HAMPSHIRE BIRD SIGHTINGS FOR FEBRUARY 2026
Rarities seen during February included the Cirl Bunting reported a couple of times at Portchester (1st, 4th), the Great-tailed Grackle still at Holbury, the Ferruginous Duck on the Posbrook Floods (21st-22nd) and a Ring-necked Duck at Fleet Pond (25th-26th).
There were still some White-fronted Geese around, with 13 at Pennington Marshes and up to four at Farlington Marshes. A Black Brant was still around Hayling Island, while Langstone Harbour held a Scaup, a Long-tailed Duck, a Red-necked Grebe, two Slavonian Grebes, four Black-necked Grebes, a Black-throated Diver (2nd) and four Great Northern Divers. The regular Red-crested Pochard was at Blashford Lakes (4th-5th). The only Velvet Scoter reported was off Weston Shore (11th). Another Red-necked Grebe was off the Brownwich/Chilling area (2nd, 10th-17th), as were two Slavonian Grebes, while the Lymington-Keyhaven area held up two each of Slavonian and Black-necked Grebes and another Black-throated Diver was in Chichester Harbour (25th).
Only two Spotted Redshanks were reported, one at Normandy Lagoon and one at Bunny Meadows. Caspian Gulls were at Farlington Marshes (2, 2nd) and Hill Head (13th). There was a good showing of Little Gulls, with birds at Southsea (2nd), Weston Shore, (3, 4th), Chichester Harbour (9th), Keyhaven (3, 13th-19th) and Titchfield Canal Path (22nd-25th). Spoonbills peaked at 20 at Normandy Lagoon; other reports came from Farlington (7th-8th) and Lepe (4, 14th). Two Bitterns were at Ivy Lake, Blashford. Six Glossy Ibis remained on the Titchfield Canal Path. There was only one report of Cattle Egret, at Bickerley Common (16th).
Great Grey Shrikes were at Withybed Bottom and Pig Bush. A Lesser Whitethroat, presumably of eastern origin, was at Blashford Lakes (13th). Black Redstarts were at five sites, single Water Pipits were at Alresford and Titchfield Canal Path and a Snow Bunting was at Black Point.
The first spring migrants were reported on the 27th, when a Sand Martin was at Fleet Pond and a Wheatear was at Normandy Lagoon.