Two more species added to my year list.

Saturday 3rd December 2022.

The Ruddy Shelduck (centre) flanked by two Egyptian Geese on Ibsley Water.

Our target bird today was the Water Pipit at Blashford Lakes, but it was not to be. This bird (seen yesterday in front of the Tern Hide) would have been another good ‘year-tick’ and with Andy hovering near the 200 species for the year mark, I thought it would be a good bet. However, there was no sign of the bird in front of the Tern Hide during our time there, but I was nicely surprised with two new ‘year-ticks’ to add to my year list. The weather was overcast and very cold, with that north-easterly biting into your face through the Tern Hide window. At least it was dry throughout the day and we were well wrapped up to fight off the cold.

Above, a female Tufted Duck swimming close to the Tern Hide as was this Great Crested Grebe (below).

Our first stop was the Tern Hide and on the way there, we had sightings of both Mistle Thrush and a Red Kite to whet the appetite. On reaching the Hide, there was just the one birder present, as I set up my scope, overlooking Ibsley Water looking north. There were good numbers of wildfowl present that included Wigeon, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Pintail, Pochard and Teal while there were smaller numbers of Goldeneye (including 2 drakes and 3 females) and 3 Goosander (2 females and a drake). Around 11 Egyptian Geese were counted over on the west side of the islands, though the only wader I could find was a single Lapwing!

Above, Goosanders and Wigeon on the west side of Ibsley Water and below, this female Pied Wagtail was seen with its mate right in front of the Tern Hide.

Andy spotted a large raptor flying low over the water which turned out to be a superb male Marsh Harrier. Sadly, it was flying away from us as it flew off north, though with its talons hanging down, I was wondering if it was on the hunt to pick off one of the Coots? It certainly was getting cold with that window open, but we didn't have a choice if we were to view the area properly. The windows over on the side of the Hide are completely useless and I cannot fathom why anyone would design something that simply is a waste of time.

Above, a gaggle of Egyptian Geese on one of the islands and below, the male Marsh Harrier getting ready to attack?

The Black Swan at the northern end of Ibsley Water.

After about an hour or so, we headed off to the Garage nearby for refreshments and then made our way back to the Reserve Centre. From here, we checked the Centre for any moths that were attracted to the night lights, but found none and so made our way to the Woodland Hide. There was a variety of woodland birds present that were feeding on the feeders. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was busy feeding on one of the feeders along with a Nuthatch. Siskins could be heard in the nearby trees and thankfully, some came down to the feeders along with the Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit and even a Robin popped on there briefly. Up to 5 Dunnocks were feeding on the ground below, sharing the area with a Wood Mouse!

The fungus Stereum rameale, a species of Crust fungus growing along the footpath on the way to the Woodland Hide. Below, Sulphur Tuft toadstools growing along the same footpath.

Our next stop was Ivy South Hide and on the way there, I spotted a Kingfisher briefly fishing over on the small lake opposite the Hide and a Water Rail was heard calling deep within the reedbed there. Amazingly, a pair of Robins, both sporting rings on one of their legs, sat just a few feet away from us. Andy still had some crumbs left from a Flapjack and offered them to the birds as he held out his hand. One was braver than the other and hopped onto his hand to retrieve the crumbs. He told me that even his own Budgie at home would not do that!

Above, the Great Spotted Woodpecker in front of the Woodland Hide as was this Nuthatch (below).

Above, Siskin came down to feed in front of the window and below, even a few Chaffinches popped in.

From the Hide, most of the wildfowl present were Wigeon, though there were a few Tufted Duck and Mallard among them. A pair of Great White Egrets were seen flying around the lake and one eventually landed on one of the nearby trees. The other bird soon flew past and both birds then flew off. I picked out my third raptor of the day, a Common Buzzard, sailing low over the woods in the distance and on exit of the Hide, a male Sparrowhawk belted through the trees, upsetting the local Long-tailed Tits that gave off their alarm calls. My third raptor of the day! We made our way back to the car, enjoying more views of Siskins flying overhead and so made our way back to the Tern Hide again for another try for the elusive Water Pipit.

