Back to .... Homepage ---------------------------------------------------- LOCAL WILDLIFE SUMMARIES - 2010 . . . WEEKS 27-28, 5 to 18 July 2010 Godwit news The Black-tailed Godwit season is upon us again and and time for logging colour-ringed birds. Pete Potts has been in Iceland monitoring and ringing the chicks as they hatch. Initial reports suggest a poor breeding season. Dudley Hird has already seen thousands of returning Black-tailed Godwits in Kent and many are now turning up in our local harbours. About 40 are back in Emsworth Harbour, all decked out in their orange-brown summer plumage; best seen from the marina seawall.   Terns and gulls Chris Cockburn confirmed an exceptionally good breeding season for most seabirds on the RSPB islands in Langstone Harbour. Little Terns exceeded all expectations with 44 fledged from Baker's Island. Sandwich Terns had their best productivity with 112 fledged birds, a new record. In contrast, Common Terns did poorly on the islands. However, they did very well on Hayling Oysterbeds so all was not lost. Yet more records, with at least 5,500 fledged Black-headed Gull chicks and at least 65 Mediterranean Gulls, with more to come. What the heck is going on this year?   Other bird news The Mute Swan family with 5 cygnets from Thorney Little Deeps is still in the harbour near the quay and the family with 3 cygnets from the marina can usually be seen in Dolphin Lake. As expected the Mute Swan nesting on the west bank of Slipper Millpond lost all her eggs. Meanwhile a summer flock of 26 Swans have settled in at Nore Barn to see out the annual moult.   Brook Meadow plants Brook Meadow is currently a blaze of colour with summer flowers in full bloom; whites, reds and yellows. Less conspicuous are the glossy brown spikelets of Sharp-flowered Rush which has spread amazingly on the Lumley area. Red Bartsia and Black Knapweed are also in flower on the Lumley area and the leaves of Pepper-saxifrage with flowers to come. This is certainly a good year for plants following a very slow spring. Was the cold winter good for them? Blackberries are ripening, but not sweet enough to eat just yet. Gavin Miller spotted the first ever Purple Loosestrife on Brook Meadow up from the south bridge. Smooth Brome (Bromus racemosus) is another new one for the Brook Meadow plant list. Look for its loose panicles on the path around the Lumley area. The large Ash tree on the railway embankment is covered in clusters of green 'keys', with gnarled brown lumps. Apparently, these are galls caused not by an insect but by an eriophyid mite called Eriophyes Fraxinivorus.   Other flower news The large yellow daisies of Perennial Sow-thistle (Corn Thistle in some books) are showing well on the east bank of Peter Pond, where the bulbils of Crow Garlic are more numerous than I have ever known them. The Wickor Bank on the west side of Thorney Island is also awash with wild flowers, well worth a walk. The first Lesser Burdock is open on the bank. Over at Nore Barn, I was pleased to find Lax-flowered Sea-lavender for the first time ever, on the saltmarshes to the east of the stream. Other plants in this area included Common Sea-lavender, Grass-leaved Orache, Sea Purslane, Common Cord-grass, Red Fescue, Annual Seablite, Sea Plantain, Sea Couch, Common Glasswort, Sea Beet and the highly aromatic Sea Wormwood. Golden Samphire had a few flowers open.   Insect news Gatekeepers have emerged in force to replace Meadow Browns as the dominant brown butterfly. Skippers still flutter around the grasses and there are some stunning Commas and Red Admirals to be seen, though Whites are still a bit thin on the ground. Red Soldier Beetles are always attracted to the large white flowerheads of Hogweed, variously feeding, fighting, mating and just lounging around. Common Ragwort is less common on the meadow, but is a magnet to Cinnabar caterpillars, which have been making short work of a rather small specimen near the Seagull Lane gate this past week. I saw a 6-spot Burnet Moth on Brook Meadow on July 10, my first sighting here since 2005.   Hedgehog news And finally, the Hedgehog family of mum and 3 youngsters which disappeared from my back garden has been found by a neighbour in her garden. She gave them cat food, which no doubt accounts for their desertion. Patrick Murphy also had a Hedgehog in his garden in Christopher Way on July 16. Emsworth Waysides news - Martin Rand, the BSBI Recorder for South Hants, has confirmed the identity of Smaller Cat's-tail (Phleum bertolonii) on the Havant Road wayside opposite Highland Road. We would not have known about it if it had been cut. This goes for all the other flowers now springing up on the waysides. The Bridge Road car park wayside is amazing with 118 different plants counted this year alone. Meanwhile Ladies Bedstraw is flowering, as usual, on the grass verge on Bath Road. Although this is not an official wayside, I have asked Les and John (HBC workers) not to cut it. Friends of Emsworth Waysides web site . . . http://www.emsworthwaysides.hampshire.org.uk/ WEEKS 25-26, June 21-July 4 Friends of Emsworth Waysides news The thirteen dedicated waysides in Emsworth are now growing well under the new non-cutting scheme. A few glitches were inevitable. Most waysides have small posters attached to a stake indicating that this is a wild flower conservation area. The flagship wayside in Bridge Road car park also