Spoonbills over the Cemetery!

Wednesday 13th September 2023.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw a flock of four Spoonbills flying high over the Cemetery this morning. Thankfully, I had my camera to hand to record this moment. 

A lot cooler this morning (down to 16 degrees Centigrade) with a blanket of overnight cloud and a breezy north-easterly wind. My day kicked off with my first shift at Pembroke Road where I had sightings of a female Sparrowhawk soaring low over the rooftops and then heading off south-east. A small flock of three Meadow Pipits flew north, possibly from the Isle of Wight? But it's good to see a bit of visible migration even from my working area.

Two more photos of the Spoonbills this morning.

Once I got back home, after a quick coffee, I headed off back over Highland Road Cemetery to walk my dogs and see if there were any migrants within. A few Chiffchaffs were noted (possibly up to 5 birds) and at least three Swallows flew low over the trees, all heading west. But it was when I was making my way around the northern end of the Cemetery that I just happened to look at and was amazed at a flock of four Spoonbills flying over in a line and heading west! I quickly managed to grab a few record shots of the birds flying away from me and checking the viewfinder on my photos, I could then confirm they were most definitely Spoonbills, which constituted a superb ‘Patch tick’! I have only seen one Spoonbill this year and that was way back in January over Titchfield Haven. Just goes to prove that you should check the sky every now and then. Well pleased.

Above, this Chiffchaff was seen in the Conifer over on the south-west side of the Cemetery. Below, this particular Wood Pigeon was reluctant to take flight as me and the dogs walked just a few feet from where it sat over on the south-west corner.

Over in the south western area of the Cemetery, for a nice change, I followed the footpath around this particular area and was rewarded with a female Sparrowhawk flying into a small bush. Whether she caught anything, I don’t know, but I think she flew out the other side. Also from this side, a Greenfinch flew high over; a species that has been erratic in sightings of late, but good to see nonetheless. Even a lone Black-headed Gull made a change from all the Herring Gulls flying over or on the rooftops nearby.

I rarely walk around the south-east corner of the Cemetery, but you never know what could be hiding there and this morning, I had the pleasure of watching a female Sparrowhawk flying in and also a flock of Goldfinches.

I think the overcast conditions (which eventually gave way to some broken sunshine) put paid to seeing many insects on the wing and the only insect of note was a lone Large White Butterfly flying low over the Cemetery.

Chiffchaffs were abundant again in the Cemetery including this showy bird.

Birds seen or heard within the Cemetery this morning included the following:

• Spoonbill (3 adults + a juvenile) * Patch tick.
• Sparrowhawk (female)
• Chiffchaff
• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Blue Tit
• House Sparrow
• Robin
• Greenfinch
• Goldfinch
• Magpie
• Carrion Crow
• Swallow 

A couple of the local Carrion Crows here are sporting a lot of white feathers including this one on the left.

Wheatear found at the southern end of the Cemetery

Tuesday 12th September 2023.

Bloxworth Snout moth near the moth box.

I checked the weather last night and they said it wasn't going to rain in the morning. How wrong could they be!!!! I could hear the rain falling outside from the bedroom window before my 6am alarm went off, so when I got up, the first thing I did was put the rain guard on in case the rain got inside the box.

Above, my second Neat Mompha micro moth of the year and below, a Blair's Mocha.

Sadly, nothing new within the moth box but again, a nice haul of moths despite the wet weather, which soon disappeared as we neared 7am. A pristine Bloxworth Snout was present on the garden fence and 2 Old Lady moths were within the moth box. 2 Clancy’s Rustics and Blair's Mocha were arguably the pick of the bunch, but my second Neat Mompha (Mompha divisella) of the year (the first was in April) was the best of the micros. My first Light Emerald in my garden this year was also present among the 122 moths of 30 species today.

Left, a Box Tree Moth and right, my first Light Emerald moth for my moth box this year.

