My midweek update.

Thursday 24th February 2022.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker photographed at Acres Down, New Forest this week. Photo by Jay Bee. 

Well, I really didn't want to take the day off yesterday, but a nagging toothache that kept me up most of the night meant I wasn't going into work that day and luckily for me, I managed to get a midday appointment at my Dentists. However, it took till around 7pm before the pain subsided, but the infection within my gum was going to take a lot longer to go away, so I was in for a grim night's sleep. Fair enough, who wants to hear about my woes, so let's talk about some of the birds I have seen this week.

Common Crossbill in the New Forest. Photo by Andy B Tew.

On Monday, I had a few notable sightings around The Oaks Crematorium area which included a Raven upsetting the local Carrion Crows high over the trees and car park, until disappearing at speed, off to the west. I can only recollect one other sighting of this species here at this site and that was many years ago. Other sightings here included a pair of Mistle Thrushes, seen flying west high over the site on arrival and a single Common Buzzard also made a brief appearance as it drifted over the car park to the east and then out of sight behind the woodland. Building work is still going on at the front entrance of The Oaks, with a lot of brand new properties being built. The new residents are in for a shock on how the wind blows from the south!  

A male Siskin by Graeme Loader.

On Tuesday, my colleague and I had to drive to Grayshott, Surrey, to carry out one of our work duties and driving up the A3, two Red Kites were seen from the road; one near Clanfield and the other in the Liss area as we headed northbound. An adult Mediterranean Gull, still in winter plumage, flew low over Fratton; close to where our branch was and most probably heading towards Portsmouth Harbour. Finally, the last notable sighting for that particular day was when we paid a visit to the village of Whitehill, near Bordon, late in the afternoon and I clocked a Grey Wagtail flying over, calling in doing so. 

This stunning photo of a Short-eared Owl over Thorney Island was taken by Pete Appleton. 

And yet another amazing photo of a male Marsh Harrier over Titchfield Haven by Pete Appleton.

The weather today was just like the song ‘Four seasons in one day’ by Crowded House. Facebook said that Hampshire was in for snow showers and although we never saw any snow around Portsmouth, there was one heavy sleet shower in almost blizzard like conditions! I did see one Common Buzzard over Portsdown Hill, but very little of note today, which was disappointing. I have noticed that some of the ‘Lazee Birders’ have had some nice birds this week which included the Short-eared Owl on Thorney Island and a superb Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Acres Down - hopefully, my destination this Saturday morning. I heard my first Blackbird singing of the year at dawn this morning, singing somewhere at the back of my garden that only goes to prove Spring is now just around the corner.

This gorgeous immature Iceland Gull was photographed by myself exactly ten years ago at Bedhampton Slipway. It spent about a week at this location and I managed to grab quite a few photos of this lovely Gull.

A windy walk with Isabelle.

Sunday 20th February 2022.

Some of the Mute Swans on Canoe Lake.

The strong winds did not abate today, but that did not stop Isabelle and myself going for a walk down to Canoe Lake, Southsea, this morning. I was hoping to take her for a ride on her bike around Highland Road Cemetery, but the Council deemed it necessary to close the Cemetery, probably due to the high winds. So, we walked down to Canoe Lake, with her riding her bike and enjoying getting buffeted about by the strong south-westerly.

An adult Black-headed Gull coming into summer plumage.

A pair of Herring Gulls on the Lake.

I really did not expect to see much here, but one never knows if something interesting might turn up on Canoe Lake. I suppose the most unusual bird would have been the Cormorant sitting on one of the Large Plastic Swans in the centre of the Lake, sharing its abode with a juvenile Herring Gull. The Lake provides a good resting place for Gulls and this morning there was no exception that included around 50+ Black-headed Gulls, 30 Herring Gulls of various ages and just the one Great Black-backed Gull that passed overhead. I thoroughly checked the juvenile Herring Gulls in case there was a Caspian Gull lurking among them. One was on Farlington Marshes briefly yesterday.

The adult Cormorant on the Lake.

A lone Great Black-backed Gull flying overhead.

The Lake is also a magnet for the Mute Swans and I counted 56 of them today, but nothing unusual among them. Near the main road beside the beach, I could just hear a Greenfinch singing over the wind, somewhere deep within the branches of the Conifers. Isabelle thoroughly enjoyed herself riding her bike as I did with being with her. 

The Cormorant being accompanied by a juvenile Herring Gull.

Juvenile and adult Herring Gulls with a few Swans. 

Of interest, the American Robin, Hume’s Leaf Warbler and Hooded Crow are still in the Eastbourne area, which is roughly nearly 3 weeks old now. Maybe the weather is putting them off moving away as another storm is approaching the UK as Storm Franklin is about to touch down!