has a handsome information board with news and photos about the new waysides scheme. I have done preliminary botanical surveys of some of the waysides, with the help of Cindy Morrison, and the results are amazing. What used to be a plain grass verge becomes a glorious kaleidoscope of wild flowers and grasses in no time at all. Bridge Road car park leads the way with an astonishing 127 plants - it must be seen to be believed. Southleigh Road (west) is next best with 67 plants, followed by the Westbourne Open Space with 52 and the A259 embankment by Belcher and Frost with 51. Even the small path by Dolphin Creek has 42. On June 22, travellers invaded the north western corner of the Emsworth Recreation Ground, which is one of the waysides. Thanks to swift action from the police and HBC aided by local councillor David Gillett, the travellers left after a few days. Even then, there was a lot of litter to clean up, but no damage was done. On June 29, I had an e-mail from Nicky Horter, the Chichester Harbour AONB Officer, to say the wayside at Dolphin Creek had been inadvertently cut as part of their annual footpath maintenance programme within the AONB. Little damage has been done and I suggested to Nicky that she carries on with the normal cutting programme, bearing in mind that this is one of the dedicated waysides and taking special care not to intrude into the main path side vegetation. Friends of Emsworth Waysides web site . . . http://www.emsworthwaysides.hampshire.org.uk/   Bird news The presence of two young Whitethroats on Brook Meadow this week, confirms their successful breeding, despite the fact that only one singing male has been heard this year. The 'resident' Mallard in Bridge Road car park, which produced a brood of 9 ducklings, has just four remaining, which is probably as many as she can cope with. Robin Pottinger had the pleasure of a pair of Bullfinches on the feeders in his Southbourne garden, not a common sight these days. Swifts have been less numerous than usual over Emsworth. I have seen entering a nesting hole under the eaves of my neighbour's roof, previously been used by Starlings. Maybe, it is prospecting future nesting sites? Terns and gulls Chris Cockburn says 2010 could be an exceptionally good year for Little Terns on the RSPB islands in Langstone Harbour, with 40 youngsters already ready to fly. Common Terns are doing exceptionally well on Hayling Oysterbeds with over 100 chicks present, though some of the smaller ones have been predated by Mediterranean Gulls. Black-headed Gull chicks are also on the wing and we should soon be seeing these cute gingery birds on the Emsworth millponds. Meanwhile, Med Gulls are everywhere. Butterflies Butterflies are coming out at last, except for the Whites, which remain mysteriously scarce. But gardeners will be pleased. Richard Somerscocks, a new recruit to the Brook Meadow wildlife brigade, got a fine selection of butterfly images, including Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Marbled White, Small Skipper and Essex Skipper - the first on Brook Meadow since 2007. On my recommendation, Richard went to Hollybank Woods where he obtained images of White Admirals and Silver-washed Fritillaries, one of the latter showing the silver-washed underwing. A selection of Richard's excellent photos can be seen on the Emsworth Wildlife for July 4 web site at . . http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-wildlife-diary.htm Orchids galore Many plants appear to have benefited from the cold winter. We have had record counts of Butterbur and Ragged Robin on Brook Meadow. Now, Nigel Johnson reports a record 9,324 Southern Marsh Orchids on South Moor at Langstone (2,500 more than the previous record), though Ed Rowsell could only find 330 on Fishbourne Meadows. Ed said the road verge at Appledram Lane (south) has been left alone this year, allowing the splendid flower spikes of Spiked Star-of-Bethlehem to flourish. Pyramidal Orchids are out in their hundreds on the path below Fort Purbrook, in a spectacular display with masses of other chalk grassland flowers. See the Emsworth web site for details. Other plant news Newly flowering plants on Brook Meadow over the past 2 weeks have included Broad-leaved Everlasting-pea, Great Willowherb, Black Knapweed and Bristly Ox-tongue. Flower spikes are now developing on the Bulrushes in the River Ems, with the yellow male flowers at the top and the green female flowers below, soon to turn brown. There are masses of Crow Garlic bulbils on the east bank of Peter Pond, more than I have ever seen there before. The often overlooked Skullcap is flowering on the wall of the Lumley Stream in front of the cottages in Lumley Road. The rare Narrow-leaved Water-plantain (Alisma lanceolata) is flowering well in the Westbrook Stream in Bridge Road car park. Finally, BSBI Recorder Martin Rand suspects the unusually hairy Common Milkwort from Nore Down that I mentioned in the last wildlife news bulletin is Polygala vulgaris var. vestita. Hedgehog family We have had the pleasure of having a Hedgehog family in our garden. Mum made a nest of leaves in a flower bed and produced three youngsters. I put water and mealworms down for them, but they were not touched. We have not seen the family for the past few days, so maybe they may have moved on. But to where? Photos are on the Emsworth web site. Has anyone else had Hedgehogs recently? Other