Above, the beautiful Great White Egret perched in a tree from Ivy South Hide and below, 'Man and Bird at one with nature'. Enough said!

This one of a pair of Robins enjoying the crumbs off Andy's hand.

Again, on entry, there was only one birder present as we set up a scope and checked out the water and shoreline in front of us. After watching a large skein of Geese arrive and land on the water, which were mostly Canada Geese, I found a Black Swan swimming at the northern end of the Lake. One day soon, I am sure this species will be added to the British list, for they do breed in the wild now. To the west of the Lake, there was a good number of GreyLag Geese and whilst checking them, I found our first Ruddy Shelduck of the year, swimming between two Egyptian Geese.

Above, one of the two Great White Egrets flying over in front of the Ivy South Hide. Below, the Great Spotted Woodpecker in front of the Woodland Hide.

That was totally unexpected as the bird swam westbound across the water. After letting Andy look through the scope at the bird, I soon lost sight of the bird and so carried on going through the birds on the islands. Here, I found my second ‘year-tick’ literally minutes after the Ruddy Shelduck. Two Barnacle Geese came into view from behind one of the islands as I quickly put Andy onto the birds. I had not seen any this year and although Andy had the ‘plastic’ bird that was on Farlington Marshes earlier this year, whether to say that these were not feral birds is anyone’s guess; but I am more than happy to claim them as wild birds.

One of the Ponds behind the Centre which acts as an Educational workshop for Schools.

Also present here was the female Red-crested Pochard, which was feeding at the northern end of the Lake, which has been present throughout the year here. Again, a genuinely wild bird is always a doubt; but that's the risk one takes with a lot of exotic wildfowl that is kept in captivity. Other birds of note seen in this area of Blashford Lakes were the Yellow-legged Gulls. Before we left, the Gulls were now increasing in numbers that included Herring, Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed and the one Great Black-backed Gull. It is always worth checking through the Gulls for something a bit more rare and I eventually came across first a 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull and then a full adult among the other Gulls on one of the islands. 

Above, Blue Tits and even a Robin (below) would come down to feed in front of the Woodland Hide.

The Lapwing numbers now rose to around 40+ birds, which were a bit jittery to say the least, as they flew from island to island. To round off the trip here, a Grey Wagtail flew across in front of us and landed on the shoreline further north to finish a very good trip here. Yes, Winter is back with a vengeance and damn cold in the wind today, but along come all those Winter specialties with it. 

Above, Andy in the Woodland Hide and below, one of five Dunnocks outside the same Hide.

Driving from Fordingbridge to Cadnam, though we were hoping for a Hen-harrier flying over the heath from the roadside, but we had to make do with Raven flying low over the woodland and then out of view. It seems that a lot of the ‘Lazee’s’ had turned up at a site for Hen-harriers and were rewarded with a gorgeous male and a female bird along with a Merlin present too. Well done guys. After dropping Andy off home, after seeing at least 4 Common Buzzards along the M27, I saw my fifth raptor of the day; a male Kestrel hovering by Milton Lakes from the Eastern Road in Portsmouth. Andy is now on 199 species for the year and hopefully, he might get the Long-tailed Duck from Southmoor tomorrow to get to the magic 200 for the year. We shall see!  

Long-tailed Duck again off Southmoor.

Friday 2nd December 2022.

Three Great Crested Grebes along with the Long-tailed Duck (top bird) in the channel in front of Long Island, Langstone Harbour. 

I had a couple of hours around the Southmoor and Broadmarsh Car Parks this morning I came up trumps with reasonable views of the elusive immature/female Long-tailed Duck and an added bonus of a Light-bellied Brent Goose off Broadmarsh. The weather was good again with very little wind, bright and sunny, though cold with temperatures hovering around the 8 degree mark.

The bird eventually latched onto a flock of Goldeneye. This photo shows a pair of female Goldeneye with the Long-tailed Duck. 

