Vestal and a good selection of immigrant moths this morning.

Tuesday 10th October 2023.

My first Vestal of the year. I was hoping one would turn up this year as everyone else, it seems, was getting one in their moth box. What a cracking little moth.  

I have to be honest, all that visible migration yesterday really whetted my appetite and so I set my moth trap up again overnight in order to get up at first light. I was hoping for something unusual to fly over while checking the moths, but it wasn't to be. However, I had a good selection of moths with many immigrant moths present too, including a couple that were new for the year.

Above, my first Pearly Underwing of the year, another immigrant moth and below, a Blair's Mocha.

Again, I had to wait till well after 7am for it to be light enough to check the moth box and I was rather pleased with the contents. A Convolvulus Hawk-moth would have been nice, but a superb Vestal moth stole the show. This immigrant moth was perched on one of the egg trays along with also my first Pearly Underwing of the year. Other nice moths included a Delicate, 3 Black Rustics and a Blair’s Mocha. A good total (especially for this time of year) of 61 moths of 25 species was present this morning and kept me a little too busy!

A rather late Rosy Tabby was a surprise this morning.

The moths present this morning included the following:

• 1 Delicate
• 1 Vestal (NFY)
• 1 Pearly Underwing (NFY)
• 2 Angle Shades
• 1 Blair’s Mocha
• 7 Garden Carpet
• 3 Feathered Ranunculus
• 2 Lesser Yellow Underwing
• 4 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Willow Beauty
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow
• 2 Clancy’s Rustic
• 1 Lunar Underwing
• 1 L-album Wainscot
• 3 Black Rustic
• 2 White-shouldered House Moth
• 2 Ruddy Streak
• 13 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 3 Common Plume
• 1 Rusty-dot Pearl
• 2 Narrow-winged Grey
• 1 Rosy Tabby
• 1 London Dowd
• 1 Meal Moth
• 4 Box Tree Moth

This juvenile Sabine's Gull was found and photographed off Hill Head by Mark Francis.

There wasn't as much visible migration this morning, but there were a good number of Meadow Pipits flying over heading both south and west. There was just the one Redwing seen this morning and a flock of 10 Goldfinch also flew over along with a few ‘alba’ Wagtails. It was rather quiet on my first shift too at Pembroke Road, though a Grey Heron flew over heading west and a small flock of three Pied Wagtails were on the Bowling Green.

Above and below, this White-tailed Eagle also was seen over Hill Head. Photos by Mark Francis.

In Hampshire today, Hill Head birder (and a fellow ‘Lazee’) Mark Francis found a juvenile Sabine’s Gull flying past Hill Head and to add to that, one of the Isle of Wight White-tailed Eagles also flew over (see photos). Another Ring Ouzel was seen today on Portsdown Hill and also at Leaden Hall in the New Forest and also at Fishlake Meadows.   

Bearded Tits have been showing well in front of the Viewing Platform on Farlington Marshes, with up to 50 birds being present over the past few days. Photo by Pete Appleton.

My first Redwings of the season.

Monday 9th October 2023.

A selection of the moth seen this morning in and around my moth box.

Not only was the quality of the moths present this morning very good, but there was a lot of ‘Visible Migration’ overhead which included my first Redwings of the Autumn. It was slightly overcast this morning and fairly mild, but after hearing that a mass invasion of Redwing had hit the east coast yesterday and overnight, they finally arrived on the south coast. Throughout this morning, there were reports of Ring Ouzels among them too and a few Hampshire birds were noted, including one down the Canal Path, at Titchfield Haven.

A Bloxworth Snout moth seen last night by the moth box.

As mentioned, there was a nice variety of moths this morning and although there were none new for the year, it was good to see some nice species for my month total. A Bloxworth Snout was near the moth box last night, but no sign of it this morning. Migrant moths this morning included another Delicate, Silver Y, Turnip Moth and Angle Shades and a large proportion of my total this morning were made up of Light Brown Apple Moths again including one very odd looking one which looks like a Garden Rose Tortrix.

Above, a Meal Moth and below, one of three Angle Shades this morning.