The moths present this morning included the following:

• 14 Willow Beauty
• 2 Silver Y
• 1 Double-striped Pug
• 4 Lesser Yellow Underwing
• 2 Vines Rustic
• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart
• 18 Pale Mottled Willow
• 1 Small Dusty Wave
• 2 Setaceous Hebrew Character
• 2 Old Lady
• 1 Bloxworth Snout
• 1 Garden Carpet
• 9 Square-spot Rustic
• 1 White-point
• 12 L-album Wainscot
• 13 Large Yellow Underwing
• 2 Clancy’s Rustic
• 1 Lime-speck Pug
• 1 Light Emerald
• 1 Blair’s Mocha
• 15 Box Tree Moth
• 1 Apple Leaf Miner
• 3 Rusty-dot Pearl
• 1 White-shouldered House Moth
• 3 Narrow-winged Grey
• 1 Gold Triangle
• 3 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 4 Ruddy Streak
• 1 Neat Mompha
• 1 Pellitory Cosmet

A distant Wheatear on a rooftop just south of the Cemetery this morning was a real surprise.

Overhead, Siskins flew high overhead and of course, no sighting of them for being too high up, but I did see the lone Meadow Pipit flying east high over the houses. Once I got back from my first shift in Pembroke Road this morning, I decided to take the dogs around Highland Road Cemetery again. I wasn't going to at first as I was going to take them around the block instead, but that rain this morning had me thinking and possibly it might have possibly dropped off a migrant or two. How right I was (makes a change!).

Bracket Fungus growing on the old bough of a fallen tree.

Truth of the matter is that it wasn't till I was processing the photos I took in the Cemy this morning that a small passerine perched on a rooftop to the south of the Cemy was in fact a Wheatear! I was more than surprised, for it was some distance away and I did not have binoculars at the time. I have had Wheatears in the Cemy before, but not for many years, so that was a nice bonus.

A Starling was in full song on the Chimney Pots at the southern end of the Cemy.

Other migrants present included a Willow Warbler (heard only) and a Meadow Pipit flying south, but apart from that, again, all the usual species present. It might seem a little tedious mentioning the same birds each time I go to the Cemetery, but in say 10 or 15 years time, a lot of these birds could have disappeared from the UK if the current trend of birds disappearing in the south carries on. Look at Tree Pipit, Yellow Wagtail and Willow Tit, which are near non-existent as breeding birds here in the south. Sad indeed.

A Red Admiral butterfly perched up on a house also at the southern end of the Cemy.

Very few insects on the wing this morning in the Cemy, with just a few Large White and Red Admiral butterflies seen this morning and one Vapourer Moth. On my afternoon shift at Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth; there were sightings of the Hummingbird Hawk Moth again enjoying nectaring on the blue flowering bush by the houses and overhead, a female Sparrowhawk soared low over the houses, with a squadron of Starlings keeping a close eye on the bird.

In the centre of this photo, I managed to get a photo of the Hummingbird Hawk-moth from my mobile camera.

This superb image of a Common Whitethroat was recently photographed by Pete Appleton.

A strange day!

Monday 11th September 2023.

One of several Willow Warblers in the Cemetery this morning.

Today most certainly had its ups and downs and although I never had my moth box on overnight, I saw some pretty good moths today while at work. I took my dogs over Highland Road Cemetery again this morning and it was virtually the same as yesterday regarding the sightings, but there was always something to look at as usual in one of my favourite sites. The weather was a bit cooler than yesterday as well, which was a bonus, with a nice breeze blowing across the Cemy too, so a better night's sleep tonight I hope.

Mike Wearing, who sadly passed away today.

Unfortunately, the day got off to a sad start when I found out by Mike Wall, on the Hants Moths Facebook page, that birding/ moth-er friend, Mike Wearing, had passed away overnight. I have known Mike since my teenage days when he worked at Queen Elizabeth Country Park and I will never forget when he let me feed a young Badger cub with milk. Mike was a very keen birder / twitcher and I always bumped into him now and then throughout the year and in his latter years, we shared sightings of our various moths including a superb, my one and only, Spurge Hawk-moth in his garden. Another great memory was trapping moths in both his Allotment and on Butser Hill; but sadly, Mike’s eyesight deteriorated badly and both the birds and then moths became impossible to see. He leaves behind his lovely wife, Coraline. Rest in peace my friend.

