SE Nature Notes w/e 3rd September
5 September 2011
Portsmouth & Portsdown
Seven yellowhammers were on the west end of Portsdown on 29th when there were 2 redstarts on Portchester Common.
The list of birds seen at Farlington Marshes through this week includes garganey, whinchat, lesser whitethroat, spotted flycatcher, wheatears, yellow wagtails, bearded tits, king fisher, peregrine, sparrowhawk, ruff, knot whimbrel, curlew and green sandpipers, spotted redshank, greenshank and little stint. A marsh harrier hunted over the reed beds on 30th and was still around on 2nd. A clouded yellow butterfly was on the reserve on 1st.
Willow warblers, lesser whitethroats, swallows, reed and sedge warblers, wheatear whinchat, grey wagtail and tree pipit were on Milton Common with gadwall, wigeon and shovelers on the ponds.
On 1st interesting flies seen on the western end of Portsdown included a probable brown heath robber fly and 20 green bottles. A clouded yellow butterfly was also present.
Havant hayling & Emsworth
Two ospreys, flocks of great crested grebes, black terns and little terns have been seen this week in Langstone Harbour.
At Northney observers have recorded wheatears, blackcaps, a turnstone, whimbrel, greenshank, knot, bar-tailed godwits, spotted flycatcher, willow warbler, redstart and yellow wagtails.
At the nearby oyster beds the birds this week included 2 little ringed plovers, Sandwich tern and a stock dove.
There were 17 yellow wagtails at Mill Rythe on 2nd. Other birds seen included a tree pipit and an osprey. Red admiral butterflies were noted flying west.
On 2nd a clouded yellow butterfly was seen at North Common Hayling Island.
An osprey rested on a post near Pilsey Sands (Thorney Island) at low tide on 3rd. A cattle egret was still on Thornham Marshes on the north of the island.
Hobbies were reported from Havant Thicket and Thornham Marshes this week.
Fareham and Gosport
A little owl called outside a Fareham house on 30th.
On 31st a sparrowhawk and a kingfisher were seen at Forton Lake Gosport. A flock of 26 wigeon was seen in Fareham Creek on 1st.
Waterlooville and South Downs
Among the butterflies on Old Winchester Hill on 30th were 12 silver-spotted skippers and 2 small coppers. On 1st green-veined whites, 6 brimstones, a small tortoiseshell and painted lady were added to the list.
A hummingbird hawk moth and an elephant hawkmoth caterpillar (right) were found on Old Winchester Hill on 3rd. On the same day a single silver-washed fritillary was still on the wing in Queen Elizabeth Country Park.
