Overton Biodiversity Society

October 2009

1st^th

at least five Hedgehog continued to visit Lordsfield Gardens gardens, with devastating effect on the food being placed out for them. A Red Admiral was seen in a Station Hill garden. A Grey Heron was seen following The Test over Bridge Street. A Grey Wagtail moved over late afternoon.

Right: Grey Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea

2^nd

a Red Kite moved over the village about midday. Both male and female Tawny Owl were vocal early morning. A bird hunting about St. Mary's Church early evening could not be relocated, but sounded more than intriguing!

3^rd

a Red Kite was again seen over Woodlands. A Black Rustic was another autumnal hoped-for moth that appeared for the first time this year overnight. A very windy day.

4^th

sky-watching at noon produced a Red Kite, 13 Buzzard, three Kestrel and five Lesser Black-backed Gull over the village, a further Red Kite being seen earlier in the morning over the Palmer's Bushes area. Two Brown Hare at Turrill Hill appeared to be sickly. Three slightly unusual invertebrate records were from today: an Earwig found in a dog basket, a Harlequin Ladybird inside a car and a dead Large Yellow Underwing found in a vase, obviously a female as several hundred larvae were also present! Rain fell, at last, from mid-evening.

5^th

a Meadow Pipit flew over Woodlands early morning where the 2nd Black Rustic of the autumn was also found. Two Chiffchaff were in the Court Drove hedgerow as the school emptied, as was a pre-roost gathering of House Sparrow. Both Comma and Red Admiral were sun-bathing on The Harroway. Brown Trout remained obvious in The Test off Bridge Street. Further rain fell, only easing by early afternoon, it remained mild.

Right: Brown Trout, Salmo trutta

6^th

The Brick and Orthopygia glaucinalis were further additions for the year in Woodlands, mobile Chiffchaff and Meadow Pipit being noted on emptying the moth trap. Skylark, Grey Wagtail, Mistle Thrush and Magpie were recorded moving over as the day progressed; the latter being, in general, another wet, and very mild, one with south-westerly winds bringing in truly autumnal fronts.

7^th

a female Steatoda grossa was an unexpected find in a conservatory, this possibly being the cause of a then bitten and swollen ankle! A Red Kite passed over the school. A female Tawny Owl was again calling late night. Another grim day for weather, primarily north-easterlies and rain from late morning.

8^th

A Muntjac was seen off Station Road where a Rabbit appeared ill, possibly suffering from Myxomatosis. Two immature Swallow moved high west late morning, 12+ Siskin east late afternoon. Singing Chiffchaff were heard in Silk Mill Lane / Court Drove and Woodlands, the latter area also holding a calling immature bird while Skylark were singing off Station Road. Three Buzzard were over the village at midday, another being north of Berrydown late morning, both Sparrowhawk and Kestrel also being seen about this time. Other birds on the move included Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Linnet. A Large White larva was seen to be parasitized by freshly emerged Apanteles glomeratus. Blair's Shoulder-knot, Pale Mottled Willow and Sallow were the best of overnight mothing while Red Admiral, Brimstone and Large White were again on the wing. Clear and cool to start today.

Right:Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta (Picture: Mike Duffy)

9^th

a recently reported Humming-bird Hawk-moth in Lordsfield Gardens was the only record this late summer / early autumn period, unlike other years recently when many have been noted about the village's gardens. A Brown Hare was on Lower White Hill.

10^th

a Wheatear and male Stonechat were on Lower White Hill. Many Rabbit remained about the school field, though recently several have succumbed from Myxomatosis.

11^th

a Red Admiral was seen at the bank!

13^th

the first late year Redwing was heard over Woodlands early evening, the second moving over there mid-evening. Three Roe Deer were in fields at Ashe Warren.

14^th

four Red Kite were over the village early afternoon, two circling low while the other two headed more purposefully to the north-east. 77 Harlequin Ladybird, and a single Seven-spot, were found in an area of hedgerow flanking the southern side of Town Meadow. Further Redwing moved over the village post-dawn, as did Song Thrush, Chaffinch and, possibly, even House Sparrows. 13 Gadwall were on a pool at Southington.

15^th

the first Red-lined Quaker of the autumn appeared at a moth light, being joined by four Beaded Chestnut; the latter the highest count of this species to be recorded within the Parish. Another of the quakers appeared in the evening.

Right: Red-line, Quaker Agrochola lota (l) and Yellow-line Quaker, Agrochola macilenta (r) for comparison (Picture: Paul Boswell)

16^th

a Pale Tussock larva was a colourful find at the school, these seemingly nowhere near as regularly found as previously. A Kestrel was about the top of Overton Hill early afternoon.

17^th

three Painted Lady moved south over Station Hill, unlike in late May. 11 Red-legged Partridge, 350+ Woodpigeon and 11 'Domestic' pigeon were feeding in a field by Nutley crossroads, where investigation of a previously reported 'bird in a bag' resulted in the deceased being identified as a Great black-backed Gull; possibly the first for the Parish.

Right: The remnants of a possible 1st for the Parish — all very suspect!

18^th

a Red Kite drifted east early afternoon with this, or another, then moving high west / south-west shortly afterwards. Siskin and Redwing were among winter migrants on the move. Red Admiral graced at least one garden with another at Flashetts. The well attended Fungi Foray about Flashetts and Little Meadow produced at least 15 species including The Deceiver, Dead Man's Fingers, Sulphur Tuft and Wood Blewitt.

20^th

two male Tawny Owl were 'singing' off Southington lane late evening.

23^rd

two Brimstone, two Long-tailed Tit and 'masses' of Rook were about the Station Hill / Hilltop Road area.

25^th

a Buzzard was high over Winchester Street at midday. Beaded Chestnut were still attending mothing lights.

26^th

a Painted Lady in Station Hill might just have been the last for the yar.

27^th

Yellow-line Quaker was the latest moth to be noted in Woodlands, just three moths visiting the 'trap' overnight.

28^th

low cloud early morning encouraged birds on the move to continue their migration over the village, Fieldfare, Redwing, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Grey and Pied Wagtail all being recorded. The Sprawler, Feathered Thorn, Large Wainscot and Dark Chestnut were all the first of the year to be seen at moth lights.

30^th

Feathered Thorn and Sprawler were the best of overnight mothing.

Contributors: Julian Aburrow, David Backers, Nancy Cathcart-Jones, Helen Harden, Richard Harden, Alison Hutchins, Bryher Hutchins, Jay Hutchins, Peter E. Hutchins, Veronique Kerguelen, Margaret Rainford, Mike Scoggins & Adam Trickett.