news Two Water Voles were seen in the River Ems in the past week, including a baby vole by Pam Phillips. These were the first reports for almost a month. The total for the year stands at 59, which is well down on the previous two years. It is too early to worry, but such a small colony is always vulnerable. My neighbour John Williams found a female Stag Beetle while clearing out some rubbish at the end of his very long garden. He told me the female dies immediately after laying eggs. Job done. WEEKS 23 - 24, 7 to 20 June Local bird news Coot are doing well on Slipper Millpond with a family of 5 chicks on the northern raft plus another family of 3 small chicks on the same pond. Last week, I witnessed local resident David venturing into the muddy waters of the pond to rescue a Coot chick that had got entangled in fishing line. Brendan Gibb-Gray reported Moorhens were nesting again on the boat called Eyas in Dolphin Lake, which, fortunately for the Moorhens, never moves. Brendan also said 4 Tufted Ducks have been present on the pond for much of the week, but they will not be nesting here. The Mute Swan is still on her nest on the west side of the pond, probably sitting on just one egg, after having had 5 others washed away. One of the three cygnets in Dolphin Lake is a white 'Polish' variety that we often have in Emsworth.   Other nesting news Following a tip off from Lesley Harris, I went over to Lordington Park, just north of Walderton, to have a look at the House Martins that have been nesting there for many years. The matron said she liked them, but regretted the mess they made on the walls and windows! I counted 22 nests, about half of which were probably active. What a pity we do not have any left in the Emsworth area. Good news from Hayling Oysterbeds, where 80 pairs of Common Terns are nesting with chicks hatching daily, plus hundreds of Black-headed Gull chicks, almost fledging. A great spectacle not to be missed. No Little Terns on the Oysterbeds this year, but 60 pairs are nesting on the RSPB islands in Langstone Harbour, where there is also a record number of Mediterranean Gulls, which probably accounts for their increased presence over the Emsworth area, and on Slipper Millpond, in particular.   Insects I had the pleasure of accompanying entomologist, Bryan Pinchen on his monthly insect survey of Brook Meadow on June 17 and was truly amazed at the huge number of insects caught with each sweep of the net, all largely unseen on casual observation. Among those Bryan pointed out were Grass Bugs, Picture-winged Flies, Black-tailed Skimmer, Dock Leaf Bugs, Flea Beetles, Short-winged Conehead, Roesel's Bush-cricket, Snail-killing Flies, Robber Fly and Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum which is a bit of a rarity. Plus the Red Data solitary bee mentioned by Frances above. Several people reported seeing Small Tortoiseshells during the Brook Meadow Open Day, which was very good news. Also, reported were Large Skipper, Speckled Wood, Common Blue, Meadow Brown and Red Admiral. We also found a highly distinctive caterpillar feeding on Meadowsweet with four tufts of bright yellow hairs along its back and bunches of fine black hairs at each end of its body, which I subsequently identified as a caterpillar of the Vapourer Moth.   Plants Grasses on Brook Meadow are currently at their splendid best, many at shoulder height and waving in the breeze. Enjoy walking through them and consider, without grasses the human race would not exist! The first Toad Rush of the year is showing near the Lumley gate, far more than usual. Orchids are also doing well on Brook Meadow with 8 Common Spotted, 2 Southern Marsh and 5 Bee Orchids. There is a magnificent crop of Sea Club-rush flowering on the western edge of Peter Pond, with Blue Water Speedwell nearby and Biting Stonecrop is out on the on the eastern wall of the town millpond. I found an unusual hairy Common Milkwort on Nore Down near West Marden on June 17, the likes of which West Sussex BSBI Recorder Alan Knapp had never seen before. Must check it again.   Waysides News Most of the Emsworth waysides are now flourishing, despite a few initial hiccups. The Bridge Road site, in particular, is a riot of wild flowers and grasses. The plant list now stands at an astonishing 127. This place must have a botanical history? Take a look next time you are in the car park. You will also see the new information board, bought with donations from several local organisations. Thanks. Meanwhile, our female Mallard is back on the Westbrook Stream with a family of 9 tiny ducklings, three dark ones and 6 light coloured. The two male Mallards are still around to make life difficult for her!   Other wildlife We have noticed droppings in our garden for some while. This week the culprit revealed himself as a Hedgehog, the first we have seen for some years. I do not usually mention fish in these reports, but I have to report having seen Pike in the River Ems beneath the south bridge as well as the usual Brown Trout and Eels. There are also magnificent shoals of Grey Mullett swimming in Slipper Millpond.   