HAMPSHIRE BIRD SIGHTINGS FOR OCTOBER 2024
BLASHFORD LAKES AND THE AVON VALLEY
Reports from Ibsley Water included the regular Red-crested Pochard (21st-30th), three Black-necked Grebes, a single Yellow-legged Gull and up to two Great White Egrets. There were seven Cattle Egrets at Harbridge (5th), with one or two remaining until the 8th. An Osprey flew over Ringwood (17th).
LYMINGTON-KEYHAVEN MARSHES
It was generally a fairly quiet month on the marshes, although six Pomarine Skuas off Keyhaven (1st) was a notable autumn record. Waders included a Little Stint (31st), Ruff (1st, 9th), a single Spotted Redshank and up to 22 Greenshank, while up to 21 Spoonbills were present. The first Slavonian Grebe of the winter was in Oxey Creek (18th) and a Great Northern Diver was at Keyhaven (27th). A Merlin was seen on five dates. A Yellow-browed Warbler was in Pennington village (7th) and three Water Pipit were at Keyhaven (24th). A Bittern was in the Lymington reedbeds (15th) and a Little Gull was off Milford-on-Sea (20th).
TITCHFIELD HAVEN TO WARSASH
The highlight in the area was a Pallid Harrier seen flying in off at Lee-on-the-Solent (11th). Three Glossy Ibis remained, mostly on the Bridge Street floods. Reports from Titchfield Haven included ten Cattle Egrets (12th), a Great White Egret (5th, 27th) and an Osprey (1st-5th). Two Yellow-browed Warblers were ringed (18th) and another or the same Yellow-browed Warbler was along the canal path (13th-15th), where the first two Water Pipits of the winter returned (17th). Offshore from the Hill Head area were up to 23 Eider, three Common Scoter, a Red-throated Diver (29th) and a Great Northern Diver (27th). Up to four Black Redstarts were at Daedalus Airfield. Hook-with-Warsash recorded a Black Tern (1st), a Great White Egret (1st, 3rd), an Osprey (17th) and a Yellow-browed Warbler (6th). Further up the Hamble a Spotted Redshank was at Bunny Meadows (26th).
LANGSTONE HARBOUR AND HAYLING ISLAND
Highlights from Farlington included a Spoonbill (21st-26th), up to eleven Cattle Egrets (2nd-3rd) and Great White Egret (21st-26th; 5, 27th). Langstone Harbour held two Common Scoter, three Black-necked Grebes, a Little Gull (12th) and two Great Northern Divers. There were 22 Cattle Egrets at Warblington (26th). A Spotted Redshank (2nd-11th) and Great White Egret (3rd) were at the Oysterbeds. On Hayling, Sandy Point hosted two Yellow-browed Warblers (1st-15th) followed by a Pallas’s Warbler (16th). A Snow Bunting was present at the end of the month (28th-30th), along with two Black Redstarts. Five Great White Egrets flew over (27th). On the sea were three Razorbills (4th) and a Great Northern Diver (22nd). A Little Stint was at Black Point (2nd-4th) and two Ospreys were present mid-month. Two more Yellow-browed Warblers were found at Sinah GP (8th-9th), followed by two more at Fishery Creek (18th).
OTHER SITES
The only real scarcities reported were a Hoopoe at Minley (6th) and a Rose-coloured Starling in Andover (13th). Fishlake Meadows hosted a Garganey (11th) and up to three Great White Egrets. A Leach’s Petrel was off Weston Shore (9th). Lepe recorded a Spotted Redshank (22nd-30th), up to three Great White Egrets, Osprey (1st) and Merlin (28th). Two Cattle Egrets were at Testwood Lakes (19th) and Great White Egrets were at various locations with a maximum of four at Skidmore. In the New Forest ringtail Hen Harriers were at Ibsley Common (12th), Turf Hill (19th) and Ragged Boys Hill (30th) and Merlins were at five further sites mostly in the New Forest. Yellow-browed Warblers were found at Crawley (4th), Danebury (5th), Havant (13th), Longslade Bottom (23rd) and Southampton Common (27th). Ring Ouzels occurred in reasonable numbers mostly at regular sites including up to six at Butser Hill and three at Portsdown Hill, while Black Redstarts were found at a few sites. Vismig watching at Barton-on-Sea picked up single Tree Sparrows twice (4th, 11th).