A sprinkling of snow in Hampshire.

Monday 29th November 2021.

A wintry scene over The Oaks Crematorium this morning with a sprinkling of the white stuff!

A bitterly cold day today where the temperature rarely climbed above 3 degrees, but at least it was bright and sunny. There was a dusting of snow throughout Hampshire overnight and as far south as Havant, where The Oaks Crematorium was a scene of a snowy picture postcard. Mind you, I didn't relish scraping the thick ice off my windscreen this morning at 7.15am!

Though it might be attractive to look at, the wildlife most certainly don't take too kindly to it. Over The Oaks Crematorium this morning, flocks of Redwing were on the move overhead, with many pouring out from the cover of the trees nearby, with the occasional Mistle Thrush among them. The small feeding station in front of the Chapel window held at least 4 Coal Tits and a showy Robin, busy enjoying the rich food of peanuts and seed to help them through this cold snap. 

The feeding station at The Oaks Crematorium. The staff here regularly top up the feeders, attracting plenty of Titmice and Woodpeckers.

I was back there again early afternoon and sightings included more flocks of Redwing, but over the rear  side of the Crematorium, I saw the Green Woodpecker fly over the field and land in a tree on the outskirts of the woodland. A pair of Pied Wagtails flew off the roof of the building and proceeded to feed on the grass, now that the light covering of snow had melted.

While travelling to and from Hayling Island this morning, a Grey Heron flew low over the road and in the bright sunshine, I could see every little detail of the bird as it headed east over the A3023. Crossing the Hayling Bridge, I could see at least 20 Shelduck among the Brent Geese on the shoreline, while a good number of both Dunlin and Redshank were feeding on the exposed mud. Not a bad observation seeing i am doing 30mph along the road. Finally, the usual Common Buzzard was seen perched on a lamp post along the M275 as I was leaving Portsmouth.

A small sprinkling of snow on the ornamental plants at the Crematorium.

Birding pal, Geoff Farwell, had texted me to say that he went birding at the East Meon / Coombe area and notched up the following: Little Owl, 2 Tawny Owls heard, 3 Red Kites, 4 Common Buzzards, Raven, 2 Stonechat, 12 Fieldfare and 25 House Sparrows. Of interest, Ross’s Goose has now been added to the BOU British list and has now put my UK Life list at 432 species after the bird I saw many years ago in North Norfolk. In Hampshire today, an adult Whooper Swan was on Ripley Farm Reservoir, on the Hampshire/Dorset border; which is a scarce bird in Hampshire.