WEEKS 21-22, 24 May to 6 June 2010 Water Vole news With the burgeoning of the bankside vegetation on Brook Meadow, it is becoming increasingly difficult to see the river. This probably accounts for the fact that only four Water Voles have been reported over the past 2 weeks, three on the river beneath the gasholder and one (that I saw today) north of the north bridge. That makes 54 Water Voles sightings this year, all well spread along the length of the river. As usual, all the Water Vole news, sightings and photos can be found on the group web site at . . . . http://www.brook-meadow.hampshire.org.uk/bm-water-voles.html Nesting news The Mute Swan family with 3 cygnets from the nest on the northern seawall of the marina was in Dolphin Lake this afternoon. The Mute Swan family with 5 cygnets from Thorney Island are now settled in Emsworth Harbour near the quay. Sadly, there seems little hope for the swan nesting on the west bank of Slipper Millpond. It is still sitting, but has already lost 4 eggs out of the nest. The new Coot family from the northern raft nest box on Slipper Millpond was out on the water this morning, comprising 2 parents, one mature chick from the 1st brood and 5 young chicks from the 2nd brood. Richard Denman (who works for HBC) told me that Buzzards nest on his father's Lumley Mill Farm in Mill Lane, Lumley. A pair nested there last year producing two youngsters and this year there are two pairs. This probably explains the presence of the rather tame juvenile Buzzard on Brook Meadow this year from Feb 12 to Mar 31. Swallows are back again nesting in the farm. Other bird news Only one Whitethroat is singing on Brook Meadow this year, down from three singing males in previous years. Our other summer visitors, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs (3 or 4 of each) are here as normal. Meanwhile, our 'resident' Cetti's Warbler is still blasting out its song from the Lumley Stream area. Swift numbers remain below normal over Emsworth, though I have had four birds sweeping low over my back garden and up over the house, occasionally stopping to investigate a Starling nest hole under my neighbour's roof. Young birds sussing out possible nesting sites for next year? Insects Butterflies are rather scarce at the present, though I did spot the first Common Blues on Brook Meadow this morning, about 2 weeks later than usual. In contrast, damselflies appear to be more numerous than usual on Brook Meadow, with lots of Banded Demoiselles, along with a good number of Large Red, Blue-tailed and Azure Damselflies. Local enthusiast Graham Hoggarth has provided some superb images for the web site and for the signcases. Graham is also 95% sure that he saw a Beautiful Demoiselle, but needs a photo to confirm it. This would be the first on Brook Meadow since Caroline French's sighting on 02-Aug-08. Hairy Dragonfly and Broad-bodied Chaser have also been seen on Brook Meadow in the past week. Orchids on Brook Meadow I had a query from a lady whether orchids grew on Brook Meadow. The answer is yes, three species, though not in any great numbers. All three orchids are now on show. Pale flowered Common Spotted Orchids are out on the north meadow; bright pink Southern Marsh Orchids are out, two on the north meadow and one near the causeway; and this morning Graham Walsgrove found the first Bee Orchid of the year on the Lumley area, in exactly the same place as he found one last year. We also had a Pyramidal Orchid in 2008, though I recall that one was planted and has not been seen since. Record Ragged Robin count I have been doing annual counts of Ragged Robin on Brook Meadow since 2002, but there has never been a year like this one. I counted an astonishing 625 plants on June 4, which is not only a new record, but almost twice the previous highest count of 332 in 2006. This follows a similar record count of Butterbur flower spikes earlier in the year. Clearly, something unusual is happening this year, probably due to the severe winter we had and the lateness of all the plants. Interpretation board artwork If you happen to visit Emsworth Museum, make a point of looking at the superb original artwork by Marian Forster for the Brook Meadow interpretation board, which is displayed above the staircase. This painting was donated to the museum by the Brook Meadow Conservation Group in 2005. WEEKS 19-20, 10-23 May 2010 Water Voles In the five days I have been away on the Isle of Wight, there have been nine more Water Vole sightings from different parts of the River Ems, including two young voles, so things are really on the move. This brings the overall total number of sightings on Brook Meadow to 50 for the year so far, some way behind the last two years, but still very encouraging. Keep looking and let me know if you see one, with time and place - brianfellows@tiscali.co.uk Mike Probert found some possible Mink tracks (and poo) on the Lumley Stream. We hope this is not the case. As usual, all the Water Vole news, sightings and photos can be found on the group web site at . . . . http://www.brook-meadow.hampshire.org.uk/bm-water-voles.html   Millpond news We think the Mute Swan nesting on the island on Peter Pond had her eggs stolen last week, which were due to hatch in days. The nest is empty and abandoned, but the two swans are on the pond swimming around serenely as if nothing had happened. A cautionary reminder that birds do not have human emotions. Meanwhile, the Mute Swan pair on Slipper Millpond, which had their nest on the west bank swamped by the high tides, are having another go. The new nest looks no higher than the last one and I fear could meet the same fate. Better news comes from the Coots on the northern raft on Slipper Millpond, which have produced a second brood of 5 chicks to add to the one remaining from the first brood. There is another Coot family with 3 chicks, but I am not sure where they nested.   