HAMPSHIRE SIGHTINGS FOR SEPTEMBER 2023
BLASHFORD LAKES AND THE AVON VALLEY
A couple of storm-blown waifs made it to Ibsley Water, with a Grey Phalarope (19th), followed by a Sabine’s Gull (20th). The regular Red-crested Pochard was reported once (24th). Elsewhere in the Avon Valley, there was a Garganey at Ripley Farm Reservoir (24th).
LYMINGTON-KEYHAVEN MARSHES
A Surf Scoter was a good find offshore from Pennington (26th-27th). Waders included a Red-necked Phalarope (22nd-26th), a couple of different Grey Phalaropes (21st-23rd, 29th-30th) and up to four Ruffs, nine Curlew Sandpipers, four Little Stints, one Spotted Redshank and 24 Greenshank. A Caspian Gull at Pennington was notable for the site (3rd). Up to four Spoonbills were seen occasionally, Cattle Egrets peaked at 18 (7th) and Great White Egrets were seen a couple of times. Ospreys were seen twice (15th, 23rd). Up to 41 Eiders were offshore. A Great Skua was off Hurst Beach (13th).
TITCHFIELD HAVEN TO WARSASH
Reports from Titchfield Haven included a Garganey (4th-11th), two Curlew Sandpipers (13th-18th), a Little Stint (9th), a Grey Phalarope (from 19th), a Spotted Redshank (3rd-12th), up to three Glossy Ibis, twelve Cattle Egrets (9th) and two Great White Egrets. Along the canal path floods there were sightings of a Bittern (22nd), four Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egret (21st) and four Great White Egrets. Offshore from Hill Head were a Storm Petrel (24th) and an Arctic Tern (7th), while a Purple Sandpiper was on the shoreline (26th). Nearby at Lee-on-the-Solent a Sooty Shearwater was recorded (24th). Forty Eiders were off Brownwich (27th). Hook-with-Warsash recorded a Grey Phalarope (22nd), Little Stint (19th-21st), Spoonbill (5th), 14 Cattle Egrets (4th) and three Great White Egrets (4th). A Turtle Dove was at Ranvilles Lane (5th-11th).
LANGSTONE HARBOUR AND HAYLING ISLAND
Waders at Farlington Marshes included up to four Ruff, six Curlew Sandpiper, two Little Stints and 43 Greenshank. Up to 16 Cattle Egrets visited the reserve. Two Ospreys were seen regularly in Langstone Harbour during the first half of the month. On Hayling, Black Point had a Curlew Sandpiper (12th) and Little Stint (23rd, 25th)
OTHER SITES
Lepe recorded a Storm Petrel (20th) and a Balearic Shearwater (23rd) moving through the Solent. Four Spoonbills flew over Southsea (13th), as did three over Barton-on-Sea (30th), while another was at Lepe (15th). A Spotted Redshank was at The Vyne (9th). The only Wryneck of the month was at Cadnam Common (8th). Merlins were seen at Taddiford (2nd) and Timsbury (28th). The first two Redwings of the autumn flew over Tweseldown (26th), while the first Ring Ouzel was at Longslade Bottom the following day. Pied Flycatchers were at Peartree Green (3rd) and Cadmans Pool (5th).