All observers birding in Hampshire are urged to submit their sightings either using one of four approved internet apps (described below) or the HOS record form (HRF). Forms are available from the HOS Data Manager at hosdatamanager@gmail.com or on the HOS website. Completed forms should be e-mailed to the Recorder, Martin Pitt at mjpitt35clere@hotmail.com. Hand-written submissions by post are also welcome and should be sent to Martin Pitt, TBA.
The following app owners: Going Birding/Hampshire Birds; BTO Birdtrack; Living Record and Cornell University eBird provide HOS with complete downloads of county records posted on their web sites. Additionally, HOS members act as data validators for these Web sites. Thus, records from observers using: Birdtrack, Living Record and eBird will be entered onto the HOS database providing sufficient details accompany the record. If using any of these apps, please include as much detail as possible: e.g. do ensure you state the number of birds, pairs, or nests present. In addition, please use where available, the pinpoint GR, sex and age of the birds, time of day fields. Always supply an accurate grid reference together with a well-defined site name as used in the Hampshire Bird Report or online Gazetteer. Above all, please make notes that will support your observations in writing the Hampshire Bird Report and descriptions where required (see Guidelines for the submission of records available on the Web Page). For Going Birding/Hampshire Birds users it would be of great assistance if entries are made using the established site list and any finer details, concerning the locality, included in the notes rather than setting up a new site. HRF users are asked to note the following:
- Records should preferably be listed chronologically or by recording area rather than by species order.
- Completed forms should be submitted to the Recorder regularly throughout the year, quarterly is preferred; if this is not possible at least ensure all records are returned no later than January 31st of the following year.
- The HRF is only compatible with Microsoft (Excel) software.
Annually Occurring Species
Information is required as follows:
| A | = | All records; details of age, plumage, time, direction of movement etc should be included as appropriate, especially for birds seen in places where not usually recorded or out of season. |
| B | = | All breeding records, with type of evidence obtained: confirmed, probable or possible. |
| CB | = | Counts of breeding pairs/singing males/territories in clearly defined areas. |
| F | = | Flocks, roosts and falls: minimum number required for Going Birding is given in parentheses. For other apps (HRF, Bt, LvR & eB) these numbers refer to casual records but not to complete day site lists described above |
| F&L | = | First and last dates of summer and winter visitors. |
| M | = | Observations of birds moving on migration: give each day’s count separately, with time of observation and direction the birds were moving. |
| MM | = | Dated monthly maxima from localities you regularly watch, counts may be below the threshold in F when submitting a complete year’s data. |
| R | = | All records from localities where not normally recorded. |
| S | = | All summer records. |
| W | = | All winter records. |
| Notes | = | Brief notes of diagnostic identification features observed should be written on the record form. |
| Species | Scientific Name | RECORDING DETAILS |
| Red-legged Partridge | Alectoris rufa | B, F (50), R |
| Grey Partridge | Perdix perdix | A |
| Quail | Coturnix coturnix | A |
| Pheasant | Phasianus colchicus | CB, R |
| Golden Pheasant | Chrysolophus pictus | A |
| Brent Goose | Branta bernicla | F (100), MM, F&L, M, R, inland A |
| Light-bellied Brent Goose | Branta bernicla hrota | A |
| Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | B, F (100), MM |
| Barnacle Goose | Branta leucopsis | A |
| Snow Goose | Anser caerulescens | A |