Other bird news Swifts have been slow to appear in the skies over Emsworth this spring, with 3 the most I have seen over Bridge Road. Hopefully, the warm weather should bring more our way. A couple of Swallows regularly hawk over Peter Pond, which probably are local breeders, but there is still no sign of any House Martins in Emsworth. Please let me know if you see any nesting locally.   Hayling Oysterbeds When I was at the Oysterbeds last Tuesday, the new shingle island on the northern beds had its first pair of Little Terns nesting, along with a pair of Ringed Plover and an Oystercatcher. Sadly, the next day, warden Jason Crook found the Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher nests had been plundered, probably by Crows, but the Little Terns were holding out. Fingers crossed, they are still there, and hopefully, joined by others, but Jason is not optimistic. However, the Black-headed Gulls and Common Terns are doing well on the main islands in the lagoon, with lots sitting on nests. A great spectacle.   Plant news There is currently a fine display of Cow Parsley on Brook Meadow, where only this afternoon, I noticed the first flowers on the Yellow Rattle with lots more to come. The north meadow is dominated by buttercups, but the Southern Marsh Orchid leaves are showing, and hopefully they and other orchids will be flowering again. Meanwhile, Yellow Iris is out on the Lumley Stream and the pretty white flowers of Stream Water-crowfoot are showing well in the River Ems.   Waysides news After a slow start, it is so good to see wild flowers springing up all over the town, even along road side verges, where ever they are spared from cutting and spraying. You only have to look at the new wayside in Bridge Road car park to appreciate how rich and more interesting verges can be if they are not cut. The birds and insects also love them. For more information about this new project to protect roadside verges go to . . . http://www.emsworthwaysides.hampshire.org.uk/   Isle of Wight Finally, I must mention a couple of exciting firsts I had during a short holiday on the island. Glanville Fritillaries are one of the rarest butterflies in the UK, but they can be seen fairly easily flitting around the edge of the crumbling sandstone cliffs at Compton Down. Don't be put off by the masses of people converging on the beaches, just walk east from the car park and keep looking at the cliff edge. That's where they are. Second, I can recommend Ventnor Botanic Garden, not only for its wonderful display of exotic plants, but for its Wall Lizards which scuttle around on the rocks and walls. And it is all free! For more details and photos see the Emsworth Wildlife web site for May 22. WEEKS 17-18, April 26 - May 9, 2010 Water Voles Water Vole sightings have been trickling in over the past two weeks, mostly from the section of the River Ems by the railway embankment. We are currently up to 32 for the year so far, but this is well behind the last two years. Thanks to Pam Phillips, Robin Pottinger and John Jacobs (his first ever) for their sightings. Graham Roberts of the Hampshire Wildlife Trust confirms that Water Voles have generally been slow to emerge this spring after the hard winter, but was encouraged to hear we have had so many confirmed sightings on Brook Meadow. Regarding the effect of the rising river levels, Graham said that our voles should be used to fluctuations in water levels. Our high and well vegetated banks should provide a good refuge for them. As usual, all the Water Vole news, sightings and photos are on the web site at . . . http://www.brook-meadow.hampshire.org.uk/bm-water-voles.html Millpond news The Mute Swan is settled on her nest on the island on Peter Pond, despite having her eggs submerged by the high tide. She was off the nest today, but had sensibly covered the eggs with grass. I expect the eggs to hatch in a week or so. But not good news about the Mute Swan nesting on the west bank of Slipper Millpond; the nest was swamped by the spring tides at the end of April, leaving 5 eggs lying forlornly in the water. Our other local Mute Swan nest on the north marina seawall seems OK. The Coot pair nesting on the northern raft are back for a second try with the remaining chick from the first brood looking healthy and feeding itself. The nest boxes on the other rafts on Slipper Millpond have been abandoned after initial tries. There is no hope for the huge Coot nest on the town millpond. Two Reed Warblers are still chuntering away on the reedbeds on Peter Pond, but there has been no sign of the Sedge Warblers that I heard on Apr 26. Nor have I heard the Cetti's Warbler for a week. Hayling Oysterbeds Volunteer wardening has started again at Hayling Oysterbeds. As in previous years, Black-headed Gulls have completely taken over the 'tern islands', with 250 birds already sitting on nests, so, there is no room yet again for the 'rightful' occupiers. However, warden, Jason Crook, hopes the Little Terns will take to a brand new shingle island that has been created specially for them on the northern side of the beds. Join up as a warden and see how it all turns out. Contact Jason at jasonc@hwt.org.uk Orchid counts