Whilst walking the dog around the Ranvilles loop I came across a small flock of Linnets in the crop field just to the south west of Oxley’s Coppice. I counted a minimum of 61 birds feeding within the crop, although I am sure more birds would have been hidden from view so the true total could have been nearer the three figure mark. The birds were very mobile and were constantly on the move around the field.

Linnet Flock, Ranvilles Loop, 26 Feb 2012

Earlier opposite the RSPCA centre I spotted a single Red Fox lurking in cover. We watched each other for a few seconds before it disappeared into deeper cover. Singing Dunnocks were very noticeable in any patch of scrub. I counted 7 birds along the fence line as I walked up from the cemetery back towards the Coppice.

Red Fox, Ranvilles Loop, 26 Feb 2012

Dunnock in Good Voice, Ranvilles Loop, 26 Feb 2012

Steve Copsey

Last Friday my wife and I popped down the front at Hill Head for a brief walk after lunch. Not a great deal around but with a high tide pretty much fully in there were a few birds to be seen roosting on the shingle in front of the harbour. Dunlins were in the majority with around sixty birds present with the odd Ringed Plover thrown in. Turnstones numbered around twenty birds roosting with a few other feeding nearer the tide line allowing a few shots.

Turnstone, Hill Head, 24 Feb 2012

Turnstone, Hill Head, 24 Feb 2012

Roosting Dunlin, Hill Head, 24 Feb 2012

Steve Copsey

I was quite surprised on the Friday afternoon to hear a Raven cronking in the Alameda Gardens. I was having the last hour of the day wandering around the gardens hoping for a Hoopoe. A bird had been seen the day before but I was out of luck today. I heard the tell tale cronk and found the not exactly inconspicuous bird rather easily. In fact one became two as a pair was together in the gardens. I knew Ravens were present on the Rock but this was the first time I had seen them down at lower altitudes. The following morning I actually saw what I assume was the same pair from the hotel balcony which overlooks the gardens.

Ravens, Alameda Gardens, 17 Feb 2012

Raven in Stone Pine, Alameda Gardens, 17 Feb 2012

The Rock Hotel as viewed from the Alameda gardens

Steve Copsey

This afternoon I was cleaning out several pots in the greenhouse, after planting out a couple of rhubarb crowns, when I heard a buzzing behind me.  After finishing what I was doing I looked around and was most surprised to see a Hummingbird Hawk-moth trying to find a way out.  A most unexpected New For Garden!!!

Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Fareham Garden - 26 Feb 12

Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Fareham Garden - 26 Feb 12

Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Fareham Garden - 26 Feb 12

I had been pleased with a sighting of a Nuthatch on the feeders prior to heading off to Pagham in the morning, but the Hummingbird Hawk-moth finished off what was simply a cracking extended weekend.

Good mothing,

Tony T   BSc (Hons) GeoSci (Open)

The area favoured by the Paddyfield Warbler, Pagham Harbour LNR - 26 Feb 12

The area favoured by the Paddyfield Warbler (slightly right of previous photograph), Pagham Harbour LNR - 26 Feb 12

Although the Paddyfield Warbler wasn’t showing on my arrival I didn’t have to wait too long for it to appear.  Initially I had just brief views of the bird as it occasionally flew up out of the reeds to catch a fly and drop back down and out of sight.  However, eventually it showed well and at one point it even moved through the reeds at the bottom of the sea wall no more than a few metres away.  Unfortunately though it rarely stayed still and kept moving into cover.

Paddyfield Warbler, Pagham Harbour LNR - 26 Feb 12 - Canon SX10IS

Paddyfield Warbler, Pagham Harbour LNR - 26 Feb 12 - Canon SX10IS

Paddyfield Warbler, Pagham Harbour LNR - 26 Feb 12 - Canon SX10IS

As well as a couple of Mediterranean Gulls North overhead another species worthy of a note was Little Grebe.  Throughout my stay two birds that I presumed were a pair made quite a noise as they swam together between dives.

Pagham Harbour LNR - 26 Feb 12

Good birding,

Tony T   BSc (Hons) GeoSci (Open)

Yesterday I took a stroll around Newlands Farm and the surrounding area to blow the cobwebs away after the Ship’s Company dance.  I don’t normally walk around the entire perimeter of Peel Common Sewage Works but the loop actually resulted in a flyover Mediterranean Gull and two ‘patch’ ticks.  The first was two Green Sandpiper that were stood together on the circular rim protruding just above the surface of the water within the nearest concrete settling tank, before they flew erratically off to the adjacent settling tank and out of view.

Peel Common Sewage Works -24 Feb 12

The second ‘patch’ tick was Lesser Redpoll further along the vegetated embankment where a pair of birds fed on alder cones directly above the footpath.

Lesser Redpoll (female), Peel Common Sewage Works - 24 Feb 12 - Canon SX10IS

Lesser Redpoll (male), Peel Common Sewage Works - 24 Feb 12 - Canon SX10IS

At Newlands Farm there was no sign of the resident Black Redstart but the Siberian Chiffchaff showed well as it searched for food around the ‘bonfire’.

