Archived Reports - Fauna - 2006

28th December: White-tailed Bumble-bee Bombus lucorum flying at Keyhaven.

27th December: A melanic Harlequin Ladybird seen at St Denys - a very late date.

25th December: A White-tailed Bumble Bee Bombus lucorum at the flowers of a deciduous honeysuckle at Athelstan Road, Bitterne.

24th December: A report of Ant Damselbug Himacerus mirmicioides at Newtown Road, Weston Park.

23rd December: Flocks of Crossbill and Redwing, also Redpolls at Homesley Inclosure in the New Forest. A dead Hare seen at Sowley Brooms, south of East End.

21st December: 6 Hawthorn Shieldbugs seen hibernating in leaf litter in Horns Drove Wood, Rownhams.

20th December: Redwings and Fieldfares numerous in the area north of Winchester.

20th December: A Tufted Duck reported at Fernyhurst Pond, Rownhams - an unusual record for here. In a nearby St Evox Close garden there were the first winter reports of Blackcaps and Redwings

15th December: Tawny Owl calling in Broadlands Valley, Portswood.

14th December: Red Admiral in Holmhill Enclosure, New Forest.

10th December: 5 Great Northern Divers, 1 Red-throated Diver and 1 Razorbill off Weston Shore.

7th December: Reports of Leach's Petrel off Weston Shore and Town Quay in Southampton. These birds were probably blown in from the Bay Of Biscay by recent storms.

7th December: Report of large numbers of Goose Barnacles Lepas anatifera being washed up on south coast but no definite local records in Hampshire.

6th December: A Red Admiral flying at Magdalen Hill Down and two Kidney-spot Ladybirds there.

5th December: A very late report of probable Common Darter Dragonfly Sympetrum striolatum. This time at Fletcher's Moor in the New Forest.

2nd December: A very late report of a Brimstone butterfly at Marlpit Oak, Sway. Red Admiral reports continue - from Marlpit Oak, Sway and from Bassett in Southampton.

29th November: Great Northern Diver off the shore at Netley Castle.

29th November: 17 Harlequin Ladybirds and a Common Darter Dragonfly Sympetrum striolatum at Shirley Pond.

29th November: A spate of late Red Admiral sightings - at Shirley Warren, Wickham and Bishop's Waltham

27th November: Harlequin Ladybird reported as far north as Wildhern (north of Andover) but apparently they haven't reached Chilbolton yet. Also at Tom's Wood, Wildhern the 'Marzipan Spider' Araneus marmoreus var pyramidatus seen as was an interesting autumnal beetle that likes ivy - Oncomera femorata.

24th November: Black Brant, the east Siberian/Canadian race of Brent Goose, at HMS Sultan sports field at Gosport. This is a long-staying bird as is the Ring-billed Gull at Haslar Lake, Gosport.

24th November: Belted Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus still active at Ann's Hill Cemetery, Gosport.

22nd November: A chrysalis of a Speckled Wood butterfly seen under a fallen Horse Chestnut leaf at Cromarty Pond, Lord's Hill.

21st November: A very late record of Hummingbird Hawkmoth still active and feeding at yellow jasmine blooms at Michelmersh, north of Romsey.

20th November: Harlequin Ladybird still active in a Bitterne Road East garden.

19th November: Common Darter seen and Wood Crickets still being heard in the New Forest (exact site not specified).

15th November: A black variant of Wild Rabbit seen by the Cadnam to Fordingbridge Road above Black Gutter Bottom.

15th November: Red Admiral butterfly at Wilverley Plain in the New Forest. Quite large numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare attracted to the abundant Holly berries in the New Forest this year.

15th November: First record of The Sprawler Moth at a garden moth light at Kathleen Road, Sholing.

13th November: First ever record of Black Redstartat the chapel at Royal Victoria Country Park.

13th November: Two Harlequin Ladybirds seen at Sholing Valley Study Centre, Station Road, Sholing. There had been swarms of them here at the same time in late October that there were large numbers elsewhere.

13th November: A very late Clouded Yellow butterfly was seen at Holfleet, near Ibsley. A Red Admiral butterfly was also seen here at the same time.

12th November: The large bronze coloured leaf beetle Chrysolina banksii seen at Kite's Croft during the fungus foray.

9th November: Honey Bee Apis mellifera, Bumble Bee Bombus sp. and Harlequin Ladybird still active at Mayfield Park.

9th November: A very late Speckled Wood at the grounds of Southampton General Hospital. Red Admiral still at Mayfield Park and a ?white? butterfly (possibly female Brimstone) reported inEastleigh.