I did my annual count of Early Purple Orchids in Hollybank Woods on April 29, but only logged 231, which was very poor compared with previous years. As many flowers were not fully out, I need to do another count, but my impression was that this is not a good orchid year. The Havant Wildlife Group counted 7,600 Green-winged Orchids on Hayling beach yesterday. These are also late flowering and the final total could be higher, comparing well with the last count of 10,000 ten years ago. Their next orchid count will be Southern Marsh Orchids on South Moor in June. Other flower news Bluebells are now providing great displays in local woodlands, including Stansted Forest, Hollybank Woods, Racton Park Wood and Ashling Wood. A big thank you to Mary and Jim Colbourne who put me onto a fantastic field of Cowslips on the west side of the B2146 just north of Walderton. The best I have ever seen. May blossom (Hawthorn) is at last coming out. There is not much movement among the grasses, though Meadow Foxtail, Barren Brome, Cocksfoot and Sweet Vernal Grass are out. Divided Sedge and Distant Sedge are abundant on the Lumley area of Brook Meadow and Sea Club-rush on Slipper Millpond. I found the first False Fox Sedge of the year today on Brook Meadow, a week later than usual. Rare Cranefly I found a wasp-like insect in the heart of Hollybank Woods while doing an orchid count on Apr 29. I sent the photo to expert entomologist Dr Chris Palmer who confirmed it as a female Ctenophora flaveolata, a dead-wood breeding cranefly. Chris has only seen it before in the New Forest and says it is a good record for what is generally regarded as a vulnerable (RDB2) species. LOCAL WILDLIFE SUMMARY FOR WEEKS 15-16, April 12 to 25, 2010 Water Voles Water Vole sightings are picking up after a worryingly slow start. We have now had a total of 26 sightings from all along the river on Brook Meadow, with most coming from this year's new area alongside the railway embankment. However, none has been seen this week. Due to the very high level of the river? See Frances's note above. Why should there be so much water in the Ems when there has been no rain to speak of? As usual, all the Water Vole news, sightings and photos are on the web site at . . . http://www.brook-meadow.hampshire.org.uk/bm-water-voles.html Migrant news So much is happening as our summer visitors arrive. Blackcaps are absolutely everywhere; we have five currently singing on Brook Meadow alone. Whitethroats have also arrived and one is singing on Brook Meadow, with hopefully more to follow. I had a Willow Warbler singing from a Birch tree in my back garden on April 20 and one was also on Brook Meadow, both probably moving through. Meanwhile, two Reed Warblers are chuntering away in the reedbeds on Peter Pond, where a pair of Swallows were hunting last week; they are probably nesting nearby. Retired postman John Tagg heard a Cuckoo from Lumley this week, the first in Emsworth? My own peak experience of the week was to hear the glorious song of a Nightingale ringing out into the night sky at Marlpit Lane on April 23. On the same evening, Gavin Miller saw an Osprey on the east side of Thorney Island. For news of the Scottish Ospreys see the blog at . . . http://blogs.swt.org.uk/osprey/ Nesting news Thanks to Maurice Lillie, we know the Mute Swan on the Peter Pond island is sitting on 4 eggs and all looks very promising. The Mute Swan on the west bank of Slipper Millpond has 3 eggs, though looks less secure. Interestingly, she is a 'Polish' swan, with distinctive pink legs and feet and is probably from the Peter Pond brood of 2004. The Coot is back behind its barricade of twigs on the northern raft on Slipper Millpond for a second brood; only one chick remains from the first. Meanwhile, a Coot on the town millpond has built an enormous nest, but it is unused. Other bird news The Cetti's Warbler is still blasting out its "chetti, chetti, chetti" song from the Peter Pond reedbeds or from the Lumley Stream bushes for the 4th week running and may well have a mate by now. The old Sparrowhawk nest from last year in Nore Barn Woods is now occupied by a Carrion Crow. Does anyone know where the Sparrowhawks are nesting this year? Butterfly news Are Small Tortoiseshells making a comeback? From being a common butterfly they have become extremely scarce over the past few years. However, I have seen two in the past week, including a real cracker in my garden and Bryan Pinchen and Ros Norton also saw what was probably the same insect on Brook Meadow on Apr 22. So, if you do see one, please let me know. Most of the other common butterflies seem to be on the wing, including good numbers of Peacocks and Commas. Brimstones are still about and the Whites are coming through well. Orange Tips are regular on Brook Meadow and I have had Holly Blues fluttering around the Ivy hedge in my back garden. Other insects I was pleased to accompany Bryan Pinchen during the first of his insect surveys on Brook Meadow on April 22, a most enjoyable and instructive experience. Bryan discovered lots of insects, some of which I had never even heard of, let alone seen before. Most interesting were the solitary bees, which, by chance, will have benefited from the bare patches of soil produced by walkers and dogs. Bryan found two species of ground hoppers, along with numerous bumblebees, hover flies, bugs, lacewing and a snail-killing fly! More details and photos are on the Emsworth Wildlife web site - address below. True to their name, the jet black St Mark's Flies were on the wing on Brook Meadow today, April 25th. Plant news Spring flowers are starting to show themselves at last. Cow Parsley, Cuckooflower, Herb-Robert and Garlic Mustard are out. Ralph Hollins has seen Hedge Mustard, Yellow Iris and Field Madder. Meadow Foxtail is the first grass to flower. Divided and Distant Sedges are abundant on Brook Meadow. Catkins from the tall Basford Willows are cascading to the ground on Palmer's Rd Car Park. Friends of Emsworth Wildlife . . http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/ For all local wildlife news and photos please visit the new community Emsworth Wildlife web site.   