Back to .... Homepage ---------------------------------------------------- LOCAL WILDLIFE DIARY - APRIL 2010 DIARY ARCHIVES . . . January, 2010 . . . February, 2010 . . . March 1-15, 2010 . . . March 16-31, 2010 Wildlife News Summaries . . . Fortnightly summaries of the local wildlife news RALPH HOLLINS NEWS - Ralph is not at present able to keep his web site up-dated. So, for the time being, I am including any observations that Ralph sends me on this web site. . . . THURSDAY APRIL 15 BROOK MEADOW Bee nesting area I went over to the meadow this morning mainly to take photos of the conservation work session. One interesting new job was the creation of nesting areas for solitary bees on the advice of professional entomologist, Bryan Pinchen. Two volunteers were removing patches of vegetation from the embankment in the south eastern corner of the south meadow. It remains to be seen how long these areas remain free of vegetation. Other observations The Cetti's Warbler was singing from the Lumley Stream area where Tony Wootton saw it yesterday. The Ash saplings at the west end of the causeway are flowering, probably for the first time. All 20 trees in Gwynne's Rowan plantation on the east side of the north meadow look to be in good condition. I found the first spikes of Distant Sedge just starting to show on the Lumley area, but there was no sign of any Divided Sedge. HOLLYBANK WOODS I did a recce for Sunday's 'Bird Song and Flowers' walk that I will be leading for the Friends of Hollybank Woods on Sunday. The weather was fine and sunny and largely sheltered from the chilly northerly wind. I did a full circuit of the western section plus a bit of the eastern section. I will do a recce of the eastern section and Longcopse Hill on another occasion. Birds There was certainly plenty of bird song in the woodland this morning with Robins in particularly good voice., Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were also prominent; I counted 11 Blackcaps and 6 Chiffchaffs during the walk. There was no sound of Willow Warbler though there is some suitable habitat in the western section with lots of Birch scrub growing. Other birds heard during the walk were Wren, Nuthatch, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Jay, Carrion Crow and Pheasant. I did not hear or see any Buzzards. Spring flowers There were very little in the way of spring flowers. I had a look at the Bluebells in the south eastern section. There were a few in flower, but they, in common with most other flowers this spring, are very late. The Wild Cherry tree near the Bluebells has some blossom on it, but not as much as expected. BUTTERFLIES There were not as many butterflies on the wing in Hollybank Woods as might be expected on a warm sunny morning like this. However, I did see my first Green-veined White of the year on the Holly Lodge clearing, plus a few Peacock, Comma and Brimstone. One butterfly that flew off before I could get a good at it might have been a Small Tortoiseshell.   When I got home I found a Holly Blue on the Ivy hedge in my back garden, another first for the year. GREEN TIGER BEETLE As I was walking round the western circular path in Hollybank Woods, a green beetle with cream spots on its wings flew down onto the path in front of me. I took a few photos and left it to its own devices. I was delighted and somewhat surprised to be able to identify fairly easily it from Michael Chinery's 'Guide to Insects' as a Green Tiger Beetle. Beetles are usually far more difficult to identify. According to the book, it lives mainly on heathland, sand dunes and other sandy places. There was no sand where I saw it though the habitat is open and slightly heathy. Tiger beetles are sun-loving insects with huge eyes and jaws. They fly well with a buzzing sound, though I did not hear this one. They hunt ants and other prey on the ground and live in open habitats. They are among the fastest runner in the insect world, though this one did not move at all as I inspected it with my binoculars and took some photos. About a dozen species live in Europe. SLENDER SPEEDWELL VS. COMMON FIELD SPEEDWELL I think I may have cracked the Speedwell problem that I was wrestling with yesterday. I have been looking around Emsworth today and found several examples of what I am fairly sure were Common Field Speedwell. In comparison with the Slender Speedwell that are growing on the Bridge Road Nature Reserve grass verge they are more substantial plants and less prostrate and mat-forming. In contrast, the Slender Speedwell on the Bridge Road site has grown in fairly dense patches, which fits the description in the plant guides. Interestingly, I also found some Common Field Speedwell on the Bridge Road site, but growing on the edge of the pavements and beneath hedges, not on the grass like the Slender Speedwell. I also found some Ivy-leaved Speedwell beneath the hedge at the northern entrance to the car park. RAVENS ?? Gavin Miller, who keeps an eye on the wildlife on and around Slipper Millpond, rang me last night to say a neighbour of his told him he thought he had seen a Raven near Slipper Millpond. We both thought this was very unlikely, though interesting enough to keep an eye out for any similar sightings. Well, Gavin phoned me again this evening to say that he himself had seen what he thought was a pair of Ravens along Slipper Road at about 6pm. He said they were larger than Carrion Crows, though they did not call. I went down there myself at about 6.30pm and had a wander around the area without seeing anything. I note no local Ravens have been reported on the SOS Sightings, which would be surprising for such a large and obvious bird. LOCAL BIRD BREEDING NEWS Following the first Mallard ducklings of the year on Peter Pond yesterday, Caroline French had her first fledgling of the year in her north Emsworth garden yesterday - a Robin. It appears to be doing well and was still around this morning. Caroline thinks it is possible there is more than one because both parents are around but not always at the same time so it may be that they are looking after more than one. Also, a Greenfinch was collecting nesting material from her lawn yesterday and a Mistle Thrush was collecting nesting material from the lawn of a house on the corner of Longfield Road and Southleigh Road. In my garden, the Blue Tits abandoned their nest in the nest box on the shed. However, a pair of Starlings regularly go into a hole under the eaves of my next door neighbour's house with nesting material in their bills. Starlings have nested in this roof in most years. WEDNESDAY APRIL 14 MALLARD DUCKLINGS I had a look around Peter Pond on my way back from the shops this morning. A very chilly wind was blowing from the north. I was pleased to see my first family of Mallard of the year, with 10 tiny ducklings them following mum and another isolated duckling, probably making 11 in all. The Mute Swan and Coot were both snug on their nests on the main island, both easily visible from the road. CETTI'S WARBLER The Cetti's Warbler was singing as usual from the reedbeds to the north of the pond at about 11am this morning. No sound of any Reed Warbler as yet. Tony Wootton had 4 views of the Cetti's Warbler at about 4.30 this afternoon. Tony clearly has a special relationship with this bird. 1) standing with back to info board and facing Lumley gate, it was in the hedge to the left of the gate. 2) flew out over the gate and landed in the hedge opposite the gate 3) flew out to the reed beds where Tony got 2 photos by standing on the footbridge and looking south and right into that very narrow strip of half cut reeds 4) flew out over Tony and the Lumley road bridge never to be seen or heard again even though Tony hung around 1/2 an hour. Here is one of Tony's photos of the Cetti's Warbler WATER VOLES We had three more Water Vole sightings today, all in different parts of the river, taking the total for the year to 19. Details on the web site . . . http://www.brook-meadow.hampshire.org.uk/bm-water-voles.html 1. Pam Phillips phoned this evening to say she had seen a Water Vole at 7.30am swimming in the river about 10 yards north of the north bridge and well before the bend. It disappeared into a burrow hole on the west bank. This is the first sighting from this area, apart from an early one near the outfall. 