| Greylag Goose | Anser anser | B, F (50), MM, R |
| White-fronted Goose | Anser albifrons | A |
| Mute Swan | Cygnus olor | B, F (20), MM |
| Egyptian Goose | Alopochen aegyptiaca | A |
| Shelduck | Tadorna tadorna | coast: B, F (50), MM,inland: A |
| Ruddy Shelduck | Tadorna ferruginea | A, description notes required |
| Mandarin Duck | Aix galericulata | B, F (10), MM, R |
| Garganey | Spatula querquedula | A |
| Shoveler | Spatula clypeata | B, F (10), MM, F&L, R |
| Gadwall | Mareca strepera | B, F (25), MM, F&L, R |
| Wigeon | Mareca penelope | F coast & Avon valley(100),elsewhere (25), MM, F&L, R |
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | CB, F (100), MM |
| Pintail | Anas acuta | main coastal sites F (20), MM, F&L, S, elsewhere A |
| Teal | Anas crecca | B, F coast & Avon valley (100), elsewhere (25), MM, F&L, R |
| Red-crested Pochard | Netta rufina | A |
| Pochard | Aythya ferina | A |
| Tufted Duck | Aythya fuligula | B, F (25), MM, F&L, R |
| Scaup | Aythya marila | A, inland & summer description notes req’d |
| Eider | Somateria mollissima | A, inland description notes required |
| Velvet Scoter | Melanitta fusca | A, inland description notes required |
| Common Scoter | Melanitta nigra | A |
| Long-tailed Duck | Clangula hyemalis | A, inland & summer description notes required |
| Goldeneye | Bucephala clangula | A |
| Smew | Mergellus albellus | A |
| Goosander | Mergus merganser | A |
| Red-breasted Merganser | Mergus serrator | coastal sites F (20), MM, F&L, S, elsewhere A |
| Ruddy Duck | Oxyura jamaicensis | A |
| Nightjar | Caprimulgus europaeus | A |
| Swift | Apus apus | A, especially B |
| Great Bustard | Otis tarda | A |
| Cuckoo | Cuculus canorus | A |
| Feral Pigeon/Rock Dove | Columba livia | CB, F (100) |
| Stock Dove | Columba oenas | CB, F (25), M |
| Woodpigeon | Columba palumbus | CB, F (500), M |
| Turtle Dove | Streptopelia turtur | A |
| Collared Dove | Streptopelia decaocto | CB, F (25), M |
| Water Rail | Rallus aquaticus | A |
| Moorhen | Gallinula chloropus | CB, F (20), MM |
| Coot | Fulica atra | CB, F (20), MM |
| Crane | Grus grus | A, description notes required |
| Little Grebe | Tachybaptus ruficollis | B, F (5), MM, R |
| Great Crested Grebe | Podiceps cristatus | B, F (10), MM, R |
| Slavonian Grebe | Podiceps auritus | A, inland & summer description notes req’d |
| Black-necked Grebe | Podiceps nigricollis | A |
| Stone-curlew | Burhinus oedicnemus | A |
| Oystercatcher | Haematopus ostralegus | B, F (100), MM, M, inland A |
| Avocet | Recurvirostra avosetta | A |
| Lapwing | Vanellus vanellus | B, F (100), MM, M, R |
| Golden Plover | Pluvialis apricaria | A |
| Grey Plover | Pluvialis squatarola | F (20), F&L, S, R, inland A |
| Ringed Plover | Charadrius hiaticula | B, F (20), MM, M, inland A |
| Little Ringed Plover | Charadrius dubius | A |
| Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus | F (10), F&L, M, W, R, inland A |
| Curlew | Numenius arquata | B, F (50), MM, M, inland A |
| Bar-tailed Godwit | Limosa lapponica | A |
| Black-tailed Godwit | Limosa limosa | F (50), F&L, S, R, inland A |
| Turnstone | Arenaria interpres | F (20), F&L, M, S, R, inland A |
| Knot | Calidris canutus | A |
| Ruff | Calidris pugnax | A |
| Curlew Sandpiper | Calidris ferruginea | A |
| Sanderling | Calidris alba | A |
| Dunlin | Calidris alpina | F (100), MM, M, S, inland A |
| Purple Sandpiper | Calidris maritima | A |
| Little Stint | Calidris minuta | A |
| Woodcock | Scolopax rusticola | A |
| Jack Snipe | Lymnocryptes minimus | A |
| Snipe | Gallinago gallinago | B, F (5), MM, F&L, R |
| Grey Phalarope | Phalaropus fulicarius | A, description notes required |
| Common Sandpiper | Actitis hypoleucos | A |
| Green Sandpiper | Tringa ochropus | A |
| Redshank | Tringa totanus | B, F (50), MM, M, inland A |
| Wood Sandpiper | Tringa glareola | A |
| Spotted Redshank | Tringa erythropus | A |
| Greenshank | Tringa nebularia | A |
| Kittiwake | Rissa tridactyla | A – include age/plumage |