LOCAL WILDLIFE SUMMARY FOR WEEKS 13-14. Mar 29 - Apr 11, 2010 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 but maybe this one will find a mate to breed on Peter Pond. 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. Friends of Emsworth Wildlife . . http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/ For more wildlife news and photos please visit the new Emsworth Wildlife web site. And finally . . . what an incredible afternoon at Wembley. I am still shaking! Pompey through to the final and one in the eye for Redknapp. Now, bring on Chelsea. Emsworth Waysides - report from Brian Fellows 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 WILDLIFE SUMMARY - WEEKS 11-12, Mar 15-28, 2010 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.   WILDLIFE SUMMARY - WEEKS 11-12, Mar 15-28, 2010 Bird News Patrick Murphy had the final sighting of the Spotted Redshank this week, before it left on its long journey to Northern Scandinavia. This amazing bird has been present almost daily at Nore Barn from 21-Oct-09 to 24-Mar-10, a period of over 22 weeks, a couple of weeks longer than in previous years. Meanwhile, on Brook Meadow, we had our last sighting of the juvenile Buzzard on March 6, after 3 weeks of almost daily visits. What a fine bird and what excellent views it gave us while it was here. The Mute Swan pair have abandoned their nest in the reeds on Peter Pond and have built another one on the island, the traditional spot for a nest. And today it had one egg in it! So watch this space. This is a good time of the year to see the Purple Sandpipers at Southsea Castle. I saw at least 15 of them scurrying around in the seaweed on the concrete foreshore on March 25.   Summer arrivals As our winter birds depart, so our summer birds start to arrive. Chiffchaffs are always first on the scene with their cheery "chiff-chaff" metronome song, and there has been a mass invasion of them over the past week. I heard my first Chiffchaff song on Brook Meadow on March 18; two were singing in Hollybank Woods on March 24 and three in Nore Barn Woods on Mar 27. However, there have been no reports so far of any Blackcaps as yet, which are the next common migrant to arrive. Listen out for their short, but rich and flutely song in the woodland areas of Brook Meadow. Heather Mills heard a Willow Warbler and saw some Sand Martins during a visit to Barnes Wetland Centre in London, though there are none locally as far as I am aware. The first Swallow has been reported and Cuckoos, hopefully, will be on the way.   Spring flowers Plants have taken a battering over the winter period, but with warm wet weather maybe everything will come in a rush. Tiny white flowers currently dominate the roadside verges, mainly Shepherd's Purse, Hairy Bittercress and Common Chickweed, though I have also found Danish Scurvygrass in places. Sweet Violets are looking particularly fine this year, probably because there is so little else of colour. There is a good display on the grass verge in Valetta Park and also in Nore Barn Woods. Dave Savage and I rediscovered the pretty but mysterious Alpine Squill in the orchid area of Hollybank Woods. What is it doing there? Nothing else appeared to be moving in the woods at present. I had a couple of surprises today. A patch of Ivy-leaved Speedwell was flowering by the green metal gate at the Seagull Lane entrance to Brook Meadow, a good two weeks earlier than last year, and I found Alexanders in flower on Thorney Road verge complete with a Yellow Dung Fly in residence.   Record Butterbur count At least, the Butterbur on Brook Meadow is doing well. I did my regular annual count today and got an astonishing 597 flower spikes, which easily beat last year's count of 467, which itself was a record since I began the counts in 1999. The large increase is entirely due to the continued spread of the plants onto the main meadow in front of the seat. As the plants are all male, they must be spreading by underground rhizomes. I suppose, in time, one could envisage the Butterbur spreading across the rest of the centre meadow. Clearly, this situation needs monitoring from a conservation point of view, though I am not sure what could be done to control it if that were deemed necessary.   Grasses and trees Grasses appear to have been particularly badly hit by the bad winter. I have been searching all week for any signs of flowering grasses; apart from Annual Meadow-grass, which basically flowers all year round, the only one I found was a weak looking Cocksfoot at the northern end of Westbourne Avenue. Trees are doing better, with some fine Pussy Willow displays on Brook Meadow and around the town. Catkins are just forming on the Basford Willows in Palmer's Road Car Park and we will soon be having cascades of extra long catkins tumbling to the ground.   