2. Frances Jannaway saw her first Water Vole of the year at about 12.15pm, just north of the south bridge. The vole swam upstream on the eastern bank, got out of the water and had a scratch before crossing the river and swimming upstream on the western bank. 3. I had the good fortune to see a Water Vole also at 12.15pm on the section of river parallel to the railway. I spotted vegetation moving on the river bank about 3 metres to the right of where the wooden bank support ends. After a few minutes waiting and watching, I was rewarded with a tantalising glimpse of a eye and a nose, but nothing more. This was the 5th sighting of the year from this section of the river, where we have had none at all in previous years. POND SEDGES I collected another sample of Pond Sedge from the river bank opposite the Bulrushes. Like the one I collected from the river bank in Palmer's Road Copse yesterday, this one also had pointed male glumes identifying it as Greater Pond Sedge. HAVANT Jean needed to go to Havant this afternoon, so I went over as well to have a look at the flowering plants discovered by Ralph Hollins in the Wade Court area yesterday. Following Ralph's directions, we easily found the patch of Slender Speedwell that was flowering on the east side of the road opposite the Pillar Box and near the start of the 'twitchel' path to Pook Lane. Grid Ref: SU 7225 0596 We walked along the path towards Pook Lane to find the Shining Cranesbill with its glossy round leaves showing well. Grid Ref: SU 7242 0589.   Another first for me in Havant was Garlic Mustard which I saw in full flower on the east bank of the Langbrook Stream, which runs alongside the main car park by Hobbycraft. The stream was looking very sad, littered with rubbish of all sorts, and badly needs a local friends group to look after it. SLENDER SPEEDWELL vs. COMMON FIELD SPEEDWELL I collected a number of samples of what I have been calling Common Field Speedwell from the Bridge Road site to compare with the sample of Slender Speedwell that I had collected in Havant this afternoon. Frankly, I could not really see any difference at all. The Speedwell on the right is from Wade Court Road. The others are from Bridge Road NR I had a look at F.Rose and Blamey, Fitter and Fitter but they offered no real clues to distinguish the two. So, in desperation I turned to Stace who indicated that the flowers of Slender Speedwell were on long erect pedicles (flower stalks), which were more than two times longer than the leaves and the petioles (leaf stalks). The pedicles of Common Field Speedwell are presumably shorter than this. Interestingly, the illustrations in Blamey, Fitter and Fitter (p.243) show this difference clearly between the two Speedwells, but in F.Rose (p.307) and the new edition (p.403) the illustrations show the reverse in the two plants. Is the illustration in Rose incorrect? I am confused! Does all this mean that all the Speedwells on Bridge Road Nature Reserve are, in fact, Slender Speedwell and not Common Field Speedwell? I was also interested to discover that both these Speedwells are in fact introductions from Asia. Blamey, Fitter and Fitter adds that Slender Speedwell has spread fast since 1927 in grassy places, especially lawns, but may now have stabilized. TUESDAY APRIL 13 BROOK MEADOW I had a welcome walk through Brook Meadow this evening after a day in a very crowded London, Ugh! I did not see any Water Voles, but the Cetti's Warbler was singing loudly from bushes to the north of the Lumley gate - on Brook Meadow! No sound of Reed Warbler. A Forget-me-not (garden?) was flowering on the Lumley Path. I picked a stem of Pond Sedge from the west bank of the River Ems in Palmer's Road Copse to examine closely at home. Under the microscope the male glumes were mostly sharp, suggesting it was Greater Pond Sedge, as they should be blunt in Lesser Pond Sedge. The Pond Sedges certainly appear to be spreading along the banks of the river; previously they were confined to the area below the observation fence, which I have always regarded as Lesser Pond Sedge. I must have another look at these. I was pleased to meet Zoltan, a musician and newcomer to Emsworth who lives in North Street. I gave him all the details about the Brook Meadow Conservation Group and the web sites.   RALPH HOLLINS NEWS Yesterday (Apr 12) I found the Ivy-leaved Toadflax at last in flower and today I found a patch of Slender Speedwell flowering in Wade Court Road roughly opposite the Pillar Box and near the end of the 'twitchel' path to Pook Lane. Towards the Pook Lane end of that path Shining Cranesbill had started to flower and as I was going up the north side of the footbridge over the A27 I passed close to my first Ash tree flowers fully open and the first Horse Chestnut flower 'candles' (these a long way from having open flowers). At Langstone Pond I reckon there were at least 8 pairs of Egrets now nesting though I could only see the sticks of the nests in two cases. MONDAY APRIL 12 EMSWORTH Brook Meadow I had a look for Water Voles along the river this morning, but had no luck. I went over again this afternoon with Caroline French, but again we saw nothing along the north river by the railway. No sign of any Divided Sedge on the Lumley area, but more cones of Field Horsetail and plenty of leaves of Jointed Rush. The brown spikes of what I think is Lesser Pond Sedge are showing well on the west bank of the River Ems opposite the sluice gate. There are some good patches of Ivy-leaved Speedwell on the eastern edge of Palmer's Road Car Park. Tony Wootton sent me the following photo of a Sparrowhawk, taken in Stansted Forest, clearly giving Tony the once over - as a possible meal? Peter Pond The Cetti's Warbler was singing as usual from the reedbeds, but no sound of Reed Warbler. A Coot has a nest on a small island of grass to the west of the main island where the Mute Swan is sitting. Town millpond The Coot is back on its tower nest near the Havant Road bridge. Oil-seed Rape is in flower on the eastern millpond wall, as it was last year. Bridge Road Nature Reserve There is a fine display of Lesser Celandine beneath the hedge at the southern entrance to the car park. This photo also shows the flower bed (soon to be a wild flower area) and the new Rowan. Caroline French asked me to have a look at a dying fish that she had noticed in the Westbrook Stream while parking her car. It looked like an ornamanental variety of Carp with pale, almost white scales and reddish eyes. It was badly damaged on the tail and had probably been dumped in the stream. There was nothing we could do for the poor thing. For photos go to . . . http://www.emsworthwaysides.hampshire.org.uk/few-NEWS.htm WILDLIFE NEWS SUMMARY - March 29 - April 11 Emsworth Waysides The uncut verges around the town are slowly coming to life with good displays of wild flowers, including Lesser Celandine and Common Field Speedwell. Sweet Violets have done well this year and the first Meadow Foxtail flowers are out on the open space at the top of Westbourne Avenue. Local tree wardens planted a Rowan Sorbus commixta on the grass verge at the entrance to Bridge Road car park on April 4 in memory of Margaret Gibb-Gray. There was a short ceremony in which Frances said a few words about the tree, and poems were read by John Green and Ann Jolly. Finally, Brendan expressed his appreciation to everyone involved for creating a memorable occasion. Photos on the web site . . . http://www.emsworthwaysides.hampshire.org.uk/few-NEWS.htm Water Voles Last time I wrote we only had one Water Vole sighting on the River Ems on Brook Meadow, but (thank goodness) in the last 2 weeks they have been popping up all along the river. To date I have logged 16 sightings, which is modest by previous years, but very encouraging after such a poor start. Most interesting, have been those seen on the section of the river parallel with the railway, a new area for them. The railway bank now has a good growth of Hemlock Water-dropwort which provides food and cover for the voles, so please keep a good look out and let me know if you spot one. The web site has all the news and sightings - http://www.brook-meadow.hampshire.org.uk/bm-water-voles.html Bird news This is an exciting time of the year as summer migrants arrive after their long journeys from Africa. Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps are already present in good numbers, with at least four males of each singing on Brook Meadow. Whitethroat should be here later this month. I have been expecting Reed Warbler on Peter Pond, but no sign of them as yet. A flock of around 10 Swallows were hawking for insects over Peter Pond, all day on Mar 31, but none has been seen there since. Some will probably nest again in the stables on North Thorney. The first local Cuckoo of the year was heard by Dave Oliver at Fishbourne on Apr 9. Nightingales should be back in Marlpit Lane, Woodmancote, in the next week. Good news is that Greenfinches are back in good numbers again, after a disastrous couple of years due to disease. Their Canary-like songs can be heard everywhere. Cetti's Warbler A Cetti's Warbler (pronounced 'Chetti') has been singing its explosive "chetti-chetti-chetti" song for the past couple of weeks from the reedbeds to the north of Peter Pond. It has also been on Brook Meadow and even in the garden of 'El Rancho' on Lumley Road. Although they are noisy birds, they are incredibly difficult to see, let alone photograph, but Tony Wootton managed just that, and his photo can be seen on the new Friends of Emsworth Wildlife web site for April 2 - address below. Cetti's Warblers are fairly rare in Britain, though common in the Mediterranean. They makes me think I am in Mallorca! They breed on Thorney Island. Maybe this one will find a mate on Peter Pond. Keep watching. Millpond news Despite my initial doubts, the Mute Swan pair on Peter Pond are doing well. The pen is settled on her substantial nest. She probably has now finished laying, which means we could expect to see cygnets by the middle of May (36 days after the last egg). Her mate patrols the pond to ward off any intruders. As for the other Mute Swan pair on Slipper Millpond, they have done nothing towards building a nest. The only other local Mute Swan nests are on Thorney Little Deeps and on the seawall of the marina. The Coots that nested on the north raft on Slipper Millpond produced 3 chicks, but are now down to just one. I am not sure what happened to the others, possibly gull predation or even infanticide. There might be a Coot nest on the south raft, too. The Coot on the town millpond keeps trying to nest near the bridge, but each time it gets washed away; an occupational hazard for Coot. Butterflies At long last butterflies have realised it is spring and have emerged from their winter hibernation. Tony Wootton saw at least 50 Brimstones in Stansted Forest on Apr 6. There are also plenty of Peacocks and Commas about and a rare Small Tortoiseshell turned up in the town garden of David Minns. The first Small White was on Brook Meadow last week, it has two dark spots on the upper side of its forewing. Frances Jannaway went round Brook Meadow with Bryan Pinchen, a professional entomologist, on Apr 8 and they saw the first Orange Tips of the year (one of each sex). They also saw 7-spot and 24-spot Ladybirds and several Bumblebees. I found a pair of Ladybirds mating last week. Other wildlife news Field Horsetail cones are coming out on Brook Meadow. There is an epiphytic growth of Cow Parsley on a fallen log beneath the south bridge. The first of the long yellow catkins are now falling from the tall Basford Willows on the south side of Palmer's Road Car Park. They will soon be all over the ground. Two Rabbits were feeding on the north meadow at 8pm this evening, a rare Brook Meadow first for me. SUNDAY APRIL 11 EMSWORTH Birds I went over to Brook Meadow mainly to take photos of the work session. There was plenty of bird sing to be heard around the meadow. It was good to her so many Greenfinches churring and whistling around the Lumley Path, which must mean they are recovering from the disease that affected them over the past few years. I heard 4 singing Blackcaps and 3 Chiffchaffs. The Cetti's Warbler was singing as usual, first from the Lumley Stream and latterly from the Peter Pond reeds. I was hoping for a Reed Warbler on Peter Pond, but there was no sound of one. I cycled down to Thorney where I met Rob Gardner from Southbourne. Rob said he had heard a Reed Warbler by the Little Deeps, but I did not hear anything apart from Cetti's Warblers when I passed. I met another birder who reported a Lesser Whitethroat at Thornham Point. I found two more local Mute Swan nests. One nest is on the usual reedbed island at Thorney Little Deeps and the other Plants The first of the Field Horsetail cones are coming up on the north meadow. I could only see three erect cones in the area where there are usually hundreds by this date. There is an interesting epiphytic growth of Cow Parsley on a fallen log on the west bank of the river beneath the south bridge. The first of the long yellow catkins are now falling from the tall Basford Willows on the south side of Palmer's Road Car Park; soon, they will carpet the ground. Fungi A good growth of what looks like Many-zoned Polypore is on a dead tree stump beneath the south bridge. Mammals Water Vole - During my evening watch on Brook Meadow at 8pm, I had a good look along the river for Water Voles. The only one I saw was one nibbling vegetation on the east bank of the river about 10 metres south of the sluice gate. It was too dark for a photo. Rabbit - A much rarer mammal for Brook Meadow, was two Rabbits feeding on the north meadow, a first for me.   RALPH HOLLINS NEWS I paid a brief visit to Nore Barn this afternoon, finding a good show of English Scurvygrass in flower on the small area of saltmarsh by the Maisemore Gardens stream and seeing my first (unopen) Lords and Ladies spathes plus some five of the pure pink Sweet Violets as well as the big mass of intermediate' Violet/Pink plants. I walked up the Selangor Avenue path to the top of the marshy field and saw several fertile cones of Giant Horsetail plus a few of the spikes at a very early stage before the 'branches' have expanded. My target was Barren Strawberry of which a few were in flower but I see that the Havant Group saw this flowering at Stoughton yesterday. In my Havant garden today I saw my first Tawny Mining Bee and Drone Fly (I am sure the latter have been flying for some time). Yesterday I found Thyme-leaved Speedwell flowering for the first time for several months. I am intrigued to see a report of Coralroot Bittercress on John's Nature Notes - this plant (Cardamine bulbifera) is listed as extinct in the Hants Flora and other sources say it is normally only found in damp woodlands on the Chilterns and the eastern Weald of Sussex and Kent so a confirmed find in the Ditcham area would probably be of much interest to the Sussex botanists. SATURDAY APRIL 10 EMSWORTH An early morning walk through Brook Meadow produced little apart from bird song all around, including Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. I had a good look for Water Voles along the north path but no sign of them. There are some lush clumps of Hemlock Water-dropwort which they would like. The Cetti's Warbler was bellowing from the Lumley area - I could even hear it from the river path on Brook Meadow. However, there was no sound of Reed Warbler on Peter Pond as yet. It was here on this day last year. The Coot family were on the water on Slipper Millpond, with just one chick being tended for by its caring parents. I wonder what happened to the other two. Taken by Gulls? Or possibly killed off by its parents as a family planning measure? That does happen. HAVANT WILDLIFE GROUP NEWS Heather Mills reports Especially to those who could not join the 6 members attending this morning at Stoughton. We would all like to send our best regards to Jim and wish him well. It was a spectacular morning weather wise and in the car park we heard song thrush & blackcap. Taking a northerly route we soon came across a yellowhammer who flew away to join a couple more in the adjoining field. We walked up the steep footpath alongside the