Western Solent wildlife reports:
June 2006

Russell Wynn

with assistance from Marc Moody, Tim Parminter, Marcus Ward and Pete Durnell

Migrant moths provided most of the wildlife highlights during June. A Many-lined (?) at Normandy Farm was the first for Hampshire and a Lunar Double-stripe (9th) at Pennington Marsh was the second for Hampshire and the first for over 50 years. Other migrant totals at Pennington Marsh included singles of Rush Veneer, Pearly Underwing and Delicate, two each of Scarce Bordered Straw and Dark Sword-grass, three Bordered Straw, three Rusty-dot Pearl, 14 Small Mottled Willow, 14 Silver-Y and 48 Diamond-back Moth. Other rarities there included a Portland Ribbon Wave (10th), for which there are less than ten Hampshire records. Also recorded during June were the scarce pyralids Pediasia aridella and Pempelia formosa, as well as Mullein Wave, Blue-bordered Carpet, Cypress Carpet, Cream-spot Tiger, Kent Black Arches, Purple Clay, White-point, L-album Wainscot, Silky Wainscot, Gold Spot and Dark Spectacle. . A good count of 51 Silver-Y was made at Hurst during the day on 13th and a trapping session at Iley Point, Keyhaven (10th) produced a Poplar Kitten, two Rosy Wave and a Small China-mark. Small numbers of the nationally scarce Dew Moth were noted at Hurst Castle mid-month.

Records of unusual birds were few and far between. An Osprey over Normandy (2nd) and a Little Stint there (9th) may have been late migrants. A Caspian Tern reported flying south-east through Bournemouth Bay (10th) had earlier been seen off east Hampshire. The first juvenile Tawny Owls were heard (10th) and Barn Owls were seen regularly. Up to 100 Common Scoters remained off Hurst, with 75 Manx Shearwaters also off there (12th) and a Black Tern moving east (16th). Return wader passage began at the end of the month, with both Common Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank recorded on 30th.

Portland Ribbon Wave	Bordered Straw and Delicate
Privet Hawk-moth
Lunar Double-Stripe