Chichester Harbour, Moths and More

It was a day of Jersey tiger moths around Chichester Harbour. During a morning walk at Thorney Island one of these delightful moths flew in front of us and landed up nicely in the rough hedge.

Jersey tiger moth.

Along the same section of path a lesser whitethroat tack tacked away and fed on the ripening blackberries. Likely a migrating individual, this one showed itself nicely while flitting through the brambles. Higher up in the shrubbery a juvenile common whitethroat appeared. Blackberries, and brambles in general, prove attractive to wildlife, a handsome male greenfinch was also enjoying the spoils.

In the harbour were good number of greenshank, a favourite of mine. After much vocalising, they flew off into a roost where 12 took up residence for the high tide period. Black-tailed godwits, still sporting their fine brick-red summer plumages, probed around the mud searching for food before similarly vacating the feeding area.

Around the grazing cattle several cattle egrets took flight. A minimum of 9 were present here, testament to their increasing numbers. Common terns fished over the freshwater, while little egrets and a grey heron did the same from the banks.

Back in the harbour curlews called, and a lone whimbrel preened. A redshank and several oystercatchers were making the most of foraging time before the mud disappeared under the sea.

On the return walk a wheatear appeared on the sea wall, autumn is here! It didn’t feel like it as the sun climbed and the temperature rose, it was still July after all. Back at home and a Jersey tiger turned up in the garden, and come evening another one appeared. With a strikingly striped forewing, and a brilliant orange underwing, it was a real treat to bookend the day with these magnificent moths.