Belted Kingfisher still 'up North'.

Friday 26th November 2021.

A female Red-breasted Merganser on Hayling Oysterbeds last Saturday. 

Another bright and sunny day again, but oh so cold with that bitter northerly wind. Storm Arwen is knocking on our door with wind speeds set to hit 80mph over the northern half of England and even snow showers are predicted in parts of Hampshire overnight. Winter is well and truly back. Due to lack of manpower, I have volunteered to do a 24hr shift for my employers from 8am tomorrow, so no birding for me tomorrow with Andy.

Our Scruff sporting his new hair cut! 

Over The Oaks this morning, a large number of Redwing flew over the car park along with several Mistle Thrushes among them. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen again flying over the Crematorium, but apart from a showy male Pheasant, not a great deal else was seen during my brief stay here. In the afternoon, I was working at the St Peters & St Pauls Church in the village of Hambledon. From here, I pointed out a gorgeous pair of showy Jays flying around the gravestones and nearby, a Kestrel was hunting over the countryside. A low flying Common Buzzard performed well in the blue sky over the village as we were leaving the Church. 

The male Belted Kingfisher by the River Ribble. Photo by Craig Bell. Many thanks Craig.  

In Hampshire today, a Black-throated Diver was in Chichester Harbour and the two Snow Buntings remained faithful to their patch of grass on Hayling seafront. A Siberian Chiffchaff was still present on Titchfield Haven while over on Thorney Island (just inside West Sussex), up to 4 Short-eared Owls were showing late afternoon, with 5 there yesterday. The Rare Birds group of Facebook has been inundated with superb photos and film footage of the stunning male Belted Kingfisher at the Brockholes Wetland Trust site along the River Ribble, Lancashire. There is even a photo of the bird close to one of our local Kingfishers! However, on a sadder note, a moribund Brunnich's Guillemot was found at Wells Harbour, North Norfolk. As expected, the bird soon died of exhaustion or malnutrition. Another Brunnich's Guillemot was seen today off St. Agnes Head, Cornwall this morning and a Long-toed Stint had been found at Rockcliffe Marsh, Cumbria.