16th May: 5 Grizzled Skipper at Morn Hill, east of Winchester. Also the bee Osmia bicolor there.
16th May: Interesting spider record of Micaria pulicaria in a garden at Thornhill Park.
15th May: At a Stubbington garden records of the Lawn Bee Andrena fulva on Rhododendron luteum, the bee Andrena dorsata on Choisyia and also the hoverfly Daysyrphus venustus.
13th May: Interesting insect records at Warsash Common included the tree hopper Centrotus cornutus, the hoverfly Rhingia rostrata (on cherry blossom), the homeless bee Nomada fabbriciana and the scarlet click beetle Ampedus sanguineus.
13th May: An ant-like flower beetle, probably Anthicus antherinus, at Thornhill Park. The cranefly Ptychoptera contaminata and the the micro-moth Nematopogon swammerdamella at Millers Pond LNR. The latter also at Hollybrook Cemetery on the 12th.
12th May: A large number of insect records at Hollybrook Cemetery. Hoverflies included an early Didea fasciata and there was also another record for Spotted(Dotted) Bee-fly Bombylius discolor there.
11th May: A colony of Palmate Newt and singing Wood Warbler and Cuckoo in the New Forest NE of Brockenhurst.
11th May: Minotaur Beetle male seen at Acres Down. Insects active east of Brockenhurst in the New Forest included a soldier beetle Cantharis nigra but there were no signs of Pearl-bordered Fritillaries that are usually active by now.
10th May: A Kingfisher reported by the Monk's Brook at Fleming Park, the first that the observer had seen for 14 years.
9th May: Second Southampton report of Swifts this year. There were three over a garden in Shirley. The first report, but received later, was of Swifts over Shirley on 1st May.
8th May: Report of Kingfisher at southern end of Fleming Park, Eastleigh.
7th May: At Monk's Brook Greenway female Orange-tip attempting to lay eggs on Shepherd's Purse and hoverflies included the first Cowpat Hoverfly Rhingia campestris of the year. The homeless bee Nomada flava seen at Daisy Dip, Bassett (large numbers of common butterflies here too) and also at Broadlands Valley.
7th May: Report of Water Shrew at Hocombe Mead, Chandler's Ford.
7th May: Records of fledgling Goldcrest at Lords Wood and of fledged Robin in Shirley.
6th May: First record of the Mint Moth Pyrausta aurata this year in a centrral Bitterne garden. It was seen feeding at flowering currant.
5th May: A female black Adder reported as courting with a male Adder of ordinary colour near Burley in the New Forest.
5th May: Hoverfly Parasyrphus punctulatus was a new species for a central Bitterne garden.
3rd May: Two Hobbies seen over St Catherine's Hill, Christchurch. Also Forget-me-not Shieldbug found there.
2nd May: Lesser Whitethroat singing at Warsash Common. Some interesting insect records from there including the homeless bee Nomada leucophthalma and hoverflies like Cheilosia longula and Parasyrphus malinellus.
2nd May: Holly Blue now in large numbers. Hummingbird Hawk Moth reported at Bodycoates Road, Chandler's Ford recently. Bee Fly Bombylius major exceptionally abundant this year.
1st May: First queen German Wasp Vespula germanica of the year at Peartree Green. The solitary bee Andrena haemorrhoa reported widely.
30th April: A very late date for the first record of Common Lizard at Lords Wood.
29th April: First report of Nightjar, seen near Wootton in the New Forest.
29th April: At last the first Holly Blue report of the year, this was at upper Shirley. Also first for the year was the hoverfly Epistrophe eligans in Bitterne. Record of the click beetle Agroites acuminatus at Thornhill Park Wood and the moth Plutella xylostella early at Thornhill Park.
28th April: A recently fledged Blackbird (first young bird report of the year here) hit a window in central Bitterne and was killed.
27th April: Redstart singing and Cuckoo calling at Roydon Woods Field Meeting.
25th April: A good day for insects - records of the bee Andrena haemorrhoa - on sallow at Lord's Wood and nesting at the Sports Centre. Andrena fulva nesting at the Sports Centre and both Bee-fly Bombylius major and Spotted Bee-fly B.discolor in attendance. Large swarms of Andrena cineraria at four locations in Hollybrook Cemetery and Box Bug also seen there (on Rhododendron). Also, on western side of Sports Centre the first report of Red Mason Bee Osmia rufa in Southampton this year.
