Petersfield and QECP

Shopping, a brief visit to Physic Garden and coffee in the bookshop - nice staff and environment and sensible prices: will visit again.
At QECP Red Admirals and this fungus as yet unidentified plus a hunting Kestrel on the field adjacent to the sheep grazing patch and a flyover Grey Wagtail. Still lots of interaction between Southern Hawkers on the pond in the sunshine and dozens of Common Darters.
An overflying bird (no bins or camera) looked most like a Goshawk

Inkcaps, Coprinus spp

Broadmarsh/Southmoors

Two Ospreys perched up and then fishing with one coming in close heading east.
One Wheatear below, a couple each of Stonechat and Whitethroat, Kingfisher and Yellow Wagtail heard, about 40 Meadow Pipits, two Kestrels and a handful of Sandwich Terns.

Nice out of the wind.

PB Duty

A very quiet day, literally, with hardly any bird sounds other than Chiffchaffs, one at least of which was singing. With October just days away Westmead pool is still bone dry and birdless. A Sparrowhawk coursing low over the grass popped up on a fence post and 10+ Buzzards were airborne with probably another 5 elsewhere during the day.

From the hanger five Whinchat and four Stonechat, Ruff, Snipe, Peregrine and an incredibly brief view of a Merlin, presumably the same one as seen by Jon Winder three days previously. Wigeon (35 ish) were grazing amongst a gazillion geese.

Treecreepers were calling strongly as usual and a few Jays were shifting acorns.
Finally, a high and distant falcon turned into a Hobby when it started to chase insects.

On the insect front a guesstimate of 50+ Hornets and a single Clouded Yellow.

At home I ran the trap light on a sheet for three hours from dusk up until a fine drizzle started but caught little and nothing new.

Common Marbled Carpet

Just like Scilly!

Today is one of those wet, breezy humid sort of autumn days that reminded me of a day on Scilly back in 1981 when I stayed in pretty much all day reading - it wasn't worth venturing out from the flat I'd rented. Checking, it seems to have been 17th October with just Wheatear recorded, I'm guessing that this was my most birdless day on the islands in about 34 autumn days on the islands over three visits.

A Grey Wagtail feeding under the picnic tables at QECP was the only wildlife today although I'm hoping for an overnight moth trap. Still possibility of a few new autumn species. Sadly, Sunday night's session at Sustainabilty was shelved with overnight rain forecast (and due arrival!) and next weekend's session scuppered by car being in for body work.

Quick outing

After a very thin moth trap (this very small Willow Beauty being the best), a couple of Grey Wagtails flew over the house.

At QECP warm and sunny but with a strong breeze which made photographing insects a challenge. Patches of flowering Ivy were loaded with insects, at least 20 Red Admirals and a few Commas, lots of Eristalis hoverflies plus a few Meliscaeva auricollis, Syrphus spp and the odd Marmalade Fly.

Single Buzzard and a  few Chiffies were the only birds.

This calliphorid fly Stomorhina lunata was the best of the insects.

Titchfield again

Finally, the Red-throated Diver showed but very distantly; later, over afternoon tea, it was quite a bit closer. On the east side two juvenile Marsh Harriers put on a nice display as did two 'spatting' Kingfishers. To the north of Knightsbank six or more Stonechats, a Whinchat and a Whitethroat. Three groups of Brent Geeses totalling 15 arrived from the east.

From the west side hides three Curlew Sandpipers and a juvenile Ruff performed well along with the usual suspects. When the day warmed up the harriers were thermalling up along with two Sparrowhawks and probably a dozen or so Buzzards. Single Bearded Tit and a distantly visible Water Rail were the only other noteworthy species.

A Common Lizard on the log pile was nicely photogenic - if I'd brought the zoom lens! Only Common Darter and this hoverfly, Eupeodes luniger were happy to pose - none of the Migrant Hawkers sat up close. Another Clouded Yellow zipped through.

The weather was superb with only the very lightest of breeze, good visibility and a nice temperature -  I'm guessing there won't be many days this good in the remainder of 2016.

Home and History of PB

Much more sensible trap opening times now the days are getting shorter and the number of wasps has now dropped dramatically. No insects other than a couple of caddisflies. Nothing special amongst the moths, a slightly worn Angle Shades being the best; two micros in the fridge cooling down. Birdwise, Great Spot and Nuthatch calling, one or two very strident Goldcrests in next door's garden and a group of five Meadow Pipits flying over.

Edit: wasn't sure about this carpet spp so posted to FB and got a reply of Grey Pine Carpet, NfG 158. I don't think I would have got to that conclusion using books although a subsequent trawl of the net shows a couple of specimens looking like this.

