SE Nature Notes for w/e July 17th
19 July 2010
Portsmouth & Portsdown
On Saturday 17th long horn moths of the species Adela rufimitrella were photographed on the nature trail behind Fort Widley.
A juvenile mandarin duck (left) was on the Milton Common ponds on Tuesday.
On Wednesday on the common soapwort (below right) was flowering well by the path along the shore. The nearby fig tree had lost most of its fruit in the strong winds at the end of the week.
Havant hayling & Emsworth
At least 44 little tern chicks have fledged from the RSPB Islands with a few more to come. A few common terns have fledged but this has not been a good summer on the islands for them. On the other hand Sandwich terns have had a record year on S. Binness Island with 112 fledged chicks. All of these seem to have survived the stormy conditions of the end of the week.
Black-headed gulls have also had a record year with over 5,000 chicks and the Mediterranean gull count is also likely to be over 150.
At least 5 oystercatcher chicks have fledged on the islands where there were none in 2008 0r 2009. Ringed plovers are difficult to monitor but they have bred successfully.
The RSPB warden has observed that "despite the recent storms 2010 remains the best year for gull and tern breeding on the islands for at least 10 years." and that "possibly the harbour will remain the key breeding site on the south coast for little terns."
On Saturday a common sandpiper was seen at Northney.
On the same day at Sandy Point 3 sand martins, a yellow-legged gull and 3 gannets were reported. Grayling and marbled white butterflies were seen on the beach and bushes.
At the oyster beds another common sandpiper and a whimbrel were present.
Fareham and Gosport
Titchfield Haven birds this week have included a barnacle goose, a hobby (14th), water rails, whimbrel, avocets (30 + 4 young), green sandpiper (3 days), bearded tits
Waterlooville and South Downs
A Waterlooville garden had several house sparrows, after a long gap, feeding on fat balls on Thursday and Friday.
Nightjars continue to be heard at west Walk and also in Havant Thicket.