This Willow Warbler was searching for food in this Sycamore.

On my first shift this morning, a pair of Meadow Pipits were seen flying over and a Grey Wagtail also did the same, but I did not see the bird. During my time in Pembroke Road, a couple of small micro moths eluded me and flew off, but I was a bit more fortunate with a Lesser Yellow Underwing that showed well on top of a bush by the houses. Later in the afternoon, on my second shift, I could not help noticing a huge moth perched on the apex of the corner house. Easily judging by its size, I knew immediately it was going to be a Clifden Nonpareil (Blue Underwing) and fortunately, I had a pair of binoculars in the back of my car and sure enough, I confirmed my sighting. Just a shame it was roughly 30 feet up and near impossible to get a decent photo.

Above, good numbers of Small White butterflies were present this morning. Even where I was working this morning, there were at least three dancing about by the garden plants. Below, a Tapered Drone Fly on Smooth Sow-thistle.

Above, Garden Spiders and their webs were all over the place in the Cemy and below, my first Ivy Bee of the year with several seen on one particular Ivy bush.

A couple of Batman Hoverflies on the Ivy and below, a Hornet-mimic Hoverfly on the same bush.

Above, a Tapered Drone Fly and below, a record shot of the Grey Wagtail passing overhead.

A few Chiffchaffs were present also this morning.

When I got back from my first shift, I grabbed the dogs and took them over to Highland Road Cemetery. It was a bit more hazy with a nice breeze blowing through this morning and this morning's highlights involved one Grey Wagtail flying high overhead, heading east and a mixture of both Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers in various locations within this site. Again, all the usual birds were present and correct and regarding insects, it was the Ivy Plants that were sporting some unusual numbers of Hoverflies nectaring on them including a single Hornet-mimic Hoverfly, Drone Flies and Tapered Drone Flies. Even a few Ivy Bees were present this morning, which was my first of the year. Butterflies included both Large and Small White and just the one Red Admiral.

• Herring Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Blue Tit
  
• Great Tit
• Goldfinch
• Wren
• Robin
• House Sparrow
• Grey Wagtail
• Chiffchaff
• Willow Warbler
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Blackbird     

On our way out of the Cemetery, my dogs and I bumped into a lovely lady called Tracy, who also was interested in the nature of the Cemetery and told me that she lived nearby and also had a Slow Worm in her garden! It has been years since I have seen a Slow Worm and I most certainly didn't expect to see one in my garden. There have been a few interesting birds on the south coast including a superb showy Aquatic Warbler at Upper Beeding in West Sussex. Fellow ‘Lazee’ John Manley went to ‘twitch’ the bird and got some superb shots (see below).

Video footage of a flock of Starlings going into the roost at the Gosport Ferry Terminal last night. Film footage taken by Sinead Townsend.

The Aquatic Warbler at Upper Beeding today. John Manley took the trip to West Sussex to see this very elusive species and which was a 'lifer' for him. Photos by John Manley.

A moth 'lifer' & another trip around the Cemy.

Sunday 10th September 2023.

A dark spectacle moth was added this morning to my year list.

I normally don't put the moth trap on two nights running for fear of catching the same moths, but as we had a family BBQ yesterday afternoon that went on into the evening, it got dark and my wife suggested putting the moth box on to get more light! How could I refuse? Yet again, it was another very humid night and this morning, I wasn't surprised in getting over a 100+ species of moth, including a few more new for the year.

Above, my first ever Winter Groundling moth and below, a Common Birch-bell was my first of the year.

A total of 140+ moths of 47 species were recorded this morning including three more species that were new for the year: Dark Spectacle and the micro moths, Common Birch-bell (Epinotia immundana) and another ‘lifer’ for me, Winter Groundling (Scrobipalpa costella). The latter was relatively common last year, though I never had one in my moth box, so this individual makes up for that.

Above, up to three Snout moths were in my garden and below, a Common Wainscot was sat by the back door of the kitchen.