On arrival, I noticed a couple of birders already scanning the harbour through their telescope and so after parking, I made my way adjacent to them, but keeping a respectful distance. The tide was out within the harbour, but it didn't take me long to pick out a female Goosander fishing along the shoreline, which was a good start to the trip. Viewing the stretch of water in front of Long Island, I could pick out at least a dozen Great Crested Grebes as well as a small flock of 4 Little Grebes. Red-breasted Mergansers were a lot further out within the harbour, though a small flock of four Goldeneye were much closer.

Another photo of the Long-tailed Duck with the Great Crested Grebes. This bird must have been a third if a mile away and always remained. 

The Goldeneye, three females and a drake, were busy fishing close to Long Island and that's when I came across the Long-tailed Duck. I thought I would do my ‘good deed for the day’ and so walked over to the other birders and told them where to look for the Long-tailed Duck, of which they were most grateful.  The ‘LTD’ was always distant and so forgive me with my rather poor photos, but I was lucky as the bird was again fishing and diving frequently. The bird fished with the Goldeneye and so one didn't have to look too far away.

A small group of Pintail off Broadmarsh Car Park.

Other birds noted included a Sandwich Tern that was first seen perched on a buoy within the harbour and after a while, began fishing. I could even hear it calling at times and wondered if there was a second bird around. Greenshank were calling all around and a pair flew high over my head having come off Budds Farm perhaps? Looking through the scope, the mudflats were actually teeming with bird life, with good numbers of both waders and wildfowl. Another birder, with his partner, came over to me and asked if I had seen anything of note. I pointed out the Long-tailed Duck, which he had seen earlier and he kindly told me that he saw a Light-bellied Brent Goose off Broadmarsh Car Park. I scanned the area through my scope and though distant, with my bionic eyes, I picked it out among the forty or so Brent present. 

Some obliging Redshank feeding off Broadmarsh Car Park.

I really fancied a closer look and so called it a day here and headed off to Broadmarsh and hopefully grab a photo or two of the bird. However, when I arrived, something had flushed all the Geese and wildfowl that were there as I watched them fly east along the shoreline and distantly settle on the shoreline with the sun behind them. Bugger! There were five Brent still present as well as a small party of Pintail and three close Redshank to take photos of instead and so I made my way back home.

Yet again, the Grey Phalarope is still entertaining the crowds at Farlington Marshes along with the Black Brant and Russian White-fronted Geese. Apparently, one of the Short-eared Owls DID pop out late yesterday afternoon in the Point field area after all!    

Southsea Castle & Highland Road Cemetery.

Thursday 1st December 2022

The only Purple Sandpiper showing on the rocks this morning although I am sure the others were not too far away.

I had some time off this morning and seeing it was a bright sunny morning, I thought I would try my luck with the Purple Sandpipers off Southsea Castle early this morning. OK, it wasn't that early, but it was 10am when I arrived in the large car park behind the D-Day Museum. It is now officially Winter as the temperatures have really dropped recently and last night it went down to near freezing and was only about 4 degrees in my garden first thing today. I made sure I was well wrapped up against the cold, but it wasn't really too bad with a very light north-easterly. 

Above, there were just a couple of Robins seen and heard in the Cemetery this morning and below, the female Green Woodpecker was seen well feeding on a probable ants nest by a grave.

I made my way to the top by the east side of the Castle and viewed the newly laid rock formation below. Despite a lengthy search, I could only find just one roosting bird on the rocks, though ten birds were reported here yesterday. There was no sign of the Grey Phalarope reported here on Monday either and the only other birds of note I could see out on the Solent were at least three distant Cormorants making their way out of the Portsmouth Harbour entrance on a very calm rising tide. There was no sign of any Black Redstarts around the Castle or Bandstand area, though I did hear a Rock Pipit calling, but not seen.

She certainly showed well this morning. but always on alert. 

Seeing it was a lovely morning, I parked the car just outside Highland Road Cemetery and then took a walk around my ‘local patch’. I notched up a reasonably good species total this morning with the Green Woodpecker showing well again; a female bird this time among the 19 species recorded. Two pairs of Collared Doves were seen high up in the Horse Chestnuts on the south side of the Cemetery; for they have been scarce here of late, though I am sure their numbers will build up as Winter progresses. 

