Local sightings

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August 2009

1st
a Garden Tiger larva wandered across Vinns Lane where a Green Woodpecker was 'laughing'. Ten Swift were over Woodlands / Lion Close, perhaps the last of the year locally? Ten Painted Lady were seen in various parts of the village. A Blackcap was verbal in Glebe Meadow. A Buzzard moved south-east mid-morning. Five Magpie were on the B3400 between Overton Hill and Berrydown early morning, presumably tidying up after the nights' wildlife RTA's. Belated news was of a Kingfisher at Flashetts on 26th July.
2nd
the Society went abroad, well out of the Parish and into Laverstoke Park, with a Raven, three+ Buzzard, nine+ Painted Lady, Brown Hare, Liquid Amber, Turkish Hazel, Red Oak, Borage and Cut-leaved Beech among the species recorded on the late morning amble. A Magpie Moth was a very early morning visitor to a conservatory, a Straw Underwing then being added in the 'trap' later that morning and a larval Cinnabar Moth yet later in the day. Several Swift moved south-west during the evening, Lesser Black-backed Gull being seen heading the opposite way in much larger numbers. An unexpected road casualty at The White Hart was a Red-legged Partridge, a Buzzard moving to trees by the Stud, perhaps to roost, being in a somewhat better state.
3rd
a Stoat was seen looking predatory off Southington Lane. A Red Kite moved low over Kingsclere Road gardens. Pebble Hook-tip was the best of Woodlands mothing, Painted Lady and increased numbers of Peacock also being noted there.
4th
two Hedgehog graced a Lordsfield Garden garden late evening, Painted Lady, Comma, Peacock, Gatekeeper, Large White, Brimstone and Common Blue also being seen there in the brighter hours. Rosy Minor, Oak Hook-tip and Cydia splendana were all moths encountered for this first time this year. Recently hatched Dunnock were vocal in Woodlands.
5th
an Agapeta hamana was the first of the year to be attracted to local lighting, other micro moths included Catoptria pinella and Bird-cherry Ermine. A Swift moved west, with two Swallow, middish-afternoon.
6th
Myothropa florea a Cormorant was seen moving over the village.
Right: Myothropa florea - Closely allied to Drone Fly, a common garden visitor, this is 'easily' identified as it is the only wasp-like hoverfly with horizontal striping on the thorax; here on Hemp Agrimony
7th
Fennel attracted hundreds of invertebrates in Woodlands, including the hoverfly Myothropa florea. A Sparrowhawk glided north over the High Street mid-afternoon.
8th
nine Silver-washed Fritillary at Micheldever Spoil Heaps were joined by 62+ Peacock, 32+ Large White, 17+ Painted Lady, ten Six-spot Burnet, four Cinnabar Moth larvae, two Common Groundhopper, 17 Dark Bush-cricket, singing Stock Dove and flowering Ploughman's Spikenard, among others!
9th
a Honey Bee was an unusual garden visitor for some.
10th
a male Lesser Stag Beetle was found among trees in Poyntz Road. 52 Canada Geese at The Source of The Test had two Greylag for company. Red-barred Tortrix, Red Twin-spot Carpet and Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing were additions for the mothing year in Woodlands.
11th
many Robin were in song while a Little Owl was heard mid-evening. Grey Heron, Canada Geese and Tufted Duck were at The Source of The Test.
12th
Butterbur moth
new for the year in Woodlands were Dusky Thorn, Orange Swift and Yellow-barred Brindle, moths such as these perhaps attracting the pipistrelle sp. seen early morning.
13th
90+ Harlequin Ladybird larvae were found on a house in the High Street, Overton. In Woodlands the best of the mothing were Gold Spot, Dusky Thorn, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Svensson's Copper Underwing, Mouse Moth and Straw Dot.
Right: Butterbur, Hydraecia petasitis (Picture: Alison Cross), Station road - A rarely recorded moth in the county and possibly the first for the Parish
14th
a Butterbur was noted at a light in Station Road.
17th
Hedgehog
four Gadwall were at The Source of The Test early evening on another very summery day.
18th
both male and female Tawny Owl were vocal early morning. Three Hedgehog were continuing to visit a Lordsfield Gardens garden overnight.
Hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus (Picture: David Backers) - The smallest of the three currently visiting a Lordsfield Gardens garden on a regular basis
19th
Rosy Rustic was new for the year in Woodlands.
20th
a pipistrelle sp. was active early morning about Woodlands.
23rd
Elephant Hawk-moth unidentified micromoth an unidentified micro moth became the latest addition to one garden, over 500 species already having been recorded there. A larval Elephant Hawk-moth was found in another garden.
micro moth sp. (Picture: Alison Cross), Station Road - What is it, apart from very small?
Far right: Elephant Hawk-moth, Deilephila elpenor (Picture: Jay Hutchins), Woodlands - Primarily feeding on willowherb sp. but noted regularly on fuchsia in gardens
24th
a Eudonia pallida was the first of the year in Woodlands.
26th
Six-striped Rustic and Swallow Prominent were all added for the year in Woodlands. A Grey Wagtail moved west over the village as dusk approached.
28th
the tortrix Apotomis betuletana was new for 2009 in Woodlands.
29th
at least six Silver Y were visiting blossom shortly after dusk in Woodlands.
30th
the spiders Araneus diadematus and Drassodes cupreus were identified today, having originally being found near a moth trap.
31st
a Nuthatch was an unexpected garden visitor, partaking of peanuts three time in an hour in Lordsfield Gardens. A Grey Heron stood disconsolately in a harvested field west of the Golf Course. Mouse Moth, Svensson's Copper Underwing, Rush Veneer and V-Pug were the best of a good night of mothing while a Painted Lady moved north later in day.

Contributors: David Backers, Alison Cross, Alison Hutchins, Bryher Hutchins, Jay Hutchins, Peter E. Hutchins, Ken MacKenzie, Sue Molton & Lynne Ridler-Wall.


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