Water Voles I should be reporting Water Vole sightings on Brook Meadow at this time of the year, but frankly we have not had any since the solitary report by Pam Phillips on March 17 and it is certainly not from the lack of looking for them. However, a number of holes are now appearing in the banks as the river levels fall, which look promising, but one cannot be sure if they are fresh burrows or just old ones exposed. Please keep a special look out and let me know if you see one. All sightings are logged on a special file at . . . http://www.brook-meadow.hampshire.org.uk/bm-water-voles.html   WILDLIFE SUMMARY - WEEKS 9-10. Mar 1-14, 2010 Is spring coming? At least, birds think it is. Bird song is everywhere with Dunnock, Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Stock Dove, House Sparrow, Carrion Crow, Magpie (chattering), Great Spotted Woodpecker ('kik' call) and Kestrel (calling) all in good voice. The same cannot be said for wild flowers, which are very late this year. I went looking for Lesser Celandines today; there are some about, but far fewer than last year. However, I saw my first Wild Daffodils at Blashford Lakes reserve yesterday and they should soon be out in Inholmes Wood. Coltsfoot are flowering near the Hayling Oysterbeds car park and Common Stork's-bill at Broadmarsh. Butterflies have also been scarce, though I saw two Commas and a Red Admiral over the weekend, so maybe they are emerging at long last. Ralph Hollins reported a Painted Lady in the New Forest.  Buzzard The Buzzard is still being seen on a daily basis on Brook Meadow after 4 weeks, though not so regularly as before. It seems to feed mainly on earthworms; not really enough to sustain a bird of that size one might think, but Brook Meadow must be just one of a number of local sites where it hunts. Ralph Hollins has looked at our photos and concludes that the bird is, as we suspected, a juvenile, with streaking in place of barring on the breast and an absence of a clear dark terminal bar to the tail.  Spotted Redshank This coming week might be the last opportunity to enjoy the sight of this rare bird which has been regularly feeding in the small stream at Nore Barn since October. Over the past four years my last dates for seeing the Spotted Redshank ranged from Mar 17 to Mar 23, so it should soon be winging its way back to its breeding grounds, somewhere in Northern Scandinavia. But what pleasure and excitement the bird has provided to locals and visitors to our town. A great bird! Please come back.  Millpond news There has been no sign of nest building from the Mute Swan pair on Peter Pond. I think they are still immature birds. Ominously, another pair of Swans have arrived on the adjacent Slipper Millpond and, from past experience, having two pairs in such close proximity can only spell trouble. The nest box on the northern raft on Slipper Millpond has a Coot in residence, but the other nest boxes are unoccupied at present. A Mediterranean Gull was on Slipper Millpond last week and others can be heard in the harbour with their distinctive "yeah" calls. Up to 50 are on Hayling Oysterbeds. David Gattrell has restored and repositioned the two raised duck nest boxes that he installed last year on Peter Pond. One nest is now just south of the small Lumley Path bridge, allowing for easy viewing.  Water Voles The continuing absence of Water Vole sightings on the River Ems is a little worrying, though the regular flooding of the river cannot have helped. By this time last year I had received 18 sightings on the River Ems. Please keep a special look out and let me know if you see one. All sightings are logged on a special file at . . . http://www.brook-meadow.hampshire.org.uk/bm-water-voles.html  House Sparrow survey Monday 15 March sees the launch of the Hampshire House Sparrow survey to provide information about the present state of this well-loved bird which has been in serious decline over the past 30 years. Register on line at . . . http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hampshire-countryside/birds/housesparrow.htm  Friends of Emsworth Waysides Things are progressing very well with the local waysides project. Thirteen sites have been identified as wildlife reserves in Emsworth which HBC have agreed not to cut this year. Meanwhile, a wild flower area is planned for Bridge Road car park along with a Rowan tree and a new interpretation board. For all the news about this exciting project go to . . . http://www.emsworthwaysides.hampshire.org.uk/  Friends of Emsworth Wildlife - a new venture I have been running a personal wildlife web site for many years. But with an increasing number of observations and photos coming in from other people, I have decided to broaden its scope to create a more community oriented web site called 'Friends of Emsworth Wildlife'. The aim is to promote the observation, recording and protection of local wildlife. It is a bit of an experiment and much of the material is still mine, but I hope it succeeds. Please have a look at the new site and think about sending me some observations and photos for possible inclusion to . . . brianfellows@tiscali.co.uk.  New web site address . . . http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/