Again, some great moths recorded today including THREE Clancy’s Rustic (never had that many at once before), a very smart Blair’s Mocha and a late Marbled Green. 3 Snout moths were good also and probably yesterday’s Canary-shouldered and Dusky Thorn were again by the moth box. Again, a good showing of Willow Beauty moths with 28 present this morning and at least 11 Pale Mottled Willows.

Above, the tiny micro moth, Horse Chestnut Leafminer and below, a Blair's Mocha & Willow Beauty moths.

The weather is supposed to be on the change this morning and by 8am, the dark clouds had rolled in and rain was imminent. I therefore had to get the garden furniture all covered with the rain guard and put my moth pots away before the deluge.

The moths recorded this morning included the following:

• 28 Willow Beauty
• 2 Angle Shades
• 2 Small Dusty Wave
• 3 Double-striped Pug
• 3 Square-spot Rustic
• 2 Shuttle-shaped Dart
• 5 Marbled Beauty
• 4 Lesser Yellow Underwing
• 3 L-album Wainscot
• 4 Lime-speck Pug
• 11 Pale Mottled Willow
• 7 Large Yellow Underwing
• 1 Vines Rustic
• 3 Clancy’s Rustic
• 1 Blair’s Mocha
• 3 Brimstone Moth
• 1 Marbled Green
• 1 Common Wainscot
• 3 Snout
• 1 Dark Spectacle (NFY)
• 1 Canary-shouldered Thorn
• 1 Dusky Thorn
• 3 Garden Carpet 
• 8 Box Tree Moth
• 1 Olive-tree Pearl
• 1 White-shouldered House Moth
• 3 Narrow-winged Grey
• 1 Common Plume
• 1 Meal Moth
• 1 Marsh Dowd
• 8 Ruddy Streak
• 3 Gold Triangle
• 1 Brown House Moth
• 3 Beautiful Plume
• 4 Rusty-dot Pearl  
• 1 Elbow-striped Grass-veneer
• 1 London Dowd
• 1 Fern Smut
• 1 Winter Groundling (NFY)
• 1 Garden Rose Tortrix
• 1 Apple Leaf Miner
• 1 Sussex Dowd
• 1 Italian Tubic
• 3 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 1 Common Birch-bell (NFY)
• 1 Horse-chestnut Leafminer

Skies were darkening overhead as my dogs and I strolled slowly around the Cemy this morning. Then the rain eventually came.

The dogs had their morning walk this morning over Highland Road Cemetery and as the sky got darker, eventually the rain came. Thankfully, the deluge never came and though it was a steady rainfall, it was still very humid and no wind whatsoever. There was a small group of Willow Warblers within the Cemy, close to the path near the Holm Oaks and Buddleia, with at least 6+ birds present. The only other migrants seen were two Swallows flying fast and low eastbound over the Cemetery.

Above, several Magpie's were in the Cemy and below, this was the only Robin I actually saw today.

I didn't expect butterflies to be on the wing and I was right there, but there were a lot of Drone Flies and Common Wasps enjoying the Ivy plants. Garden Spiders were abundant throughout the Cemetery, with their webs stretching across the bushes and a few footpaths. I hardly noticed anything flying overhead bar a few flocks of Feral Pigeons and the odd Herring Gull; possibly due to the impending rain perhaps? Fellow ‘Lazee Birder’ Andy Friend had a Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillar in his garden this morning; something I have never ever seen yet. Maybe one day.

Above, this Garden Spider was one of many around the Cemy and below, this Buff-tailed Bumblebee enjoying nectaring on Ribwort Plantain plants.

Birds recorded in the Cemetery this morning included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Blackbird
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Goldfinch
• Blue Tit
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Starling
• Swallow (2)
• Chiffchaff (6+)
• Robin
• Wren

 Above, this Tapered Drone Fly enjoying the flowering Ivy Plants in the Cemetery and below, Andy Friend had a superb Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillar in his garden this morning.

The sun was setting on our second walk around the Cemetery, 15 minutes before the gates shut. The Willow Warblers were still present in the same area just before me and the dogs left.