Overton Biodiversity Society

July 2017

1^st

three adult and two young Roe Deer were seen in Wheat off Straight Lane, at least one of the doe still present later in the day; "Back end disappearing into Wheat!". Nearby four Red Kite were over The Source of The Test, Kestrel and Yellowhammer were about the Straight Lane hedgerows and fields and a Blackcap was in a hedgerow on Overton Hill. A Hedgehog was visiting Woodlands gardens during the evening. A Chiffchaff was in song at Parsonage Farmhouse, a Blackcap off Silk Mill Lane. Further Red Kite were seen over Bell Meadow and Overton Hill. A Grey Squirrel was also reported from near the Source of The Test — perhaps one of the most regularly noted of Parish animals, but least reported.

Right: Roe Deer, Capreolus capreolus - Picture: Deb Heath. One of the doe frequenting the fields towards the eastern edge of the Parish

2^nd

very early morning had an Elephant Hawk-moth visiting a bathroom window. A pair of Coot on The Test off Glebe Meadow had four active young. Up to three Red Kite were reported over the village. One of the Indian Peafowl remained vocal, being heard late evening.

3^rd

Silver-washed Fritillary and mating Small Tortoiseshell and Ringlet were seen about Station Road whilst butterfly at David's Wood included Marbled White, Comma, Ringlet and Meadow Brown, a Dunnock being in song there. The / a Blackcap was again seen in the Overton Hill hedgerows. Honeysuckle on Straight Lane hedgerows was in bloom, as evidenced by the increased scent noted; Yellowhammer also again being seen there, as was a Chiffchaff. Two Roe Deer doe were again seen in the Wheat off Straight Lane, as were Skylark. Three Buzzard circled over Two Gate Meadow, another over the Berrydown crossroads. Again, up to three Red Kite were seen over the village. A charm of Goldfinch was seen in Station Road.

Right: Small Tortoiseshell, Aglais urticae - Picture: Deb Heath

5^th

late evening saw a Hedgehog visiting Glebe Meadow gardens, another being seen, again after dark, in Dellands. Also nocturnal was the Tawny Owl visiting woodlands tv aerials. Roe Deer, Blackcap, Yellowhammer, Skylark and Song Thrush, Marbled White, Comma, Ringlet and many Meadow Brown were about the fields and hedgerows off Straight Lane. Red Admiral were on the wing on The Harrow Way whilst Meadow Brown and Small White were seen at Little Meadow. The 'annexe' on Overton Hill drew in c.20 House Martin to forage. A Green Woodpecker remained about Two Gate Meadow during the day.

6^th

a further late evening sighting was of a Muntjac, this in St. Mary's Churchyard. Also during the evening Swift were seen very high over Two Gate Meadow.

7^th

the churchyard held many Gatekeeper, Comma and Red Admiral being present about the hedgerows flanking Straight Lane, where two juvenile partridge were found. Perhaps 30 Swift were over the eastern side of the village during the evening, once again remaining high overhead, with two Buzzard noted there earlier in the day, as were calling Bullfinch.

Right: Gatekeeper, Pyronia tithonus - Picture: Deb Heath

8^th

the OBS surveying of Cut-leaved Germander at Micheldever Spoil Heaps found less than 100 small plants present. On a more positive note Silver-washed Fritillary and many grasshopper were also recorded there. Two Green Woodpecker, Holly Blue and Red Admiral all visited a Glebe Meadow back Garden, further Red Admiral being seen about one of the Dog Field hedgerows. One garden received its first Gatekeeper of the year.

9^th

butterfly were, pleasingly, evident with Essex Skipper, Marbled White, Red Admiral, Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown and Common Blue being reported — though one of the latter made a 'meal' for one of the parishioner's dogs! A Buzzard was seen over the Dog Field. A family party of Pied Wagtail was active about the Polhampton Farm ford, as was a charm of Goldfinch. Nearby a Grey Heron was on the disused cressbeds, a family party of Long-tailed Tit foraging about the waterside vegetation. A Brimstone, the first reported for a while, six Goldfinch and about a dozen House Martin were about the higher reaches of Overton Hill later in the day.

10^th

Red Admiral was seen briefly visiting two gardens, Comma another. The fields and hedgerows about Polhampton adding Small Tortoiseshell and Meadow Brown and those off Straight Lane Common Blue. The latter area also held Yellowhammer, Skylark and Bullfinch.

12^th

a Kestrel was seen harassing a settled Red Kite at Turrill Hill, the latter eventually moving off.

13^th

a Grey Heron flew low east through Town Meadow early morning.

14^th

another Grey Heron sighting today, this of one on the pools at Quidhampton. A Big Butterfly Count in one garden produced ?? no butterflies! Red Kite, Swift and House Martin were however on the wing during this butterfly dearth.

