WEEKLY SUMMARY

(Link to previous week’s summary)

After the revelation that the Hawk Conservancy had removed the leg ring showing one of their Black Kites to be a captive bird before letting it escape into the wild last April (it's thought to be still flying around Hampshire) birders are asking their priests to absolve them of the crime of adding a non-wild bird to their year lists and the conservation storm troopers which shot a Peregrine in Sussex earlier this year because it was wearing the 'wrong trousers' (not made of pure Scottish Peregrine Plaid) are possibly loading their guns to get the 'illegal Kite'. Next on the list may be a female Red-footed Falcon seen several times recently in the Itchen valley - where did that come from and is it licensed to be listed?

Getting back to proper birding news Avocets, Lapwing, Ruff, Green, Wood and Common Sandpipers are now appearing in large numbers in southern England. Rarities reported this week are Gull-billed Tern, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, White-crowned Wheatear, Golden Oriole, Red-backed Shrike and Rose-coloured Starling. Less uncommon, but an iconic sign of autumn, was the first Willow Warbler song since spring.

Less controversy about the sport of Purple Emperor watching (no questions asked as to where you get your supply of rotten shrimp paste) and you don't even have to belong to an authorised clique to enjoy the current magnificent show of Silver Washed Fritillaries in the woods and Marbled Whites in grassland. This week has increased the scope for butterfly watching with the emergence of the first Chalkhill Blue (free to view) and Grayling (can you watch that with a free conscience without first undergoing the Sussex Grayling Society initiation rituals? I think they are available for free in Hampshire.) The week also brought out the summer broods of Peacock and Holly Blue. At least one Hummingbird Hawkmoth visited Langstone but the first Convolvulus Hawk chose to show itself in Dorset and a Spurge Hawk in Kent. Older naturalists such as myself will miss out on one of this week's special offers - the start of the Bush Cricket song season. Among other insects the discovery of a new site for Glow-worms (in central Emsworth) is notable.

Wild Orchids may have their secret societies of worshippers but thankfully the great majority of wild flowers are open to the enjoyment of all and this week I had great enjoyment from the first sight of Marsh Woundwort and Betony and even from the subdued presence of the first Upright Hedge Parsley in shaded woodland. Commoner species making their first flowering appearances this week were Common Fleabane, Dwarf Thistle and Mugwort plus Golden Samphire (common enough round the Solent harbours but nationally rare). Also new on the scene were Hemp Agrimony, Lesser Burdock and Wood Sage.

The severe drought which brought death to one Mole seen by me did not prevent the growth of a clump of apparently thriving Weeping Widow toadstools. The sight of a Hedgehog crossing an Emsworth road by day (and not getting run over) was a notable event, as was the sudden sufacing of a Grey Seal among terrified bathers in Rye Bay. This week's mystery concerns the identity of a 'small vole' picked up on the busy footpath around Langstone pond and moved to safety - was it a baby Water Vole? We may never know ....

(Skip to Insects)

Sooty Shearwater: One off Portland on June 30 was only the second on the south coast this year (first in Poole Bay on May 17). There was also one seen in the Sillies that day - maybe the same bird?

Storm Petrel: I'm not sure if I read the entry on the Cornwall Birding werbsite correctly but it seemed to say that 300 Storm Petrels were caught and ringed off the county on the night of June 21. A pelagic boat trip from the Scillies on June 30 reported more than 50 of them

Cormorant: A minor indication that the breeding season is now over was the return of two Cormorants to the rafts in the Emsworth Slipper Pond on July 2

Bittern: One was booming every 3 to 4 minutes in the early morning of June 26 at Stodmarsh in the Kent Stour valley. Another was at Radipole (Weymouth) on June 30 and July 1

Little Bittern: One reported in the Bembridge Harbour area (IoW) on June 28 - no further news of it. Other than one in the Scillies from May 11 to 18 this is the only other one in the south of England this year

Little Egret: All eleven birds which I could see around the Langstone Pond area at low tide on June 25 were juveniles. On July 4 five of the juveniles had ventured a few yards from the nest trees and were standing in the pony field north of Langstone pond (the field in which a Fox was seen last year at this time with one Egret in its mouth)

Great White Egret: Just two definite reports this week - one at Reculver in the Thanet area of Kent on June 29 and one in the West Moors area of Dorset (not far from Ringwood) on June 30

White Stork: Three 'probable' reports - one over Amberley Wild Brooks on June 30 and two different birds on July 1, one over Arundel and the other over Romsey. I think all three were different birds heading north.

Spoonbill: One in the Brading Marsh area of the IoW on June 28

Mute Swan: The pair which nest on the Thorney Little Deeps are usually one of the first to start and usually hatch a good sized family. This year the first report of a pair having a nest there (on Apr 21) was more than a month later than usual and when I was there a month later (May 19) there was no evidence of the nest being in use and just three adult Swans on the water. My next visit (July 4) found one adult and one small (late hatched?) cygnet. Back on June 2 Brian Fellows saw a family group (two adults and four tiny cygnets) on the water of Emsworth Harbour and he assumed they had come from the Little Deeps though they could have come from the nest in the Northney marina.

Black Swan: The single female on the River Itchen at Riverside Park in Southampton (among 50+ Mute Swans) was still (July 1) sitting on an nest with eggs 49 days after mating with a Mute Swan on May 14 (a Mute Swan's eggs would have hatched about 10 days ago)

Brent Goose: Just one seen at Farlington Marshes on June 28 (there are probably at least 9 birds summering in Langstone Harbour - 9 seen on May 19). More interestingly one was seen to fly in from the sea at Cuckmere Haven on July 1 and to continue upstream.

Shelduck: On June 25 I saw two adults with six juveniles (plus a second group of three unaccompanied juveniles) on the Budds Farm Pools here in Havant and on June 30 Brian Fellows saw two adults on the Hayling Oysterbeds pools where Jason Crook had seen a new family of nine ducklings on June 28 - in addition to the family of 9 which Jason saw on the Budds Farm pools on June 22.

Teal: Two reports this week could indicate that these are starting to return from distant breeding sites (though they could have attempted breeding locally). On June 28 five were seen at Woolmer Pond in east Hampshire and on July 3 there were fifteen at the Breech Pool north of Pagham Harbour.

Tufted Duck: These are alway late breeders and my first sight of ducklings came at the Thorney Little Deeps on July 4.

Goldeneye: A male made a surprise appearance at Radipole (Weymouth) on July 2 and was still there next day - I wonder if it came from the same place as last summer's surprise Hooded Merganser (which I believe is still hanging around at Radipole)

Honey Buzzard: One was photographed on July 3 as it circled fairly low over woods somewhere in east Hampshire.

Black Kite: At least six reported sightings in Hampshire between May 11 and June 23 may have been of a bird which escaped from the Hawk Conservancy near Andover on Apr 27 - the Conservancy at first denied losing any birds but it eventually admitted to doing so and, even worse, removing the white leg ring (which showed it was a captive bird) before letting it go. Since that news came out there has been another probable sighting over west Fareham on June 30.

Marsh Harrier: This year's young are starting to take to the air. On June 27 one juvenile was among 9 seen over the Stour Valley in Kent and on June 29 one of the young at the Dungeness RSPB reserve fledged. No news of the breeding pair at Lodmoor (Weymouth) which we were told of during the TV Springwatch program - last mention of a bird there was on June 21.

Montagu's Harrier: One reported in the Wimborne area of Dorset on July 3

Red-footed Falcon: Four separate birders have reported sightings of a female in the Twyford/Shawford area of the Itchen Valley just south of Winchester in the last three weeks of June. It has not been seen again despite numerous searches.

Merlin: One at Radipole (Weymouth) on July 1 was the first reported in southern England since Apr 24

Quail: Three reports this week - one at Maiden Castle in Dorset on July 1, two heard near Bopeep Farm at the east end of the South Downs on July 2, and one on Cleave Hill not far north west of Stockbridge in Hampshire on July 4

Water Rail: On June 28 two juveniles were seen 'jumping to catch insects' at Farlington Marshes

Avocet: The Pett Level pools near Hastings had 48 Avocet present (including 30 juveniles) on June 28 but this number had increased to 85 by July 4, presumably the result of birds starting to head west from their breeding areas and stopping off at Pett.

Lapwing: Several south coast sites have reported increased numbers this week including Rye Harbour where 100 new birds were present on the morning of July 3. On July 4 I saw my first returnees (more than 12) near the Thorney Great Deeps

Ruff: Two seen at Christchurch Harbour on June 28, increasing to three there on June 29, seem to be the first birds returning south this autumn. On July 3 more than 15 appeared at Rye Harbour (the first there since Mar 19)

Black-tailed Godwit: Around 100 were seen at Farlington Marshes on June 28 (with just 4 at Pulborough Brooks that day)

Green Sandpiper: Among many other reports of waders now heading south I picked out a count of 31 Green Sandpipers at Stodmarsh in the Kent Stour Valley on June 27 (there were six at the Lower Test near Southampton on June 26 and six at Pulborough Brooks on July 1). On July 3 four were seen at the Pagham Harbour Breech Pool

Wood Sandpiper: Maybe the first autumn bird in southern England was at Dungeness on June 25 followed by one at Lodmoor (Weymouth) on June 26 (and 17 at one Dutch site on June 27). June 28 brought reports of one at Brading Marsh (IoW) and another at Pulborough Brooks. July 3 brought three more at different sites (Sandwich Bay, Weir Wood reservoir and Rye Harbour)

Common Sandpiper: Single figure counts from seven sites this week were all beaten by a count of 21 at Peveril Point near Swanage on July 3

Med Gulls: Chris Cockburn (Langstone RSPB warden) reports some good breeding success among those which nested on the shingle areas of the Langstone Harbour Islands this year and (while I have not yet seen local reports of juveniles away from those islands) the first juvenile arrived in Christchurch Harbour on June 29. At the Hayling Oysterbeds (where no Med Gulls have nested) some make raids on the other species nesting there and Jason has seen at least on Black-headed chick and one Common Tern chick taken by Med Gulls recently. At Rye Harbour Med Gulls regularly 'mug' Sandwich Terns and steal the food they are carrying back to their young terns.

Black-headed Gulls: The first four juveniles turned up at the Budds Farm pools on June 25. Elsewhere the first were on the north Kent shore at Swalecliffe on June 26, then at Weston on Southampton Water on June 28 with one reaching the more distant (from its nest) Peter Pond in Emsworth on June 30. Chris Cockburn gives a rough count of 5000 pairs nesting on the Langstone Harbour Islands this year but says that many of the young have been eaten by Foxes.