Edit 2: rechecked and this carpet was actually 157, however three specimens of Eudonia angustea (two from fridge and another on a fence panel) were new and hence 158.

Edit 3 : further input suggests this is probably Spruce Carpet and checking photos of this species from the  summer would possibly confirm this, so back to 157.

Titchfield H

Despite looking I seem to be incapable of finding the summer plumage Red-throated Diver that's been knocking around for a while despite very flat conditions today, however a light phase adult Arctic Skua was some compensation. Walking from the car a flurry of twittering Swallows alerted to  Sparrowhawk; a couple more sightings during the day.

I foolishishly thought this might be the best view of a raptor today!!

This hoverfly, Eriozona syrphoides, was a surprise on plants just outside the cafe, a local and nationally scarce species with a typically north-westerly distribution in the UK.

From Suffern Hide a Kingfisher took a couple of very tiny eels (I guess) and at least one dragonfly. Later on south scrape this was one of the two Curlew Sandpipers badly digisoped  and one of the 35+ Snipe.

And this Heron provided a bigger, more static subject.

From Meadow Hide the proximity of cattle pulled in 35 (ish) Yellow Wagtails and scanning further away produced two Stonechats, one Whinchat and a Whitethroat. Later, near Meon Shore,  a Redstart flipped across the path.

Whilst chatting to a couple from Somerset and admiring the Golden Plover, some disturbance caused us to look up to be faced with a point blank juvenile Osprey which gave stunning overhead views before slipping away to the south west; best Osprey views since the long-staying Adur bird a few years back.

A Roe Deer and a Clouded Yellow rounded out today's wildlife.

Ten minutes at Broadmarsh

Flat and grey and much the same as yesterday, with the Osprey perched up in the same dead tree - handheld 'digibinned'.

Another tip run followed by a stroll along Southmoor. Single Wheatear and two Stonechats, a few Chiffchaffs and 40 or so Meadow Pipits. No obvious Ospreys.

At Blashford little other than 175 Cormorants, a single Common Sandpiper and a couple of Kingfishers; probably 300+ mixed hirundines.

Tern Hide view on a grey birdless day

Back at Broadmarsh on a very calm high tide, an Osprey on North Binness, 80+ Turnstones, 70+ Brent, three Sandwich Terns and 500+ Curlews.

Arco Dee Loading/Unloading

Official start of Autumn

A prompt, executive Bird is the Jay,
Bold as a Bailiff's hymn,
Brittle and brief in quality–
Warrant in every line;
Sitting a bough like a Brigadier,
Confident and straight,
Much is the mien
Of him in March
As a Magistrate.

by Emily Dickinson


Autumn starts on either the first of September or the autumn equinox, depending on your thinking. For me it always seems to be the day when suddenly there are noticeably more Jays, typically buzzing around with beak and crops full of acorns.
Today was that day!

The Big One for 157

Cold, clear moonlit night didn't bode well for trapping. On the bright side wasps down from 50+ to just two. But moths down to 8 individuals of 6 species.
However moth 8 was a very surprising NfG 157, a bloody great Convolvulous Hawkmoth, not something I ever imagined catching in this tiny concrete garden despite many other coastal trappers reporting them.
Potted up for some photos later when it brightens up a bit; had to go in a jam jar as I don't have any pots large enough!!

A short stop at Broadmarsh at half past seven-ish produced an unsurprising Osprey perched up on North Binness having breakfast with an attendant crow waiting for scraps.

Later, at Titchfield a small passage of hirundines and Meadow Pipits, a single Brent Goose and a Wigeon just outside the harbour in company of two Gadwall and two Mallard.

More Mipits arrived during the day and lots of House Martins apperared after lunch. Wader wise just Ruff, Curlew Sandpiper and five Snipe of interest.
Wheatears were on the beach with three or more settling down on scrape islands.

More photos of the Convolvulous HM after getting back.

Signboards good for directing people to birds, here Snipe to the left and Wheatear to the right.

One of twenty or so Sand Martins, just too much of a challenge for me and my camera/lens.

And one of several hundred House Martins

Minimal wildlife today!

A night of banging his/her head against the actinic had calmed this bad boy /girl down! Probably 30  - 40 wasps, a bloody great spider and few moths other than LYUs, Lunar Underwing being the best.
Lots of gulls streaming inland over the garden silently, Coal Tit and Goldcrest calling, a Chiffchaff trying to sing, a briefly heard Great Spot and a typically early Buzzard escorted away by a crow.