6th November: Insects still active at Watt?s Park in Southampton included Red Admiral butterfly, Drone Fly Eristalis, Green Shieldbug, 10-spot Ladybird and Harlequin Ladybird. A Garden Snail Helix aspersa was seen at Andrew?s Park. This is despite the fact that there are very few molluscs in the parks (according to the rangers there).

5th November: An abundance of Cherry Gall Andricus quercusfolii on oaks at the edge of Round Coppice, Whiteley. A Red Admiral butterfly also seen there.

2nd November: Outside the area but Clouded Yellow and Common Darter Dragonfly Sympetrum striolatum still active in west Surrey.

1st November: Reports of both Holly Blue and Common Blue in the Fareham and Gosport areas.

1st November: There was a report of Clouded Yellow butterfly at Great Down Park, Bursledon. There were also reports of large numbers of Clouded Yellow still in the Bournemouth area.

31st October: Red Admiral butterfly and Wood Dor Beetle Geotrupes stercorosus still active in various places in the New Forest.

30th October: Moth numbers declining at Kathleen Road, Sholing but a rare migrant Blair's Mocha was seen in the moth trap there this morning. The moth is nothing to do with the current Prime Minister, rather it is named from a prominent 1950's entomologist named Blair and who lived on the Isle of Wight.

29th October: A 'mystery' Lygaeid ground-bug found on hornbeam at Palmerston Park, Southampton was identified later (by a national expert) as Orsillus depressus. This species first appeared in Britain ten years ago and is spreading - it is usually associated with Lawson's Cypress. Other interesting sightings in a survey in the central parks included Cream-streaked Ladybird Harmonia quadripunctata, Juniper Shieldbug Elasmostethus tristriatus and Median Wasp Dolichovespula media. Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes still active at Silverdale Road, Southampton.

29th October: 'Swarming' Harlequin Ladybirds noted at Silverdale Road, Southampton and in the Maybush area. Large numbers found on various trees in the Southampton central parks.

26th October: Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum still active in the Beaulieu and East End areas in the SE of the New Forest. Red Admirals still about at Beaulieu and in central Southampton. Wood Crickets still stridulating at Norley Copse, East End.

26th October: 15 Redwings passed north over a central Bitterne garden at 5pm.

24th October: A single Painted Lady seen on the butterfly transect at Southampton Old Cemetery.

22nd October: A large Chaffinch flock seen in the car park of Micheldever Wood, north of Winchester. They were feeding on beech mast.

18th October: Five Speckled Woods seen at Southampton Old Cemetery on a butterfly transect

19th October: New Forest Fly Hippobosca equina still active in the Culverley area of the New Forest.

18th October: Small White butterfly seen in central Eastleigh. Red Admirals still about in large numbers.

16th October: Clancy's Rustic recorded in a moth trap at Kathleen Road, Sholing. This is the first record here (and possibly in Southampton) of a species that is rapidly colonising Britain from the south.

16th October: Speckled Wood butterfly still active at Clayhall Military Cemetery in Gosport. An 11-spot Ladybird and numbers of Lesne's Earwigs found at West Wood, Netley.

15th October: Rhopalus maculatus bug still active at its only known Southampton site in Lord's Wood and Spiked Shieldbug Picromerus bidens swept at the same site. Just as interesting was the bug Alydus calcaratus at a third local site - running across reptile mats at Eastleigh Cemetery.

15th October: A good day for butterflies. There were records of Clouded Yellow at Marchwood Inclosure and Small White at Swaythling.

14th October:Burst of local records of Harlequin Ladybird including one with spots only at anterior end of elytra. This was at Silverdale Road in Southampton. Melanic and typical forms were also recorded on Southampton Common, at Newtown Road (Weston) and at Clayhall Military Cemetery in Gosport this week.

9th October: Comma butterfly and 24-spot Ladybird still active in the Bishopstoke area.. Two colonies of the Rhopalid bug Stictopleurus punctatonervosus found on fleabane in the Bishopstoke area also.

8th October: A Smooth Newt seen entering a hole at the base of an oak tree on Southampton Common.

8th October: Speckled Wood butterfly still flying in various places. Large Wainscot Moth in moth trap at Kathleen Road, Sholing. Ant Damselbug Himacerus mirmicioides recorded at Test Wood.

7th October: Common Darter and Migrant Hawker Dragonflies still active in the Beaulieu area.

7th October: Hummingbird Hawkmoth seen at Mottisfont.