Common Gull: It won't be long before these start to re-appear all along the south coast. This week a first summer bird was at Hook/Warsash on June 27, two (unspecified age) were at Farlington Marshes on June 28 and one was a newcomer to the Scillies on June 30

Herring Gull: More than 500 were 'anting' over East Dean in the Beachy Head area on June 28

Iceland Gull: At least one was seen in the Netherlands on July 4

Glaucous Gull: One reported in the Scillies on July 1

Gull-billed Tern: One had been reported in Holland on June 27 and there was a 'possible' report of one at Titchfield Haven on July 4

Sandwich Tern: Many young in nests at Rye Harbour are going short of food as their parents are robbed by both Med and Black Headed Gulls of the food they are bringing. In Langstone Harbour these terns have only raised a few young as a result of predation by both Foxes and Gulls

Common Tern: Pairs nesting at the Hayling Oysterbeds had managed to hatch 35 young in the week ending June 31 but by July 2 Brian Fellows could only see one live chick there (which reminds me that there has been no mention of predation by rats at this site this year)

Little Tern: None have nested at the Oysterbeds but 40 pairs were reported to be nesting on the RSPB Islands on June 8 and that number may have increased since then. Currently some of the chicks are already growing their first feathers but it will probably be another month before breeding success can be determined. A report from Pagham Harbour on July 2 estimated that six pairs were bringing to food to young there (on May 26 I saw a report of 3 pairs nesting there but have heard nothing since then until now)

Swift: The pairs which are nesting this year are already feeding young and this week there have been two reports of non-breeding birds not only flying past potential nest sites which they may use next year but actually landing to check them out - the first came from somewhere in Sussex on June 30 and the second from Emsworth on July 1 (after this years peak count of around 30 birds circling over Emsworth on June 30). Until July 4 I had not seen more than seven birds together over my home area in Havant whereas on June 30 Martin Hampton saw round 25 over the Bedhampton area in the west of Havant. The evening of July 4, however, gave me the biggest count over my home area so far this summer when at least 15 birds were in the sky. On July 3 three Swifts were seen flying south in mid-Channel but this does not (as it would with most species) mean that Swifts are starting to leave us as it would be quite normal for birds nesting in England to collect food for their young over northern France.

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater: Two reports of this species (for which I have no previous records) in this week's news. One is reported to have been at the Beaulieu River mouth (Needs Ore Point) on June 21 (report delayed by rules which say that if you visit the Beaulieu Estate - where admission is restricted to ticket holders who have to accept the rules as a condition of getting a ticket - you must not publish reports that could result in a 'twitch'). On June 30 another sighting (again with a photo of the bird) was reported from Braunton Burrowes in Devon - this seems to be only the tenth record of the species in Britain. Perhaps this bird is a sign of rapid global warming as it normally breeds in sandy deserts (does it expect to find such habititat in Britain in the near future?)

Lesser-spotted Woodpecker: A male was seen among a tit flock in woods on the north west fringe of Southampton on July 4

House Martin: Good news from Chichester where it was reported on June 6 that no birds could be seen at traditional nest sites above shops in East Street - a further report on July 2 states that four birds are now present with at least two occupied nests.

Robin: I have not heard Robin song since June 15. Wrens are still singing regularly and Dunnock could still be heard occasionally on June 30

White-crowned Wheatear: A possible report of one at The Lizard in Cornwall on July 1 (it could have been an even rarer Black Wheatear). If true this could be another bird that has heard of desert habitat in Britain!

Blackbird: Still singing on July 1 as were Song Thrushes

Mistle Thrush: One seen carrying food for young in Southsea on June 29 to prove they are not quite extinct in Portsmouth! On June 30 one was also seen in the Scillies where the species has always been rare.

Dartford Warbler: One in the Hook/Warsash area on July 2 was the first seen there since February and so probably marks the start of post breeding dispersal.

Willow Warbler: This bird's song is one of my favourite signs of autumn passage and July 3 brought the first report of it from Sandwich Bay in Kent

Golden Oriole: A male at Rye Harbour on July 3 was a good find

Red-backed Shrike: A male at Rye Harbour on July 3 made the day even better there.

Rose-coloured Starling: One reported at Falmouth among normal Starlings on July 2

Siskin: Several recent reports have indicated that many of these birds have ceased to be just winter visitors to much of southern England and are now widely resident and breeding. This week Martin Hampton suggests that this is now true in the Petersfield area.

(Skip to Plants)

Eight species reported so far this week but nothing new

31 species mentioned in reports this week.

(Skip to Other Wildlife)

Perennial Wall-rocket: First flower seen in Havant on June 30

Broad-leaved Everlasting Pea: This was flowering at Brook Meadow for the first time this year on July 2.

Goats Rue: The blue flowered plants at the Hayling Oysterbeds carpark have probably been out as long as the white flowered plants nearby on North Common (which were flowering on June 22) but were not reported until June 30

Sweet Chestnut: This tree has also probably been in flower for a week or more but I did not see it until July 1

Upright Hedge Parsley: Just starting to flower in Staunton Country Park on July 1

Thorn Apple: Three of these plants had started to flower at Havant rail station on June 30

Marsh Woundwort: This had just started flowering at the Gipsies Plain orchid ditch site (close to where the track emerges from Hammond Land Coppice) on July 1

Betony: This also was first seen in flower at the Gipsies Plain orchid ditch near Rowlands Castle on July 1

Wood Sage: First report of this in flower at Durlston on July 4

Common Fleabane: First flowers fully open in Havant on June 25

Golden Samphire: First flowers out by the Slipper Pond in Emsworth on June 30. By July 4 a lot of this was flowering along the Warblington-Emsworth shoreline.

Hemp Agrimony: First flowers found by Brian Fellows at Bosham on July 2 and more seen on Thorney Island on July 4

Mugwort: First flowers seen in Havant on June 25

Dwarf Thistle: This had started to flower at Durlston on June 30

Lesser Burdock: First flowers at the Hayling Oysterbeds on June 30

Chicory: First flowers (from wildflower seed sowing) out in Southmoor Lane at Havant on June 25

Stinking Hawk-bit: This species had become extinct in Britain but was re-introduced in 2000 at Dungeness where it is now thriving within fencing to prevent Rabbits eating it. On July 2 a count of 1035 plants was announced.

Musk Orchid: This is now flowering at Noar Hill and probably has been for some time.

Common (Harbour) Porpoise: One found dead of unknown causes on the shore at Rye Harbour on June 28 - the RX website has a good photo of its many strangely rounded teeth

Grey Seal: On June 28 one popped up in Rye Bay among a group of human bathers which frantically fled to the safety of the beach

Mole: One found dead on very dry ground in the Staunton Country Park (Havant) on July 1 - see diary entry for that day below

Hedgehog: These are now rarities, at least in my experience, so I am delighted to hear that (after having one in his Emsworth garden on June 17) Brian Fellows had another (daytime) sighting of one on July 2 - the latter sighting was of one crossing Warblington Road, also in Emsworth, narrowly missed by a passing car.

Water Vole: Last summer I personally saw a young Water Vole in the open on brickwork at the edge of Langstone Mill Pond with many people with children and dogs only yards away from the vole (which emerged into the open more than once before retreating to safety). On June 25 this year I was again near the pond where a reliable observer told me that she had just picked up 'a small vole', which was on the path close to last year's incident, and placed it in a safer place at the foot of the Mill property fence (where Nature Notes posters are displayed). By the time I got there there was no sign of the vole .... I cannot be sure it was a Water Vole.

Common Newts: A night time visit to an unimproved meadow near Rye on June 29 found several Common Newts out in the damp grass where they could feed on a rich supply of slugs and other invertebrates to recover their strength for the coming winter after the breeding season.

Fungi: Despite the current drought I found a fresh cluster of Weeping Widow toadstools in a shady ride in the Hammonds Land Coppice woodland of Staunton Country Park in Havant on July 1. Nearby the base of the massive trunk of an old Oak tree had several fungal growths which from a distance (I could not get close) might have been early stages of some Ganoderma species (brown globular shapes each perhaps 30 cm across). With my binoculars I could see that the brown 'upper' surfaces were peppered with small triangular slits which I think were the result of the drought causing splits in the flesh of the fungus but I cannot be sure what I was looking at.

(Link to previous week’s summary)

Signs of approaching autumn this week include the arrival of the first summer plumaged Grey Plover, the second Wheatear at coastal sites where they have not bred, and a small flock of around 30 Sand Martins flying south out to sea at Selsey. Also moving south are Golden Plover, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank and Common, Green and Wood Sandpipers. Juvenile Black-headed Gulls are starting to fly from their nest sites and young Med Gulls will soon follow them. A juvenile hybrid Lesser Blackback x Yellow-legged Gull has been seen in Southampton with its parents and a Common x Arctic Tern pair are nesting at Lodmoor (Weymouth). Two unanswered questions are first, why did the Spotted Flycatcher keep crashing into the Cherry Tree leaves?, and second, what were the two Barn Owls doing in the nest box that was hardly big enough to hold them on Hayling? We also have news of Storm Petrels being lured by tape recordings to a small boat off Portland Bill, and of local breeding success by Shelduck and Gadwall as well as the Little Egrets.

Purple Emperor butterflies and Lulworth Skippers took to the air this week as did this year's Gatekeepers. In Kent Heath Fritillaries are present in large numbers and in Sussex more than 500 Silver Studded Blues could be seen at Iping Common while for tennis fans a Purple Hairstreak had a small part in the BBC TV coverage of Wimbledon. Moths have been enjoying the warm night air and by day Summer Chafers are now flying but few Glow-worms have been reported so far.

Harebells, Marjoram and Squinancywort are now flowering on Portsdown with Travellers Joy, Basil Thyme and Vervain. Sea Lavender and Sea Aster have started to flower on the shore, and both Frog and Fragrant Orchids are out at Noar Hill. Near West Marden Nettle-leaved and Clustered Bellflowers were out and Deadly Nightshade was in flower. This year's count of Southern Marsh orchids at Langstone South Moors shows a good average result (but will the site soon dry out completely before the sea floods it?)

