Tree Sparrow at Chilling Barns.

Sunday 15th January 2023.

This Chiffchaff was in the car park at Chilling Barns.

It was back birding with Andy this morning and the long staying Tree Sparrow was our target today. ‘Lazee Birder’ Graeme Loader had seen the bird yesterday and took some damn good photographs of the male bird and grabbing some important info off him on exactly where to look for the bird, was most helpful this morning. Thankfully, the weather was on our side with plenty of sun in a bright blue sky, though there was quite a blustery west wind blowing to keep the temperature cool.

The preening male Tree Sparrow at Chilling Barns this morning.

I have never been to the small car park by Chilling Barns and negotiating the deep water filled potholes was challenging, especially for my new car I have recently purchased. Nevertheless, I negotiated the poor bit of road, parked up and then we were on our way in search of the rare Spadger! On our way there, I was finally blessed with my first Great Spotted Woodpecker of the year with a male bird flying in front of us along the road and then perching up on a roadside tree. Thank you very much for my first ‘year-tick’ of the day. Incidentally, Andy tells me that I am second in the Hampshire ‘year-listing’ with 113 species for the year and with the Woodpecker, I was now on 114. By the car park, I found a Chiffchaff flitting about the trees and a female Goldcrest was along the footpath showing well.

Not the sharpest photo of the male Tree Sparrow

We now had to find the fallen tree where the Tree Sparrow resided with the regular House Sparrows and on rounding a small copse by an arable field, a large flock of Linnets, probably around 60+ birds, was flying around the fields; our first Linnets of the year! We were nearly back by the car park and Andy picked up some House Sparrows perched by some brambles next to the same field. One most certainly looked good for Tree Sparrow, but we had to get nearer to make sure and thankfully, it paid off. However, it could have all gone south when a female Sparrowhawk flew low over, consequently scattering all the passerines around including at least a dozen Pied Wagtails and 6 Chaffinches that were also in the area. 

A much better photo of the male Tree Sparrow. Photo by Graeme Loader.

As we moved further in the field but nearer to the Sparrow, we then got a great view of the bird and yes, we had our first Tree Sparrow of the year. This was Andy’s since the 1980’s and my first in Hampshire since then too. I was fortunate to see a good number of them last year at Welney WWT on the bird feeders, so to see this species two years running is exceptional for me. Long gone are the days when Tree Sparrows used to reside in Hampshire, sadly. We were joined by fellow ‘Lazee’s’ Andrew and Michaela Dickety as I quickly pointed out where to look for the birds. He told us that they had already had a superb day, starting off with Southmoor for the Sabine’s Gull and Barn Owl, then for the Tree Sparrow and later that morning, the Glossy Ibis at Posbrook Floods. Apparently, I have since found out the Tree Sparrow was sporting a ring number of PF82959 and was ringed as a chick at Marlborough Downs, near Hungerford.

Brent Geese off Gilkicker this morning.

We eventually made our way gingerly back to the car, due to the extremely muddy field, but safely made it back to the car. Our next port of call was to be Gilkicker for a sea-watch and hopefully add to our year list. Yesterday, a Little Auk and Fulmar were seen off Hill Head and so a sea-watch in these winds could be promising.

Andy's first time at Gilkicker this morning.

After paying the car park fee, we made our way to the shelter at Gilkicker overlooking the Solent and although we had to contend with all the public passing by, we did see a few notable sightings. Andy, thankfully, had a flask of hot coffee and I had a couple of Wisper Chocolate Bars to go with the hot drink. Now for some birding here for the next few hours. Though we had no new birds to add to our year list, again there were some birds going through. Several small flocks of Brent Geese were seen, all heading west, while out in the Solent, I think we had at least 10+ Kittiwakes going through; again, most going through heading west. A lone Mediterranean Gull flew east along the beach. I was really hoping for a Common Scoter or an Eider, but made do with a pair of Mergansers flying west. Andy picked up a Sandwich Tern also heading west through his binoculars though I was quickly on to it with the scope.

The male Tree Sparrow this morning at Chilling Barns.

A few Auks went through off Hill Head yesterday, but today, at least 5 Auk species headed west, all singles, but all too distant to get an ID. Finally, a lone Great Crested Grebe also headed west low over the sea and not too far out. Becky wanted me home early today and so we left around 11.15am, but not before making our way along the top of Portsdown Hill for an outside chance of a Red-legged Partridge in one of the arable fields. Nope. No sign of any and so we made our way home. Not a bad morning and to get the Tree Sparrow was a big bonus.