The following moths were present this morning:

• 1 Bloxworth Snout
• 4 Garden Carpet
• 5 Lesser Yellow Underwing
• 3 Feathered Ranunculus
• 1 Black Rustic
• 2 L-album Wainscot
• 1 Delicate
• 3 Silver Y
• 1 Turnip Moth
• 3 Angle Shades
• 1 Meal Moth
• 26 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 4 Ruddy Streak
• 2 Common Plume
• 1 Brown House Moth
• 1 Box Tree Moth
• 1 White-shouldered House Moth
• 1 Garden Rose Tortrix

Visible migration overhead was most evident this morning as my first Redwings flew high overhead with their familiar diagnostic calls. The birds headed west and about ten minutes later, another Redwing was heard and then seen flying south. Meadow Pipits were flying over in numbers and a few ‘alba’ Wagtails also passed over. A Chiffchaff was heard calling in nearby gardens to round off an interesting morning in my garden.

Above, a probable Garden Rose Tortrix and below, a Turnip Moth.

On my first shift this morning, the ‘Vis Mig’ continued and between noisy cars going past in Pembroke Road, the following birds were seen and heard to fly over: a flock of 10 Redwing, Grey Wagtail, 2 Song Thrush, 4 Siskin, Linnet, Meadow Pipit and a Chaffinch flock. An odd ‘Blackbird’ like thrush flew high over and could quite possibly have been a Ring Ouzel, but I could not hear it call because of the noise of the passing traffic.  At least two Chiffchaffs were either heard or seen flitting about the trees opposite.

Above, the male Sparrowhawk flying over the Cemetery heading north. Below, just to emphasise the numbers of Red Admirals around, a lot of gravestones had these butterflies sunning themselves on them.

After my second shift, I took my dogs for a walk around Highland Road Cemetery, seeing the weather was positively balmy and there was always a chance that a Ring Ouzel could be hiding in there! Sadly, the nearest I got was a couple of Blackbirds, but I did see a nice variety of birds again. It was nice to bump into my old neighbour, Claire, who was walking her dog too and I even bumped into my current neighbours too who were walking their dog.

Above, no Ring Ouzels in the Cemy, but a couple of Blackbirds including this immature bird. Below, a Blue Tit showing well near the Mausoleum.

While chatting to them, I pointed out a male Sparrowhawk flying over the Cemetery and also a calling Jay; but it was the many Red Admiral butterflies that we had a long conversation about as simply loads of them were on the move; either flying over the Cemetery or on the flowering Ivy plants. I have been watching these butterflies all day fluttering past over Southsea and have been documented a lot via social media.

After hearing them earlier on my walk with the dogs, I found one of the Jays up in the trees by the Mausoleum.

Sadly, there was no more visible migration going on overhead throughout my hour there, but a few Chiffchaffs were noted and at least 16 species were recorded during my time there. Hampshire had a big movement of Redwing today, with some reports of four figure numbers recorded. After a couple of Ring Ouzels were found and photographed by Mark Francis this morning at the Canal Path by Titchfield Haven, another fellow ‘Lazee’, Ollie Crabbe, had a flyover Ring Ouzel on Portsdown Hill. We had our sightings last year at Butser Hill, so I was surprised that no-one tried there today.   

This male Ring Ouzel was seen and photographed by Mark Francis this morning on the Canal Path, Titchfield Haven.

Skylarks over the Cemetery.

Sunday 8th October 2023.

Painted Lady butterfly in the south east corner.

I was back over the Cemetery with my dogs again this morning, though I did leave it a bit late as we arrived around 11am. There were a lot of dog-walkers this morning, though all behaved well, with most having their dogs on their leashes during my stay here. A good variety of birds around this morning that included my first Skylarks of the Autumn flying high over the Cemetery. Two separate birds were heard, but they must have been very high as I failed to locate them. In fact, most of the passerines  flying over were very high today.

Above, Prickly Sow-thistle on one of the graves. Meadow Pipits constantly trickled over in small numbers. 

The Green Woodpecker made a welcome appearance, though the poor thing was being chased by a Magpie throughout the Cemetery. A single Swallow flew south, though it was quite high up that I assume it was one. What with these American Cliff Swallows seen in the UK, there was an outside chance it could of been one or just wishful thinking? How it fared is anyone's guess, but good to see anyway. Again, all the usual suspects present on this lovely sunny warm morning.

Above, this Chiffchaff was very vocal by the second Chapel in the northern half of the Cemy. Below, this was one of 6 Blue Tits foraging around this Chestnut tree for small insects.