Items to catch my eye on the Other Wildlife scene this week are news of an abundance of Natterjack Toad tadpoles at Christchurch Harbour, sighitings of Sunfish and Blue Shark off the Scillies and a Herring Gull in Cornwall adding variety to its diet by swallowing a Mole.

(Skip to Insects)

Great Northern Diver: One in summer plumage flew east past Durlston on June 28. What were probably the last of the winter birds (not breeding this year) were four off Portland on May 19. Since then there have been six isolated reports of singles seen from Portland before the current sighting which sounds like the first of the (presumably failed) breeders returning south

Storm Petrel: Although these are normally only seen from the mainland in stormy conditions it would appear that they are not far away even in the current calm, good weather. Martin Cade, in charge of the Portland observatory, took a small boat a short distance out to sea and used a tape recording to lure 7 of these Petrels to the boat, where they were caught and ringed, on the night of June 21/22. The tape was used again on the next night, catching 4 more Petrels. On June 23 another boat off Hartland Point on the Devon coast caught and ringed 26 birds while boat trips around the Scillies found 30 on June 22 and more than 50 on June 23

Bittern: One reported at Lodmoor (Weymouth) on June 21 and one at Rye Harbour on June 23

Night Heron: One seen in flight over the Scillies on June 22

Cattle Egret: One at the Dungeness RSPB reserve on June 19

Little Egret: Still plenty of activity at Langstone Pond on June 22 - at least two juveniles seen at the water's edge

Grey Heron: 13 juveniles recently out of their nests were seen at Pulborough Brooks in June 25

Shelduck: When I was at the Budds Farm pools on June 20 I was pleased to see two adults and six juveniles after thinking that both breeding pairs had failed this year but the news is even better as on June 22 Jason Crook took a look at the pools and saw two families - one pair with nine ducklings and the other with three smaller ones. Also on June 22 when I was at the Hayling Oysterbeds I saw two Shelduck flying north over Bridge Lake, one of them very noticeably smaller than the other. I know there is a small size difference between the sexes but I was left with the impression that the smaller bird was a juvenile already fledged. Still quite a few adults with us - on June 23 Newtown Harbour on the IoW had 24 and Christchurch Harbour had 11

Gadwall: While at Budds Farm Pools on June 22 Jason Crook saw three pairs of Gadwall, each with a family of ducklings, and sometime between then and June 27 he saw a family group with 11 ducklings at Farlington Marshes.

Eider: Andy Johnson saw three in the mouth of Chichester Harbour on June 22 and remarked that they were summering there

Red-breasted Merganser: The male and female pair which have been seen in Southampton Water on June 9 and 13 were in the Hamble estuary off Warsash on June 23

Black Kite: On June 23 Nigel Jones saw one flying low south east over the Crampmoor Fish Farm a little east of Romsey (between the railway and the road to Hursley and Winchester)

Golden Plover: The first to be reported in the south since Apr 5 were four in the Scillies on June 24 and 5 at a Dutch site on June 27

Grey Plover: Quite a few stay here through the summer (e.g. around 40 seen near the Hayling Oysterbeds on June 7) but on June 22 one was seen at the Pennington Marshes (Lymington) in full summer plumage, suggesting the first bird to return from (attempted) breeding.

Lapwing: A flock of around 40 seen at Pagham Harbour on June 18 were reported as the first to return to our part of the coast. (Christchurch Harbour had 137 back on June 16)

Black-tailed Godwit: Local reports of non-breeding birds in our area this week have been 49 at Yarmouth (IoW) on June 20, 60 at Titchfield Haven on June 20, 14 at Lymington on June 22 and maybe the same flock of 14 at the Hayling Oysterbeds on June 23. On June 27 a group of 6 at the Pagham North Walls included a colour ringed bird.

Spotted Redshank: These were back at five south coast sites this week, including a group of 5 at Brownsea Island (Poole Harbour) and a regular ccolour ringed bird at the Thorney Deeps - this individual is known to have been in Sweden within the past month.

Greenshank: I have only three reports of singles on the south coast in May and nine in June as they start to return from breeding

Green Sandpiper: Eight reports since June 23 including six birds at the Lower Test marshes on June 26

Wood Sandpiper: A total of 17 seen at one Dutch sites on June 27 with just two reports from southern England this week (singles at Dungeness and Lodmoor)

Common Sandpiper: This week reports of returning birds include one at Black Point on Hayling on June 25 with others seen at Farlington Marshes, Pagham Harbour and Lymington

Med Gull: A count of 48 at Badminston Common (New Forest) on June 24 suggests the start of post breeding dispersal

Black-headed Gull: On June 23 one juvenile was seen in Stoke Bay (adjacent to the south bund of the Hayling Oysterbeds) to show that the youngsters are now reaching the stage at which they will disperse from the gulleries where they hatched and may turn up anywhere along the harbour shores where their bright orange plumage easily separates them from the grey of the Med Gull juveniles that will also be seen soon. First actual report of a juvenile having flown some distance comes from the Weston Shore on Southampton Water on June 28

Yellow-legged Gull: One seen in the Northam area by the River Itchen in Southampton on June 26 was paired with a Lesser Blackback and both parents were feeding and protecting a hybrid chick

Gull-billed Tern: One seen in Holland on June 27

Arctic Tern: On June 24 one was seen mating with a Common Tern and then preparing a nest scrape at Lodmoor (Weymouth)

Black Tern: This species has been reported almost continuously since mid-April with no clear gap between arriving spring birds and departing autumn ones so I suspect that a small number of non-breeding birds are spending their summer in the English Channel and that a report of 16 of them at a Dutch site on June 27 may be of the small flock (estimated to be 15 birds) seen at Titchfield Haven on June 2.

Guillemot: By June 28 many of the breeding pairs had already left the breeding cliffs at Durlston and headed out to sea with their young. Most of the smaller number of Razorbills nesting there have also left.

Barn Owl: In June 2008 there were several sightings of one in the small triangular nest box mounted on a telgraph pole near the entrance to the North Common open space at Northney on Hayling Island. Since then a much bigger nest box has been put up elsewhere on that site but nevertheless when I was there in the afternoon of June 22 I could see not one but two Barn Owl heads within the box. I very much doubt that they are a breeding pair but I suppose they could be a couple of last year's young which have not mated this year and are still 'hanging out together'?

Swift: It seems likely that one or two pairs still have nest sites in or near the Manor Close area of Havant, bringing fairly regular sightings of between one and six birds which appear at any time of day - I suspect they come daily but I only see them on some days. On June 27 there were more than five over the Havant area and up to eight have been seen around Emsworth houses this week

Bee-eater: One was seen on the Pennington Marshes (Lymington) on June 21 and what may have been the same bird was over Portland on June 23

Sand Martin: On June 13 Dungeness reported the 'first of the autumn' passing over (8 birds) and on June 14 a group of nine birds flew in off the sea at Worthing (reluctant to leave?) with three turning up at Portland on June 16. At least one was over Budds Farm Pools here in Havant on June 20 and two were seen at the mouth of Chichester Harbour on June 22 when a total of around 30 flew south out to sea from the Selsey West Fields area. Latest reports are of ten over Portland on June 25 and more than 20 were over Durlston on June 27.

Grey Wagtail: A pair has probably bred in the Langstone area on the Langbrook stream and another pair has been seen in the Homewell spring area of central Havant where I saw a juvenile on June 27

Wheatear: The first departing bird was reported on the north coast of the Isle of Wight on June 12 and the second was at the Selsey West Fields on June 18. Two were seen in the Scillies on June 24

Mistle Thrush: One passing over Sandy Point on Hayling on June 22 was an unexpected rarity there.

Spotted Flycatcher: A bit of unexplained behaviour was reported on the SOS website on June 22. The bird was seen bathing (nothing unusual in that) but then it several times flew up and deliberately 'crashed into' the leaves of a Cherry Tree. The reporter asks if anyone can say why .. they suggest that the bird might have been using the leaves as 'towels' (seems unlikely) or might be disturbing insects from the leaves in order to catch them (surely they are able to pick the insects off the leaves without the disturbance). My guess would be that the bird was tryng to rid itself of parasites which were not dislodged by bathing.

Raven: On June 23 at Hurst beach (Lymington) Colin Allen watched a family group of five birds come within 30 feet of him.

Siskin: These are probably spreading in southern England as breeding birds with one garden in Crawley regularly seeing them coming to feeders since October of 2007 while a garden in the Bordon area of east Hampshire had its 'first ever' midsummer visitor on June 23

(Skip to Plants)

A single Red-veined Darter at Portland on June 23 and a couple of Golden Ringed dragonflies in Southampton on June 24 are the only report so far this week

30 species reported this week, including ...

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Traveller's Joy (aka Old Man's Beard): Starting to flower on Portsdown on June 26

Field Pepperwort: A few plants found in compartment 9 (below Fort Widley) of Portsdown on June 24

Hairy St John's Wort: Flowering in the West Marden area on June 27

Strawberry Clover: This had just started to flower on north Hayling on June 22 with an especially fine show in the shore carpark area immediately southwest of Langstone Bridge (across the road from the one time Texaco garage)

Yellow vetchling (Lathyrus aphaca): First report from Durlston on June 22 - I believe this can still be found on Milton Common in Portsmouth (the only local site I know for it)

Goat's Rue: The white flowered plants were out at North Common (Northney) on Hayling on June 22 (a new colony has established itself well east of the original site in the big dip behind the blackberry bushes) and I suspect the blue flowered plants will now be flowering in the Oysterbeds carpark area.

Fragrant Agrimony: Flowering at North Common on Hayling on June 22

Pepper Saxifrage: Flowering at Durlston on June 27

Equal-leaved Knotgrass: First found in Havant on June 27

Bell Heather: Flowering in Gosport on June 23 (and presumably now out on the Hayling Golf Course across the road from The Kench)

Vervain: First flowers on Portsdown on June 26

Deadly Nightshade: First find in the West Marden area on June 27

Great Mullein: First seen at Northney (Hayling) on June 22 with another find on Portsdown on June 24

Basil Thyme: This lovely plant was flowering on Portchester Common (Portsdown) on June 26

Marjoram: Just about to flower in the Hayling Oysterbeds area on June 22 and a cluster well out on Portsdown on June 24

Nettle Leaved Bellflower: First found on Nore Down near West Marden on June 27

Hare Bell: A few of these lovely flowers already out on Portsdown on June 24

Clustered Bellflower: First found on Nore Down near West Marden on June 27

Squinancywort: Lots in flower on Portsdown on June 24

Small Scabious: First flowers on Portsdown on June 24

Sea Aster: Brian Fellows found a single early plant in flower at Newtown Harbour on the IoW on June 20 and I found another at Northney on Hayling on June 22 but no sign of general flowering yet.

