark-green Fritillary butterfly on Knapweed photographed at Charlton Down last Sunday by Andy Friend.

When walking back from work, I was walking along Jesse Road where I came across a Hummingbird Hawk-moth flitting around by a house. It was seen several times and could have even been two individuals as it or another one was seen flying at speed across Talbot Road! This mini heatwave we are getting this week could prove the catalyst in getting some more interesting immigrant moths this week. Fingers crossed. 

Another photo of the feeding Goldfinches in my garden.

The pair of Glossy Ibis are still present on Posbrook Floods today and look good for a long stay. Could they possibly breed in the future here? I do hope so. When I got home late this afternoon, I poured myself a cold drink and went to sit in the garden. As soon as I stepped into the garden, a bloody cat took one of the young Starlings and hurried off into the next door's garden to simply play with it. I quickly got my big Water Pistol gun fully armed with cold water (it is Isabelle’s, honestly!) and fired directly at the cat of which it quickly ran off. Several times the cat came back and several times it got a good bloody soaking! It soon got the message and ran off leaving behind a thoroughly stunned young Starling, but I am not sure if it survived or not. Domestic Cats kill millions of birds and animals each year in the UK and even Australia have now banned Cats from going outside. That would never happen here in this 'Nanny' state country. Maybe one day when the thick public might realise the disappearance of all our wildlife?

Second Hawk-moth of the day.

Tuesday 14th June  2022.

My first Elephant Hawk-moth of the year. 

Up again at 4.45am, I quickly got dressed, glugged down a cup of Orange juice and then made my way into the garden for another check of my moth box. It was a cool start to the morning and with not a cloud in the sky or a breath of wind, I started to check the outside of the box. I put the white sheet back up last night behind the box, hoping to attract more moths and when I did a quick check before retiring to bed last night, I had found my first Elephant Hawk-moth of the year to go along with the Hummingbird Hawk-moth I saw earlier that day!

Marbled Minor. 

Beautiful Plume. Though common, I have had just a few this month.  

Thankfully, it was still around this morning, clinging onto the bottom of the white sheet along with a few other moths including a Light Emerald, White Ermine and a Straw Dot among 35 moths of 19 species. The following moths were present this morning:

• 1 Elephant Hawk-moth
• 4 Willow Beauty
• 3 White Ermine
• 1 Straw Dot
• 3 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 2 Riband Wave
• 1 Marbled Minor
• 2 Heart & Dart
• 2 Lime-speck Pug
• 1 Buff Ermine  
• 1 Bee Moth
• 2 Vines Rustic
• 1 Light Emerald
• 3 Common Plume
• 2 Tachystola acroxantha
• 2 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 2 Celypha striana
• 1 Beautiful Plume
• 1 Chrysoteuchia culmella

I have a Buff-tailed Bumble bees nest at the back of my garden and I guess this and another one never made it home last night and spent the night in my moth box!

Some back garden birding.

Monday 13th June 2022.

House Sparrows and a pair of juvenile Starlings enjoying the dried mealworms in my garden.

This morning did not go according to plan as I awoke to a pounding headache and felt as rough as a Badgers Bum and this was about 4 am this morning! So, early this morning, I contacted my employer to say I wasn't coming into work today. Even a few hours later, I was really unsteady on my feet and my head was banging and so took it very easy this morning till I felt a bit normal again.

And again.

It was late in the afternoon that I took some photos of the Starlings and House Sparrows enjoying the mealworms I had just put out for them and it did not take long for the birds to find the bounty. Though the Starlings were juveniles and filling up their bellies, the House Sparrows looked to be adults as they gobbled up as many as their bills could carry and off, probably to feed their youngsters. I sat there enjoying a cup of coffee with my camera, taking some lovely photos of the birds in the late afternoon sunshine, proving you can stay at home to enjoy the birds as well as travelling a few miles to see them.

This Lesser Yellow Underwing was a complete surprise as I flushed it out of one of my pot plants while watering!

Other notable sightings in my garden this evening included good numbers of Marmalade Hoverflies enjoying the sun trap at the back of the garden while I was watering the garden. Buff-tailed Bumble bees were passing close to my head as they returned to their nest in the soil at the back of my garden. I regularly keep an eye on the insect life here and am always fascinated in checking out the variety of insects i get in my garden and now that my Buddleia is flowering and should attract more insects and butterflies. A real surprise this morning was my first Hummingbird Hawk-moth of the year; seen hovering about the top of the house before heading off north.