25th April: The Spotted Bee-fly Bombylius discolor found in Southampton; 4 seen today at Hollybook Cemetery and three at Southampton Sports Centre. There were also reports this week at Sparsholt College and a possible at Magdalen Hill Down. At Hollybrook Cemetery they were feeding on lungwort and primrose.
25th April: Male Orange-tips seen at last at Lord's Wood and in the Shirley Valley SW of Dale Road. Large White and Speckled Wood (4) also in Lordsdale Greenway but no sign of Holly Blue anywhere.
24th April: Reports of Lawn Bee Andrena fulva out at Hum Hole, Montgomery Road and Frogs Copse in Bitterne. A probable fly Bibio varipes caught at Thornhill Park and the spider Coeletes terrestris found at Netley Common.
23rd April: Green Hairstreak, Green-veined White and the mason bee Osmia bicolor active at Magdalen Hill Down.
22nd April: Some records of spring-tails (Collembola) being identified. Today Dicyrtomina ornata found in a garden at Thornhill Park.
22nd April: Grey Mining Bee Andrena cineraria, first of year, seen at East Park, Southampton in the rockery garden. Also two female flower bee Anthophora plumipes there.
20th April: The hoverfly Syrphus torvus identified sitting on a cherry laurel leaf at Woodland Mews, West End.
19th April: Insects at Warsash Common included the micro-moth Adela cuprella and hoverflies such as Eristalis intricaria, Platycheiris discimanus and Cheilosia vernalis.
19th April: A very late Fieldfare heard at Warsash Common; also some summer birds such as Willow Warbler heard here.
17th April: 16 Black-tailed Godwit, most of them in summer plumage, on River Hamble at Manor Farm Country Park.
17th April: First records of beetle Notiophilus biguttatus, spider Dictyna arundinacea and millipede Polydesmus at Netley Common.
16th April: Report of the rare Dotted Bee-fly Bombylius discolor at Lord's Wood. This species was also reported at Swanwick Reserve this week and one was seen in a garden at Chandler's Ford last year.
16th April: A fantastic number of butterflies reported in Lord's Wood today including 55 Brimstone, 27 Peacock, 32 Comma and the first report of Green-veined White of the year.
16th April: First report of queen Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris at Thornhill Park. Also the springtail Orchesella cincta at the same location.
15th April: Spiderlings of Atypus affinis reported to be dispersing at Thornhill. Report of the terrestrial crustacean Arcitalitrus dorrieni at Kendalls Wood, Harefield.
15th April: A very early Swift reported at Mottisfont.
15th April: A melanistic (dark purple coloured) Wood Pigeon at Palmerston Park, Southampton. A Stock Dove seen at Six Dials, Northam, a rather unusual location.
14th April: At Standlynch Down, near Pepperbox Hill, in Wiltshire the unusual sight of a flock of around 70 Fieldfare plus some Swallows passing over at the same time.
14th April: In the Barford Down area, near Redlynch, in Wiltshire some early insects included several Brimstone butterflies, a Bee-fly, the beetle Oulema melanopa and the hoverfly Melangyna lasiophthalma - the latter on dandelion.
13th April: Several Swallows and at least 3 House Martin plus a Sand Martin at Hatchet Pond in the New Forest.
11th April: Male Blackcap again see in a central Bitterne garden on a very late date - also seen on 10th. A Chiffchaff reported this week in a garden at Portsmouth Road, Woolston.
6th April: Andrena bees and ground beetle Notiophilus active at Thornhill Park. The hover-fly Melangyna lasiophthalma reported at Black Knoll in the New Forest.
6th April: 3 Comma, 3 Brimstone and Tortoiseshell butterflies seen in the Turnpike Way area of Hedge End. Also Red Admiral, Brimstones and Orange Underwing Moth on SNHS visit to the Langley Wood area of Wiltshire.
3rd April: A flock of around 20 Waxwing in the area of the Cricketers Arms, Eastleigh.
3rd April: The 'Durham Slug' Arion flagellus reported at Telegraph Woods.
2nd April: Two Garganey reported at Lower Test Reserve.
2nd April: At last the first Bee-fly Bombylius major and the parasitic fly Gonia picea - both seen at Hollybrook Cemetery. The flower bee Anthophora plumipes - a female - at Lungwort at Dunkirk Road, near Sports Centre and Tree Bumble Bee Bombus hypnorum at Lord's Wood.
