Overton Biodiversity Society

August 2009

1^st

a Garden Tiger larva wandered across Vinns Lane where a Green Woodpecker was 'laughing'. Ten Swift were over Woodlands / Lion Close, perhaps the last of the year locally? Ten Painted Lady were seen in various parts of the village. A Blackcap was verbal in Glebe Meadow. A Buzzard moved south-east mid-morning. Five Magpie were on the B3400 between Overton Hill and Berrydown early morning, presumably tidying up after the nights' wildlife RTA's. Belated news was of a Kingfisher at Flashetts on 26th July.

2^nd

the Society went abroad, well out of the Parish and into Laverstoke Park, with a Raven, three+ Buzzard, nine+ Painted Lady, Brown Hare, Liquid Amber, Turkish Hazel, Red Oak, Borage and Cut-leaved Beech among the species recorded on the late morning amble. A Magpie Moth was a very early morning visitor to a conservatory, a Straw Underwing then being added in the 'trap' later that morning and a larval Cinnabar Moth yet later in the day. Several Swift moved south-west during the evening, Lesser Black-backed Gull being seen heading the opposite way in much larger numbers. An unexpected road casualty at The White Hart was a Red-legged Partridge, a Buzzard moving to trees by the Stud, perhaps to roost, being in a somewhat better state.

3^rd

a Stoat was seen looking predatory off Southington Lane. A Red Kite moved low over Kingsclere Road gardens. Pebble Hook-tip was the best of Woodlands mothing, Painted Lady and increased numbers of Peacock also being noted there.

4^th

two Hedgehog graced a Lordsfield Garden garden late evening, Painted Lady, Comma, Peacock, Gatekeeper, Large White, Brimstone and Common Blue also being seen there in the brighter hours. Rosy Minor, Oak Hook-tip and Cydia splendana were all moths encountered for this first time this year. Recently hatched Dunnock were vocal in Woodlands.

5^th

an Agapeta hamana was the first of the year to be attracted to local lighting, other micro moths included Catoptria pinella and Bird-cherry Ermine. A Swift moved west, with two Swallow, middish-afternoon.

6^th

a Cormorant was seen moving over the village.

Right: Myothropa florea - Closely allied to Drone Fly, a common garden visitor, this is 'easily' identified as it is the only wasp-like hoverfly with horizontal striping on the thorax; here on Hemp Agrimony

7^th

Fennel attracted hundreds of invertebrates in Woodlands, including the hoverfly Myothropa florea. A Sparrowhawk glided north over the High Street mid-afternoon.

8^th

nine Silver-washed Fritillary at Micheldever Spoil Heaps were joined by 62+ Peacock, 32+ Large White, 17+ Painted Lady, ten Six-spot Burnet, four Cinnabar Moth larvae, two Common Groundhopper, 17 Dark Bush-cricket, singing Stock Dove and flowering Ploughman's Spikenard, among others!

9^th

a Honey Bee was an unusual garden visitor for some.

10^th

a male Lesser Stag Beetle was found among trees in Poyntz Road. 52 Canada Geese at The Source of The Test had two Greylag for company. Red-barred Tortrix, Red Twin-spot Carpet and Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing were additions for the mothing year in Woodlands.

11^th

many Robin were in song while a Little Owl was heard mid-evening. Grey Heron, Canada Geese and Tufted Duck were at The Source of The Test.

12^th

new for the year in Woodlands were Dusky Thorn, Orange Swift and Yellow-barred Brindle, moths such as these perhaps attracting the pipistrelle sp. seen early morning.

13^th

90+ Harlequin Ladybird larvae were found on a house in the High Street, Overton. In Woodlands the best of the mothing were Gold Spot, Dusky Thorn, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Svensson's Copper Underwing, Mouse Moth and Straw Dot.

Right: Butterbur, Hydraecia petasitis (Picture: Alison Cross), Station road - A rarely recorded moth in the county and possibly the first for the Parish

14^th

a Butterbur was noted at a light in Station Road.

17^th

four Gadwall were at The Source of The Test early evening on another very summery day.

18^th

both male and female Tawny Owl were vocal early morning. Three Hedgehog were continuing to visit a Lordsfield Gardens garden overnight.

Hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus (Picture: David Backers) - The smallest of the three currently visiting a Lordsfield Gardens garden on a regular basis

19^th

Rosy Rustic was new for the year in Woodlands.

20^th

a pipistrelle sp. was active early morning about Woodlands.

23^rd

an unidentified micro moth became the latest addition to one garden, over 500 species already having been recorded there. A larval Elephant Hawk-moth was found in another garden.

micro moth sp. (Picture: Alison Cross), Station Road - What is it, apart from very small?

Far right: Elephant Hawk-moth, Deilephila elpenor (Picture: Jay Hutchins), Woodlands - Primarily feeding on willowherb sp. but noted regularly on fuchsia in gardens

24^th

a Eudonia pallida was the first of the year in Woodlands.

26^th

Six-striped Rustic and Swallow Prominent were all added for the year in Woodlands. A Grey Wagtail moved west over the village as dusk approached.

28^th

the tortrix Apotomis betuletana was new for 2009 in Woodlands.

29^th

at least six Silver Y were visiting blossom shortly after dusk in Woodlands.

30^th

the spiders Araneus diadematus and Drassodes cupreus were identified today, having originally being found near a moth trap.

31^st

a Nuthatch was an unexpected garden visitor, partaking of peanuts three time in an hour in Lordsfield Gardens. A Grey Heron stood disconsolately in a harvested field west of the Golf Course. Mouse Moth, Svensson's Copper Underwing, Rush Veneer and V-Pug were the best of a good night of mothing while a Painted Lady moved north later in day.

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