Good numbers of Marmalade Hoverfly were enjoying the last of the late afternoon sunshine at the back of my garden.

The weather is supposed to be getting hotter as the week goes on with a heat wave predicted, peaking around Friday with daytime temperatures reaching 85 degrees! Hopefully, this will bring in some large moth catches this week. My moth box is on tonight, so a very early start again tomorrow morning. 

Glossy Ibis and Turtle Dove seen this morning.

Sunday 12th June 2022.

Always distant, this pair of Glossy Ibis has been a nice attraction over the past week at this site.

A pair of Glossy Ibis have been a regular feature at Posbrook Floods of late and seeing I had the morning free, I then took an early morning drive down to the small car park near the Floods. I found out today that the far northern end of the Posbrook Floods is actually called the Bridge Street Floods and not the latter and so I shall not make the same mistake again for upsetting the local birders there!

The Glossy Ibis in both the bush and on the Floods.

The Glossy Ibis on Posbrook Floods taken earlier in the week. Film footage by James.

I arrived at the small car park around 7.45am and noticed that the area was surrounded by Himalayan Balsam, sporting their lovely pink flowers, however this plant is considered an absolute pest and can quickly spread anywhere. Nevertheless, it will support a wealth of insect life which is good for the local breeding birds including many of the local Common Whitethroats I saw this morning here. The vegetation here was rather overgrown and it I could see it was going to be a tad difficult to see any birds on the Bridge Street Flood, but I did manage to get a reasonable view to check out the area.

A Common Whitethroat singing close to where I stood at Bridge Street Floods. 

At first, there was no sign of the Ibis on the Floods, but I did count at least 4 Avocets and at least a dozen Black-tailed Godwit feeding within the shallow water. A lone Common Buzzard was perched in a small tree nearby and a male Reed Bunting that was perched up on a bush was singing merrily. Overhead, there were several House Martins swooping low over the ground along with good numbers of Swallows and further south, over the trees, I could see at least 20+ Swifts picking off flying insects. The vegetation in front of the pools held good numbers of Common Whitethroats busy searching for insects and near where I stood, a Cetti’s Warbler burst into its loud song and flew across the main footpath, landing behind me into cover.

Above, a Large Skipper butterfly on the nettles as I was walking back to the car. Below, a Comma butterfly also basking in the early morning sunshine.

I was about to give up searching for the Ibis and take a walk southbound down the footpath and then I saw a large lump in one of the bushes by the Floods. Checking it out through the scope, it was one of the Glossy Ibis and another bird suddenly appeared in the same bush. They flapped their wings for a while as if to get a steady balance within the bush and then one of them flew down to the Floods to begin preening. After a while, the bird flew up back into the bush with its partner and then settled down. I quickly put out a message on the ‘Lazees Whatsapp’ group to let them know about the birds and when I went to look at them again, they had disappeared. Never mind, my 191st species of the year was added. Happy days. 

The 'Batman' Hoverfly, Myathropa florea, also sun bathing along the footpath.

Always on the lookout for anything interesting, I made my way back to the car and noticed a couple of smart butterflies resting on the nettles in the early morning sunshine. These were a Comma and a Large Skipper, which showed very nicely and rounded off a nice hour or so of birding here. On getting back to the car, I was tempted to go for the Turtle Doves near the village of Chalton as a friend of mine gave me the ‘gen’ that he saw there last Sunday. So Chalton village it was. 

One of the three Turtle Doves seen this morning near Chalton village. Photo by Andy Friend. 

I parked up by the Red Lion pub and who should be there, a gathering of 'Lazee Birders' including Andy, Martin, John and Jim and his son. Martin kindly gave me a lift in his car as we made our way to the area where the Turtle Doves were last seen and sure enough, it did not take long to locate the birds by their ‘purring’! I will not be disclosing exactly where the birds were situated as they are now becoming such a rare species in the UK, probably due to the hunting of this species on the Continent (however, even France is now banning the hunting of this gorgeous bird), but we counted at least 3 ‘purring’ male birds in this particular area where we watched from. Hopefully, there were a few females in the area too, but to see three birds was exceptional. Apparently, one of the ‘Lazee’s’ was told last year by a local that the Doves have been seen here for the past 12 years and was a local secret!

These two photos were arguably the best photos I managed to take of the Turtle Doves, but the birds were always distant. 

This Swallow perched nicely overhead as we passed by. 

A beautiful view from where we stood.