15^th

both Dark Mullein and Lucerne were in flower about the dog field, Southley Farm.

16^th

a Hobby circled eastwards over the village late morning, at least the second seen over the village this year. Red Kite were over both Overton and Hill Woodlands, both late morning.

17^th

the hedgerows about the Hop fields south of the village attracted Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Small White. A male Kestrel moved east over the village late morning, this or another being heard at Town Meadow pre-dusk.

18^th

late evening produced a garden-visiting Hedgehog whilst earlier in the day both Red Admiral and Comma were again visiting gardens. A Red Kite was seen over the Great North Field; one of relatively few recent sightings reported.

Right: Comma, Polygonia c-album — Deb Heath. One of the most striking of local butterfly, especially when seen on the wing in bright sunlight

19^th

a Buzzard was on a telegraph post off Dellands Lane. A Green Woodpecker was again vocal about the Town Meadow area early morning.

20^th

a / the Clouded Yellow was again seen on the edge of Jackson's Copse. Two Green Woodpecker were in the fields at Turill Hill, a Great Spotted seen visiting a garden apple tree in Glebe Meadow. A Buzzard was flushed from the woodland / hedgerows off Dellands Track.

21^st

a Red-legged Partridge was seen foraging on a roadside verge in Lordsfield Gardens, a Red Kite being nearby, low over Glebe Meadow late morning. Several Gatekeeper were seen roosting on Court Drove vegetation in the grey and windy conditions, this also during the late morning. The Collared Dove nest on the traffic lights remained occupied and busy.

22^nd

a Buzzard was on the eastern Parish boundary fencing mid-morning.

23^rd

walking the fields and lanes towards the eastern Parish edge during the morning saw Marbled White, Common Blue, Ringlet and Meadow Brown on the wing, a Kestrel and Yellowhammer seen and Bullfinch heard.

24^th

the 120+ species found about Little Meadow, Overton in an hour's wander mid-afternoon, included Small Teasel, Common Frog, Comma, Roesel's Bush-cricket, a prey-carrying Sparrowhawk, Volucella zonaria, Harlequin Ladybird, Oedema nobilis, Pyrausta aurata and Common Blue. Comma, Common Blue, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Small White were on the wing about the fields and hedgerows about Straight Lane, as were Kestrel, Buzzard and Red Kite. And from further afield, one OBS Member having recently returned from Germany:

25^th

both adult and juvenile Spotted Flycatcher were in vegetation by The Test at Town Mill; the first of this ever-decreasing species being noted in the Parish this year. A Beautiful Demoiselle was on the wing there, less rare, but certainly more extravagantly 'plumaged'! The hedgerows bordering the footpath north from Overton Mill drew in Comma, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Small and Large White. Also there were Brown Hare, Yellowhammer and Swallow. Elsewhere Peacock, Red Admiral, Ringlet and Brimstone were also flying, the latter the first of the late year for the observer. An Old Lady (!) was found in a Glebe Meadow porch. 23+ Swift were over the Lion Close / Dellands area early afternoon when Red Kite were over Kingsclere Road and The Green / Waltham Road, another over Overton Hill mid-afternoon. Two Gate Meadow continued to be visited by charms of Goldfinch. The Buzzard was again on the eastern Parish boundary fencing, this time being noted early morning. The Red-legged Partridge also put in a further appearance in Lordsfield Gardens.

Right: Old Lady, Mormo maura — Picture: Mike Wall www.hantsmoths.org.uk

26^th

up to three Tawny Owl were vocal about Two Gate Meadow.

27^th

Kestrel and Yellowhammer were seen off the footpath north from Overton Mill, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral and Small White off the one leading north from the school. Glebe Meadow gardens were once again being visited by a Green Woodpecker, Bullfinch being nearby, at the school. Also nearby, the Red-legged Partridge was again seen in Lordsfield Gardens. Later in the day at least seven Swift moved south-west over the village.

28^th

three Kestrel were about the Dog Field, Turrill Hill. Speckled Wood and Gatekeeper continued to visit Glebe Meadow gardens.

29^th

several Red Admiral were seen about village gardens, buddleia again coming in to its own as other garden blooms began to go over.

30^th

a pair of Roe Deer was seen in Rut! A Red Kite and two Buzzard were seen over the Great North Field. The / a Buzzard was again on fencing east of Burley Lane mid-morning. Meadow Brown and Small White were also seen on the wing about the village.

Right: Roe Deer, Capreolus capreolus - Picture: Deb Heath. "Have fab pics but probably not for open viewing!"

31^st

a Swift moved west over the High Street mid-evening. Further Red Admiral were seen visiting gardens, as were lesser numbers of both Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown. Bullfinch again appeared, this time at David's Wood.

Contributors: Brian Elkins, Margaret Elkins, Deb Heath, Alison Hutchins, Peter E. Hutchins & Doug Kelson.

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