Saw Wort: First reported at Durlston on June 27

Autumn Hawkbit: First found in Havant on June 27

Lesser Hawkbit: Plants flowering on Portsdown on June 24

Spotted Hawkweed (Hieracium maculatum): One plant flowering on Portsdown on June 24

Fragrant Orchid: Flowering at Noar Hill by June 21 (also 9 spikes found on Nore Down near West Marden on June 27)

Frog Orchid: Flowering at Noar Hill by June 21

Southern Marsh Orchid: This year's count of the plants on the Langstone South Moors found 4142 spikes on June 20. The results of the annual counts at this site vary greatly from as few as 333 in 1999 to 5561 in 2004 (and 6763 in 1995)

Mole: A photograph taken in Cornwall shows a Mole being eaten by a Herring Gull at a rock pool!

Common Dolphin: 30 seen from a boat off the Scillies on June 22 - also half a dozen Common Porpoise

Hare: One seen in woodland south of West Marden on June 27 (north end of Watergate Hanger at Oldhouse Lane)

Natterjack Toad: Christchurch Harbour reports an abundance of Natterjack tadpoles (no news of the colony at Woolmer near Alton)

Sunfish: Five of these unlikely looking fish (shaped like a large dinner plate balanced on its rim) seen during a boat trip off the Scillies on June 22 and two more seen next day. During the first trip a Blue Shark was also caught and tagged.

(Link to previous week’s summary)

Several bird species are starting to re-appear on the south coast as they leave nest areas and head south on autumn passage - this week we have news of Lapwing, Curlew, Whimbrel, Redshank, Spotted Redshank and Green Sandpiper along the south coast with a probable Osprey overhead. Best of these passage birds are Red-necked Phalaropes in Kent and at Titchfield Haven (maybe the same bird) and the claim that the bird at Titchfield is a male is unusual in that it is normally the females that are seen here in June as they take no responsibility for the upbringing of their young but leave that to the males. Another unexpected bird was a probable Woodchat Shrike seen in the New Forest and there are also reports of even more unlikely species - Smew and Red-breasted Goose. More credible is a report of a Fulmar flying out of Chichester Harbour after (just possibly) searching for a nest site on buildings in Chichester, and finally we have disproof of the notion that Swifts, if they fall to the ground, cannot get airborne again without human assistance.

The week has brought news of a rare migrant Lesser Emperor Dragonfly (of which Britain only gets one or two each year) among a total of 13 species on the wing including the first Keeled Skimmer and Brilliant Emerald. 34 butterfly species include the first White Admirals and Silver Washed Fritillaries plus the common Small Skippers and their Essex cousins. Here in Havant we have seen our first Marbled Whites and everywhere there seems to have been a recovery in Small Tortoiseshell numbers. 39 new moth species include the uncommon Dewick's Plusia by night as well as many 'black as soot' Chimney Sweepers by day. Also out in force is the colourful and easy to find Narrow-bordered Five Spot Burnet moth (even experts find difficulty in separating them from the regular Five Spot Burnets but those experts tell us that regular Five Spots are quite rare and can, in Hampshire, only be found at Martin Down). Among Other Insect news is an account of how a fly called Sturmia bella (first found in Britain as recently as 1998) has been killing off our Small Tortoiseshells without ever coming into direct contact with the butterflies.

Among common plants just starting to flower are Slender St John's Wort, Musk Mallow, Greater Bird's Foot Trefoil, Agrimony, Great Willowherb, both Sea Lavenders, Centaury and Yellow-wort, Wild Thyme, Heath and Ladies Bedstraw and Musk Thistle. More unusual finds this week have been Cushion Spurge, Bugloss, Sea Bindweed, Creeping Jenny, Yellow Loosestrife, Rough Clover, Spiny Restharrow, Pencilled Cranesbill, Trailing St John's Wort and Greater Celandine. Complaints against spraying of weedkiller on wild plants in the Havant Borough area have an echo in the near extinction by spraying of the rare Longleaf umbellifer in Kent, while at Fishbourne near Chichester the mowing of 80+ plants of Spiked Star of Bethlehem and 8 of Hairy Bindweed, all in full flower and with notices at the site intended to protect them, turns out to have been a deliberate act by some self-appointed vigilantes whose motives are unknown (and perhaps unfathomable)

Other Wildlife news includes info on Hedgehogs climbing walls and the news that a fungus that normally grows with Hornbeam trees can also be found with Hazel. Both Roe Deer and Water Vole have been seen out with their young.

(Skip to Insects)

Great Northern Diver: Sightings off Portland on June 15 and 16 must have been of a non-breeding bird.

Black-necked Grebe: A report of one at a Dutch site where up to six were present in March may indicate attempted breeding there - (one was there on May 8 and again on June 16)

Fulmar: Continuing the reports of Fulmars apparently seeking inland nest sites on Sussex buildings there was a sighting on June 13 of one exploring streets in Shoreham almost a mile from the sea and another sighting on June 14 of one flying south out of the mouth of Chichester Harbour which might indicate that one bird with social ambitions had been assessing the possibilities of finding an 'up market' nest site in Chichester.

Cattle Egret: One flew over the Brading Marshes (IoW) on May 14 - the first report anywhere on the south coast since May 24-26 when one was in the Pevensey Levels

Little Egret: By June 20 at least one of the juveniles at Langstone pond was flying competently above the nest area.

Mute Swan: On June 20 the pair which have nested at Budds Farm Pools in Havant had three cygnets on the water with just one parent. The Langstone Pond pair still had their six cygnets at the mouth of the Langbrook stream.

Red-breasted Goose: One flying north over a Dutch site on June 14 was probably an escape from captivity

Shelduck: Despite previously expressed fears that the Shelduck at Budds Farm had failed to raise young this year I found two broods of juveniles there on June 20 - a well grown group of four with no adult and a pair of adults with two smaller juveniles

Smew: A redhead of this species was seen by a reliable observer (Nigel Jones who currently runs the Ornitholidays travel firm) to fly from the Solent up the Beaulieu River on June 13 - sounds to me like an escapee returning home after a trip to the seaside.

Honey Buzzard: A sighting of one in mid-Sussex on June 14 caused me to check the latest Sussex Bird Report which tells us that four pairs breed in Sussex in 2007, each pair successfully raising two young.

Osprey: A probable seen over the Botley Woods (north of Fareham) on June 19 could be the first of the autumn passage.

Kestrel: There have been plenty of accounts of Kestrels mugging Barn Owls in the hope of stealing the prey the owl was carrying but an observation at Waltham Brooks (close to Pulborough Brooks) on June 15 shows how some Kestrels have perfected this technique of getting food. Phil Muzzall describes wrote on the SOS website .. "On an evening visit to Waltham Brooks I spotted a Barn Owl quartering the area hunting. As it slowly approached, I sat on the path to be out of its line of sight. At about 10m distance it dropped to the ground; at the same time a Kestrel flew over and perched on a nearby tree. As the Barn Owl took off with a small mammal in its right claw, the Kestrel reappeared, inverted itself underneath it and snatched the catch away - a privilege to observe."

Quail: Just two reports, both on June 16 when two were present at Sandwich Bay and another two at Tarrant Rushton airfield in Dorset

Common Crane: Two were at Pulborough Brooks on the evening of June 14 but flew south next morning

Avocet: On June 18 five juveniles at Rye Harbour were said to have fledged and on June 20 the juveniles were difficult to pick out among the adults at Titchfield Haven (the overall count of 26 there is one less than the 23 adults + 4 juvs reported on June 7)

Lapwing: A count of 137 at Christchurch Harbour on June 16 is the first sign of a mass return of these birds to the coast after breeding - these were probably failed or non breeders. Interestingly, when I was at the Gipsies Plain (south of Havant Thicket) on June 15 I could not see any sign of the pairs which have been breeding there and which are reported to have had two downy youngsters as recently as June 11 - maybe the young were taken by predators (Foxes, Kestrels, Buzzards all in the area) and the parents had left much earlier than expected?

Whimbrel: The Dungeness RSPB site reported on June 16 that 21 Whimbrel had been seen there 'recently' - at this date these are probably now heading back south

Curlew: On June 21 a flock of 19 on the Weston shore of Southampton Water was said to be the first big influx since the spring - with them was the first returning Redshank for that site

Spotted Redshank: Between June 14 and 16 singles were reported at three sites in Kent and one (Poole Harbour) in Dorset. On June 18 there were two new arrivals at Sandwich Bay in full summer plumage and on June 19 one was seen at Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour

Green Sandpiper: More of these seen this week - on June 16 the first of the autumn was at the Eversley Gravel Pits on the Hants/Berks border and 4 were at Sandwich Bay with 3 over the channel in Holland, and on June 17 one was at Hook near Warsash. June 18 found 8 present in the Kent Stour Valley

Red-necked Phalarope: First of the autumn was in the Kent Stour Valley on June 18 followed by one which spent the day at Titchfield Haven on June 20. I was surprised to hear this one was reported as a male as it is much more usual for females to be the first to be seen in Britain in the autumn. I have always understood that, having laid the eggs, the females move on and leave the males to do all the incubation and other work of raising the young - this is not just laziness but a way of allowing one female to mate with several males and lay eggs in several nests before she heads south.

Black-headed Gull: A report of many gulls in the air over Horsham town on June 18 may well have been the result of the first mating flight of the summer by ants - these flights always attract a crowd of hungry gulls.

Cuckoo: 'Singing' birds still to be heard on June 14 at Pulborough Brooks and on June 16 at the Paxton Pits in Cambridgeshire

Swift: On June 14 one crashed into a parked car in a Horsham street (outside houses where several pairs have nests) but managed to get airborne again unaided after recovering from the shock.

