HAMPSHIRE SIGHTINGS FOR MAY 2025
BLASHFORD LAKES AND THE AVON VALLEY
The only report of note from Blashford Lakes was an Osprey (13th). In the Avon Valley there were up to three Cattle Egrets reported at various sites, as well as a couple of Great White Egrets. An Osprey was at Ibsley and Bickton (both 26th).
LYMINGTON-KEYHAVEN MARSHES
Highlights from the Lymington-Keyhaven marshes were two Garganey (5th), a Long-tailed Duck (24th-28th), a Turtle Dove (4th), a Ruff (18th), Curlew Sandpiper (1-2, 3rd-11th; 18th), Little Stint (11th), Wood Sandpiper (8th), Little Gull (25th), Roseate Tern (3rd-11th), up to four Spoonbills and a Short-eared Owl (3rd, 7th). Seawatching at Hurst Beach produced 40 Common Scoter (11th), a Roseate Tern (11th), Black Tern (2nd), 17 Pomarine Skuas (4, 1st; 11, 11th; 2, 12th), eight Arctic Skuas, Red-throated Diver (11th) and Black-throated Diver (1st, 11th).
TITCHFIELD HAVEN TO WARSASH
Probably the bird of the year for Hampshire was at Titchfield Haven as a Hudsonian Godwit visited the scrapes (16th-22nd). Another great find was a Woodchat Shrike along the canal path (2nd). Other reports in the area included Garganey (1st), Little Gull (16th-19th), up to three Spoonbills (13th-21st) and two Glossy Ibis (16th). Offshore from the Hill Head area were two Eiders, a Velvet Scoter (12th), a Pomarine Skua (2nd) and 11 Arctic Skuas.
LANGSTONE HARBOUR AND HAYLING ISLAND
A Collared Pratincole (11th) was the highlight at Farlington, which also had Ruff (21st), Curlew Sandpiper (1st), Wood Sandpiper (2nd, 8th, 10th), Spoonbill (12th, 15th) and Cattle Egrets (2, 5th; 9, 28th). Seawatching off South Hayling produced five Kittiwakes (26th), Little Gull (28th), Black Tern (4, 2nd; 12th) and a Pomarine Skua (2nd).
OTHER SITES
Rarities were a Black Stork was over Acres Down (4th), a Hoopoe at Marchwood (9th) and a Red-footed Falcon at Pig Bush (6th). A Garganey was at Rooksbury Mill (7th). Fishlake Meadows had a Turtle Dove (14th) and two each of Osprey and Great White Egret. Lepe recorded a Pomarine Skua and an Arctic Skua (both 1st). A single Pom passed Browndown (2nd), while Stokes Bay recorded two Poms on the 11th and three Arctic Skuas. There were a good number of Cattle Egrets around, with 12 at Lower Test (12th), 13 at Portsdown Hill (13th), four at Alresford Pond (18th) and nine at Martin Down (24th). Ospreys were at Dummer (9th), Skidmore (11th), Weston Shore (12th) and Lower Test (18th, 23rd).