Siberian Chiffchaff, Newlands Farm - 24 Feb 12 - Canon SX10IS

All in all I had a thoroughly enjoyable morning that resulted in some good birds within a mile of my home.

Good birding,

Tony T   BSc (Hons) GeoSci (Open)

Due to the predicted mild spell I have had my moth trap on in the back garden overnight throughout the week.  However, it wasn’t until I returned home from Hook with Warsash yesterday afternoon that I encountered my first moth.  The Twenty-plume Moth was flying around the back door well before dusk.

Twenty-plume moth (micro), Fareham Garden - 23 Feb 12

Last night the trap attracted two Light Brown Apple Moths.  The first was on the outside of the trap on my return with Mrs T from HMS IRON DUKE’s Ship’s Company Dance late last night.  The second was inside the trap this morning.

Good mothing,

Tony T   BSc (Hons) GeoSci (Open)

Another Warbler taking full advantage of the Tree Aloe was the Sardinian Warbler. This bird is classed as an abundant resident of the Straits. However it is a classic scrub Warbler and usually quite skulking in the habitat and not always easily seen. They are quite vocal and can always be heard if nothing else.

Sardinian Warbler, Alameda Gardens, 18 Feb 2012.

The nectar of the Tree Aloe is obviously attracting the birds in to feed and making them easier to see. The views of the birds on this holiday were the best I can remember seeing.

Ringed Sardinian Warbler feeding on Tree Aloe, Alameda Gardens, 16 Feb 2012

Sardinian Warbler, Alameda Gardens, 16 Feb 2012

Sardinian Warbler, Alameda Gardens, 16 Feb 2012

Sardinian Warbler, Alameda Gardens, 16 Feb 2012

Steve Copsey

Chiffchaff feeding on Tree Aloe, Alameda Gardens, 16 Feb 2012

Several species of Tree Aloe grow in the Alameda Gardens.  One that caught my eye in particular was Aloe Arborescens. This Aloe plant is native to South  Africa but is quite widespread within the Alameda it forms an important part of the diet of several Warblers, most noticeably Chiffchaffs.

The Aloe flowers from December to early spring and the Chiffchaffs take full
advantage during this period.  They mainly feed like Sunbirds just sipping the nectar but quite often I watched them hovering as they fed much like a Hummingbird. Some of the larger clumps of Aloe had a constant stream of Chiffchaffs visiting them.

Chiffchaff hovering before feeding, Alameda Gardens, 16 Feb 2012

Chiffchaff feeding on Tree Aloe, Alameda Gardens, 16 Feb 2012

Chiffchaff on Tree Aloe, Alameda Gardens, 16 Feb 2012

The birds are a common winter visitor and many of the birds were ringed so no doubt have paid a visit to the nets of the Obs at one time or another.

The more usual Sunbird feeding technique, Alameda Gardens, 16 Feb 2012

Ringed Chiffchaff keen to feed , Alameda Gardens, 16 Feb 2012

Steve Copsey

Thursday was a glorious day across Gibraltar right from the off. We chose to do the Rock, with that in mind and basked under a strong winter sun for the whole day. We hit the top of the rock via the cable car and immediately re-acquainted ourselves with the Barbary Macaques that frequent immediate area.

Barbary Macaque, 16 Feb 2012

Barbary Macaque, 16 Feb 2012

I have mentioned the Macaques on previous entries but here goes again. Although they are known locally as Gib or Rock Apes (also a term of endearment to many serving in the Navy) they are in fact Monkeys. No one is exactly sure of their origins but it believed they may have been brought over by the Moors around a thousand years ago. Although it is still possible they are the last of a relic European population. What is certain is that they were present long before the British. A local superstition suggests that if the Apes leave the rock so will the British.

Barbary Macaque, 15 Feb 2012

Barbary Macaque, 16 Feb 2012

Winston Churchill ordered a restocking of the population after the Second World War as there were only 7 individuals left. Today the population is nearer to 250 consisting of 5 troops. They are an obvious tourist attraction and much loved by visitors but can be quite a menace. Especially to anyone who makes the mistake of walking nearby with food in their hand. On the Thursday morning we opened our hotel room curtains to find a Macaque sat on our balcony. Leave your balcony doors open at your peril.

Wake up to a monkey !!

The bird of choice near the cable car station was the Black Redstart. These are a common widespread winter visitor and can be seen from the summit down to the gardens in town. Several birds I saw sported rings so they had been past the Obs at Jews Gate at some period. A single Blue Rock Thrush was picked up as we walked to O’Hara’s Battery but unfortunately dropped out of sight before the camera could be brought into action. Thankfully a splendid male Black Redstart was a little more confiding and allowed a few shots near the most southerly gun.

Black Redstart, Top of the Rock, 16 Feb 2012

Black Redstart, Alameda Gardens, 18 Feb 2012

O'Hara's Battery, showing the Northern Gun

The shot below just took my fancy. It was painted on the wall inside one of the old WW2 buildings near the cable car station.

Banksy was here ???

Steve Copsey