Above, Collared Doves look to be returning to the Cemetery and below, a male Blackbird perched on a gravestone. Their numbers are also increasing. A pair have been in my garden often recently.

The species seen or heard within the Cemetery this morning included the following:

• Great Black-backed Gull
• Herring Gull
• House Sparrow
• Starling
• Robin
• Wren
• Great Tit
• Blue Tit
• Goldcrest
• Feral Pigeon
• Wood Pigeon 
• Collared Dove
• Carrion Crow
• Jay
• Magpie
• Greenfinch
• Goldfinch
• Blackbird
• Green Woodpecker

A Common Wasp enjoying the early morning sunshine in the Cemetery.

I was surprised to see quite a few insects still on the wing and one particular area over on the south -east side of the Cemetery, by the main footpath, a couple of large Ivy Plants held not only good numbers of House Flies resting on their leaves in the sunshine, but also a couple of species of Hoverfly: a male Marmalade Hoverfly and also a female Syrphus species. Sharing the same Ivy plant was a Common Wasp and also a Common Yellow Dung Fly! All making the most of the bright sunshine.

There were a few insects still on the wing over the Cemetery. From top to bottom: a female 'Syrphus' Hoverfly species; Marmalade Hoverfly and a Common Yellow Dung-fly.

Just the usual plants on show this morning that included Smooth Sow-thistle, Yarrow, a few Daisies and Common Field-speedwell. I did find, however, some Honeysuckle still in flower that was growing on graves over on the south-east corner of the main footpath! Just goes to show that Global Warming is seriously affecting plants as well as other natural fauna. Of course, another lovely morning’s walk around one of my favourite parts of Southsea. 

Above, three Blackbirds (two females and a male) searching for food by upturning the leaves in the north end of the Cemy. Below, I discovered that the local Goldfinches are attracted to the seeds from the Buddleia.

Of interest, the Grey Phalarope I saw on Monday is still present in exactly the same place on Farlington Marshes and yesterday’s family of Russian White-fronted Geese are still on Farlington Marshes still, in the Hayfield on the north-east corner of the reserve. A pair of Short-eared Owls have taken up residence in the Point Field on the same reserve yesterday and would not be surprised if they show well late this afternoon.

Above, good to see Honeysuckle growing in the Cemy, especially this late in the year. Below. this tall Holly Tree in the northern end of the Cemy, is sporting a good crop of berries this year. Harsh Winter coming up or simply very bird friendly?

Apparently, the Short-eared Owls did not perform for the crowd at Farlington Marshes this afternoon, frustrating the birders hoping to grab some decent photos in the near perfect, but cold conditions. The Grey Phalarope was still there on the same pools at the back of the Deeps and I was pleased to hear that Andy Tew got to see it along with the Black Brant and the Russian White-fronted Geese (see photos of the Geese). Fellow ‘Lazee Birder’ Garry Fennemore saw both the Great Northern Diver and the 3 Black-necked Grebes off Hayling Oyster Beds this afternoon and it's good to see someone checking the birds on Paulsgrove Lake, a well under-watched area and yielded a few nice birds including Greenshank, Goldeneye and good numbers of both Great Crested Grebe and Mergansers. 

Above, one of the Russian White-fronted Geese and below, the Black Brant. Both were on Farlington Marshes today. Photos by Andy Tew.

Above, this totally unexpected micro moth in my kitchen this evening is Psychoides filicivora. My first moth for December and I really don't expect to see many either. My moth box is probably going to hibernate for the Winter as I have had a couple of blank nights recently.

Grey Phalarope on Farlington Marshes.

Tuesday 29th November 2022.

Always distant on the Deeps, the Grey Phalarope entertained a small appreciative crowd this morning.