As expected, the Red Admiral butterflies dominated the amount of butterflies present today, though there was a sprinkling of Small White’s, a couple of Speckled Woods and a single Painted Lady, which was on the bush in the south-east corner by the footpath. There was a report on Hants Birding that a male Redstart and a Firecrest were west of Fort Southwick, on Portsdown Hill,  this morning. Though we never saw any Ring Ouzels up on Portsdown Hill yesterday, there was a good number of them dotted around the east coast this morning and huge numbers of Redwing arrived this morning also in the north-east. Hopefully, I should be hearing this species when I walk the dogs in the evening next week.

Above, the Painted Lady butterfly was accompanied by several Red Admirals on the same bush. Below, a nice portrait of the Painted Lady.

The birds seen this morning included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Skylark (2)
• Meadow Pipit
• Pied Wagtail (3)
• Goldfinch
• Siskin
• House Sparrow
• Starling
• Robin
• Wren
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Goldcrest
• Chiffchaff
• Green Woodpecker
• Carrion Crow 
• Magpie 
• Blackbird
• Swallow

Two rare butterflies on year list.

Saturday 7th October 2023.

Turnstone flying over Chichester Harbour this morning.

This weekend was set to be a very warm one on the south coast, completely contrasting what was going on further north in the UK as they were experiencing very heavy rainfall, much lower temperatures and even snow in the Highlands! Yes, it was balmy weather here with bright sunshine and temperatures well into the 20’s. Any good for bringing in migrants perhaps? I wasn't really sure on where to go this morning and I left it to Andy to suggest and he went for Sandy Point and Northney on Hayling Island.

Above, Black Rustic moth and below, Dark Arches moth.

But first, the moths. I had my moth box on last night and this morning, there were a few interesting moths; notably a gorgeous Black Rustic and a very late Dark Arches moth among all the usual moths. It did not get light enough to check the moth box out till just after 7am and so I was in a bit of a rush in checking both the white sheet and surrounding area, then the moth box itself. The following moths were present this morning:

• 3 Lesser Yellow Underwing
• 7 Feathered Ranunculus
• 1 Lunar Underwing
• 1 Square-spot Rustic
• 1 Dark Arches
• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart
• 1 Black Rustic
• 1 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Box Tree Moth
• 1 Pale-backed Clothes Moth
• 6 Light Brown Apple Moth 

Andy’s moth box, at Cowplain Marsh, was near empty unfortunately, though it would have been a lot colder overnight there. As Andy made breakfast, I got about checking the moths present, but there were no ‘year-ticks’ among the few moths present which included the following:

• 2 L-album Wainscot
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow
• 1 Garden Carpet
• 1 Willow Beauty
• 1 Common Plume
• 1 Ruddy Streak 

Above, I rescued this Buff-tailed Bumblebee from drowning in a dogs water bowl by the RNLI Building. Below, some of the Yarrow plants at Sandy Point were of the purple variety.

After picking up Geoff, we made our way down to Sandy Point to kick off our day's birding. It was clear overhead with plenty of visible migration going on that included good numbers of Meadow Pipits, Siskins, ‘alba’ Wagtails and smaller numbers of Skylark; all virtually heading west. The track leading from Seafarers Walk to the beach produced very little at first, but when I realised I had left my mobile phone in the car, as I went back for it, I saw a Firecrest, a small gathering of Long-tailed Tits and on the driveway of the house by the entrance, I found a clump of Shaggy Inkcap toadstools growing out of the cracks of the driveway; my first of the year. Getting back with the guys, the bushes and trees nearby looked promising for a good Warbler or possibly a Wryneck, but the best we could come up with was a few Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest! Geoff pointed out the Yarrow plants growing nearby and several flower heads were coloured a light purple. Apparently, some plants do come out with this colour at this time of year.

Above, these Shaggy Inkcap toadstools were growing on someones driveway! Below, a Blue Tit along the bridlepath.

Making our way to the big (always) empty car park behind the RNLI Building, we picked up a few nice passerines for our day list that included at least four Lesser Redpolls. It was Andy who spotted one first, sitting in the hedgerow in front of us and when they started to call, we were in no doubt, but too quick for me to grab a photo. A female Blackcap, a few Chiffchaffs, a pair of Great Tits and a Greenfinch were also present in the same bush until all flew off. Overhead, more Meadow Pipits, Siskins and even a few Linnets passed overhead, but most were very high up.