Bee Eater: A couple of reports of these on the move just across the channel could presage the arrival of some in this country. We did have eight reports of sightings in southern England between May 1 and 26 but none here since then

Sand Martin: The 'first of the autumn' were reported at Dungeness on June 13 and since then I have noted three reports of birds away from breeding sites (including a few at Budds Farm in Havant on June 20, giving me the first I have personally seen this year and bringing my paltry year list up to 124 species)

Nightingale: These have normally ceased singing by early June but four were still singing at the Paxton Pits in Cambridgeshire on June 16 and one was heard in the Botley Woods (north of Fareham) on June 20

Garden Warbler: Three reports of these still singing in mid June - one in the Thanet area of Kent on June 15, another at the Arlington reservoir in Sussex on June 16 (where a Willow Warbler was also heard), with the third in the Botley Woods on June 20

Wood Warbler: One of these (and several Firecrests) were singing in the New Forest on June 14

Firecrest: Last week, when I reported hearing probable Firecrest song at Fishbourne near Chichester, I said I was unfamiliar with the song of this species. This week Lee Evans has suggested, on HOSLIST, that the best place in Hampshire to hear these birds is Jubilee Grove in the Bolderwood area of the New Forest. Lee goes on to say .. "There is a designated car park where two roads meet which is best accessed from Lyndhurst about 2.5 miles NW on the Stoney Cross - Bolderwood road. Park here and either explore the trackside conifers and Holly scrub that lead down to the Badger and Deer Watchpoint or the tall Douglas Firs that border the road as far SW as the house entrance. Firecrests number up to 25 singing males here but beware too of many Goldcrests. With experience, it is very easy to separate the two species on call. The Firecrest sound is less ringing, slightly lower in tone but more direct and finishes evenly and without an upslurred inflection. The call note is rather piping. In my experience, males sing throughout the season, from early April through to mid July."

Bearded Tit: It would seem that these have had a good breeding season - at the Farlington Marshes lake on June 16 Jason Crook and others had close views of at least 22 (including several juveniles) with some 'high flying'.

Golden Oriole: Yet another sighting in Kent - this time of a female at Sandwich Bay on June 16

Woodchat Shrike: While cycling along the Lyndhurst Road just north east of Burley in the New Forest on June 14 Simon Woolley saw a bird fly across the road in front of him and says that if he had been on the continent he would have unhesitatingly noted it as a Woodchat Shrike but here in Britain he cautiously reports it as a probable Woodchat Shrike!

Serin: One arrived at Portland Bill on June 18 and was still there on June 20

Corn Bunting: One was singing at Old Winchester Hill in the Meon Valley on June 14

(Skip to Plants)

Thirteen species get a mention in this weeks news, including ...

34 species mentioned in this week's reports

(Skip to Other Wildlife)

Greater Celandine: First of these to be seen this year was found flowering in the Compton/Up Marden area on June 15

Annual Wall-rocket: First sight of this in flower was in the Sandy Point area of Hayling on June 16

Sea rocket (Cakile maritima): First sight of this in flower was in the Sandy Point area of Hayling on June 16

Tutsan: First flowers seen in Havant on June 15

Slender St John's wort (Hypericum pulchrum): The first of these pretty flowers were out at Havant Thicket on June 15

Trailing St John's wort (Hypericum humifusum): First flowers seen at Havant Thicket on June 15

Musk Mallow: First flowers seen at Langstone on June 20

Pencilled cranesbill (Geranium versicolor): On June 15 I was very surprised to see that a couple of plants of this were flowering where I had seen them last year, among dead grass and a few weeds in a part of Havant Bus Station where a tiny strip of soil is surrounded by kerb stones the separate bus bays.

Least Yellow Sorrel (Oxalis exilis): This had started to flower in Langstone on May 25 but I have not heard of any more until Brian Fellows found some in Emsworth on June 19

Spiny Rest-harrow: Some found with the commoner species at Sandy Point, Hayling, on June 16

Rough clover (Trifolium scabrum): Found at two places in the Sandy Point area of Hayling on June 16 and also on the north pier of the old rail bridge at Langstone on June 20

Hare's Foot Clover: Flowering at Sandy Point on Hayling on June 16

Clustered Clover (Trifolium glomeratum): A colony of this which had been discovered in the Havant area in 2007 was still present on June 17 when it had all gone to seed.

Greater Bird's Foot Trefoil: First flowers found on June 15 on the Gipsies Plain south of Havant Thicket

Field Rose: First seen in flower on June 15 on the Gipsies Plain south of Havant Thicket

Agrimony: First flowers seen in Portsdown on June 14

Great Willowherb: First flowers seen in Emsworth on June 17

Sea spurge: Flowering in the Sandy Point area of Hayling on June 16

Cushion Spurge (Euphorbia polychroma): I have only seen this previously alongside the Slipper Mill Pond at Emsworth where it was probably deliberately planted (or at least thrown out from one of the gardens just across the road) but a single plant on waste ground in an industrial estate was unlikely to have been a deliberate planting - found on the waste ground beside Southmoor Lane in Havant immediately north of Penner Road on June 20

Knotted Hedge Parsley: On June 20 I was pleased to find that some was still present at the Langstone South Moors site on the bank of the Langbrook Stream immediately north of the second gate giving access to the Moors from Mill Lane.

Longleaf (Falcaria vulgaris): This rare umbellifer is unlikely to be found in Hampshire (mostly found in East Anglia) but does occur in the Thanet area of Kent. On June 14 an entry on the Planet Thanet website makes a common complaint against the local council for spraying the plants with weedkiller - luckily some have survived.

Sea Knotgrass (Polygonum maritimum): On June 16 I found a fair number of these plants (around 40) with fresh leaves and incipient flowers on the shingle east of the Sandy Point nature reserve (their only Hampshire site) but also saw up to 20 plants with no sign of life

Russian Vine: This rampant escape is now flowering in the Billy Trail behind my house in Havant

Sea Lavender: Both Common and Lax Sea Lavender were just starting to flower in the saltings below the seawal passing Langstone pond on June 20

Yellow Loosestrife: Genuine wild plants (not the Dotted Loosestrife now to be seen in gardens) was flowering in the Gipsies Plain area south of Havant Thicket on June 15

Creeping Jenny: Also flowering for the first time this year on the Gipsies Plain area south of Havant Thicket on June 15

Common Centaury: First report of flowering from Durlston on June 16, then out at a couple of Hayling sites on June 16. Widespread by the end of this week.

Yellow-wort: First sighting was by Brian Fellows on Portsdown on June 14, followed by a report from Durlston on June 15 and anothe find by Brian Fellows at the Hayling Oysterbeds on June 16

Sea Bindweed: In full flower on the sand of the Hayling shore near Black Point on June 16

Blue water speedwell (Veronica anagallis-aquatica): Plants found flowering in the Fishbourne village area near Chichester by Brian Fellows on June 11 and 13 have been accepted by the Sussex Plant Recorder as examples of the true species (not the common hybrid)

Red Bartsia (or Red Rattle): First report of flowering from Brook Meadow at Emsworth on June 19

Wild Thyme: This was flowering on Portsdown on June 14

Black Horehound: First flowers found in the Hayling Oysterbeds area on June 16

Bugloss (Anchusa arvensis): Flowering at the Black Point sailing club on Hayling on June 16

Ivy Broomrape: Flowering in the Thanet area of Kent on June 14 - the yellow form may well now be on show at Portchester (Fareham) and the normal plants could be surviving the reconstruction of the Tesco store in Havant.

Greater Plantain: Some plants in the Havant area had flower spikes on June 15

Heath Bedstraw: First report of this came from the Gipsies Plain (Havant Thicket) on June 16

Ladies Bedstraw: First flowers in Havant Eastern Road cemetery on June 15

Musk Thistle: First flowers found on Portsdown by Brian Fellows on June 14

Bottle-nosed Dolphin: A pod of around 30 were off the east Dorset coast this week, the first sightings from the shore that I have seen since two were off Selsey on May 2. Prior to that there had been several Dorset sightings in Feb and March ending with a group of around 10 (including two youngsters) off Selsey Bill on Mar 28

Roe Deer: This year's young have been seen both on the north Hayling fields and in the Up Marden area

Hedgehog: Brian Fellows was delighted to find one in his Emsworth garden on June 17 (they have become very scarce in recent years and it has even become unusual to find road casualties). Brian wonders how the creature got into his garden which has high walls around it and this reminded me of a similar garden in the North End area of Portsmouth where I was shown a garden shed under which a Hedgehog sow had given birth to her young - the owner of the property told me the adult Hedgehog had no difficulty in climbing the wall, using her claws as 'crampons', on regular nightly foraging trips (I believe the average Hedgehog covers several kilometres each night, visiting many gardens en route). Getting down from the walls was even easier - the animal just turned itself into a ball and jumped off!

Water Vole: Sightings in the River Ems at Brook Meadow this week include at least two young animals - hopefully there are a lot more than two present.

Fungi: Although autumn is the main season for seeing fungi there are species to be found throughout the year and the current warm weather plus some rain brings up a good show. Last week there was a Stinkhorn 'egg' to be seen in a Langstone garden and that has almost certainly 'fruited' by now. In Emsworth a good show of large Dryad's Saddles has appeared and in my own garden I discovered one that I have not seen there before - a Milkcap called Lactarius circellatus which is normally found in association with Hornbeam trees. I was very doubtful of my identification until I found a webpage www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk which says that the species can also be found with Corylus avellana (Hazel) and my specimen is at the foot of a large Hazel tree

(Link to previous week’s summary)

Locally the most exciting bird news is the fledging of the first Little Egrets to leave their nests but on a wider screen we have several signs that autumn passage has already started (maybe part of it were two Little Ringed Plovers seen in the Havant Thicket area)

Insect News has three new dragonfly species and five new butterfly species (giving us a total of 30 species seen during the week - highest count so far). We have the usual list of first sightings of moth species but we also have an enigma in the discovery of a hungry horde of 20 Lackey Moth caterpillars in a tree that showed no sign of nibbling and had no silk tent to protect them. The first Scorpion Fly has been seen along with the first of the large hoverflies (Volucella pelluscens).

