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HAMPSHIRE FEBRUARY
HAYLING ISLAND
In
Chichester Harbour there was a Black Brant (3rd to 20th)
(with another in West Lane fields), Barnacle Goose (10th),
Red-necked Grebe (1st & 2nd), two Black-necked Grebes
(until 10th), 3rd-winter Caspian Gull (14th),
and three Sandwich Terns throughout. Offshore were Fulmar (15th
& 21st), Shag (23rd), Guillemot (6th), up
to 15 Eider (14th & 20th), seven Common Scoter and
four Slavonian Grebes, but only the odd Great Northern Diver and
Red-throated Diver (although 11 divers flew west and five east on 15th).
Present throughout were up to six Firecrests, three Woodcock, two Jack Snipe
and two Black Redstart, whilst two Ravens flew east (14th).
TITCHFIELD HAVEN / HILL
HEAD
Sightings
included Pale-bellied Brent Goose (9th), Bittern (throughout),
Marsh Harrier (several dates), Merlin (6th), Peregrine (14th
& 24th), up to four Avocet, up to 220 Golden Plover, Knot (3rd
& 20th), Woodcock (6th), Green Sandpiper (21st),
Greenshank (18th), up to five Mediterranean Gulls, two Rock
Pipit, Cetti's Warbler, Dartford Warbler (19th), Bearded Tit and
Lesser Redpoll. Offshore were Scaup (from 17th), Black-throated
Diver (6th & 7th), Great Northern Diver (throughout),
Slavonian Grebe (1st, 3rd & 6th),
Black-necked Grebe (13th & 20th), up to 14 Eider, up
to three Common Scoter, three Velvet Scoter and Yellow-legged Gull (13th).
LYMINGTON TO HURST
Wildfowl sightings included three
Eurasian White-fronted Geese (7th to 10th), nine
Tundra Bean Geese (from 7th),
Pale-bellied Brent (throughout), Egyptian Goose (throughout), two Scaup
(throughout), up to 16 Goldeneye, up to 16 Common Scoter and up to four
Eider. All three divers were seen through the month, a Red-necked Grebe was
off Hurst Castle (25th) and
up to eight Slavonian Grebes (throughout). Raptors included Marsh Harrier,
Peregrine and
Merlin. Waders included up to five Avocet , up to 300 Golden Plover, Jack
Snipe, up to 46 Bar-tailed Godwit, up to five Spotted Redshank, Greenshank,
up to 166 Knot and two Purple Sandpiper (at nearby Barton-on-Sea). c150
Mediterranean Gulls were in the area (from 14th) as were two
Yellow-legged Gulls. Other birds seen were at least two littoralis Rock
Pipit, up to four Water Pipit, Black Redstart (6th & 26th),
Cetti's Warbler, Dartford Warbler, up to four Firecrest and Bearded Tit.
AVON VALLEY / BLASHFORD LAKES
On Ibsley
Water Meadows up to15 Bewick’s Swans were seen, also Great White Egret and
a single White-fronted Goose (24th). On Ibsley Water were 11 White-fronted
Geese ( 7th to 9th), Common Scoter (16th), up to 34
Goldeneye, two Shelduck (25th & 26th), up to 48
Goosander and a “redhead” Smew (25th) (with a different bird on Rockford
Lake all month). At Ellingham Pound were Red-crested Pochard (9th
to 12th), 2,900 Black-headed Gulls into roost (9th),
50 Common Gulls (9th), 800 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (9th)
and Mediterranean Gulls were seen on three dates from 19th. Also
seen were up to three Green Sandpiper, up to 500 Black-tailed Godwit,
Woodcock (6th), Common Sandpiper (28th), male Hen
Harrier (12th to 14th), Merlin (3rd),
Bittern (4th), Cetti’s Warbler, and, from the Woodland Hide, an
increase from three Brambling (4th) to 80 (28th). In
the Avon Valley were maxima of 150 Pintail (7th), 800 Wigeon (4th)
and six Ruff (7th).
ELSEWHERE
Green-winged Teal was at Budds Farm (until 19th), Scaup at Fawley/Calshot
and Velvet Scoter at Langstone Harbour (5th to 13th).
Bitterns were seen at Brownwich Pond, Hook and Testwood Lakes. Marsh
Harriers were at several coastal sites and, away from the New Forest, Hen
Harriers were at Bransbury Common (10th), Woolmer (17th)
and Cheesefoot Head (20th). Merlins were at Testwood Lakes (10th),
Farlington (18th & 21st) and Cheesefoot Head (27th).
Up to 16 Purple Sandpipers remained at Southsea Castle. Jack Snipe were
found at Lower Test Marshes, Lakeside (20th) and The Vyne (27th).
The Ring-billed Gull remained at Gosport. Up to three Short-eared Owl were
at Bransbury Common (8th & 9th) and up to 11 Water
Pipits were at Lower Test Marshes. There were several Black Redstarts and
Firecrests and up to 65 Corn Bunting at Cheesefoot Head. The Great Grey
Shrike remained at Holmsley.
Richard
Carpenter with Jackie Hull, Andy Johnson and Steve Piggott. |