With yesterday's discovery of a Grey Phalarope on the Deeps at Farlington Marshes and a certain Mr Fisher going down to ‘year-tick’ the bird, I was most certainly not going to be ‘gripped off’ by that Oyk! He even took down his telescope to view the bird, something I have not even seen this year! So, when the message went out by Ollie Crabbe that he had not only found a Short-eared Owl in the Point Field in the early hours of daylight this morning on Farlington Marshes, but also the rediscovery of the Grey Phalarope; I had to go for it.

Above, looking pretty bleak over on the east side of Langstone Harbour and a bit chilly too. Below, a male Blackbird was one of several thrush species around this morning.

I managed to park up close to the main gate (not easy nowadays!) and make my way along the Cycle track at the back of the reserve to rejoin the normal path leading to the eastern seawall. Several Goldcrest were noted along the Cycle Path, some showing very close as well. I said ‘Good morning’ to the Hampshire Wildlife Trusts Volunteers as I passed them by the Information Building and carried on towards the seawall, enjoying large flocks of Brent Geese in the neighbouring fields and sightings of Moorhen, Robin and a few Song Thrushes that flew out of the adjacent bushes.

The Grey Phalarope on the back of the Deeps.

It was low tide within Langstone Harbour and as I neared the Deeps area, along came both Simon and Ollie Crabbe (both fellow ‘Lazee Birders’), who joined me in searching for the Phalarope. The bird was nowhere to be seen first of all and when Jason Crook joined us, he and Ollie moved further back to get a better view of the pools at the far end of the Deeps. Then the shout went up that they had the Grey Phalarope in their sights and so joining them, one Grey Phalarope hopped on board my year list. Happy days! 

More photos of the star bird this morning.

Though distant at all times, the bird showed fairly well during the time I was there, though could disappear sometimes behind a small island or inlet, but for the birders arriving, they were quickly put on the bird to keep the smiley faces constant. Photographing the bird was always going to be a challenge due to distance and murky conditions again, but I did get a few shots off and a bit of film footage of the bird. Incredibly, another Grey Phalarope had turned up in front of Southsea Castle on the foreshore and was showing quite close apparently. A Razorbill and a Little Gull were also further east along the beach.

Above, the male Dartford Warbler by the Deeps and below, the female Marsh Harrier flying over the Point Field. 

Having a good chat with Jason, other birds noted during our time there included a female Marsh Harrier that drifted over the Point Field, putting up a lot of the Brent Geese and wildfowl and then flying off over the harbour towards the islands. Ollie picked out a female Peregrine in the fields (see photo) perched on an Ant hill and a Kestrel was hovering further south over the Deeps. A male Sparrowhawk flew in front of us and headed low over the fields heading north and a bit later during the morning, I clocked a Common Buzzard hunting low over the reedbeds near the Lake area! A rather good raptor morning I think!

Above, the female Peregrine out in the fields which was found by Ollie. Below, I found a Haresfoot Toadstool along the seawall while looking for the Black Brant.

Also by the Deeps, while we were watching the Phalarope, a male Dartford Warbler paid a surprise visit right in front of us, skulking in the brambles below where we stood (see photo). Jason believes that possibly four birds are on the reserve at present, which is a very good number for this place. I picked out a flock of 12 Skylarks flying low east over the Deeps and all headed off towards the islands.

Above, Simon (left) and Ollie heading off along the north-east corner. Below, a Kingfisher photographed by Ollie earlier today.

Jason had earlier seen the Long-tailed Duck and 2 female Goosanders from Broadmarsh this morning on his way to Farlington Marshes and on entering the reserve via the north-east entrance, he found the Black Brant among the Brent Geese in the Hayfields. That was a bird I wanted to see and so myself, Ollie and Simon said Cheerio and made our way to this destination. Sadly, despite a lengthy search for the Black Brant among the Brent Geese, I could not locate the bird and so assumed it might have flown off. Never mind, I can't win them all. As I was just about to get in the car, a male Goldcrest showed incredibly well in scrub opposite where my car was parked, despite the din of the passing traffic on the A3M! A nice morning birding.

 The Grey Phalarope on the Deeps at Farlington Marshes this morning.