Overton Biodiversity Society

September 2009

7^th

House Martin were still to be found in the nest in several roads whilst Fox and Cubs was still in flower off Silk Mill Lane. A Brown Lacewing in Southington Close was the first of the year while a fly-over Meadow Pipit was one of few noted so far this autumn.

8^th

a dramatic increase in Large Yellow Underwing numbers was noted at one moth trap, there being 60 found nestled among the egg boxes.

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.

13^th

a Red Kite drifted east early morning, pulling up good numbers of House Martin over the village. A Chiffchaff sang in Woodlands while, nearby, a Grey Heron moved west over Town Meadow. Brown-spot Pinion and Lunar Underwing were the latest additions to the mothing year.

18^th

the National Moth Night event started early evening, continuing on to very late! The initial Bat Walk produced at least four species of these nocturnal lurkers about the The Test and adjacent buildings / roads while the mothing / drinking / eating part of the evening had a barking Roe Deer heard in Southington and further pipistrelle in to make the most of the moths coming to light.

19^th

the unveiling of the moths attracted to three lights, during National Moth Night, in a Southington garden overnight took place in the Community Centre, 29 species totaling 155 moths. The most notable, to moffers (!) was a Laburnum Leaf Miner, though, to others, Burnished Brass, Frosted Orange, Pink-barred Sallow, Ruby Tiger, Blood-vein, Green and Scorched Carpets were perhaps somewhat more memorable.

Laburnum Leaf Miner, Leucoptera laburnella (Picture: Paul Boswell) - A moth that appears to have been recorded in the north of the county on perhaps a handful of occasions

21^st

an unidentified micro moth became the latest addition to one garden, over 500 species already having been recorded there. A larval four House Martin and four Mistle Thrush were noted on the wing in the evening, the latter heading low eastwards.

24^th

an immature Chiffchaff was vocal in Waltham Road.

25^th

a Red Kite and Chiffchaff were bout Hill Meadow mid-afternoon while another of the warblers was also heard in Foxdown / Copse Road; a Harlequin Ladybird being found in the latter.

26^th

though possibly just outside the Parish perimeter three Red Kite and a Buzzard were north of Ashe Park late morning, the kites circling low over the other raptor as it stood in a field.

27^th

a Buzzard was north of Berrydown late morning. Seven Long-tailed Tit patrolled Woodlands gardens, a Coal Tit also being heard about here. Red Admiral were still on the wing at both Edward Kersley Playing field and Dellands over the weekend.

28^th

a Brown-spot Pinion of the form rufa-pallida was the first known to have been recorded in the village.

29^th

The Sallow was a further autumnal addition to the mothing. House Martin and two Grey Wagtail were on the wing early evening.

Right: The Sallow, Xanthia icteritia (Picture: Peter E. Hutchins) - An autumnal visitor, regularly being recorded at both light and sugar; being named after the initial predilection for sallow the larval stage has

30^th

a Red Kite was circling over the village mid-afternoon while a Sparrowhawk disturbed the local Starling over Poyntz Road early evening. A corpse at Nutley Bottom, partially tangled in a bin-liner, proved has yet to be identified. Rosy Rustic and Brown-spot Pinion were the best of Woodlands mothing.

Contributors: David Backers, Jane Beckmann, Alison Hutchins, Bryher Hutchins, Jay Hutchins, Peter E. Hutchins, Nick. Montegriffo, Margaret Rainford & Mike Wall.