Whilst A & C were busy with a weekend of crafting, P and I decided we would take the opportunity to do some local birding - and for once in an exceptionally long time, I suggested a “filthy twitch”, for the Boat-tailed Grackle, a presumed ship-assisted vagrant, which had jumped ship when reaching Southampton Water. The bird had originally been observed at the start of November on Calshot Spit, then relocated after a small absence a short distance away in Holbury.
On arrival with the rain so heavy, we were not hopeful of a sighting, and I left the camera in the back of the car. When it did show I took some “record shots” with the phone camera, but these do no justice to its blue / purple / black iridescent sheen. I retrieved the camera from the car, but having not checked the settings I took two dismally blurred abominations – before the bird promptly disappeared behind the fence. We left shortly afterwards as we were quite wet through and were both more than happy with the close views that we had enjoyed.
Addendum
On the 21st December Keith Betton (HOS Chairman) announced on the Hampshire Birding Group (Facebook) that DNA analysis of "some poop from our American friend .." had confirmed that the bird is in fact a Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus). On seeing the news I messaged P: "Turns out we twitched the wrong bird!".
I first noted this fungi on woodchip in the "Phil Haskell Wildlife Garden" two autumns back. However, all that remained were dark empty fibrous cups, set like latticework against the random shapes of decaying wood pulp. There was not enough detail for confirmation to species, so I looked out for them again last year - and they failed to show.
This autumn there was a splendid array of fruiting bodies in all stages of ripening, and they were also to be found under the picnic benches in the car park.
Since my last garden wildlife update (see below July 21st) Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) has been present on several occasions. A single darter was present in the back garden on Aug 10th. On the 17th a pair were in tandem flight in the front garden, shortly afterwards an individual perched on the hardy fuchsia, provided plenty of opportunity for photography. Suggesting three may have been present?
Common Darter 10th August
Common Darter 17th August
On the 23rd of August, a Common Darter was in the back garden.
Common Darter 23rd August
Today, the sightings went to another level, initially a single male Common Darter was staking out New Pond, as the morning progressed a second male appeared and much territorial posturing followed, with neither male giving ground.
I was then completely thrilled when two other Common Darters appeared, one all but briefly, the second was a female and mating and egg-laying quickly took place with one of the attendant males. I managed to capture some terrible video footage of the pair in tandem (and the second male), which I am more than happy to share!
Other recent highlights include a Median Wasp (Dolichovespula media) photographed on the 10th of August and a Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) which was present on the 15th of August. Singles of Convolvulus Hawk-moth (Agrius convolvuli) and Portland Ribbon Wave (Idaea degeneraria) to 25W Blacklight on the night of 26th August. All four species being “new for garden” (NFG).
Median Wasp
Convolvulus Hawk-moth
Portland Ribbon Wave
Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillar
On the 12th of August, our neighbour knocked the door and presented us with an Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) caterpillar – the first time that we have ever seen the larval stage of this species.
Humming-bird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) has been present almost daily with a maximum count of three on the 31st of August – with both Red Valerian (Valeriana rubra) and our neighbour’s Buddleja davidii providing plenty of nectar to attract this species along with a host of bees and butterflies.
As a Christmas present to myself I purchased “The Classic Ten Clearwing Pheromone Lures” from Anglian Lepidopterist Supplies, along with their Emperor Moth (Saturnia pavonia) lure. Planning on using them at work mainly to add a twist to the biological recording over the summer. I was also keen to see if I could coax a few clearwing moths onto the garden list.
I have never seen Emperor Moth and I had high expectations of using the lure on Target Hill - even convincing some of the volunteers to extend their working day and join me for a lure session. This year it was not to be, and no Emperor moths were seen.
To date I have only been successful using the Yellow-legged Clearwing (Synanthedon vespiformis) (VES) with 3 (possibly four) individuals being recorded on Target Hill adjacent to Oak (Quercus) stumps; and today when a single Yellow-legged Clearwing was attracted to the lure – set up in the plantation (again in the vicinity of Oak stumps).
Yellow-legged Clearwing Buchan Country Park 27.7.2025
R & L kindly picked us up from Sidmouth Folk Festival to take us to Branscombe Beach to find Wood White and Purple Gromwell (Aegonychon purpureocaeruleum). We saw both, although the latter was not found in flower.
On a team-building day at Pagham Harbour, my colleague found this dead Short-snouted Seahorse on the shingle at Church Norton. Never seen this species in life, shame my first was deceased. However, still a great find!
Odonata sightings have continued throughout this last
period, with both Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum), and Blue-tailed
Damselfly (Ischnura elegans) making one day only appearances on the 18th
and 19th of July, respectively.
Common Darter
Blue-tailed Damselfly
Also, on the 18th Emperor Dragonfly (Anax
imperator) made it on to the garden list when I observed a single male flying
over the wildflower lawn. The visit was short-lived, and the dragonfly has not reappeared
again since then.
On the 21st of July when carefully cleaning green
algae from New Pond provided an opportunity to observe both damselfly nymphs
and a dragonfly nymph cast.
Damselfly nymph
Dragonfly nymph exuvia
Other recent and interesting additions to the garden list have included two stonking flies. The Banded General (Stratiomys potamida) on the 26th of June, and Dark Giant Horsefly (Tabanus sudeticus)
on the 13th of July.
Banded General
Dark Giant Horsefly
Addendum
In December 2025 the iRecord submission for Dark Giant Horsefly (Tabanus sudeticus) was verified by Martin Harvey and the record was aggregated.
Martin's comment as follows: "Redetermined from species Tabanus sudeticus (Dark Giant Horsefly) to species aggregate Tabanus bovinus/sudeticus agg. This is probably sudeticus, but it does seem rather pale and at this location I don't think we can completely rule out bovinus."