We managed to get good views of the birds, but they did remain distant apart from when we got a few ‘fly-bys’. They were always present with one individual perched in a dead tree being the most easily seen bird. Other notable birds seen included at least a dozen or so Mediterranean Gulls flying north; good numbers of Swallows around the area, including a showy individual on overhead wire, plus the odd Linnet or two, a distant Red Kite and a group of 6 Mistle Thrushes in a nearby field. A truly beautiful location that could hold some other well kept secrets here too. Well, at least we now know a good spot to see our Turtle Doves next year, fingers crossed. Another bit of good news, is that our local Swifts have two youngsters in one of the nest boxes by my house. I am hoping that the other nest boxes get used as well.       

Above, Pyramidal Orchids could be found nearby and below, there were a few Common Spotted Orchids 'spikes' on show.

Family day out to Millets Farm Centre.

Saturday 11th June 2022.

One of the many Red Kites overhead at Millets Farm Centre.

A change from my usual birding jaunt on a Saturday morning as my family and myself, took a trip to Millets Farm Centre for both Becky and Isabelle to feed the Meerkats. This was my wife’s birthday present from last year and finally, we got to use the vouchers I bought her. Taking Isabelle’s parents along with us, we made the long journey up the A34 to Abingdon, in Oxfordshire, and to be honest, I was quite amazed on how large the complex here was. Not only did the guys get to feed the Meerkats (literally, out of the hand!), but there was a Falconry Display, a Farmshop (tad expensive!) and several craft and garden shops to explore. There was also a Carousel and a small Park for Isabelle to play on as well. All in all, a fabulous place and also it could have been dubbed ‘Red Kite city!’ 

Snowy Owl.

One of the Meerkats.

A juvenile Pied Wagtail.

This unusual looking Blackbird deserved a photo although it quickly disappeared when the Falconry display started! 

For my blog, I have to mention the Red Kites that soared low over the Complex and they performed superbly throughout the day along with several Common Buzzards and even a Kestrel that was hovering near the Falconry Display. A few House Martens were noted overhead, a species that seemed to be difficult to find this year and also a few Pied Wagtails mulling about by the animal enclosures. I did take a lot of photos during our 5 hour stay here and so I have put my favourites on my blog including the gorgeous male Red-footed Falcon and the female Goshawk, which Sinead took with her mobile phone.

Turkey Vulture.

Striated Caracara. This and the Turkey Vulture were part of the Falconry display along with this Gyr x Lanner Falcon (below).  

It wasn't all just birds they had here either for there was a large selection of tropical Spiders, Lizards and Snakes present too.

I have to say, we will most certainly take a trip back to here as Becky discovered that you could book to feed the Racoons! The weather was just perfect; sunny but not too hot with a nice breeze and though there were a lot of people around today, it was quite a spacious place, even inside the shops. There were a lot more Red Kites and Buzzards seen on the way back to Portsmouth too; easily double-figures of both species today. 

Another photo of one of the many Red Kites overhead.

The male Red-footed Falcon. There have been quite a few wild ones reported of late in Hampshire.

Female Goshawk. Photo by Sinead Townsend from her mobile phone.

Two micro moths new for the year.

Saturday 11 June2022.

My first Hawthorn Moth of the year.

I had a feeling it was going to be quiet regarding the moths this morning, for when I put my moth box light on last night, there was a clear sky overhead and a quick check on my Weather App revealed that it was going to be a clear and cool night. Nevertheless, I still did get a few moths and even two were new for the year. In total, 32 moths of 17 species were recorded and a much better total from the micro moths. 

Cypress Tip Moth. These are really tiny micro moths and if it wasn't for my reading glasses, I could of easily overlooked this moth. They are a regular micro moth to my box at this time of year.

The following moths were present this morning:

• 1 Yellow-barred Brindle
• 2 Common Pug
• 1 Lime-speck Pug
• 2 Willow Beauty
• 4 White Ermine
• 1 Heart & Dart
• 1 L-album Wainscot
• 1 Straw Dot
• 1 Hawthorn Moth (NFY)
• 1 Common Plume
• 1 Brown House Moth
• 4 Tachystola acroxantha
• 3 Apple Leaf Miner
• 1 Bryotropha affinis
• 2 Celypha striana
• 2 Mompha subbistrigella
• 4 Cypress Tip Moth (NFY)

Yesterday, again I was keeping an eye out for anything interesting of note and my day kicked off nicely at work with a fine Red Kite soaring low over the houses around the Paulsgrove area (Southampton Road to be precise), where this individual was seen flying first south and then return north towards Portsdown Hill. I was in stationary traffic at the time, but it was always nice to see this bird. Over at our Fareham Branch, around the back of the branch I found a Cinnabar Moth fluttering about low in the grass and quickly cupped it with my hands to show my work colleagues. Such stunning moths with their black and red colouring. I really didn't get the chance to check out the moths at Portchester Crematorium properly, though I did find a Willow Beauty on the wall at the back of the Crem. Apart from that, all was rather quiet today. 