Plant News also has a 'who dun it' mystery - the day after I saw two eye-catching plant species that I had never seen before (Spiked Star of Bethlehem and Hairy Bindweed), and which were growing in a 'protected' wildlfower verge, all of them (nearly 100 individual plants) were cut down with a strimmer (possibly just a case of ignorance and vandalism but possibly the result of a bureaucratic agreement over the management of the site which e.g. allowed for strimming any time after the end of May). Luckily our local rarity (Hairy Vetchling) has started to flower with no such death threat (though I hear that Havant Borough's current passion for sowing wildflower seed has been extended to the adornment of 'Budds Mound' above Budds Farm Pools - it will soon be difficult to establish the authenticity of any unusual plant found in the borough)

(Skip to Insects)

Divers: A Great Northern flew past Portland on June 7 and a Red-throated was seen there on June 9

Sooty Shearwater: Four were seen in the North Sea from Spurn Point (mouth of River Humber in Yorkshire) on June 6 - second report I have seen this year after one in Poole Bay on May 17

Cormorant: Fishermen in Britain often call for a cull of Cormorants but I think there may be more justification for reducing their numbers over on the continent - on June 12 one Dutch site recorded 1226 Cormorants flying over North East with another 134 going South West

Bittern: One was still present at Rye Harbour on June 12, and on June 13 at least one was booming in the Kent Stour valley

Little Egret: On June 13 I had definite proof that some of the juveniles at Langstone Pond had fledged - one youngster with a 'punk hairstyle', drab plumage and a pale bill was sitting openly on a branch of the tree on the island in the pond, not far from a nest in that tree, and at least three other juveniles could be seen either out of their nests or 'jumping up and down, wing flapping' in nests. I estimate there have been at least thirteen nests here this year (probably more). The other breeding colony in the Chichester Harbour area (Oldpark Wood near Bosham) is said to have 14 nests this year (more than the Grey Herons which only have 12).

Grey Heron: Several sites have reported small numbers of Herons making long flights this week - maybe failed breeders dispersing from Heronries?

Mute Swan: A summer flock of at least 200 birds is currently to be seen at the head of the Fishbourne Channel near Chichester when the tide is high - they were seen on June 11 and 13 but there have been no reports of the breeding pair in this area which in the past have had up to six cygnets with them by this time of year.

Brent Goose: A small number of summering birds were seen in the Fishbourne Channel near Chichester on June 13

American Black Duck: Still present at Colliford Lake on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall on June 10 (arrived May 24)

Pochard: No doubt some have bred in Hamsphire this year (nine pairs probably bred in the county in 2007) and June 9 brought news of 5 broods of young at Oare Marshes (Faversham in north Kent)

Merganser: A few non breeding birds spend the summer in Hampshire but a report of a male + female pair in Southampton Water on June 9 is intriguing - the more so as the pair was still there on June 13. Goosanders do breed in or near Hampshire but I have no knowledge of Mergansers doing so.

Black Kite: I have noted 20 reports of Black Kites in southern England this year, seemingly a noticeable increase on past years, and June 11 brought another (very probable) sighting from the area near Ower to the west of Southampton.

Sparrowhawk: I associate this species with hunting prey on the wing but I see that on June 7 one took two Gull chicks from the ground at the Hayling Oysterbeds.

Osprey: One flew over Titchfield Common near Fareham on June 7 (going south east rather than north)

Hobby: On May 3 the Kent Stour Valley reported a total of 37 Hobbies and I expressed the opinion that this was probably a newly arrived flock which had banded together for company on migration and which would soon disperse to separate breeding territories but a report of 32 Hobbies in the same area on June 13 suggests otherwise - maybe a lot of non-breeding birds or perhaps birds travelling some distance to a place where the feeding is good?

Quail: One was flushed from downland in the Seaford area of Sussex on June 5 and another was calling at Oare Marshes (north Kent) on June 13 - so far I have only heard of them at eight sites in southern England this year so we are unlikely to have a 'Quail year'

Little Ringed Plover: Two were seen on the Gipsies Plain grassland south of Havant Thicket on June 11 - I have never heard of them here before and can only assume they were failed breeders elsewhere dropping in as they head south

Little Stint: Two were seen at the Dungeness RSPB reserve on June 6 and one in summer plumage was at Lodmoor (Weymouth) on June 13. The Lodmoor bird is probably the same that has been at Ferrybridge since at least May 12 but the Dungeness birds may be failed breeders already on autumn passage

Woodcock: Of local interest four were roding in the West Walk woods near Wickham in the Meon valley on the evening of June 12

Black-tailed Godwit: There were an estimated 300 European race birds at Oare Marshes in north Kent on June 7 and an estimated 500 there on June 11. Reports of what I assume are Icelandic non breeding birds this week come from Pulborough (15 at Waltham Brooks on June 9), Hook/Warsash (91 on June 10), Yarmouth IoW (50 on June 10). In Dorset on June 10 there were 23 at Lodmoor (Weymouth) and 11 at Brownsea Island.

Whimbrel: Around 12 were near the Hayling Oysterbeds on June 7 - possibly the very last passage birds?

Curlew: The first of these are now returning from breeding areas - Christchurch Harbour reported one going west on June 12 and 17 following it on June 13 when 'the first for some time' was seen at Southampton Water and four flew west over north Kent.

Green Sandpiper: One at Avington Lake (Itchen valley north east of Winchester) on June 2 may have been the first 'autumn passage' bird and one in the Kent Stour Valley on June 4 was regarded there as their first autumn bird. By June 9 there were 3 seen at the Dungeness RSPB reserve and on June 10 one was seen flying west along the north Kent coast and Hampshire had its first since Apr 15 at the Testwood Lakes (Southampton area)

Common Sandpiper: One at Lodmoor (Weymouth) on June 13 was the first reported in southern England for a month and was almost certainly on autumn passage.

Black-headed Gull: On the evening of June 9 more than 3000 of these gulls were seen streaming south through Christchurch Harbour with many of them still to be seen in the harbour next day - it was suggested that this might be the result of massive disturbance causing the break up of a breeding colony.

Herring Gull: Although I have not yet found proof of nesting on industrial units in the West Leigh area of north Havant I have long suspected it and had further potential evidence for it at dusk on June 13 when (at around 21:45) I watched half a dozen flying inland over my garden - normally gulls which have been foraging inland during the day would have flown south by that time of day to spend the night in the safety of the harbours and the only reason I can think of for the birds going inland when it was almost dark was if they were returning to nests after feeding in the harbours.

Kittiwake: A count of the nests on the cliffs in the Newhaven area on June 10 recorded 109 nests - a slight increase on 103 recorded in 2008

Common Tern: The first chicks hatched at the Hayling Oysterbeds (where 35 pairs are nesting) on June 7

Little Tern: On June 8 Chris Cockburn (Langstone Harbour RSPB warden) reported 40 pairs currently nesting on the RSPB islands where the first chicks have hatched. Also on June 8 there was news from Rye Harbour that the few birds there (9 reported on May 3) had all failed to nest. No further news from Pagham Harbour since May 26 when 3 pairs were nesting there.

Black Tern: One was seen at Dungeness on June 9 and one was at Hook/Warsash on June 10

Ring-necked Parakeet: Outside the massive population in the London area I am only aware of two established colonies, both very small. One is in the Thanet area of Kent, the other at Swanage in Dorset and five birds of this colony were seen at Durlston on June 10

Barn Owl: One was seen to catch a vole at the Kench in south Hayling on June 6 - presumably one of a pair that seems to be based in that area (and may possibly nest in one of the nest boxes on poles to be seen in the Golf Course).

Little Owl: One or two were reported intermittently in January and March this year in the Stoke Common area west of the Hayling Oysterbeds and they may have bred successfully as I hear from Brian Fellows that there have been several recent sightings in the northernmost field on the east side of the Hayling Coastal Path.

Nightjar: Three were churring in the West Walk Woodland (near Wickham in the Meon Valley) on the evenign of June 12

Swift: I occasionally see one over Havant leading me to assume that one pair is still nesting here but on the evening of June 13 the single bird came over in the dusk, followed at a short distance by six others in a tight flock - maybe the latter are birds that will breed for the first time next year and are now checking out potential nest sites (none of the usual screaming from these birds - perhaps an indication that they could not see any 'desireable nest sites' worth shouting about?)

Great Spotted Woodpecker: One was seen feeding on a road kill somewhere in Hampshire on June 8 and the observer expresed surprise at this choice of food but since then Mike Wearing has told us of seeing similar 'meat eating' by Woodpeckers on the continent.

Wheatear: The presence of a female at Thorness Bay (north coast of Isle of Wight) on June 12 suggests that these have started to move south as I am not aware of any Wheatears breeding on the Island (or at least not on the north coast) and there have been no reports of the species on the Island since a Greenland bird was reported passing through at the Bembridge RSPB reserve on May 23

Mistle Thrush: A pair with five juveniles was seen on the Gipsies Plain (south of Havant Thicket) on June 11

Firecrest: See my diary entry for June 12 for my description of what I think was Firecrest song heard in the Fishbourne area near Chichester that day

Marsh Tit: It is not too many years since Willow Tits bred in Stansted Forest - they are no longer to be found there and Marsh Tit numbers have also declined but at least one Marsh Tit was still there on June 8

Tree Creeper: One seen in Stansted Forest on June 8 carrying food for young.

Golden Oriole: Another late arrival in southern England was heard singing at Sandwich Bay on June 12 before flying on north.

Carrion Crow: The regular flock in the Weston Shore area of Southampton Water numbered 160 on June 13 - last year there were 250 there in August and in 2005 there were 320 in October

(Skip to Plants)

(Skip to Other Wildlife)

Mare's Tail: A bigger than usual display of this in Fishbourne village pond near Chichester on June 13 (the only other local site which I know of for this plant is Aldsworth Pond north of Emsworth)

Opium Poppy: This started to flower around Havant on June 9

Dittander: The usual display of this plant (which does not occur in Hampshire) will soon be seen at Fishbourne (Chichester) - on June 12 the first flowers were about to open.

Rockrose: First report of this in flower from Oxenbourne Down (south of Butser Hill) on June 8

Rose Campion (Lychnis coronaria): This is abundant on the sandy grass south of the Hayling Golf Course and is probably flowering there now as garden escape versions here in Havant were out on June 9

Common Orache: First sight of these plants in (or about to) flower at Fishbourne on June 12

Bastard Toadflax: Worth looking for these 'stars in the grass' on Portsdown after the first report of plants flowering at Durlston on June 9

Restharrow: First flowers seen at the Hayling Oysterbeds on June 9

Tufted Vetch: Flowering on the Broadmarsh Mountain on June 9 - first for year

Hairy Vetchling: This rarity, which has its only known Hampshire site on the Broadmarsh Mountain, had some 13 plants in flower on June 9

White Melilot: First flowers seen in June 9 beside the railline just west of the Havant station signal box

Meadowsweet: First flowering at Fishbourne on June 12

Dropwort: Flowering on Portsdown on June 10 (west end of Compartment 9 roughly south of the Churchillian pub)

Hoary Willowherb: First flowers found on June 9

Enchanters Nightshade: Flowering at Durlston on June 8 and should be out in shady places everywhere now (there is a mass of these plants at Hurstwood in Waterlooville) - seen in Southleigh Forest area north of Emsworth on June 12

Large Flowered Evening Primrose: First flower seen by the roadside at Nutbourne (east or Emsworth) on June 12

Wild Celery: Flowering at Fishbourne on June 12

Fool's Water Cress: First flowering in Fishbourne village pond on June 13

Bog Pimpernel: This was flowering in the SSSI wet meadow at Warblington Farm on June 3 and seen at a new site somewhere on the Gipsies Plain (south of Havant Thicket) on the same day.

