HAMPSHIRE SIGHTINGS FOR AUGUST 2025
Rarities found during the month were an American Golden Plover at Farlington (27th), a Bonaparte’s Gull at Keyhaven (30th) and a Purple Heron at Highbridge (23rd). The longstaying Lesser Yellowlegs at Keyhaven was seen a few times (4th, 13th, 16th, 25th). Other waders included two Curlew Sandpipers at each of Lymington-Keyhaven (22nd-29th) and Farlington Marshes (26th-29th), Little Stints at Lymington-Keyhaven (19th-29th), Lepe (24th) and Farlington Marshes (26th), a Grey Phalarope at Hill Head (30th), Wood Sandpiper at Alresford Pond (21st-22nd) and a single Spotted Redshank at Normandy Lagoon.
Quail were at Itchen Stoke Down (9th, 15th) and Nursling Mill (2, 26th). A Pink-footed Goose appeared at Fleet Pond (3rd, 11th, 23rd), presumably the same bird that has been seen there in previous autumns, and the regular Red-crested Pochard was at Blashford Lakes (18th, 24th). Only one Garganey was reported, at Farlington (18th).
A few seabirds were seen, with a Balearic Shearwater off Milford on Sea (4th), plus a Manx Shearwater off Hill Head (30th), a Bonxie also there (11th) and a couple of Arctic Skuas. A Caspian Gull was at Hill Head (8th) and single Little Gulls were at Calshot (3rd), Highcliffe (11th), Hill Head (14th) and Netley (16th). Black Terns included up to three at Hill Head/Titchfield Haven; there were also three at Fawley (11th) and Gunner Point, Hayling (13th) and a single inland at Ibsley Water. A few Arctic Terns were seen but there were no records of Roseate Tern.
There were eight Glossy Ibis at Ibsley Water (26th) and a single moved between Titchfield Haven and Warsash. Spoonbills included a good record of six flying over Ringwood (22nd); the highest count elsewhere was nine at Keyhaven (27th). A Bittern was at Ivy Lake, Blashford (12th). Cattle Egrets included maxima of 18 at Farlington, 17 at Tichfield Haven, 12 at Hook-with-Warsash and 10 on Hayling Island, plus a scattering of records elsewhere. Raptors included Honey Buzzards over Tweseldown (25th) and Liphook (26th), while Ospreys were reported widely including up to four in Portsmouth Harbour.
There was a nice run of Wryneck records, at Chandlers Ford (13th), Hayling Island (17th, 28th-29th), Hook-with-Warsash (19th) and Alton (28th). Pied Flycatchers were seen at nine sites including an impressive five at Northney, Hayling Island (19th). Single Black Redstarts were seen at Whiteley Pastures (19th) and Butlocks Heath (25th).