Shorelark found at Hurst Castle.

Sunday 22nd January 2023.

Today's Shorelark by Hurst Castle. Photo by Pete Appleton. 

Though I didn't officially go birding today, Becky and I had to drop off our family down to Lee-on-Solent this morning for one little girl’s Birthday party. On the way back, I asked to take a drive along the top of Portsdown Hill to make our way to Stansted Garden Centre, near Havant, and look out for any Red-legged Partridges in the neighbouring arable fields. The road along the top of Portsdown Hill was a reliable site for these birds last year, but there were none to be seen today.

Hawfinch at Mercer Way, Romsey. I used to regularly add these to my year list at this site year after year. I now normally see them around the car park by Bolderwood in the New Forest. Photo by Graeme Loader.

Yet again, a very cold night turned into a bright sunny cloudless day, although the temperature still remained into single digits. Two superb Red Kites flew over the Hill, with one individual sailing low over our car as we made our way eastbound. Three Common Buzzards were seen earlier today along the M27 and a male Kestrel was also seen perched on some bushes on Portsdown Hill. Always a good raptor spot here on Portsdown Hill.

Another photo of the Hawfinch at Mercer Way. Photo by Graeme Loader.

I had a nice afternoon with my wife this afternoon and a cracking lunch within the Garden Centre and watched some of the bird sightings coming in on my mobile via the ‘Lazee’s’ and Bird Guides. A Shorelark had been found today at Hurst Castle which sent the ’toggers’ and some of the ‘Lazee’s’ scurrying westbound for a very good Hants ‘tick’. Becky and I drove down the Eastern Road on the way home and looking east, I could already see a large gathering of Birders and Photographers gathering around the Point Field at Farlington Marshes, waiting for the Short-eared Owls to show. Fortunately for them, they did with two birds performing to the crowds, while on the same reserve, there was the Geese trio of Russian White-fronted Geese, Black Brant and the Pale-bellied Brent Goose.

A superb Lesser Redpoll at Fishlake Meadows, Romsey. Photo by Graeme Loader.

The 4 Glossy Ibis were seen again from the Canal Path, Titchfield and the Great Grey Shrike was seen again at Bishops Dyke, New Forest. There was a very showy Bittern on Ibsley Water, Blashford Lakes today along with a Black-necked Grebe. I wonder what rare Gulls were in the roost there tonight?