3rd October: An attempt was made to find Common Starfish Asterias ruber under the pier at Mayfield Park by two society members. No starfish were found but two specimens of the large, hairy chiton Acanthochitona fascicularis were discovered. Also there was an abundance of Broad-clawed Porcelain Crab Porcellana platycheles plus a few Long-clawed Porcelain Crabs Pisidia longicornis here.

3rd October: Clouded Yellow and Small White butterflies seen at West Quay and four migrant Wheatears at Mayfield Park. An urban colony of Field Grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus found on the edge of the car park of The Quays swimming baths.

30th September: Meadow Brown and Large White butterflies still to be seen at Magdalen Hill Down Reserve near to Winchester.

29th September: An adult and a pupa of 22-spot Ladybird seen in a small garden in central Bitterne. Also a female Palmate Newt disturbed during gardening work here.

29th September: Report of Queen of Spain Fritillary in a garden at Highcliff.

28th September: Plenty of Small White butterflies still around and Common Blue butterfly still flying at two sites in Eastleigh.

Approx 26th September (exact date not given): Reports of Four-spotted Footman and Dark Spectacle Moth in a garden moth trap at Kathleen Road, Sholing ? the latter was a first for this garden. Another large colony of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis found? this time on gravestones and metal railings at St Mary?s Church, Sholing were discovered.

26th September: A colony of Field Grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus colony in a small central Bitterne garden. The False Black Widow Spider Steatodea nobilis also found here.

23rd September: 42 species of moths seen during the moth lamp at Magdalen Hill Down, part of the effort for National Moth Night. Three M-V lights and an Actinic trap were employed; there were also torchlight searches for moths on Ivy. 42 species were recorded including a spectacular Convolvulus Hawkmoth. The migrant moth Pearly Underwing and the interesting beetle Oncomera femorata seen on Ivy. A Blue Shieldbug Zicrona caerulea attracted to light. Other moths seen at light included Scarce Bordered Straw, The Vestal, Large Wainscot, The Delicate, White Point and a lot of the normally uncommon Brown-spot Pinion.

23rd September: Plant gall survey at Hilliers Gardens. Two spectacular galls seen on oak were the autumn gall of Andricus grossulariae and the Hedgehog Gall Andricus lucidus. The latter was first recorded in central London and has only been known to occur in Britain for a few years ? it was found on a small foreign species of Quercus just east of Jermyn?s House. Another spectacular gall found was that of Gymnosporangium sabinae ? this species creates bright orange clustered nodules on the leaves of various species of Pyrus.

22nd September: 42 species identified at a moth lamp at Magdalen Hill Down ? an effort that was part of Butterfly Conservations National Moth Night. Three M-V lights (two with traps) used, a 15-Watt Heath Portable Light ran and torch searches of flowering Ivy took place. The highlight was a fresh specimen of Convolvulus Hawkmoth. A plethora of other good migrants seen including Pearly Underwing (at Ivy), Scarce Bordered Straw, The Vestal, Large Wainscot and The Delicate. Some interesting second brood captures included the Bloodvein, Scorched Carpet and Beautiful Hooktip. Other interesting captures at light included Harlequin Ladybird and Blue Shieldbug.

22nd September: Plant gall survey of Hilliers Gardens. The new colonist Hedgehog Gall Andricus lucida on Oak is now present near Jermyn?s House. Three years ago this species was confined to London.

22nd September: Harlequin Ladybird confirmed to be breeding on Peartree Green with a pupa seen on Mallow Malva sylvestris. Also several Clouded Yellows here.

21st September: Report of two Clouded Yellows at Lakeside Park, Eastleigh.

20th September: An interesting visit to the coastal cliffs between Hordle and Beckton Bunny (between Milford-on-Seas and Barton). Good for Orthoptera with Grey Bush Cricket and Stripe-winged Grasshopper confirmed here. An interesting Harvestman Homalenotus quadridentatus identified here. At both Hordle Cliff and Beckton Bunny the ?bug-eyed bug? Henestaris laticeps found on Buck?s-horn Plantain Plantago coronopus. At Hordle the Rhopalid bug Stictopleurus punctatonervosus swept from Fleabane ? we had previously found this species only on clay soil districts inland.

20th September: Small Grass shieldbug discovered in a rough field on the NE edge of New Milton ? our first record away from the immediate Southampton area.

18th September: A third Southampton colony of the Rhopalid bug Rhopalus parumpunctatus found amongst heather and Tormentil at Castle Lane, North Baddesley. Also a colony of another Rhopalid bug Stictoplerus punctatonervosus on fleabane here and a great abundance of Pine Ladybird in the same area. Box Bug found on Dogwood Cornus sanguineus at Valley Park and abundance of Lesne?s Earwigs at Leigh Road, Eastleigh.

