HAMPSHIRE SIGHTINGS FOR NOVEMBER 2021
BLASHFORD LAKES AND THE AVON VALLEY
The regular Ferruginous Duck returned to Kingfisher Lake (from 21st). A Red-crested Pochard was at Ibsley North Lake (30th). Single Caspian Gulls were reported in the roost on Ibsley Water on six dates, as well as up to 14 Yellow-legged Gulls. Up to three Great White Egrets were seen and a Cattle Egret was also at Ibsley Water (23rd, 25th). Ibsley also had an Avocet (8th) and Little Stint (24th), while there were regular sightings of four Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, Marsh Harrier and two Water Pipits. Roosting Goosanders peaked at 118 and there were eight Goldeneye by the end of the month. A Siberian Chiffchaff was ringed (11th). Elsewhere in the Avon Valley, a Green-winged Teal arrived at Ripley Farm Reservoir (30th), which also had a Whooper Swan (28th-29th) and a Scaup (7th-8th).
LYMINGTON-KEYHAVEN MARSHES
Singles of Spoonbill (1st-7th) and Great White Egret (2nd-6th) were present at Pennington Marshes early in the month. A Little Stint lingered at Normandy Marsh (to 22nd). Other waders included up to 14 Avocets, one Ruff, four Spotted Redshanks and 12 Greenshanks. Offshore were maxima of two Slavonian Grebes, 17 Eider, four Common Scoter and 16 Red-breasted Merganser, as well as two Red-throated Divers (22nd) and an Arctic Skua (13th). Raptors included two Marsh Harriers, Merlin (6th, 27th, 28th) and a Short-eared Owl (23rd).
TITCHFIELD HAVEN TO WARSASH
Highlights on the reserve at Titchfield Haven were a Little Stint (1st-2nd), Jack Snipe (from 6th), Great White Egret (1st, 5th), Siberian Chiffchaff (1-2, 23rd-29th) and up to 15 Bearded Tits. A Cattle Egret was on the Bridge Street floods (30th) and there were a couple of Water Pipits along the canal path. Offshore between Hill Head and Brownwich were up to three Velvet Scoters (from 24th), two Goldeneye (22nd), Slavonian Grebe (5th-25th), Black-necked Grebe (24th), Red-throated Diver (29th) and Great Northern Diver (13th), plus maxima of 50 Eiders, 14 Common Scoter, five Red-breasted Mergansers and two Goosanders. A Hen Harrier flew over Chilling cliffs (15th). Hook-with-Warsash had a Snow Bunting (1st-8th).
LANGSTONE HARBOUR AND HAYLING ISLAND
Langstone Harbour held a Long-tailed Duck (23rd-27th), Common Scoter (6th) and maxima of three Goldeneyes, five Goosanders, 80 Red-breasted Mergansers and nine Black-necked Grebes. Up to five Cattle Egrets were at Warblington. The south end of Hayling Island hosted up to eight Snow Buntings. A Red-necked Grebe was in Hayling Bay (11th-19th), plus two Slavonian Grebes (14th), Red-throated Diver (8th, 15th) and Great Northern Diver (29th). A Short-eared Owl was at Gunner Point (19th). Highlights from the Sandy Point area were two Velvet Scoters (2nd-10th), Red-throated Diver (8th), Black-throated Diver (26th), Great White Egret (16th) and a Black Redstart (15th).
OTHER SITES
A Laughing Gull flying over Tweseldown (18th) was another good find for visible migration watchers there. In the New Forest a Great Grey Shrike was around Backley Bottom, with Merlin (1st), Hen Harrier (8th) and Short-eared Owl (13th) also seen there. Away from roost sites the only other Hen Harrier was at Latchmore Bottom (12th), but Merlins were more widely reported. Highlights from Lepe were a Cattle Egret (21st), Red-throated Diver (17th) and Great Northern Diver (19th). Three Spoonbills were at Inchmery (26th). A Snow Bunting flew over Barton-on-Sea (14th). Fishlake Meadows had a Bittern (four dates), three Great White Egrets and two Marsh Harriers. Gilkicker Point had a Great White Egret (3rd), Siberian Chiffchaff (29th) and Black Redstart (19th). The last Ring Ouzel of the autumn was at Portsdown Hill (2nd). Bramblings continued to be seen in good numbers with a maximum of 300 at Pitt Down.