2nd April: At long last some decent insect weather and not before time! The response was instant with two Brimstone and one Comma butterfly at Lord's Wood.
1st April: The spider Coelotes terrestris seen at Dumbleton's Copse for the first time and Amourobius fenestralis reported there on 30th March.
30th March: Four specimens of the landhopper Arcitalitrus dorrieni found at Dumbleton's Copse, Thornhill; this species was found again at nearby Netley Common on 2nd April.
29th March: Shells of Manila Clam and Pacific Oyster found for the first time at Weston Shore.
28th March: A Wheatear reported at Bitterne Manor.
28th March: 133 Black-tailed Godwits, many in summer plumage, seen along River Itchen.
26th March: Great Spotted Woodpecker heard drumming at Mayfield Park today.
24th March: Several hundred starlings seen 'wheeling' around over central Bitterne early this morning.
23rd March: A micro-ladybird seen in a garden at Woodland Close, Thornhill Park thought to be Rhizobius chrysomeloides.
20th March: A Buzzard seen sitting on a tree at Peartree Green - unusual for here. Usual winter birds at Chessel Bay including two Black-tailed Godwit.
17th March: A Harlequin Ladybird and a Tree Bumble Bee Bombus hypnorum queen seen sitting on tree trunks in the rain on Southampton Common.
15th March: An unusual large, white winged gull seen near the sewage outflow at Weston Shore. This was thought to be a hybrid Herring Gull x Glaucous Gull (a 'Viking' Gull)
12th March: Female Blackcap seen in a Bevois Valley garden and the male Blackcap in Bitterne appeared again. The latter still being seen on 21st March.
11th March: A Ring-billed Gull reported at Town Quay, Southampton.
10th March: A very early Sand Martin reported at Weston Shore.
9th March: Honey Bee and queen Buff-tailed Bumble Bee seen on cherry-plum blossom at Chessel Bay today - last insects before the weather turned cold.
8th March: 64 Black-tailed Godwit counted along River Itchen in Southampton and a Spotted Redshank heard at Chessel Bay today.
5th March: 34 Black-tailed Godwits seen on the River Itchen in Southampton today.
5th March: Butterflies are starting to come out. A male Brimstone in central Bitterne and single Commas at Donkey Common, Bitterne and at Thornhill Park Wood. Also other Brimstone in the Chessel area of Bitterne, at Shirley Towers and four in Lord's Wood. Hoverfly Eristalis tenax also on gorse at Lords's Wood.
4th March: First sighting of an active Zebra Spider Salticus scenicus in a central Bitterne garden this year. Also Red Wood Ant Formica rufa swarming at Lords Wood and 3 Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus on gorse flowers there.
4th March: Wood Lark singing in the south-east of the New Forest today.
3rd March: An unusual day time sighting of a Wood Mouse at Netley Common car park.
28th February: The Budapest Slug Tandoria budapestensis reported at Netley Common.
27th February: A Glossy Ibis and a Water Rail seen in a wet field east of Warblington Church, near Emsworth.
26th February: Great-spotted Woodpecker heard drumming at Royal Victoria Country Park today.
25th February: 23 Waxwings reported at Swaythling (Bassett Green 'flower roads'). A Mediterranean Gull seen on River Itchen at St Denys - unusual that far upriver.
24th February: Nine Waxwings seen feeding on berries of the shrub Cotoneaster lacteus at central Hythe. 11 had previously been reported here. A very pale (probably Continental) Song Thrush seen in the Ocknell area of the New Forest.
22nd February: A male Mandarin Duck reported at Itchen Valley Country Park (unusual here) and a Great Grey Shrike at Shatterford reported to be singing.
21st February: A male Blackcap has returned to a central Bitterne garden. Still being seen on 4th March.
20th February: Mines of a new coloniser, the micro-moth Ectoedemia heringella in holm oak leaves at Swanwick Shore. Also Cigar Galls of the fly Liparus lucens on Phragmites here and at Blundell Lane, Bursledon.
19th February: There are now 8 Gadwall plus a Kingfisher at Chessel Bay.
19th February: Red Admiral at Shirley Holms and Drone-fly Eristalis tenax (active) in Bitterne.
18th February: Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus at Bacon Wood, Harefield.
17th February: Slavonian Grebe, 2 Razorbill and Guillemot reported at Weston Shore.
16th February: Spiders Pardosa saltans active at Netley Common.