cottage and looked for our first wild daffs in the field to the right. Although not visible at first, I did venture in on the way back and a very good patch was already over in flower. However the field is somewhat overgrown from last time. On the verges of the path up were plenty of white violets and we came across early dog and barren strawberry. Turning left into the first available footpath we soon heard chiffchaff and saw Brimstones, comma and peacock butterflies. Later along the walk we thought what might have been orange tip female, but not identified fully. Before the wood opened up we came across a lovely patch of wild daffs, lesser celandine, wood anemones and later wood sorrel. Bluebells just opening up here and there with ramsons soon going to follow. Coltsfoot, ground ivy and blackthorn also seen. Fay thought she saw a lizard's tail quickly disappearing and we saw 3 roe dear jump into the woods. Later approaching the footpath that takes you over the "runway" going over to Inholms, we saw a good herd of fallow, approx 20+. Buzzards and marsh tit also seen with the usual sightings of great and blue tits, tree creeper, goldcrest and nuthatch heard. The river Ems was in fine flow. Chris has just removed a tick so do be aware. GODWIT NEWS Anne de Potier reports: I had a go at the Black-tailed Godwits this afternoon (Apr 9) on North Hayling (13:50-16:20). My luck being what it generally is, they were by and large not in the Texaco bay, but on the north side, in the area around the yellow buoy, and the freshwater outflow. And there was a bait digger nearby. I had to observe from the dead end bit of the old billy line (looking from the south side was too far off), and the light was a bit of an issue to start with. Later some drifted eastwards towards me so that was much better. I counted 229, of which 4 (including O+OW) were in the Texaco bay. At about 16:00 30 or so went east into Chi harbour; on my way out I saw them south of Wade court, but too far away. In the main lot I saw G+GG, G+LG (definitely different, Brian), G+LL, G+LW, G+OR (definitely: I saw it next to G+YY, and they were both very close), G+YY, O+ON, O+YW, Y+GY, and Y+LL. Great to be sitting in the warm - there was even a sea breeze. Oh, and 2 pale brents dropped in to the freshwater area! Didn't stay long; there were 3 dark ones there anyway. My comment: Anne confirmed several of the colour-riing combinations that I saw on April 7. G+GG G+LG G+LW G+YY G+OR O+YW O+OW Y+GY Y+LL . I did not see these that Anne saw: G+LL O+ON . She did not see L+LO L+GG. As for O+RW I am very doubtful about this one in the light of Dudley Hird's sighting of it in Kent on April 4 and 5. Has anyone else seen it locally? FRIDAY APRIL 9 EMSWORTH Brook Meadow A Blackcap was singing from Palmer's Road Copse, the first in this location this spring. Together with the two in Lumley copse, this probably completes our regular compliment of three singing males for Brook Meadow. I tried without any success to get a photo of the Blackcap, but I did get one of a Greenfinch nearby, which I was rather pleased with. I found a single spike of Meadow Foxtail on the Lumley area, my first grass flower of any kind so far this spring. However, it was only a few days later than my first Meadow Foxtail last year, so maybe things are not all that delayed. I saw several 7-spot Ladybirds on the nettle leaves to the east of Lumley copse. This pair was mating.   Peter Pond I heard the Cetti's Warbler explode while I was standing on the small bridge. It was somewhere in the bushes around the pool to the north of the bridge. It then flew to the reedbeds on Peter Pond, from where I heard it several times in the next few minutes. This bird has now been in the area for 9 days and is clearly establishing its territory. Hopefully, it will find a mate and will nest. While looking for the Cetti's Warbler, I spotted a female Reed Bunting in the reedbeds. I saw a male Reed Bunting here on Apr 5, so maybe they will be breeding here too? Slipper Millpond Sadly, it seems as if the Coots on the northern raft have lost two of their three chicks. I could only see one chick on the platform, being fed by its parents. Judging from the barrage of twigs in the nest box on the southern raft, there could be another Coot nesting there. FIRST CUCKOO Dave Oliver had the distinction of hearing what I think was the first local Cuckoo at Fishbourne today. STANSTED FOREST Tony Wootton went to Ladies Walk in Stansted again today. He got some great shots of a Sparrowhawk ". . . only because it chased something under the bracken and was so intent on finding it, it was oblivious of me". No Red Kite today and only 6 Brimstones (he had 50+ on Apr 6), but Tony did find the first flowering Cuckooflower that I know about. WATER VOLES I had two very interesting Water Vole sightings relayed to me today, both from a section of the river where we have had very few reliable sightings ever before. The first report came from Gavin Miller who had two sightings on the River Ems about half way along the section adjacent to the railway embankment at 5pm yesterday. Gavin was not 100% sure if two separate Water Voles were involved as he did not see them both together, but he was fairly confident there were two. The second report came from Patrick Murphy, who briefly saw one Water Vole at about 12:15 today, in the same section of the river, just to the east of the wooden embankment reinforcement. I went over myself to have a look at this area this afternoon, but I did not see any activity, though there are some large Hemlock Water-dropwort plants which could hide Water Vole burrows. The only time I have seen a Water Vole in this area was several years ago, when I watched one on the railway side nibbling on the stem of a Hemlock Water-dropwort plant. The event stuck in my mind a) because I had never seen one in that area before, or since, and b) because I did not realise Water Voles could eat the normally poisonous Hemlock Water-dropwort. The river banks in this area have always looked to be quite unsuitable for Water Vole activity, though this year they have improved and are more promising. I have added this as a new area on the Water Vole sightings map labelled A1. So please include this area in your looking. Finally, Caroline French e-mailed me this evening to say she saw two voles at 17.30, one about 12m and one about 18m north of the south bridge - Section D. These were our first sightings in this area so far this year. For more details go to . . . http://www.brook-meadow.hampshire.org.uk/bm-water-voles.html THURSDAY APRIL 8 GARDEN BIRDS Having to look after two of our grandchildren, aged 4 and 2, all day (and what a handful they were), there was not much opportunity for any serious wildlife watching. So I was largely restricted to garden watching. Starling nest Starlings appear to have established themselves in the roof of our next door neighbour's house as they have done in previous years. One bird was chortling and whistling for much of the day, while perched at the entrance to its nest site. Blue Tit nest I checked the nest box on the shed, which a pair of Blue Tits had been visiting, at least until the last week or so. A neat cup nest had been constructed in the centre of the three compartments, but no sign of any eggs. Blue Tits still regularly visit the feeding station in the garden, which suggests they may be nesting elsewhere. Chiffchaff The large Silver Birch tree in next door's garden, which partly overhangs our garden, is a magnet to small birds searching for insects. I spent a good time today watching the comings and goings mostly of Blue Tits, Goldfinches, Greenfinches and Chaffinches. A Chiffchaff was also a regular visitor and I managed to capture some photos of it feeding. Blackcap song Fairly early this morning I heard a Blackcap singing, from the shrubs bordering neighbouring gardens, possibly a summer migrant, rather than a wintering bird, though one cannot be absolutely sure with a bird so close to human habitation. Recently, John Goodspeed told me he gets Blackcaps in his garden both winter and summer, though the summer ones, which nest in a nearby copse, never take food, like the wintering ones. What