Straw Dot moth. This was one of the first moths that arrived to my moth box last night and so quickly potted it for a decent photo of it the following day. 

In Hampshire yesterday, the two Glossy Ibis remained faithful to the Posbrook Floods and showed well right out in the open (tomorrow perhaps I might get to see these birds?). A possible Black Kite drifted over Fishlake Meadows and interesting but alarming news concerns the Wood Warblers in the New Forest. Only two pairs have been recorded so far this year, plus 8 singing males in territory. The theory is that they are moving further north and west away from the County. I think Andy and I were probably lucky to see our bird a few weeks ago at Bolderwood.

Late morning news: I rescued a Garden Pebble moth from the Bird bath this morning as I was watering the garden. I left it on a table in the sunshine to dry out and I think it made a full recovery.

A 'lifer' moth at Portchester Crematorium.

Thursday 9 June 2022.

Yesterday's exciting little moth was this Taleporia tubulosa at Portchester Crematorium.

A cool start to the morning (12 degrees) and with a clear blue sky overhead, I just knew the moth numbers in and around my moth box was going to be low. Indeed it was with just 25 moths of 20 species and nothing new for the year either to make getting up at 4.45am any easier!  A few Swifts were sailing overhead and a Blackbird belted over the garden heading south, but nothing more interesting than that while checking the moths. The following moths were recorded in and around my moth box this morning:

• 1 Yellow-barred Brindle
• 1 Lime-Speck Pug
• 1 Common Pug
• 2 Willow Beauty
• 4 White Ermine
• 1 Brimstone Moth
• 1 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Garden Carpet
• 1 L-album Wainscot
• 1 Heart & Dart
• 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 1 Common Marbled Carpet
• 1 Apple Leaf Miner
• 2 Mompha subbistrigella
• 1 Common Plume
• 1 Celypha striana
• 1 Brown House Moth
• 1 Tachystola acroxantha
• 1 Diamond-back Moth

Yesterday, back over at Portchester Crematorium, the following moths were found: singles of White Ermine, Eudonia angustea and two Garden Carpets (even here it has been very quiet of late) and I also found an interesting micro which I quickly potted. I then placed the photo on both the Hants Moths and UK Micro Moth Facebook pages and eventually, moth expert Ben Sale came to the conclusion it was in fact a Taleporia tubulosa, or to give it its vernacular name, Large Bright Birch and a member of the ‘Bagworm’ family of moths. I cannot recall ever seeing one of these before, so it might as well go down as a ‘lifer’.

Celypha striana. I am getting this species on a regular basis at present.

The Diamond-back Moth. This common immigrant moth was the only migrant moth in my box today. Some lucky guys into moth have been recording the rare Striped Hawk-moth to their respective moth traps, with two recorded yesterday that were not too far away from where I live.

Also yesterday, I noticed the female Sparrowhawk was defending her nest at Chichester Crematorium, with the bird chasing off a Carrion Crow which got too close to the nest site and what does not help is a pair of Magpies nesting nearby too! A few Kestrels and Common Buzzards were also seen along the A27, but not a great deal else of note, bar a Sandwich Tern flying over Hayling Island heading west towards Langstone Harbour as I drove past the Esso Garage. The Dippers are still showing well in Romsey on the River Test and a pair of Glossy Ibis are still showing well on the Posbrook Floods. Hopefully, I might catch up with this species soon?

Another 5 new moths for the year.

Tuesday 7th June 2022.

My first Bordered Straw moth of the year. This individual was about to fly off hence the blurred wings.

There was a light drizzle early this morning at 4.45am when I ventured out into the murky dawn, but I could see it was going to be a good morning for moths with quite a few already on top of the rain guard as I settled down with a hot cup of coffee, ready to see what ‘Mothy’ wonders I had this morning. There were at least 70 moths of 33 species present this morning with five moths that were new for the year including Bordered Straw, Lychnis, Treble Brown Spot, Silver-ground Carpet and the micro moth, Codling moth. Most unusual in the garden this morning was a Jay! The bird flew in and landed by my Buddliea tree and then slipped its way through the vegetation at the back of the garden then flew off north! I normally get a few around the Autumn time flying high over the house, but I think its the first time I have seen one actually in my garden. 

