HAMPSHIRE SIGHTINGS FOR SEPTEMBER 2024
BLASHFORD LAKES AND THE AVON VALLEY
The Red-crested Pochard was reported once at Ibsley Water (18th). In the latter part of the month up to four Black-necked Grebes were on Ibsley. There were two Black Terns (30th) and an Osprey (9th). A couple of Great White Egrets were around the lakes. Elsewhere in the Avon Valley, an Osprey was at Bickton (3rd).
LYMINGTON-KEYHAVEN MARSHES
Waders on the lagoons included Ruff (3rd-4th), Curlew Sandpiper (1st-4th, 8th-9th, 24th), up to three Little Stints and three Spotted Redshanks. Up to three Spoonbills were regular throughout, rising to seven on the 30th and there were three Cattle Egrets on the 7th, with one lingering thereafter. Ospreys were seen on four dates and a Merlin once (10th). A Great Skua was off Hurst Beach (13th).
TITCHFIELD HAVEN TO WARSASH
Reports from Titchfield Haven included a Curlew Sandpiper (12th), Little Gull (28th), a Spoonbill (22nd, 26th), up to two Great White Egrets, Osprey (8th, 15th, 21st, 26th, 28th), a Wryneck (7th-13th) and a Yellow-browed Warbler (28th). A second Yellow-browed Warbler was along the canal path the following day. Up to four Glossy Ibis remained in the area throughout but on the 14th a flock of 13 were seen over Ranvilles Lane before dropping into the Posbrook Floods area. Offshore from the Hill Head area were up to eight Eiders, three Common Scoters, a Little Gull (25th) and three Black Terns. A Pied Flycatcher was at Chilling (7th), as was an Osprey (14th). Reports from Hook-with-Warsash were a Kittiwake (30th), Little Gull (30th), Black Tern (30th), Arctic Skua (20th), four Great White Egrets (2nd) and an Osprey (20th-30th). Nearby there were two Curlew Sandpipers at Bunny Meadows (1st).
LANGSTONE HARBOUR AND HAYLING ISLAND
The highlight from Farlington was a Black Stork flying over (28th), while other reports from there included a Pectoral Sandpiper (20th), Curlew Sandpiper (4th) and up to ten Cattle Egrets. Up to two Ospreys were in Langstone Harbour, as was an Arctic Skua (3rd). Two Curlew Sandpipers were at Warblington (13th, 20th). On Hayling Island the Oysterbeds held a Curlew Sandpiper (4th, 9th), Wood Sandpiper (20th) and Spotted Redshank (7th-25th). A Pied Flycatcher was at Northney (7th). Up to five Black Terns were around the entrance to Chichester Harbour (7th-10th). A Spoonbill flew over Sandy Point (2nd) and an Osprey was seen once (27th).
OTHER SITES
A White-winged Black Tern was a good find at Calshot (2nd-3rd), which also had up to 11 Black Terns (2nd-5th), a Little Gull (2nd) and an Osprey (2nd). A Rose-coloured Starling was in Beaulieu (6th). A Hoopoe was in Havant (1st), Wrynecks were at Eyeworth Pond (1st), Lepe (4th), Manor Farm Country Park (7th) and Twyford Down (14th), and an Ortolan Bunting was at Pig Bush (4th). The regular Pink-footed Goose was at Tundry Pond (1st) and Fleet Pond (8th). The only Garganey of the month was at Fishlake Meadows (21st). Fishlake also had up to six Cattle Egrets (15th-20th), five Great White Egrets and two Ospreys. An Arctic Skua was at Park Shore (30th) and a Manx Shearwater made it up Southampton Water as far as Weston Shore (29th). Black Terns were seen from various sites with a maximum of four off Netley (6th). A Little Gull was off Hythe (15th) and a Caspian Gull was at Stokes Bay (12th). A Spoonbill was at Lower Test (3rd), as were five Cattle Egrets (16th) and up to three Great White Egrets. Ospreys were widespread but the highest number of reports were from the Southampton Water area, including three off Hythe on two dates. Fleet Pond recorded a flyover Honey Buzzard (21st). Pied Flycatchers were at Pig Bush (4th), Lepe (7th-8th), Roydon Woods (7th), Crofton Cemetery (8th) and Marlhill Copse (21st).