I assume are summering birds have already arrived on their traditional local sites in Brook Meadow, Hollybank Woods and Nore Barn Woods, but I never hear them on these sites during the winter. BRIDGE ROAD NATURE RESERVE I took the children for a walk along the grass verge by the stream, where I enjoyed a fine display of early spring flowers, including Lesser Celandine, Common Field Speedwell and Hairy Bittercress. I also noticed a Pansy flower in the centre shrubbery, which I have tentatively entered as Field Pansy (Viola arvensis) though it is probably a garden escape. BROOK MEADOW Report from Frances Jannaway I met Bryan Pinchen this morning for a walk round Brook Meadow to give him an idea of the extent of the site and show him various areas. On our walk we saw the following: 2 Comma, 1 Peacock, 2 Orange tip (one of each sex) all on the eastern side of the central meadow. Several 7-spot and 24-spot ladybirds on the nettles along the riverbank path. Several Bumblebees: Bombus terrestris and a Honey bee Two Bee-flies - Bombylius major. We also found a dead Common Shrew along the Bramble path in the south meadow. Bryan suggested a number of management techniques to encourage certain insects which I would like to discuss at the next Management Plan review meeting (this Monday). It might be possible to start one of these techniques (scraping top soil on sunny bank from metre square x 3 for solitary bees) on either the next Sunday or following Thursday work sessions. Bryan hopes to start his survey of specific insect groups week beginning 19 April. I have asked him to let me know when he will be coming so that anybody interested can go along and see him in action and learn about what he finds. He thought it would be a good idea if we put a note in the signcases about the insect survey in case people wonder what he is up to with his sweep net. He will be coming for a day every month for 6 months. Brian, I will let you have a few words to go in the 3 signcases as soon as we have heard from Awards for All when we will get the money for the survey. They are very fussy about when we make it publicly known that we have got the grant. RALPH HOLLINS NEWS My day started with a Willow Warbler singing as it moved up the Billy Trail behind my house (a once a year event here!) and continued this afternoon (Apr 8) with a male White Wagtail at close range on the South Moors seawall (pointed out to me by Kevin Crisp who was watching it before checking the flock of Black-tailed Godwits of which around 150 were today at the mouth of the Langbrook stream - across the water from the Texaco Bay area). The third bird was an unexpected and very noisy Nuthatch moving through the trees beside Wade Court Road between Elm Road and Shawford Road. Kevin Crisp told me he had had a passing Cuckoo on Sinah Common this morning (one was heard in Ashdown Forest yesterday and I see there was another by the Test at Romsey today). I also see on the HOS News that a Nightingale was singing near Clashot today where what was probably the same bid was heard yesterday. Christchurch Harbour had the first Tree Pipits that I have heard of yesterday. Other bird notes were of the Swan now on her nest at the Budds Farm Pools (with one pair of Shelduck near it). While there I watched one of two male Gadwalls attempting forcible rape of a female and saw quite a few Tufted Ducks and two lone Canada Geese which may both have mates now sitting. At Langstone Pond the number of 'pre-nesting' Egrets had increased with 8 in the trees on the island near the Swan nest and at least two other widely separated birds in trees at the back of the pond, Also today I saw my first Green Alkanet flowers (not, I think, the first of the year) and Yellow Corydalis flowering in my own garden. Best of all was a great plant of Marsh Marigold in full flower in the small pond within the grounds of an industrial unit on the west side of Brockhampton Road immediately north of the roundabout at the west end of Solent Road. Insect sightings include what were probably at least four different Peacock butterflies while I was out and my first Wasp (presumably a queen) in my own garden. Insect firsts from the internet are Green-veined White and Green Hairstreak in the Browndown (Gosport) area on Apr 6 and Orange Tip near Winchester on Apr 8 WEDNESDAY APRIL 7 GODWIT NEWS The news from Pete Potts that there was a good flock of Godwits in the bay opposite the Texaco garage near the Hayling bridge prompted me to get over there this morning. I arrived at 10.30 when the neap tide was well out and left at about 11:00. I counted 246 Black-tailed Godwits feeding in the bay, most of them in summer plumage. The birds were quite a long way out, but I managed to find 13 colour-ringed birds, but with a few queries. Pete had 16 different combinations in a flock of 260, so it will be interesting to see if there was much overlap. I saw the following here on 16-May-10: O+YW - G+GG - G+LW - L+LO - L+GG - Y+LL Others LY+OX - Iceland ringed. Not seen in Emsworth since 15-Aug-02, but seen more recently around Chi Harbour. G+YY - Previously seen mainly in Langstone area. Last in Emsworth Nov 2005. These I have not seen before: O+RW - O+OW - Y+GY - These are queries: G+LG - ? Photo. Could be G+GG. G+RO ? - Photo. Posible G+OO Any help appreciated. LANGSTONE From Hayling I went over to Southmoor Lane which was blocked at the barrier to allow the road to be restored. I found a small flock of 38 Brent Geese in the mouth of the Hermitage Stream along with a few Red-breasted Mergansers. Budds Farm Ponds There was nothing of special interest on Budds Farm Ponds, apart from the Mute Swan on her nest. Four new bird ID signs have been erected next to the viewing platform. White Comfrey was flocering on the rack to the mound. South Moor I walked across South Moor where the orchid area had been fenced off, presumably to prevent the cattle eating the plants, though this will make group access difficult for the Havant Wildlife Group to do their annual South Moor count. There maybe some access to the area in the far south east corner where the fence had been removed. Blackthorn was flowering well on the path fromsml onto the South Moor. Female Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) My target was to have a look at the crop of female Butterbur near South Moor Farm. There was a very good crop with the large flower spikes showing well oin both sides of the track to the farm. I counted 170 flowering spikes to the south of the track and another 130 on the north side of the track, making a grand total of 300 spikes. This is slightly fewer than the 313 that I counted on Mar 25 last year, but both were well below my record of 550 flower spikes on 03-Apr-07. Female Butterbur plants are generally only found mainly in north central England and are very unusual in the south where colonies of naturally occurring Butterbur (including those on Brook Meadow) are of male plants only. The plants at Langstone are recorded in the Hants Flora as the only female Butterbur plants in Hampshire. Although they were introduced by landscape gardeners working for IBM when they acquired this Havant site in the 1960s they are an interesting feature of the county flora. The flower spikes of the female Butterbur are taller and showier than their male counterparts. There was no sign of the Giant Butterbur (Petasites japonicus), though this plant flowers very much earlier in February. EMSWORTH There is a fine display of flowering Lesser Celandine on the north side of the footpath behind Lillywhite's Garage. On the other side of the path there is a nice patch of white flowered Sweet Violets. I think I have seen them there in previous years. TUESDAY APRIL 6 EMSWORTH Birds The only fresh news on the bird front was a Blackcap singing from the bushes in the early afternoon on the west bank of the river just south of the gasholder. A little later I heard another one from the north end of Lumley copse, probably the 'Mistletoe' bird that Tony Wootton and I have heard on several occasions. The Cetti's Warbler was back on Peter Pond following its trip to the garden of El Rancho yesterday. Tony Wootton had some good sightings in Stansted Forest this morning, including Treecreeper, Chiffchaff, Buzzard and a Red Kite. Butterflies At long last butterflies have realised it is spring and today many have emerged from their long winter hibernation. This morning, Tony Wootton had a walk along Ladies Walk in Stansted Forest and saw at least 50 Brimstones along with 6 Commas and 4 Peacocks.   