Above, one of the Long-tailed Tits along the Bridlepath and below, a Sandwich Tern flying back into Chichester Harbour. 

Sitting on the benches by the RNLI Building, a flock of four Sandwich Terns flew out of the harbour entrance and a single bird flew back into Chichester Harbour. The tide was out and therefore the mudflats were exposed within the harbour and I could see a few waders in the distance through the scope. A Common Seal poked its head out of the sea briefly and Geoff picked up a flock of at least 130+ Brent Geese flying west deep within the harbour.

Above, this Little Egret landed on the shoreline on the way to Black Point and below, Andy found this Wheatear hopping about by the moored boats.

We made our way to Black Point, hoping to see some interesting waders in the harbour and along the way there, we enjoyed a Chiffchaff by the bushes adjacent to the road leading to the Hayling Sailing Club. As expected, it was busy here with Sailing enthusiasts and there were plenty of cars coming up and down the main road. But despite this, we found both a Lesser Marsh and Common Field Grasshopper in the grass by the road. Nature finds a way as they say. As we rounded the Sailing Club, something caught Andy’s eye and it was a Wheatear which thankfully perched on one of the moored boats by the Sailing Club.

Above, another photo of the Wheatear at Black Point. Below, a Common Field Grasshopper by the Sailing Club road.

We looked south and checked out the waders and both Geoff and Andy were quick enough to notice a small wader flying with a flock of Dunlin. It looked good for a Little Stint and when it landed, I confirmed it through the scope. On our side of the water, a lone Sanderling was roosting near a yellow buoy with a pair of Ringed Plover nearby. Small flocks of Grey Plover and Turnstone flew past and among the many Oystercatchers feeding over on the far side of the water, I found at least 6 Bar-tailed Godwits searching for food.

Above, the Great Spotted Woodpecker seen at Sandy Point and below, even Speckled Woods were showing well today.

On the way back, a male Sparrowhawk flew into a garden opposite the creek and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew up to a Conifer, calling in doing so. We rested for a while in the car park again behind the RNLI Building and from here, a small butterfly flew in. We first thought it might be a Comma, but as I got nearer to try and get a photo, it turned out to be a Wall Brown butterfly; my first in many a year. Annoyingly, it flew off before I was just about to take a photo and flew over the hedge behind us. Geoff went to look for it, found it and confirmed my ID on this rare Hampshrie butterfly. So I went to look for it myself and found it perched on a Cat’s Ear flower. Then a couple of dog walkers walked in front of me and flushed the butterfly and it wasn't relocated. I did ask them to stop before they flushed it, but it was too late as the dogs flushed it and though they apologised, the chance of photographing this rare butterfly was lost! Howl!!

Above, a couple of Meadow Pipits dropped in with a House Sparrow at the top of the Hayling Billy Trail. Below, this Great Crested Grebe was swimming close within Langstone Harbour.

Instead of going to Northney, I suggested trying Hayling Oysterbeds as there were plenty of fields and bushes along the Hayling Billy Trail to check out. So walking south from the car park, we had sightings of a Red Kite passing briefly overhead and a female Sparrowhawk that flew across the pathway and out into the harbour. The area was alive with butterflies and nearing the small pools at the end of the Billy Trail, my first Clouded Yellow butterfly of the year flew past, but Andy sadly missed it. Two butterfly ‘year-ticks’ today was completely unexpected. Red Admirals were simply everywhere and many were seen flying over Langstone Harbour and a big westerly / southerly movement of them was on. Other Butterflies seen included a Brimstone, two Common Blue’s and good numbers of both Large and Small White’s.

We found two male Common Blue butterflies on the Hayling Billy Trail this afternoon.

The bird life here was a little quiet to say the least though there was a sprinkle of Meadow Pipits by the pools and a Great Crested Grebe was seen swimming close in within Langstone Harbour. A Blackcap was heard but not seen and to be honest, all was very quiet here indeed. To round off our day, we took a drive to the car park by Fort Widley to check the bushes for a possible Ring Ouzel. It was the right time of year for one to be present and the amount of berries on the bushes should encourage many thrushes to land here.

Despite a good search, the best we could come up with were a few Chiffchaffs, a single Red Kite, up to four Common Buzzards and a distant Green Woodpecker that was in a field down below the Hill. We need a period of easterly or north-easterly winds to bring in the goodies. Maybe next week?