Hairy Bindweed (Calystegia pulchra): I was unaware of this species of Bindweed until June 7 when Brian Fellows discovered a small cluster of perhaps 8 plants flowering by the roadside of Appledram Lane at Fishbourne (Chichester) close to the Spiked Star of Bethlehem plants. I saw the plants for myself on June 12 but on June 13 both they and the Star of Bethlehem plants had been cut down (the reason for cutting is not yet known - possibly the plants are protected by an agreement not to clear the roadside vegetation until June?)

Thorn Apple: On June 9 one small plant had started to come up in a flower bed immediately west of the Havant Rail Station building (south side) where plants have grown in previous years (but have been eliminated as soon as the station staff recognise the plant)

Black Nightshade: One very early plant with one flower open found at Fishbourne on June 12

Blue Water Speedwell: One or two examples of what is thought to be the rare pure form of this plant (and not the common hybrid form) were found flowering at Fishbourne by Brian Fellows on June 11 and 13

Skullcap: The beautiful blue flowers of this were found at a regular site in Emsworth (by the Lumley stream outside the Lumley road cottages) on June 11

Buddleia davidii: This common 'butterfly bush' started to flower here in Havant on June 10

Common Valerian: First report of this in flower come from Oxenbourne Down (Butser Hill) on June 8

Hedge Bedstraw: First flowers seen in Stansted Forest on June 8

Bristly Ox-tongue: Flowering in more than one place around Havant on June 9

Perennial Sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis): One plant in flower at Broadmarsh on June 9

Narrow-leaved Waterplantain: First flowers seen on June 8 beside the Westbrook Stream in Emsworth (along the course of which this plant is spreading)

Spiked Star-of-Bethlehem: Plants at the north end of Appledram Lane at Fishbourne (Chichester) were well out when Brian Fellows saw them on June 9 (see http://www.emsworthwildlife.com/0-0-0-wildlife-diary.htm entries for June 10 and 11). I understand from Brian that the largest number of spikes found here in previous years was 48 but this year there was a massive increase to the 83 spikes I found on June 12 (the day before the plants were all cut down - see entry above for Hairy Bindweed)

Stinking Iris: Flowers out at Durlston on June 10

Greater Butterfly Orchid: First report of flowers from Oxenbourne Down (Butser Hill) on June 8

Lesser Butterfly Orchid: Flowering in the New Forest on May 31

Common Spotted Orchid: An estimated count of 5000 plants seen in the Botley Woods north of Fareham on June 12

Otter: Three were seen on the deck of a boat moored in Christchurch Harbour just before midnight on June 9 by a marine security patrol

Roe: The deer on north Hayling fields have at least one kid this year - on June 12 a Buck was seen with 2 does and a tiny kid following them with difficulty.

Hare: A Havant Wildlife Group walk party saw one on the north face of Portsdown as they were climbing the hill on Pigeon House Lane at the end of an evening walk on June 10. Three were seen in the Folkestone area of Kent on June 4

Pipistrelle: Until the evening of June 13 I had seen no bats in my Havant garden despite some warm evenings but a Pipistrelle was feeding here on that evening. On June 14 I was told of an unusual sighting recently near Stoughton Church (head of Ems valley) - several people, none of the able to identify bats, saw a bat hanging in full sight from a low branch of a tree, apparently asleep and not disturbed by the noises made by the people crowded round it.

Fungi: A troop of half a dozen what were assumed to be Dung Roundheads seen on saline turf close to the Fishbourne Channel near Chichester on June 12 (no obvious dung here where no cattle feed). Also this week I hear that the 'egg' of a second Stinkhorn is present in a Langstone garden where one came up recently and was decapitated (probably by Foxes).

(Link to previous week’s summary)

Unexpected birds in this weeks new have been Black-eared Wheatear, Greenish Warbler, Gull-billed Tern, and Eleonora's Falcon plus an American Black Duck in Cornwall and a recantation of the claim to have seen a Stilt Sandpiper recently in Kent. Local interest lies in counts of birds nesting in Langstone Harbour, an unexpected Nightingale singing in Havant Thicket and the apparent demise of House Martin nesting on Stansted House and in East St at Chichester

New Insects include Common Darter and Scarce Chaser dragonflies and the first Marbled White butterflies. Thirty new moths include a micro which has followed the Painted Ladies north from Africa and is only the third to be recorded in Britain and another which flies south from Scotland to be seen as a rarity on the English east coast - this year one has gone further than ever and been recorded as a first for Dorset at Portland. Here in Havant the first Glow-worm of the season has lit up in Havant Thicket

New Flowers include a cluster of Sea Clover found at Warblington Farm as a new species for the SU 70 ten km square

(Skip to Insects)

Red-throated Diver: One off Portland on June 4 and maybe the same bird in the Solent off Titchfield Haven on June 5 (possibly both reports are of the bird that was off Hayling Island on May 25 - both the Hampshire sightings were of a bird in winter plumage)

Black-throated Diver: Two off the Dutch coast on June 5

Slavonian Grebe: The summer plumaged bird is still in the Exe estuary (Devon) - seen June 3

Black-necked Grebe: Two summer plumaged birds at Paxton Pits (by the Bedforshire Ouse on the Cambridgeshire border on May 31

Fulmar: One flew inland from the Titchfield Haven shore on June 5 - maybe prospecting for inland nest sites like those seen in Sussex recently and noted in my summary for Week 20

Bittern: Nothing new in a report of one booming in the Kent Stour Valley on June 4 but one seen at Rye Harbour that day was I think unusual for Sussex at this time of year

Great White Egret: June 1 brought two reports of one flying west along the south coast - one seen from south Hayling and the other at Christchurch Harbour (could they have been the same bird?). The bird seen at Christchurch was almost certainly the one seen in the Poole Harbour area on June 3

Spoonbill: A juvenile seen flying east just north of Bognor on May 29 and two newly arrived at Sandwich Bay on June 4

Mute Swan: A late hatching family appeared in Emsworth Harbour on June 2 - a pair with four tiny cygnets. These may have come from the Little Deeps on Thorney Island where a pair were present (with one sitting) on Apr 21 though I could not be certain if they were there on May 19 (nothing to be seen of either nest or sitting bird in the nest area which was then concealed by new growth though there were three other adults at the east end of the Deeps) but they could have come from the Northney marina saltings where a pair were nest building on Apr 2 and one bird was sitting on May 20. So far there have been no white plumaged ('Polish') cygnets in the Emsworth area but two out of six cygnets in a family currently at the Oare Marshes in north Kent are of the Polish type (no mention of their parents)

Shelduck: The adults will soon be leaving us for their moult area on the north German shore and when they do go they will leave this years young in flocks with one or two adults in charge of the young (most of which will not be their own offspring). A first sign of this is reported from the Rye Bay area where a pair of adults which had recently been seen with 7 ducklings (presumably their own) were seen on June 1 to have suddenly acquired a flock of 21 ducklings apparently all in their care (and with no other adults around). At Christchurch Harbour there were still 24 adults on June 5 but no juveniles yet seen there

American Black Duck: This is a close relative of Mallard and is resident in north America but occasionally reaches Britain and it seems that one has been on Colliford Lake (Bodmin Moor in Cornwall) from May 24 to June 4 at least

Garganey: Quite a few are probably attempting to breed in southern England (I have 108 reports for this year so far, coming from at least 19 sites) so a report of a female with ducklings at Rye Harbour on June 4 is not surprising

Hooded Merganser: The young male which turned up at Weymouth in June last year is still at Radipole but is no longer in the news as the consensus among birders is that it is an escapee with no urge to do what a wild male might do - i.e. go in search of a mate

Red Breasted Merganser: A first summer female seen off Titchfield Haven on June 5 is the first to be reported since one was at the other end of the Solent (off Barton) on May 11

Honey Buzzard: One seen going east over Weir Wood reservoir near Crowborough on June 2 and another going west over the Southwick area of Brighton on June 3

Black Kite: One is reported to have flown south over the Blashford Lakes (Ringwood) on May 31. This is the tenth bird to be reported over southern England since May 5 and since (as far as I know!) Black Kites do not breed in England I presume these have all come from the continent. This must increase the likelihood that some if not all the many Red Kites currently being seen in southern England (often heading north from the channel coast) have come from the continent and are not just 'English' birds that have been on a day trip to the south coast and are seen returning to (perhaps) Luton or Birmingham where immigrants to this country like to settle!

Red Kite: Latest news of possible immigrant Red Kites comes from Bognor where, on May 31, a group fo five were seen for some time closely enough to see that none had wing tags and the only two had the rich red tails of adults, making it likely that this was a family group. Another coastal sighting was of two heading east over the Leigh Park area of Havant on June 1. Red Kite sightings now occur daily in Hampshire and Sussex and a group studying the birds in southern England is aware of at least 11 breeding pairs with nests in Hampshire (though that is a probably only a small part of the total in the county)

Montagu's Harrier: A 'probable' was seen of the Creekmoor residential area of Poole (north of Holes Bay and adjacent to Upton Heath) on May 31

Hobby: One spent a couple of hours chasing Swifts over the Leigh Park area of Havant on the morning of June 1 (presumably failing to catch one).

Eleonora's Falcon: A report of one over Christchurch town area on May 31 has not had any subsequent confirmation.

