A Midweek Update.

Wednesday 19th January 2022.

The Glossy Ibis going into roost at the Owl Point bushes by Pagham Harbour. Photo by Sarah Russell.

It's midweek already and thankfully, I have seen some nice birds over the last few days to add to my blog, though no photos I’m afraid. I would look somewhat dodgy in my line of work carrying a camera with me! The weather has been playing tricks again this week with icy cold mornings then leveling out to be quite mild, which included a rain shower today! Crazy stuff. Monday was a quiet day for me personally, but there was exciting news when a tailless Richard’s Pipit was found just north of  Basingstoke at a place called Wildmoor. Though it was seen briefly the following morning, the bird simply disappeared. Personally, I hardly saw anything of note, but at least it did liven up on Tuesday.

A female Great Spotted Woodpecker sharing a seed feeder with a Goldfinch. Photo by Dave Levy. 

The drive over Portsdown Hill produced three species of Raptor that included a pair of Kestrels, two separate Common Buzzards (one of the Kestrels dive-bombed one of the Buzzards that was perched on the wire fence) and best of all, a Red Kite that was sailing fairly low over the Hill near Fort Southwick. A large flock of Fieldfare took off from the fields near Skew Lane and headed off north, with at least 30+ birds within the flock (my first flock of Fieldfare for the year). A Stonechat was briefly seen perched on a weed stem just north of the road and finally, a pair of Red-legged Partridges were seen in the field west of Downend Road. Not bad seeing all these birds were seen on one drive over Portsdown Hill.

Siberian Chiffchaff at Hams Hall, Warwickshire. This species (currently sub-species of Chiffchaff, but that could change soon) has been identified in many areas this Winter. I did see the Titchfield Haven bird last month and they really are a cold, pale looking bird. Photo by Dave Hutton.

Today was much quieter but I did see a superb male Sparrowhawk fly down from tree branches opposite Chichester Crematorium and land on the ground. It then flew up and flew from branch to branch as it climbed the tree until flying off. Amazing how all the other smaller birds suddenly go very quiet! A little while later, a Goldcrest flew across the trees and disappeared out of view; only my second sighting of this species this year.  

An African Emperor Moth. This photo was taken by a friend of mine, Alta, who lives in South Africa and now and then, will send me photos of the wildlife there. Photo by Alta. 

A Ring-billed Gull has returned to the roost on Ibsley Water, Blashford Lakes once again, hopefully spending the rest of the winter here in the roost. There were quite a few sightings of Glossy Ibis in both Hampshire and West Sussex today and yesterday. The Velvet Scoters are still off Hill Head and Andy Johnson had the ringtail Hen-harrier again heading towards Thorney Island and a Marsh Harrier also. Yesterday, a Wheatear was seen at Southampton Western Docks. Was this the same bird seen at Lee on Solent last week? Good to see the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was heard ‘drumming’ in Mark Ash Wood, so I might pay a visit there soon.