      

Wheatear by Eastney Outfall.

Friday 6th October 2023.

The juvenile Wheatear by Eastney Outfall this morning.

On my first shift today, all was fairly quiet, although a flock of 5 Siskin flew west and minutes later, a single bird also flew in the same direction. The Goldcrest was heard again in the trees on the opposite side of Pembroke Road, but little else to raise the pulse here this morning. The weather was looking good for today with plenty of sunshine and a bit of overhead cloud in a westerly wind.

This Little Egret flew over from Hayling Island and settled on the shoreline over on the Eastney side of the harbour entrance.

After my shift, I then took the dogs back over to Eastney Harbour entrance for a good walk and this time, the tide was well out. After carefully parking the car, a quick scan over the harbour entrance revealed a Little Egret making its way across the entrance over to my side and eventually, it plopped down on the shoreline. A second bird was seen a little further up the road, opposite the Hayling Ferry Terminal. I did scan the harbour for waders, but all I could find was a distant flock of Oystercatchers and a lone Curlew on the mudflat ajdacent to Milton Lakes to the north. A Redshank put in a brief appearance, but simply disappeared when I took my eyes of it briefly. 

Above, as expected, the large number of House Sparrows were still present near the Burger Van and below, the lone Little Egret opposite the Hayling Ferry Terminal.

Overhead, Meadow Pipits, Siskins (both very high up and invisible!) and a few ‘alba’ Wagtails flew over, while the usual large numbers of both Starling and House Sparrow were never too far away from the Burger Van! As I was walking back to the car, something in the water close in caught my eye and thinking it was going to be the Razorbill from earlier this week, it was in fact a juvenile Shag that was fishing close to the waters edge. However, the bird was very difficult to photograph and I gave up in the end for it only surfaced for a few seconds.

Above, a distant flock of Oystercatchers on the mudflats within Langstone Harbour. Below, a Small White butterfly nectaring on Buddleia.

Climbing back into the car, we made our way to the Ferry Road Car Park to explore the area thoroughly. As I got out of the car, I was confronted by another large number of House Sparrows ‘dusting’ on the ground and a few more in the neighbouring Brambles. A Robin was nearby, singing its heart out and a small flock of 3 Greenfinch flew off south. Apart from Wood Pigeons, there was nothing in the grassy compound of the Water Treatment Works and so I took a stroll with the dogs to the Outfall area.

Above, sadly, the litter louts and fly-tippers still use this lovely part of our coastline. It's a blight on the landscape, but it is so hard to police this particular area at anytime during the night or day. Below, an adult Cormorant making its way out of the harbour. A few minutes later, the immature Shag followed the bird out of the harbour.

Behind the fenced off area, on the broken concrete seawall, I found a juvenile Wheatear sat quietly. Not an easy task photographing the bird with fidgety dogs in hand, so after scolding them to keep still, I did eventually manage to grab a few photos of this delightful little bird before it disappeared from view in the hole it stood over. I then took the dogs for a walk on the sandy beach and into the rockpools, trying to get them used to seawater and I think they didnt mind a jot. Great stuff. The Wheatear was in exactly the same area where I saw my first of this species earlier this year. An adult Med Gull briefly flew by, but disappeared north with a few other Gulls. 

Above, another photo of the juvenile Wheatear and below, a Drone Fly was sunning itself nearby.

The walk back to the car was rather quiet with just a few Gulls making their way out of the Harbour entrance and some chap seen swimming in the water nearby. Mad! A few people over the years have misinterpreted the strength of the tide here and consequently drowned. So rather him than me! There were plenty of Small White and Red Admiral butterflies around the area and I did find a Drone Fly sunning itself on a leaf on the ground. A Common Field Grasshopper was seen & heard briefly, but disappeared when I went to photograph the insect. Cannot win them all. Geoff Farwell identified a purple flowering plant for me that was growing in clumps in the area - Lucerne (also known as Alfafa) alongside Oxford Ragwort, Smooth Sow-thistle and Mayweed.    

Above, when I took this photo of the Cormorant on the spit adjacent to the Outfall, I didn't realise that a Great Crested Grebe was also in the frame flying away! Below, this stunted form of Viper's Bugloss  was growing by the Water Treatment Works. Thanks to Geoff Farwell for the ID.