While I was on Brook Meadow up dating the signcases I spotted 2 Commas, disputing territory on the Lumley area. I also saw one Peacock and a female Small White with two dark spots on the upper side of its forewing. I also had a Peacock fluttering around in my garden for much of the day.     But the prize for the most interesting butterfly of the day must go to David Minns, who had a Small Tortoiseshell in his garden in the centre of Emsworth. As David says, they are very rare these days, but let's hope this sighting is the sign of a revival. Water Voles Yesterday's sightings: Caroline French e-mailed me last night to say she had at last seen her first two Water Voles of the year - yesterday Apr 5. She spotted the first one just south of the factory building at 7pm. It came a few metres upstream and sat on the west bank. While she was watching it, a second vole swam downstream and came within about 30 mm of the first vole, then there was a very brief chase and Caroline lost sight of them both for a few seconds. One reappeared further downstream and swam back to where the first one had been sitting on the bank! Caroline kept watch on this (3rd vole?) for about half an hour as it gradually made its way a considerable distance downstream halfway around the 'S' bend. At one point Caroline thought it may have been marking a latrine with its hind legs, but it may have just been scratching. It was eating nettles. Caroline had the impression that the first vole had some sort of mark on the back of its neck and thought maybe males will grab females at the back of the neck. I have seen several voles over the years with marks on their necks and Caroline is probably right that they are the result of courtship skirmishes. Here is a Water Vole photo taken in 2003 showing a mark on the back of the animal's neck   Today's Water Vole sightings were provided by Pam Phillips who saw two on her regular early morning walk through the meadow. The first was seen at 7.30am on the west bank of the river just north of the sluice gate, among the Bulrushes. This is particularly good news as it was the first sighting we have had from this area, which has always been a popular one in past years. The second Water Vole was seen swimming down stream below the gasholder, where most of this year's sightings have come from. RALPH HOLLINS NEWS - Apr 6 This morning (Apr 6) two plants of Rue-leaved Saxifrage had flowers in the East Pallant here in Havant and what I feel sure was Wall Rocket was flowering within the Gazebo area (inaccessible but visible) beside the car park there. In the afternoon I cycled to the Oysterbeds (where Jason seemed to be planting up his 'rockery garden') and found Blackthorn in flower along the path connecting the main road to the north end of the Coastal Path. On the way out I found three Snake's Head Fritillary flowers outside George Hedley's house near the east end of Mill Lane and saw 17 Brent near the mouth of the Langbrook looking as if they might be staying the summer. In the water at the mouth of the stream there was a single bird which I am pretty sure was a female Goosander (orange head and white breast though I was not near enough to be sure that the plumage was grey rather than brown). Coming back I found Sea Mouse-ear in flower near the Texaco garage and at that end of the bridge I spoke to a birder checking the Godwits for colour rings - he told me he had counted a total of 220 birds in that area. Nine Little Egrets were again perched around the pond even though the tide was not high and Cow Parsley had started to flower in the seaward section of Wade Lane Also today I have an email from Tony Tupper (in Corhampton Crescent, Leigh Park) saying that the first House Martin was back around his house where they nest in artificial nests. I see that Portland had the first Yellow Wagtail of the spring today (one was at Rye Bay on Apr 2) and the first Common Redstart on Apr 1 while Dungeness had the first Common Whitethroat on Apr 4 and Christchurch Harbour had a Sedge Warbler on Apr 5. On Apr 5 Castle Hill NNR between Brighton and Lewes was celebrating a count of 1500 Brown Tail Moth larvae on Apr 5 ("The colony of Brown-tail moths (Euproctis chrysorrhoea) is in good shape with c.1500 larvae seen on around 20 communal webs. This is an improvement in numbers on last year"). Also on Apr 5 a Speckled Wood was found in a Brighton area greenhouse! GODWIT NEWS - From Pete Potts There is a good godwit flock between Langstone (Ship Inn) Northney (east of bridge) and in bay opposite the Texaco garage between the Hayling bridge and the old Billy Line bridge. I counted c.260 in this area today and read 16 combinations. Back on 26/03/10 Josh Nightingale and I counted 217 in the Texaco bay and read 15 combinations. On 27th Kevin Crisp counted 187 and logged 11 combinations. On these 3 days we have logged 25 individuals all FRG birds from FM and poss. a few from Thorney. If you get the chance it would be great if we could get some extra coverage this month well the next 2-3 weeks till the depart c.20-25th April. It is very easy birding/ring reading and only takes 15-20 minutes at low water or on rising tide. I saw them today between 12:00-12:40 ish on rising tide. I also visited Welney last week and logged c.60 ringed birds in a flock of 3500-4000 including 3 FRG birds from Solent one was recently at Hayling bridge and another that we saw in Avon valley a few weeks ago. MONDAY APRIL 5 EMSWORTH I only had time for a brief walk around the Brook Meadow area this morning due to a family trip to Singleton. Cetti's Warbler The Cetti's Warbler has moved; this morning I heard it singing from the large garden behind the house named 'El Rancho' on Lumley Road. I have never heard it from this location before. I heard just one Blackcap along Lumley Road plus a couple of Chiffchaffs. Reed Bunting Probably the best bird of the morning was a Reed Bunting which was singing (if you call that singing) from the reedbeds to the north of Peter Pond. Reed Bunting usually perch prominently when singing, but this one remained hidden. Let's hope it stays to breed. I have recorded Reed Bunting on Peter Pond from time to time. My last record was on 26-Jan-09. Here is a photo of a male Reed Bunting I took on Peter Pond in April 2005   Water Vole Pam Phillips phoned to say she had seen a Water Vole at 7.30am this morning, on the east bank about half way between the S-bend and the sluice gate. This is only the 5th sighting this year, but in a new location, which hopefully means a different animal from those previously seen between the gasholder and the north bridge. For all the water Vole news, photos and sightings go to . . . http://www.brook-meadow.hampshire.org.uk/bm-water-voles.html RALPH HOLLINS NEWS - Apr 5 Both Budds Farm pools and Langstone pond had families of a dozen fresh Mallard ducklings today (Apr 5) and Stream Water Crowfoot had started to flower on the Langbrook stream. Garlic Mustard was in bud in several places and will surely be out by the end of the week. More significantly there were at least nine Little Egrets back in the trees behind Langstone Pond today - up until now I have failed to see any sign of forthcoming nesting but I guess this means they will be back again this year. Nik Knight tells me he saw the first Beefly yesterday (Apr 4) and also told me about a strange mis-identification of the female Butterbur plants by the Langbrook Stream just south of The Mallards - one Sarah Graham thought they were Bird's Nest orchids and had passed the news to John Chapman who in turn asked Nik Knight from whom I heard the news When I was at Budds Farm pools today a couple already there told me that they had just seen Swallows over the pools. For Brian's interest there were nearing 200 Black-tailed Godwits off the Royal Oak at Langstone today - I also saw the same number there a couple of days ago (probably the same flock that was recently in Texaco Bay?) SUNDAY APRIL 4 EMSWORTH Brook Meadow There was plenty of bird song during my morning walk through the meadow with Wren particularly dominant. Two Song Thrushes were singing, one in the north-east corner and the other in Lumley copse. Five Magpies were chattering away on the north meadow. I heard a loud burst from the Cetti's Warbler from the same area as yesterday, at the back of the Lumley Stream. That is the 4th day it has been in the area. Two Blackcaps were singing in competition about 20 yards apart along Lumley Road, much as yesterday. I also heard at least two Chiffchaffs in the Lumley copse and another in Palmer's Road Copse. Peter Pond The Mute Swan was off its nest, but I was only able to see two eggs. I suspect by now she probably has 4 or 5 in the nest. The nest has been built up, well above the spring tides. Slipper Millpond I could see three Coot chicks with their red heads showing clearly, in the nest box on the northern raft, being tended to by their parents. These are the first young birds I have come across in the local area this spring.   