Eleven members of IWNHAS joined Dave Fairlamb of Natural Links for an Ornithology Group outing to Mottistone Down on 15 September.
Swallows and House Martins flew over the Jubilee car park as we assembled for the walk and small numbers of mainly Swallows continued to pass overhead flying south during the morning. A female Yellowhammer flew up from the ground and perched nicely on a gorse bush and a couple of Stonechats were busy feeding in the same area. Our attention switched into the long grass by the path as 2 Wasp Spiders posed in the centre of their webs.
Swallow Wasp Spider
It was a wonderful morning to watch Kestrels, they seemed to be ever present in the air around us, with up to 5 together, probably a family group, wheeling in the breeze and calling to each other, then hovering on the hunt. A couple of Buzzards were close by at one point but rose higher and away on the thermals. As we climbed up the Down, both Jay and Green Woodpecker were heard calling and a couple of Ravens flew eastwards.
Kestrel Raven
Several Chiffchaffs were also calling in the scrub and we even heard one singing in the woodland edge. Towards the summit there was the briefest of views of a Dartford Warbler and a few metres on we were treated to excellent views of an adult sitting on the top of the gorse, while another flew by and a third bird was heard calling. There was also a Meadow Pipit and a couple of Goldfinches overhead. A few butterflies were still on the wing, Small & Large Whites, Red Admirals, Small Heaths and Meadow Browns. Other insect sightings included Field Grasshoppers, Common Banded Hoverflies and a Common Darter dragonfly. We returned to the car park to hear Robins in song and for some, the finale of a Bullfinch.
Chiffchaff Dartford Warbler
Dave Fairlamb
15 September 2024