Peregrine: The four chicks in the nest on Chichester cathedral are thought to be very close to fleding and are expected to feature in theTV Springwatch programme during the coming week

Common Crane: Two flew south over Paxton Pits in Cambridgeshire on May 31 (first report I know of since May 11 when one flew over Rye Harbour)

Oriental Pratincole: The bird which was a one day wonder at Pagham Harbour north walls on May 28 made another one day appearance at Dungeness RSPB reserve on June 3 (and I hear rumours that it may then have moved to north Kent)

Little Ringed Plover: One seen at the Farlington 'Deeps' on May 31

Stilt Sandpiper: The report in last week's summary of a sighting in the Kent Stour Valley on May 30 has been retracted - the observer now thinks he saw a Curlew Sandpiper

Ruff: A single female (Reeve) was seen at the Oare Marshes (near Faversham in Kent) on June 6

Woodcock: At least two were roding in Havant Thicket on May 31

Black-tailed Godwit: 10 seen at Pulborough Brooks on June 1 may have been breeding birds still heading for Iceland but other flocks reported in Hampshire, Dorset and the IoW this week are probably non-breeding birds of the Icelandic race (e.g. 150+ in Poole Harbour, 32 in Christchurch Harbour, 45 at Farlington Marshes, and 42 at Yarmouth on the IoW). The flocks in north Kent (at least 280 at Oare Marshes on June 5) are, I think, of the race which breeds in East Anglia and across Europe but a recent sighting of one in north Kent wearing a colour ring which was thought to identify it as an Icelandic bird threw doubt on my assumption but it is now known that the ring concerned was fitted to a chick hatched in East Anglia, suggesting that my idea that these birds in Kent are of the European race is probably correct.

Whimbrel: Spring passage is drawing to an end for these birds - two passing Portland on May 30 and 5 at Christchurch Harbour on June 5 may have been on passage but singles at Farlington Marshes on June 3 and at Hook/Warsash on June 6 may well have given up the race and settled here as non-breeders for the summer

Green Sandpiper: One in the Kent Stour Valley on June 4 could be the first bird on 'autumn passage' - that is suggested by the observer there and the same thought entered my mind when I read of one at Avington (between Winchester and Alresford) on June 2

Wood Sandpiper: One seen at Paxton Pits in Cambridgeshire on May 31

Pomarine Skua: The annual 'Pom King' race between seawatchers at Selsey Bill has been won by someone known as Sam Hill with a score of just 16 birds seen this spring. The odd bird is still passing up Channel - one in the Seaford area on June 3 and another off Hengistbury Head on June 6

Med Gull: 137 pairs are nesting on South Binness Island in Langstone Harbour, exceeding the 90 pairs at Rye Harbour

Black-headed Gull: Some 5278 pairs are nesting on two of the RSPB Islands in Langstone Harbour (with another 450 prs at the Oysterbeds) compared to just 1600 pairs at Rye Harbour (where the first chicks are already starting to fly)

Lesser Blackback: These are rare in Langstone and Chichester Harbours at this time of year when compared to the many (mostly immature) Great Blackbacks but at least one pair of Lessers were nesting on the Langstone RSPB Islands until a Chinook helicopter recently made a low pass over the islands. The pair (named after ruthless Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her husband Dennis, and famed for their predation of eggs and chicks belonging to other species) survived the airborne attack and may re-nest.

Herring Gull: Horsham has joined the list of inland towns where these gulls nest on roof tops - one pair has already raised two chicks and four other birds have been showing interest in nesting there.

Glaucous Gull: The Newlyn Harbour bird in Cornwall was still there on June 4

Gull-billed Tern: One seen flying west in the Keyhaven area (Lymington) on June 4 may be the same bird that was at Topsham in Devon on May 23 and so may be seen again.

Sandwich Tern: 153 pairs were nesting on South Binness in Langstone Harbour until the high tides at the end of May washed out many of their nests

Roseate Tern: Two have been seen at Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour on May 29, 31 and June 2 and one was in the Hurst area near Lymington on June 1 but all these may now have moved on as Dungeness reported 2 on June 4 and 1 on June 5

Common Tern: 93 pairs nesting on the Langstone RSPB islands

Arctic Tern: We may not see many of these on our south coast but a Dutch site reported the passage of 1125 on June 5

Little Tern: Despite the failure of any of these to nest at the Hayling Oysterbeds this year around 35 pairs are nesting on the RSPB Islands out in Langstone Harbour

Black Tern: At least 12 and maybe 15 were seen briefly in a loose flock off Titchfield Haven on June 2

Little Owl: These are often difficult to see when they are breeding but suddenly appear when their chicks have fledged and this weeks reports reflect this with more than one report of e.g. Owls perched on telegraph poles well before dusk but there are also reports saying that these Owls cannot be found in traditional sites and asking if the species is in decline...

Nightjar: Five were detected during an evening visit to Havant Thicket on May 31

Kingfisher: A breeding pair can rear up to three broods, each of up to 7 young, each summer, While the young are in the nest they are well fed by their parents but as soon as they can fly and leave the nest their parents chase them out of their territory without any fishing lessons. This permits the adults to get one with raising the next brood but also means that many of the juveniles soon die from starvation, drowning or flying into things - if you do come across a corpse at this time of the year the feet and bill will show if it is an adult (bright orange feet and black-tipped bill) or a juvenile (black feet and white tip to the bill). The reason for these remarks is that a single Kingfisher unexpectedly appeared at Christchurch Harbour on June 1- I suspect this was a juvenile which had, against the odds, made its way down river to the harbour (adults would not normally reach the coast until September when their breeding season is over)

Red-rumped Swallow: One was seen on June 2 at the west end of Portsdown near the M27 Fareham junction (it was reported over Pook Lane which runs parallel to the north side of the M27 from this juction to the A32). Another was reported on June 4 in The Lizard area of Cornwall

House Martin: Lawrence Holloway has been to Stansted House and failed to detect a single active nest there on June 6 - he also says that there are no pairs nesting on the tall buildings in East Street at Chichester this year

Nightingale: One was unexpectedly heard singing in the Havant Thicket area on the evening of May 31 - possibly a failed breeder elsewhere which had come here in search of a new mate (this is the first time I have heard of Nightingale song in Havant Thicket though the Inhurst and Outhurst woods were once a hot spot for them further west where most of the woodland was cut to build the A3M and to build the new housing which now lines the west side to the A3M)

Black-eared Wheatear: One was seen and photographed on St Agnes in the Scillies on June 2 and 3

Greenish Warbler: One seen and heard siging near Brixham in Devon on June 5

Golden Oriole: One singing on St Mary's (Scillies) on June 4, one singing at Reculver (north Kent) on June 5 before flying on north and another joining the dawn chorus in the hamlet of Plastow Green in Hampshire (north of Kingsclere and close to the Berkshire border) on June 5

Starlings: Small flocks of these can be seen almost anywhere now that the young are out of their nest but the first report of a large flock (around 500) comes from the Oare Marshes in north Kent - adults and young emerged from a reedbed roost there at dawn on June 6

Corn Bunting: Another local sighting by Brian Fellows on June 5 in the Funtington area west Chichester. His bird was in the fields between the MoD site by the road west of Funtington and Racton Park Farm.

(Skip to Plants)

Butterflies

31 species reported during the week, including the first Marbled White and Heath Fritillary

(Skip to Other Wildlife)

Mousetail: Flowering at Newtown Harbour on the Isle of Wight on May 30

Water Cress: First flowers at Warblington Farm on June 3

Perforate St Johns Wort: Found flowering on Thorney Island on June 3

Corn Cockle: At least one plant started to flower on Brook Meadow in Emsworth on June 4 - presumably a garden escape as this was not an area where wildflower seed was deliberately sown.

Bog Stitchwort: First flowers seen at a regular site beside the eastern stream of Warblington Farm on June 3

Dyer's Greenweed: First flowers seen at Newtown Harbour on the Isle of Wight on May 30

Yellow Vetch: First flowers seen at Camber Castle on Rye Bay on May 31

Sea Clover (Trifolium squamosum): This new plant for the 10 Km square SU 70 has suddenly appeared in large numbers in the south-west most field of Warblington Farm adjacent to Nore Barn wood at Emsworth. On June 3 I found a couple of large clumps from which specimens have subsequently been confirmed as Sea Clover by Martin Rand (south Hants plant recorder) and on June 6 Brian Fellows spent some time in the field and found three times as many plants as I saw.

Broad-leaved Everlasting Pea: First flower seen on June 1 outside the Havant multi-storey carpark

American and Square-stalked Willowherbs: A number of Willowherbs which to my eyes looked like Square-stalked Willowherb have appeared in Havant recently and on June 6 I cracked the id problem when I looked at the plant stems under a microscope. The American species has a noticeable number of glandular hairs at the top of the stem and on the flowers and has no ridges on its round stems. Square-stalked has no glandular hairs and does have ridges running down the stem.

Common Lime: These trees were in flower in Havant on June 1

Pale Persicaria: Flowering at Warblington Farm on June 3

Brookweed: Flowering in the marshy SSSI at Warblington Farm on June 3

Bog Pimpernel: Flowering in the marshy SSSI at Warblington Farm on June 3

Sea Milkwort: Flowering in the marshy SSSI at Warblington Farm on June 3

Large Bindweed: First flowers seen in Emsworth on June 4

Lesser Snapdragon aka Weasels Snout (Misopates orontium): Many plants flowering at the New Lane allotments in Havant in a Potato patch on June 6 (with no need to weed around these plants the Snapdragon thrives)

Hybrid Water Speedwell: First flowers at Brook Meadow in Emsworth on June 4

Sea Plantain: First flowers in wet areas of Warblington Farm on June 6

Marsh Valerian: More plants than usual beside the eastern stream on Warblington Farm but when I first saw them on June 3 the flowers had all gone to seed

Scented Mayweed: First flowers found at Warblington Farm on June 3

Corn Chamomile look-alike (Anthemis austriaca): This had started to flower on June 3 in the area of the Warblington Cemtery extension where wildflower seed has been sown

Marsh Cudweed: Starting to 'flower' at Warblington Farm on June 3

Marsh Thistle: One or two flowers starting to open at Warblington Farm on June 3

Creeping Thistle: Flowering in Emsworth on June 6

Milk Thistle: First of year was a single flower at the Hayling Oysterbeds on June 2

Wall Lettuce: Flowering on the walls outside Homewell House in Havant on June 1

Smooth Hawksbeard: Coming into flower from June 1

Southern Marsh Orchid: On June 3 I counted 230 flowering spikes in the Warblington Farm SSSI (where in the past I have had as many as 800). I also read that the only known cluster of plants near Pegwell Bay in Kent have been dug up and removed (presumably to die in some garden where the soil and fungus are not suitable)

Arrowgrass: Both Marsh and Sea Arrowgrass were flowering in the Warblington Farm SSSI on June 3

Surprisingly, nothing to report this week