Commemorative tree planting Local tree wardens John Green, Frances Jannaway and Richard Jannaway planted the Japanese Rowan Sorbus commixta on the grass verge at the entrance to Bridge Road car park in memory of Margaret Gibb-Gray who died in December 2009. There was a short ceremony in which Frances said a few words about the tree and poems were read by John Green and Ann Jolly. Finally, Brendan expressed his appreciation to everyone involved for creating a memorable occasion. For more photos of this occasion go to . . . http://www.emsworthwaysides.hampshire.org.uk/few-NEWS.htm SATURDAY APRIL 3 EMSWORTH Well, if yesterday was Tony's day, I reckon I can claim today as my day! I decided to skip breakfast and got over to Brook Meadow by about 8.30am. That is an early start for me! This is a big dog walking time and several of them were rushing around on the meadow, but they did not worry me as I kept to the main river path. I had a look for Water Voles on the river, but only saw Moorhens going about their business. I think there are three pairs on the river as usual. Dunnocks I walked through Palmer's Road Copse where there was plenty of bird song as usual. When I met John Jacobs on Thursday, he mentioned how many Dunnocks there were on Brook Meadow and several were singing their delightful "diddly, diddly, diddly" songs this morning. Maybe, we are particularly well off for them. Migrants One Chiffchaff and singing in Palmer's Road Copse and another three on the east side of Brook Meadow in Lumley copse. This will probably be our breeding population for the season. Tony Wootton missed out on Blackcaps yesterday, but I heard two singing in the Lumley area this morning, one near the bridge and the other further north, near the Mistletoe, where Tony saw the first one of the season on Brook Meadow on Mar 30. Cetti's Warbler I had a walk around Peter Pond listening for Cetti's Warbler, but heard nothing. The Mute Swan was snug on her nest on the island and the other Mute Swan pair sailing around on Slipper Millpond, where the Coot well barricaded behind twigs in the nest box on the northern raft. I had almost given up when, as I was walking along the west side of the Lumley Stream, a Cetti's Warbler suddenly exploded into song from the dense brambles near the bridge. I peered into the bushes for about 5 minutes without seeing the bird. How often have I had this experience of standing almost right next to a Cetti's Warbler and not being able to see it. Anyway, it was definitely still here I reckon I can claim this one for the Brook Meadow list as it was inside the site boundary. Nuthatches I made my way up to the north-east corner of Brook Meadow where John Jacobs had seen a pair of Nuthatches on Apr 1. I waited about 15 minutes, but did not see any sign of them. What I find strange is that I have never heard a Nuthatch call/song on the Brook Meadow site. We will need to keep looking and listening. One compensation was to watch a Wren collecting nesting material near the rail tunnel. I took some photos but they were not good enough to put on the web site. Water Vole I decided to have one last look for Water Voles from the north bridge and hey presto! Success. Looking south from the north bridge, I could just make out a bundle of brown fur at the foot of the eastern river bank, just below the large branch across the river. Then it moved and I knew I was in luck. I slowly edged my way along the river bank towards it, taking photos as I went. The Vole remained perfectly still, their eyesight is not good, but I suspect it was aware of me. Eventually, it turned round and swam a little way south and disappeared into the foot of the bank. This was my first Water Vole sighting of the year and only the 4th so far this season. It was probably the same vole that was also seen in exactly this area by Roger Mills and Pam Phillips. For all the water Vole news, photos and sightings go to . . . http://www.brook-meadow.hampshire.org.uk/bm-water-voles.html   Plant news I found a single Common Dog-violet, with its distinctive curved spur and pointed sepals, on the north side of the footpath behind Lillywhite's garage; the first I have seen out this year. FRIDAY APRIL 2 BROOK MEADOW Water Vole I walked through the meadow on the way to the shops at about 9am this morning, but saw nothing of special interest. However, I met an excited Pam Phillips who told me she saw a Water Vole at 7.30 by the gasholder. It swam up river the where the large branch is across the river and disappeared. This was only our 3rd sighting this year. Last year we had almost 40 sightings logged by this date. This is probably the same animal that Roger Mills saw on Mar 30. For all the Water Vole news go to . . . http://www.brook-meadow.hampshire.org.uk/bm-water-voles.html Pam also had the pleasure of seeing a Kingfisher at about the same time. Surely not a breeding bird? Nuthatches I am very grateful to John Jacobs who responded to my request for more information about the two Nuthatches he saw on Brook Meadow yesterday: "I was in the far north eastern corner of the meadow where the River Ems comes out of the tunnel under the railway line. My first sight of a single nuthatch was in the thick bushes directly on your right as you stand looking up through the river tunnel. I only saw the bird for a few seconds but a short time later a Nuthatch flew from those bushes and landed up in the branches of the tree that has fallen from Brook Meadow over the stream towards the railway embankment. As I watched this single Nuthatch. I saw another one arrive from the same bushes that I had seen the first one. The second one landed on the same branch a few feet away from the first one and after hopping about for some twenty seconds the two birds flew back towards me and into the bushes they had both come from." John's detailed sighting confirms previous reports I have received over the past couple of years of Nuthatches being seen in this area of Brook Meadow, and two for the price of one at that! Would regular Brook Meadow watchers, please keep an eye out for these birds and any breeding activity. Cetti's Warbler I set Tony Wootton a challenge in yesterday's diary to capture the Cetti's Warbler on Peter Pond, not literally, of course, but on camera. Well, this afternoon, Tony rose to the challenge magnificently and, with his back to Gooseberry Cottage and facing the reeds across a very full Lumley stream, got a the following photo of this notoriously elusive bird - showing us his bottom! The bird was still singing when I went over this evening at about 6.30. I am tempted to ask, Is he trying to set up a breeding territory? That would be an exciting prospect. The habitat is right and there are other Cetti's Warblers just a mile away on Thorney Deeps, so it might happen. I conveyed the exciting news to David Gattrell, who manages Peter Pond, and who was working there this evening. He had heard the bird singing, but had no idea what it was. I asked David to keep a watch out for any signs of breeding activity. Mystery birds Tony Wootton also sent me a couple of photos that he could not identify. They were taken on the same occasion as the Cetti's Warbler, near to the gate from Lumley Lane. He has a 3rd picture which shows a forked tail. I am posting these photos here in case anyone can help. I will also ask for help from Hoslist. They show a bird with a finch type bill, a heavily streaked breast and a greenish back. Can I see a hint of a cross over in the bill? There are certainly a lot of Greenfinch in that area and that might be a pointer. Tony's photos also look like a young bird to me, though surely this would be very early to see young birds about.   