17th September: A record of a melanic Harlequin Ladybird at Suffolk Avenue, Shirley ? yet another inner city record. The specimen was photographed and displayed an unusual pair of red spots with black dots in the middle. A hornet was seen at Buddleia at Winchester Road, Shirley. Another new record of the scarlet and black Rhopalid bug Corizus hyoscyami ? at Peartree Green.

16th September: Marine life Field Meeting at Lepe Shore. The more interesting records included the Coat-of-mail Lepidochitona cinerea, the Sea Fan Hydrallmania falcata, prawns Palaemon sp and several Blennies. Also several interesting crabs recorded including Hairy Crab Pilumnus hirtellus and a more unusual species called Liocarcinus arcuatus.

13th September: An insect survey carried out at Browndown and Gilkicker Common, mainly to search for shieldbugs and related species. At Browndown a suspected colony of Cepero?s Groundhopper Tetrix ceperoi turned out to be only Slender Groundhopper Tetrix subulata. However a strong colony of the coastal Rhopalid bug Chorosoma schillingi and the Heath Assassin Bug Coranus subapterus found at Browndown as well as Adonis, 11-spot Ladybird and the micro-ladybird Scymnus frontalis. At Gilkicker Common Lesne?s Earwig Forficula lesnei and Short-winged Conehead Conocephalus dorsalis recorded but the main focus here was on Hemiptera. An interesting Lygaeid dubbed the ?bug-eyed bug? Henestaris laticeps recorded and associated with Sea Plantain Plantago maritima. Also good for Rhopalid bugs here with strong colonies of Chorosoma schillingi and Myrmus miriformis as well as Stictopleurus abutilon and Corizus hyoscyami recorded.

12th September: 3 Scarce Bordered Straw and 4 Vestal moths records at a moth trap in a garden at Kathleen Road, Sholing.

12th September: A record of major importance from Crockford Close, New Milton of the Sickle-bearing Bush-cricket Phaneroptera falcata. A male specimen was collected from a bamboo in a private garden there in the early evening and then confirmed and taken by the Orthoptera order for Hampshire. This species is now common in north France and there is a colony established near to Hastings in East Sussex. It is the first Hampshire record. A determined search for a colony in the area on 20th September by two members proved to be unsuccessful.

11th September: An assortment of interesting insect records in the Bitterne area. These included the Mirid bug Megacoelum beckeri off Scot's Pine at Freemantle Common, Knobbed Shieldbug (= Turtle Bug) Podops inuncta at Hum Hole and a very large breeding colony of Harlequin Ladybird at Montgomery Road.

11th September: A strong colony of the large ground bug Alydus calcaratus found at Peartree Green - it was associated with Lucerne Medicago sativa. Clouded Yellows and a Brown Argus flying at Peartree Green.

11th September: A very interesting record of Bedstraw Hawkmoth at a moth light at Kathleen Road, Sholing. Striped Hawkmoth reported at the same light a few nights earlier.

10th September: In the east of Southampton Box Bug recorded on both Evergreen Oak Quercus ilex and Common Oak Quercus robur - not the usual host plants. Also the autumnal Mirid bug Pantilus tunicatus reported on oaks here.

10th September: Small Heath butterfly near Mallard's Moor, Bursledon - probably a stray from the nearby Hamble Airfield colony. A Harlequin Ladybird seen here in a more rural location than is the case for most records.

10th September: A migrant Yellow Wagtail reported over Botley Road, Sholing.

9th September: Another report of the scarlet and black Rhopalid bug Corizus hyoscyami - this time from Gosport.

7th September: A third colony of the Rhopalid bug Stictopleurus punctatonervosus found in the Southampton area - this was at Whiteley, SE of Botley.

6th September: Large breeding colony of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis at Rollesbrook Greenway. Lesne's Earwig Forficula lesnei and the snail Helicogona lapicida also identified here.

5th September: The surprising discovery of an apparently breeding colony (nymphs and adults) of the Rhopalid bug Liorhyssus hyalina on bare ground by the A35 near to Rumbridge at Totton. Adonis Ladybird also present at the same site. Lesne's Earwig Forficula lesnei confirmed at various sites in the Totton area and at two sites (Bartley Water valley & Cocklydown Copse) Crucifer Shieldbug Eurydema oleracea beaten from hazels.

4th September: Report of two rare migrant Portland Ribbon Wave Moths in the Christchurch area.

3rd September: A highlight on the Field Meeting at Denny Wood was a full-grown Toad at the base of a large Beech tree. Another interesting record was of a Great Diving Beetle Dytiscus in a pond at Shatterford.