15th February: A Brimstone butterfly reported at Barton-on-Sea.
15th February: 15 Hawfinch reported at Romsey.
15th February: The hoverfly Eristalis tenax (Drone-fly) and a bumble-bee Bombus lucorum/terrestris at winter-flowering heather at Whites Road, Bitterne.
14th February: An active Red Admiral and the first frogspawn reported in a garden at Thornhill today.
13th February: There are still a lot of Guillemots on the water around Southampton and seven were seen off Mayfield Park today.
11th February: A Pochard and 5 Tufted Duck on Cemetery Lake, Southampton Common.
8th February: Three Common Sandpiper at Riverside Park but these were not seen there yesterday.
7th February: No less than 8 Guillemot seen in Southampton Water off Hook Shore.
7th February: An overwintering Chiffchaff seen at the northern end of Chessel Bay; 2 Brent Goose there too. Two Oystercatchers at Riverside Park (unusual there). As can be seen we are really 'scraping the bottom of the barrel' report wise as this is a very dull time of year!
31st January: A count of 25 Redshank by Northam Bridge on the River Itchen was quite high.
30th January: Seven Gadwall counted at Chessel Bay, six seen there on 7th February.
30th January: Seven-spot Ladybird active at Peewit Hill, near Netley Common.
28th January: A Woodcock flushed and a tortrix moth (Acleris species) seen at Peewit Hill; also probable gall of Sallow Clearwing moth.
28th January: Two Hawfinches seen at Lakeside Country Park, Eastleigh.
27th January: Less interesting for birds as the weather has turned mild but a female Goosander reported at Testwood Lakes.
23rd January: A Red Kite seen over Alresford.
22nd January: Five Hawfinch at Cupernham Lane, Romsey and other birds such as a Brambling and a female Blackcap seen there too.
22nd January: Reports of Jack Snipe at Lakeside Park, Eastleigh; a Whimbrel at Bury Marsh (Marchwood); Meadow Pipit at Windy Bay (Northam) and about 200 Dunlin plus 7 Ringed Plover at Chessel Bay.
22nd January: Two Fieldfares also in a garden at Shirley.
20th January: 40 Waxwing reported at Adanac Park, Nursling in morning but not seen in the afternoon. Also a Hawfinch reported at Lakeside Park, Eastleigh.
20th January: Three Fieldfare feeding on apples in a central Bitterne garden throughout day. One of the Fieldfare was very aggressive towards Blackbirds. One of the Fieldfares stayed until the 22nd January.
19th January: Bar-tailed Godwit and offshore Great Northern Diver reported at Weston Shore today.
16th January: At least 55 Great Crested Grebe in a raft off of Netley Shore; at least 80 GCG seen off Weston Shore on 19th January.
13th January: Waxwings reported at Sainsbury's, Lord's Hill.
13th January: Offshore at Pennington Marshes a pair of Eider, one Slavonian Grebe and about 25 Red-breasted Marganser seen. 3 Kingfisher seen in the area too.
11th January: A great burst of insect activity on Mahonia at Hinkler Green, Thornhill including a Red Admiral, 8 Buff-tailed Bumble Bees, 34 Honey Bees and 7 hoverflies of two species.
10th January: Mines of the micro-moth Ectoedemia heringella found in the leaves of Holm Oak at Thornhill Park.
6th January: Rather unusually a Heron seen on the island of the Ornamental Lake of Southampton Common
6th January: Two Jack Snipe flushed at Shatterford and a Great Grey Shrike in the Yew Tree Heath area on the New Forest
5th January: 4 Common Sandpipers (an unusually high number) reported at Riverside Park and a Kingfisher reported at Redbridge Wharf Park.
4th January: Common Sandpiper at Bitterne Manor Park; usual Yellow-legged Gull at Northam and Mediterranean Gull at Spitfire Quay, Woolston.
4th January: A Razorbill seen at mouth of River Itchen east of Ocean Village. There have reports of 10-20 Razorbills and guillemots in Southampton Water recently.
4th January: An unusual winter report of the spider Scotophaeus blackwallii at Thornnhill Park.
2nd January: Report of Grey Wagtail at Hum Hole in Bitterne.
1st January: A Red Admiral active at Magdalen Hill Down as was a bumble bee queen (unknown species) and Lesser Bloody-nosed Beetle.
1st January: Six Honey Bees active and feeding on winter-flowering heather, gorse and Mahonia at various locations in Hedge End.