Harrier

Good to see Roy and Gareth finding a Pallid at Burpham yesterday, relocated today near Chantry, perhaps unsurprisingly by Bernie! Interested to see whether it gets easy to pin down  - thats a lot of land to wander over!! Better still, relocate to Hampshire!!

No Pulborough today thankfully with such hot weather.

Good meeting prior to starting some hopefully regular moth trapping away from home with just a single flyover Grey Wagtail.

 A Firecrest calling distantly was the only other birdlife today.

WWT

Another trap full of wasps today, probably more than fifty and out numbering moths, a nuisance but they don't seem to be inflicting any casualties. A couple of Common Marbled Carpets were the first for many weeks and two Light Emeralds (one fresh, one much less so) were NfG 155 and  a Rush Veneer.

Later, at Arundel after catching up with a few people, the Osprey arrived and showed well although, sadly, the scrapes were being worked on which probably deterred it from fishing on site. Two Kingfishers at least and probably 250+ hirundines some in Arundel but most scattered to the north and west and very high.

Titchfield Haven

Some sights and sounds of a smal M'ipit passage over Pompey while putting the washing out!

Later at Titchfield the dipping continues with the Semi -P having departed and liitle else of interest. Nice to catch up with George and Roger, not having crossed paths this year, and to bump into an off-duty Carey away from Pulborough.

Perhaps, typically, the highlight of the day was lunch.

Also interesting how the previous post's digiscoped godwit is still so much better than recent efforts despite a supposedly much better camera, todays on a Nikon V1 and Swarovski, the previous post' being the old Leica APO Televid and Coolpix 990 about 8-10 years ago!!

A blast from the digiscoping past!!

A fair amount of rain fell sometime after 02:30, something I didn't see on the forecast, so a few egg boxes were saturated and probably need replacing. Similar numbers of LYU to yesterday with one Lesser and no other species at all!! Luckily only half a dozen wasps this time. Time for a few night's off.

A couple of hours at Titchfield produced nice scope views of three Whinchats plus single Wheatear and Redstart. The cattle had an attendant flock of about thirty Yellow Wagtails which occasionally showed well.

This week's west side works meant that south scrape was virtually devoid of birds; don't recall ever seeing it so empty. Marsh Harrier, briefly plus the usual Buzzards and Kestrels. A single Green Sandpiper perched up on fencing and two eastbound Bar-tailed Godwits were the best of the waders.

Unsurprisingly, tomorrow's ringing session was cancelled (for the second time); ironic considering just how many decent days there have been this year.

A couple of latterly-identified micros took total to 154.

Vulgar vespids

Another load of dopey wasps and Large Yellow Underwings, a few Hawthorn shieldbugs and caddisflies. An Old Lady was nice as yesterday's was a corpse on the garage floor - talking moths here!! And today's saving grace was Nfg 152, Lunar Underwing (below).

Later, at QECP a single Dasysyrphus tricinctus, the first I've seen this year, a couple of Southern Hawkers on the pond and a desperately tatty Silver-washed Fritillary nectaring along the access road. Some nearby flowering Ivy was stuffed with insects, but nothing stood out.

At Butser just 100+ House Martins, a few Phylloscs, two Kestrels and three Buzzards with two more distantly well to the south. A couple of Tree Pipits flew over and, for a change, were visible.

Ton and a half

Notable feature of the day was a trap full of wasps and just a single Hornet.
Fifteen Large Yellow Underwing was by far the most I've ever had. Not much variety but a very fresh Common Wainscot was NfG 150 and only my second Small Dusty Wave was flattened against the conservatory. With the aid of Hantsmoths FB a faded specimen was identified as Green Carpet despite having not a single green scale anywhere!! So now 151 species in week 13.
Pretty much no bird sound in the early light although one or two House Martins were invisible high overhead.

Hoping that Pulborough may produce something.

The day developed into a scorcher; some injudicious parking meant that at leaving time the car's thermometer showed 93F! Thankfully, a few miles with all windows down got it to a bearable 77F.

On site too hot for anything other than heat haze. Just three well camouflaged Wheatears on the South Brooks a couple of Kestrels and the odd Yellow Wagtail call. On the North Brooks two grey, hazy distant waders found by Carey eventually morphed into Knot, an unusual record here, only the 11th in the last decade and my first since a single bird in 2011.

Similar numbers of Teal and Shoveler to last week but now joined by the first handful of eclipse plumage Wigeon. My only additional raptors were ten or more Buzzard and a single ragged and bleached Red Kite although one of the Peregrines with a Teal kill was seen by others.