| Black-headed Gull | Chroicocephalus ridibundus | B, F (500), MM, S |
| Little Gull | Hydrocoloeus minutus | A – include age/plumage |
| Mediterranean Gull | Ichthyaetus melanocephalus | CB, F (10) |
| Common Gull | Larus canus | B, F (50), MM, S |
| Great Black-backed Gull | Larus marinus | B, F (10), MM, S, inland A |
| Herring Gull | Larus argentatus | B, F (50), MM, S |
| Yellow-legged Gull | Larus michahellis | A – include age/plumage details |
| Lesser Black-backed Gull | Larus fuscus | B, F (50), MM, S |
| Sandwich Tern | Thalasseus sandvicensis | B, F (50), F&L, M, R |
| Little Tern | Sternula albifrons | B, F (25), F&L, M, R |
| Roseate Tern | Sterna dougallii | A, inland notes req’d – inc. age / plumage |
| Common Tern | Sterna hirundo | B, F (50), F&L, M, R, inland A |
| Arctic Tern | Sterna paradisaea | A – include age/plumage |
| Black Tern | Chlidonias niger | A |
| Great Skua | Stercorarius skua | A, inland description notes required |
| Pomarine Skua | Stercorarius pomarinus | A, other than coast in spring des. notes req’d |
| Arctic Skua | Stercorarius parasiticus | A, inland description notes required |
| Little Auk | Alle alle | A, description notes required |
| Common Guillemot | Uria aalge | A |
| Razorbill | Alca torda | A |
| Red-throated Diver | Gavia stellata | A, inland & summer description notes req’d |
| Black-throated Diver | Gavia arctica | A, inland & summer description notes req’d |
| Great Northern Diver | Gavia immer | A, inland & summer description notes req’d |
| Fulmar | Fulmarus glacialis | A, inland description notes required |
| Manx Shearwater | Puffinus puffinus | A, description notes required |
| White Stork | Ciconia ciconia | A, description notes required |
| Gannet | Morus bassanus | A, inland description notes required |
| Shag | Phalacrocorax aristotelis | A, inland description notes required |
| Cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo | F (20), MM, R |
| Spoonbill | Platalea leucorodia | A, inland description notes required |
| Bittern | Botaurus stellaris | A |
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | A |
| Grey Heron | Ardea cinerea | B, F (10), MM, M |
| Great White Egret | Ardea alba | A |
| Little Egret | Egretta garzetta | B, F (10), MM, M, R |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | A |
| Honey-buzzard | Pernis apivorus | A, except New Forest description notes req’d |
| Sparrowhawk | Accipiter nisus | B, M |
| Goshawk | Accipiter gentilis | A, except New Forest description notes req’d |
| Marsh Harrier | Circus aeruginosus | A |
| Hen Harrier | Circus cyaneus | A |
| Red Kite | Milvus milvus | CB, F (10), A away from North Hants |
| Buzzard | Buteo buteo | B, F (10), M, R |
| Barn Owl | Tyto alba | A |
| Tawny Owl | Strix aluco | B, R |
| Little Owl | Athene noctua | A |
| Long-eared Owl | Asio otus | A |
| Short-eared Owl | Asio flammeus | A |
| Hoopoe | Upupa epops | A, description notes required |
| Kingfisher | Alcedo atthis | A especially B |
| Wryneck | Jynx torquilla | A, description notes required |
| Lesser Spotted Woodpecker | Dryobates minor | A |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | Dendrocopos major | CB, M, R |
| Green Woodpecker | Picus viridis | CB, M, R |
| Kestrel | Falco tinnunculus | B, M |
| Merlin | Falco columbarius | A |
| Hobby | Falco subbuteo | A |
| Peregrine | Falco peregrinus | CB, A away from coast |
| Ring-necked Parakeet | Psittacula krameri | A |
| Great Grey Shrike | Lanius excubitor | A, except New Forest description notes req’d |
| Golden Oriole | Oriolus oriolus | A, description notes required |
| Jay | Garrulus glandarius | CB, F (10), M |
| Magpie | Pica pica | CB, F (50), M |
| Jackdaw | Coloeus monedula | CB, F (500), M |
| Rook | Corvus frugilegus | CB, F (250), M |
| Carrion Crow | Corvus corone | CB, F (50), M |
| Raven | Corvus corax | A |
| Waxwing | Bombycilla garrulus | A, des. notes req’d except in invasion years |
| Coal Tit | Periparus ater | CB, F (20), M |