Another new moth for the year, a rather smart Treble Brown Spot.

The following moths were present: 

• 1 Bee Moth
• 7 Willow Beauty
• 2 Heart & Dart
• 2 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 12 Lime-speck Pug
• 3 Common Pug
• 2 Yellow-barred Brindle
• 1 Large Yellow Underwing
• 2 Light Emerald
• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart
• 3 Vines Rustic
• 1 Varied Coronet
• 1 Riband Wave
• 4 White Ermine
• 1 Small Square-spot
• 1 Bordered Straw (NFY)
• 1 Lychnis (NFY)
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow
• 1 Silver Y
• 5 Common Marbled Carpet
• 1 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Treble Brown Spot (NFY)
• 1 Silver-ground Carpet (NFY)
• 2 Common Plume
• 1 Tachystola acroxantha
• 2 Ephestia woodiella
• 1 Codling Moth (NFY)
• 1 Mompha subbistrigella
• 1 Chrysoteuchia culmella
• 1 Eudonia angustea
• 2 Eudonia lacustrata
• 1 Apple Leaf Miner
• 3 Bryotropha affinis

Lychnis.

Codling Moth.

At work today, I checked thoroughly the South exit at Portchester Crematorium and the neighbouring Flower Bays for moths, but all I could find were singles of Double-striped Pug, Small Dusty Wave, Willow Beauty, Garden Carpet and a Tachstola acroxantha. I could not find a single moth over The Oaks Crematorium but I did see a Nuthatch flying over as did a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a pair of Linnets at this location. Both Blackcap and Chiffchaff were still singing in the adjacent woods. 

This Silver-ground Carpet had me fooled at first. I thought it was going to be a rare migrant for I could not find it in my field guide, so putting it on the Hants Moths Facebook page, 'mothing' pal, Dave Levy suggested Silver-ground Carpet, though it was a rather worn individual. It was also agreed by the Author of Hants Moth Facebook too.  

Few moths around the Crematoriums today.

Monday 6th June 2022.

The micro moth, Chrystoteuchia culmella at Portchester Crematorium this morning.

What seems like a very long time, I put the moth box on tonight, knowing that there is very little rain due overnight and so, I am optimistic that I might pick up a few more new for the year. I was working over Portchester Crematorium this morning and a check of the South Chapel exit and neighbouring flower bays, produced very few moths, which was disappointing. 

I found the following moths, which, bar one, were all around the South Chapel exit: Small Dusty Wave, 2 Bee Moths and a Chrystoteuchia culmella (see photo) and even The Oaks Crematorium failed to bring in any moths at all. There was not a great deal bird wise either, with just a few Common Buzzards noted along the M275 perched on the lamp posts. Yesterday, I was over my Father’s house in Lovedean and from the comfort of his Conservatory, I spotted both Common Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk, the latter was carrying very large prey in its talons and seemed to struggle in carrying it.

Another photo of the Dipper with one of the juveniles in Romsey. Photo by Andy Tew.

I was watching Springwatch tonight and one topic of conversation taking place was the ringing of Warblers at Hauxley Nature Reserve where Megan was treated in holding a Reed Warbler. This reminded me of the conversation I had with one of Lazee Birders at the Dipper site on Saturday last where the conversation came from the Wood Warblers in the New Forest. This particular Wood Warbler was photographed and most notable was the FOUR rings it had on its legs - two on one leg and two on the other! This begs the question on why on Earth would one want to put so many rings on just one bird? Surely, though they weigh next to nothing, these birds still have to go about their daily lifestyle and weighted down with these rings surely does not help the bird in any way? Maybe I might get some answers if I put it on social media? 

The Wood Warbler in question! How many rings must a small passerine have on its legs?  Photo by Trevor Stimpson.

I got a text from birding pal, Geoff Farwell on Sunday to say that he had a pair of Turtle Doves near Charlton Down, an area I might go and check this weekend. At Langstone Mill Pond, the Heron flock there had 40 juvenile birds from 20 nests; 11 Cattle Egrets from 4 nests and 15 Grey Herons with 5 nests. Though impressive, it is apparently well down from this time last year. Yesterday, a Black Tern, Little Gull and a Yellow Wagtail were recorded at Black Point, Hayling Island!