HAMPSHIRE SIGHTINGS FOR APRIL 2022
BLASHFORD LAKES AND THE AVON VALLEY
There were relatively few reports from Blashford Lakes this month. Ibsley Water hosted five Little Gulls (23rd), with two still the next day, a Marsh Harrier (4th) and a Water Pipit (10th). Passage waders included Green and Common Sandpipers. Up to 15 Bramblings were present around the visitor centre. Elsewhere in the Avon Valley, Great White Egrets were at New Queen Pub (11th), Bickton (17th) and Ibsley (21st) and a Whooper Swan was at Kingston Common (11th).
LYMINGTON-KEYHAVEN MARSHES
A Scaup was on the Avon Floods (15th-16th). Waders included a Curlew Sandpiper at Normandy Lagoon (30th), two Jack Snipes at Keyhaven (2nd-10th), up to five Ruffs, two Spotted Redshank and ten Greenshank. There was only one Spoonbill report (5th). Garganey were seen twice (5th, 2 on 22nd), while six passed Hurst Beach (17th). Offshore from the marshes were up to 41 Eider. An Osprey flew over Pennington (10th) and a Water Pipit was seen twice (3rd, 13th). Seawatching off Hurst also produced Velvet Scoter (2, 10th; 4, 12th), Little Gull (10th), Great Skua (12th, 24th), Pomarine Skua (29th), a monthly total of 14 Arctic Skuas, Red-throated Diver (12th), Black-throated Diver (10th, 12th) and Manx Shearwater (12th).
TITCHFIELD HAVEN TO WARSASH
A Red-rumped Swallow was briefly over the Posbrook Floods (22nd). Also on the floods were a flock of six Glossy Ibis (13th), one or two Ruff (1st-10th), Wood Sandpiper (25th-29th, with two on 28th) and the regular Cattle Egret. At Titchfield Haven, a Great White Egret was in the reedbed (13th) and Ospreys passed over twice (4th, 15th). A pair of Garganey were on the scrapes (5th-9th), with three then off Hill Head (11th). Also offshore were maxima of 18 Eiders, a Velvet Scoter (25th-28th), 31 Common Scoter and a Black-throated Diver (11th), while sea passage included totals of ten Little Gulls, three Arctic Terns, three Black Terns and ten Arctic Skuas, as well as a Manx Shearwater (6th). A Yellow-browed Warbler was in a garden at Hill Head (8th), a Ring Ouzel was by the chalets (2nd) and three Spoonbills flew over (29th). The best finds at Hook-with-Warsash were two Ospreys (23rd) and a Ring Ouzel (10th).
LANGSTONE HARBOUR AND HAYLING ISLAND
Highlights from Farlington Marshes were a Wood Sandpiper (22nd), Spotted Redshank (16th, 21st), up to twelve Greenshank, up to three Spoonbills (19th-24th), two Cattle Egrets (13th), an Osprey (4th-6th) and a Merlin (9th). Up to 15 Cattle Egrets were at Warblington and two Glossy Ibis flew over Langstone Mill Pond (17th). Six Garganey passed Sandy Point (11th), as did three Manx Shearwaters (17th) and monthly totals of 15 Arctic and three Great Skuas. A Black-throated Diver lingered there until the end of the month. Merlins were seen twice (11th, 14th) and an Osprey was in Chichester Harbour (9th). A Curlew Sandpiper was at the Kench (24th).
OTHER SITES
A Black Kite was over Martin Down (20th). A Hoopoe was in a garden in Longparish (19th). A White-fronted Goose was at Lower Test (27th). The Whooper Swan was in the Winchester water meadows (5th-8th, 24th). Garganey were at Havant (3rd), Testwood Lakes (1-3, 13th-16th) and Taddiford (4E, 26th). The Barton-on-Sea area also had some Manx Shearwaters (1, 6th; 4, 28th), Arctic Skua (11th) and a Great White Egret (2nd). Highlights from Lepe were an Arctic Skua (11th, 12th), one or two Great White Egrets (8th-9th) and an Osprey (1st). Weston Shore had 26 Arctic Terns and four Black Terns (both 23rd). Stokes Bay had seven Arctic Skuas and two Little Gulls (11th). Fishlake Meadows Meadows had four Ruffs (16th), a Greenshank (23rd), a Little Gull (11th) and up to three Great White Egrets. In the north east, Fleet Pond had a Little Gull (22nd) followed by a flock of 16 the next day! Ring Ouzels were reported from seven further sites including a well watched pair at Old Winchester Hill (27th-30th). Pied Flycatchers were at Acres Down (17th) and Rooksbury Mill (25th).