| Continental Coal Tit | Periparus ater ater | A |
| Marsh Tit | Poecile palustris | A |
| Blue Tit | Cyanistes caeruleus | CB, F (50), M |
| Great Tit | Parus major | CB, F (20), M |
| Bearded Tit | Panurus biarmicus | A |
| Woodlark | Lullula arborea | A |
| Skylark | Alauda arvensis | CB, F (20), M |
| Sand Martin | Riparia riparia | B, F (25), F&L, M |
| Swallow | Hirundo rustica | CB, F (100), F&L, M |
| House Martin | Delichon urbicum | CB, F (100), F&L, M |
| Cetti’s Warbler | Cettia cetti | A |
| Long-tailed Tit | Aegithalos caudatus | CB, F (20), M |
| Wood Warbler | Phylloscopus sibilatrix | A |
| Willow Warbler | Phylloscopus trochilus | A |
| Chiffchaff | Phylloscopus collybita | CB, F (10), W |
| Sedge Warbler | Acrocephalus schoenobaenus | CB, F (5), F&L, R |
| Reed Warbler | Acrocephalus scirpaceus | CB, F (5), F&L, R |
| Grasshopper Warbler | Locustella naevia | A |
| Blackcap | Sylvia atricapilla | CB, F (10), W |
| Garden Warbler | Sylvia borin | CB, F (5), F&L, R |
| Lesser Whitethroat | Curruca curruca | A |
| Whitethroat | Curruca communis | CB, F (10), F&L |
| Dartford Warbler | Curruca undata | A except New Forest, CB |
| Firecrest | Regulus ignicapilla | A |
| Goldcrest | Regulus regulus | CB, F (10) |
| Wren | Troglodytes troglodytes | CB, F (25) |
| Nuthatch | Sitta europaea | CB, F (10) |
| Treecreeper | Certhia familiaris | CB, F (10) |
| Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | CB, F (100), M |
| Ring Ouzel | Turdus torquatus | A |
| Blackbird | Turdus merula | CB, F (25), M |
| Fieldfare | Turdus pilaris | F (25), M, F&L |
| Redwing | Turdus iliacus | F (25), M, F&L |
| Song Thrush | Turdus philomelos | CB, F (10), M |
| Mistle Thrush | Turdus viscivorus | CB, F (10), M |
| Spotted Flycatcher | Muscicapa striata | A |
| Robin | Erithacus rubecula | CB, F (25) |
| Nightingale | Luscinia megarhynchos | A |
| Pied Flycatcher | Ficedula hypoleuca | A |
| Black Redstart | Phoenicurus ochruros | A |
| Redstart | Phoenicurus phoenicurus | A |
| Whinchat | Saxicola rubetra | A |
| Stonechat | Saxicola rubicola | A |
| Wheatear | Oenanthe oenanthe | A |
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | CB, F (20), M |
| Dunnock | Prunella modularis | CB, F (10) |
| Yellow Wagtail | Motacilla flava flavissima | A |
| Grey Wagtail | Motacilla cinerea | B, F (5), M |
| Pied Wagtail | Motacilla alba | CB, F (50), M |
| White Wagtail | Motacilla alba alba | A, autumn description notes required |
| Meadow Pipit | Anthus pratensis | B, F (25), M |
| Tree Pipit | Anthus trivialis | A |
| Water Pipit | Anthus spinoletta | A |
| Rock Pipit | Anthus petrosus | A |
| Scandinavian Rock Pipit | Anthus petrosus littoralis | A |
| Chaffinch | Fringilla coelebs | CB, F (25), M |
| Brambling | Fringilla montifringilla | A |
| Hawfinch | Coccothraustes coccothraustes | A |
| Bullfinch | Pyrrhula pyrrhula | CB, F (5), M |
| Greenfinch | Chloris chloris | CB, F (20), M |
| Linnet | Linaria cannabina | CB, F (20), M |
| Common Redpoll | Acanthis flammea | A, description notes required |
| Lesser Redpoll | Acanthis cabaret | A |
| Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | A |
| Goldfinch | Carduelis carduelis | CB, F (50), M |
| Siskin | Spinus spinus | B, F (10), M, S |
| Snow Bunting | Plectrophenax nivalis | A, inland description notes required |
| Corn Bunting | Emberiza calandra | A |
| Yellowhammer | Emberiza citrinella | CB, F (10), M, |
| Reed Bunting | Emberiza schoeniclus | A |
Scarcer species
Records of the scarcer species listed below must be supported by the completion of Unusual Record Forms which are available from the Recorder or on the society web site at https://www.hos.org.uk/home/news-recording/bird-recording/. Additional evidence in the form of digital photographs or sound recordings in electronic format is also welcomed. Records of these species will not be published in the Hampshire Bird Report unless they have been accepted by the HOS Records Panel respectively.