Reply from Lee Evans on Hoslist Your mystery bird appears to be a COMMON CHAFFINCH (Fringilla Coelebs). A puzzle photo Tony also sets us a puzzle photo of the following bird taken from an unusual position "to see who's looking and knows their stuff", as Tony says. I have set up a link which you can click to find the answer if you are really stumped (as I was!). The answer to Tony's puzzle bird Other observations Tony spent the afternoon around the Brook Meadow area and had his first Swallow over Peter Pond, a Song Thrush, 5 Chiffchaffs, mainly around Lumley stream, but no Blackcap, Buzzard or Water Vole. Finally, Tony sent me a photo of a Summer Snowflake (Leucojum aestivum) which he found in flower near the Ems on the west side, south of the sluice gates. This certainly has been Tony's day!   WAYSIDES NEWS Correction to yesterday's news. Frances thinks the Rowan we have got from Hillier's nursery which is to be planted in Bridge Road car park on Sunday is a Japanese Rowan Sorbus commixta and not as previously stated. Here is a photo of what the tree is likely to look like in 20 years time. RALPH HOLLINS NEWS This afternoon (Apr 2) I cycled through Denvilles to Locks Farm where the sunny south facing bank of Southleigh Road immediately east of East Leigh Road had the first flowers of Greater Stitchwort in flower along with my first Ground Ivy (seen by Brian on Mar 30) and a good show of Lesser Periwinkle and Cherry Plum. No sign of flowers on the Crosswort there but that will be out soon and this is a likely place for the first to flower. On my way back I found a bush of Ribes (Flowering Currant) on full flower and noted flower buds of both Ash Trees and one Elder. Using the footbridge from Rowan Road/Nutwick Road to New Lane I could see half a dozen pairs of Herring Gulls on and around the roof of the Wyeth Distribution Centre where I have long suspected some to nest and I am pretty certain that the only reason these gulls were there at 3:30 in the afternoon was connected with nesting. Coming back down New Lane I had just passed the '50 metres to road junction' sign alongside the Eastern Road cemetery wall when I looked over the wall and could see flowers on the non-planted (chucked out) Blue Anemone plants under the fringe of the shade of a Yew tree. Finally the Ivy Leaved Toadflax flower buds on a wall in our road have increased in nuumber but none are yet open. I see that I misquoted Brian as having seen this plant in flower - he was referring to Ivy Leaved Speedwell and I misread his diary entry as (for me) the Speedwell which I first saw on Feb 15 is no longer very newsworthy - I find it to be almost as common as the Common Field Speedwell but a great deal less easy to spot until you get your eye in for the jizz of the plants with the flowers often being even more difficult to spot. Interesting to see that Brian has found Danish Scurvygrass by the roadside boat marking the western boundary of Emsworth on the A259 (a new site for me) - for your wayside plants don't forget to look for the Clustered Clover on the 'white line' in the centre of the old stub of the A259 a few yards north west of that boat when summer comes! THURSDAY APRIL 1 EMSWORTH Migrants I visited Nore Barn to the west of Emsworth at about 9am this morning, hoping for migrants and I was not to be disappointed. Three Chiffchaffs were singing, one in the north wood and two more in the main wood. They have certainly arrived in force over the past week. What I really wanted was a Blackcap, and one singing in the eastern section of the main wood, my first of the year. Also, in Nore Barn Woods, though not migrants, I heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming loudly. I also had a quick look for any sign of Sparrowhawk nesting activity. I would really appreciate more local knowledge about this from regular users of the wood. I walked through Brook Meadow, but did not hear the Blackcap that Tony Wootton heard here a couple of days ago. It may have moved on. However, I had better luck in the copse to the north of Peter Pond, where both Chiffchaff and Blackcap were singing well. I had a good view of the Chiffchaff feeding among the reeds, but it was too quick for a photo. I saw no sign of Swallows over Peter Pond today, they were there virtually all day yesterday. Mike Probert saw c 10-12 over Peter Pond yesterday evening and felt sorry for them, as there could not have been many insects about in the freezing cold wind! They were here to replenish their fat reserves after the journey across the channel and are now probably on their way to their nesting sites further north. Cetti's Warbler I was pleasantly surprised to hear a couple of bursts of song from a Cetti's Warbler from the reedbeds to the north of Peter Pond. I had a look for it, but, not unexpectedly, I did not see it. Cetti's Warblers are notoriously difficult to see. A challenge here for Tony Wootton? They are uncommon but fairly regular visitors to this area. I have even heard one on Brook Meadow on one occasion. They are not migrants, but probably wander up from Thorney Little Deeps where they breed. I last heard one in the Peter Pond area was on 20-Sep-09 and 31-Oct-09. Other bird news While I was crossing the south bridge over the River Ems, I was pleased to meet John Jacobs, a birdwatcher from Fareham, who told me how much he enjoyed reading the Emsworth Wildlife web site. John had also heard the Blackcap and the Chiffchaff on Peter Pond and told me about a pair of Nuthatches he had seen near the railway. Not sure if they were on Brook Meadow, but if they were that would be an interesting first for the site. John could you confirm just where they were?   WAYSIDES NEWS - Bridge Road NR For all the latest news about the Emsworth Waysides scheme go to . . . Emsworth Waysides The parking post As agreed with Rob Hill, a couple of Council chaps re-sited the parking post on the grass verge where the tree is to be planted at the southern entrance to Bridge Road car park to the back of the verge. It looks so much better there and makes room for the Metroguard Signcase. Preparation for tree planting The Emsworth Tree Wardens will plant a semi-mature Rowan tree - Sorbus aucuparia 'Streetwise' - in memory of Margaret Gibb-Gray on Sunday 4 April on the wayside at the entrance to Bridge Road car park. This is not the native variety of Rowan, but is one that develops orange berries and is particularly suitable for roadside planting, as its name implies. The hole will be prepared in the morning and the tree planted at 2pm in the afternoon. There will be a short ceremony during which a poem or a piece of prose will be read in memory of Margaret. Brendan says the planting of the Rowan and the reading of poems would delight Margaret and thanks everyone for this wonderful gesture. Andy Skeet of HBC provided two stakes, tape and a post driver for the planting.  Creeping Buttercups were in flower on the grass verge of the Bridge Road Nature Reserve near the stream, the first I have seen out this spring.   A new wayside While driving back from Havant this morning, I discovered a fine growth of Danish Scurvygrass along the edge of the grass verge with the Daffodils display, east of the Warblington roundabout going into Emsworth. The habitat is identical to the similar crop of this plant that Ralph Hollins put me on to on the Petersfield Road out of Havant, near the Havant College playing fields. This verge is not part of the Emsworth Wayside scheme, but is worth recording for what is probably the best example of this unusual native plant in Emsworth.