Only butterflies of note for me were two Small Coppers which seem very scarce this year.

A Tale of Two Phalaropes

Its been a long time since I had a two Phalarope day so I decided on a drive to Blashford where the previous afternoon's Grey was still present on Ibsley Water but very distant, even more so than the two at Pulborough in autumn 2014. Not much supporting cast bar Kingfisher and a couple of Yellow Wagtails. Very pleasant chat in Ivy South with a couple originally from South Africa whilst watching two Grass Snakes, one above,  a few Kingfisher flypasts and a Brown Hawker.

Off to Thorney where the Red-necked Phalarope was hiding, but soon came out on the Little Deep and gave good scope views, distant but nothing like as bad as the Grey. The high tide egret roost at Langstone Mill, viewed distantly, held in excess of fifty birds. A bit of banter with a few birders whilst watching the phalarope including Alan and Miou and three guys who have Tices' Meadow as a local site. A lone Buzzard, perched on a telegraph wire, was hassled by a very noisy Kestrel and a single Cetti's Warbler was close and vocal.

From the gate opposite the riding stables two Ospreys, one with a fish on a post and a  second which went hunting, immediately flushing a fair few Redshanks and Greenshanks from the deeps and catching a fish at its third attempt, returning to eat it on a post near the first bird. Finally, plenty of Migrant Hawkers on the wing.

Normal plumage will be resumed shortly..

And a poor, distance-limited Migrant Hawker.

Thorney and Farlington

Two Ospreys perched up on the usual fence posts from the east side, an adult and a juvenile, neither ringed. A third bird, another unringed juvenile, appeared and tried its luck at fishing in the fresh water channels unsuccessfully before moving out into the harbour channel to the east, when after a couple of trial attempts, it got lucky, caught a fish and came back in to sit on the same line of posts and enoy the fruits of its labours. Really nice to enjoy prolonged (and active) views. A Peregrine was on the ground behind the Ospreys before departing westwards. Also Yellow Wagtails (40+, probably more), Wheatear(4), Whinchat (1), Redstart (1), Common Whitethroat (several), Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, SpottedRedshank, Whimbrel and Kingfisher. Thirty Wigeon were the largest flock of the autumn so far for me. A nice productive hour.

No sign of the Wryneck at Farlington but a nice 'flicky-tailed' Redstart (young male). From the viewpoint, Curlew Sandpiper (2), Ruff (2), Greenshank (1), Grey Plover (200+), Ringed Plover (10), Knot (25), Avocet(2) and numerous Redshank, Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwits. Only raptors were two Kestrels although apparently a Peregrine had been through earlier. A Kingfisher was by the sluice and one or two Sandwich Terns were feeding in the harbour.

Waspless

For the first time for some weeks not a single wasp, nor indeed any other non-moths except for a single Lucillia in the trap.

This Orange Swift below was NfG(147); and the front end of a Dusky Thorn.

A worthwhile posting to Facebook thir morning of a worn moth I was struggling to ID, produced another NfG (148)  in the form of a Tawny Barred Angle.

Pulborough

An unpromising moth trap started the day with little of any interest followed by a slower than usual drive to Pulborough.

First visit to Hails viewpoint produced single Green Sandpiper, three Wheatear on the dried out pool and three Buzzards. A single Spotted Flycatcher in Black Wood. Later, at Westmead, the small amount of remaining water played host to a Green Sandpiper and  Greenshank. A smart adult male Marsh Harrier was a nice bonus whereas the Redstart perched up at Redstart Corner was less of a surprise. A number of very distant passerines on the South Brooks were obviously chats but only singles of  Stonechat and Whinchat could be ID'd; others earlier had four Whinchat from Hails.

On the North Brooks  the Wood Sandpiper was picked up quite quickly  but, as usual, was hugely distant. Two Dunlin, single Snipe and reasonable numbers of Teal and Shoveler were present.

A skywatch over lunch produced four Raven and a Sparrowhawk.

Returning to Hails after lunch didn't produce anything new but the Spotted Flycatchers had increased to four with two adults feeding two (at least) very spotty and short-tailed youngsters presumably only a few days after fledging and definitely the highlight of the day.

A final look from Westmead produced a second Marsh Harrier, this time a cream-crown, a good flock of a hundred or more Goldfinches and fifteen Yellow Wagtails for once happy to leave the company of distant cows and put on a bit of a show.

Finally, after few butterflies (Red Admirals and a Comma being the best), the walk back up the zigzag produced a single Clouded Yellow.

(Reports from others included the four Whinchat alluded to above, two Hobbies and a second Redstart).