All exceptionally early or late migrants and the following species and all reports on the following species: Black Brant, Taiga Bean Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Tundra Bean Goose, Greenland White-fronted Goose, Bewick’s Swan, Whooper Swan, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Surf Scoter, Alpine Swift, Corncrake, Spotted Crake, Red-necked Grebe, Black-winged Stilt, American Golden Plover, Dotterel, Temminck’s Stint, White-rumped Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Red-necked Phalarope, Sabine’s Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Glaucous Gull, Iceland Gull, Kumlien’s Gull, Caspian Gull, White-winged Black Tern, Long-tailed Skua, Black Guillemot, Puffin, White-billed Diver, Storm Petrel, Leach’s Petrel, Cory’s Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater, Glossy Ibis, Night-Heron, Purple Heron, Montagu’s Harrier, Black Kite, White-tailed Eagle, Rough-legged Buzzard, Bee-eater, Red-footed Falcon, Red-backed Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Chough, Hooded Crow, Willow Tit, Penduline Tit, Shore Lark, Short-toed Lark, Red-rumped Swallow, Yellow-browed Warbler, Pallas’s Warbler, Radde’s Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Siberian Chiffchaff, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Barred Warbler, Rose-coloured Starling, Bluethroat, Red-flanked Bluetail, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Dipper, Tree Sparrow, Blue-headed Wagtail, Citrine Wagtail, Richard’s Pipit, Olive-backed Pipit, Common Rosefinch, Twite, Parrot Crossbill, Serin, Lapland Bunting, Ortolan Bunting, Cirl Bunting and Little Bunting.
Heard only records of the above species. Criteria for the acceptance of these by the panel are as follows:
- The observer must have good experience of the species concerned and demonstrate that the call of the bird claimed was heard clearly.
- The call must be described in detail including transcription on paper (length, quality, tone etc of call), comparison with other calls heard either at the same or around the same time (or failing that, qualification as to why it was different to commoner species) and frequency/timing of call(s).
- The observer should provide an exact account of the record including, for example, how many times the bird called and over what period of time it was heard.
UK Rarities
Records of rarer species are assessed by the British Birds Rarities Committee. Record forms are available from the Recorder to whom they should be returned for onward transmission to the BBRC. Alternatively submissions can be made on line at http://www.bbrc.org.uk/submit-a-sighting , in which case it is appreciated if copies are e-mailed to the Recorder.
The following BBRC species are on the Hampshire List: Red-breasted Goose, Ross’s Goose, Blue-winged Teal, Falcated Duck, Ferruginous Duck, Lesser Scaup, White-throated Needletail, Pallid Swift, Little Swift, Little Bustard, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Little Crake, Baillon’s Crake, Sociable Plover, Pacific Golden Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, Kentish Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Baird’s Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Great Snipe, Terek Sandpiper, Wilson’s Phalarope, Spotted Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Marsh Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Cream-coloured Courser, Collared Pratincole, Bonaparte’s Gull, Laughing Gull, Franklin’s Gull, Thayer’s Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern, Elegant Tern, Sooty Tern, Whiskered Tern, Black Stork, American Bittern, Little Bittern, Squacco Heron, Chinese Pond Heron, Dalmatian Pelican, Egyptian Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Pallid Harrier, Scops Owl, Snowy Owl, Roller, Blue-cheeked Bee-Eater, Brown Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Nutcracker, American Cliff Swallow, Hume’s Warbler, Iberian Chiffchaff, Great Reed Warbler, Aquatic Warbler, Paddyfield Warbler, Booted Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler, Lanceolated Warbler, Savi’s Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, Isabelline Shrike sp., Siberian Stonechat, Desert Wheatear, Western Black-eared Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Pied Wheatear, Spanish Sparrow, Alpine Accentor, Tawny Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Two-barred Crossbill, Rustic Bunting, Black-headed Bunting, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and American Redstart.
A full list of species considered by the BBRC is available on its website http://www.bbrc.org.uk/main-information/species-taxa.
Martin Pitt Recorder
Alan Cox Data Manager
June 2020