Another 11 'year-ticks' today.

Saturday 20th January 2024,

One of the Braishfield Waxwings this morning. Having seen the Easton birds at the back end of last year, we had to go and see these birds as soon as possible before they all fly off. I read today that there was even a flock on the Isle of Wight now!

Another full day's birding produced another 11 ‘year-ticks’, all in Hampshire, today, with my trusted friends Andy Fisher and Geoff Farwell. The weather was on the move with much warmer temperatures coming in on Storm Isha over the coming days; but this morning, there was a lot of frost and ice around to keep us wrapped up against the cold and plenty of hot coffee to hand. There were some good birds around as we travelled to four destinations to increase our year list of birds in Hampshire, of which, one was a real welcome surprise.

Above, just some of the photos I took of this delightful pair of Waxwings, which drew an appreciate crowd.

My plan was to go for the long staying Waxwings at Romsey and then a trip to Fishlake Meadows to hopefully pick up a few more year ticks. Negotiating our way through Romsey, we eventually got to the village of Braishfield and parked up opposite King Chase Allotments, where a pair of very much appreciated Waxwings had drawn a small crowd of birders (and toggers!) and onlookers. Apparently, the birds are a 1st winter male and 1st winter female, according to the experts. As we made our way to view the birds, a Grey Wagtail (our first of the year) flew over and a few Redwing also were seen. I had stupidly left my memory card for my camera at home, but thankfully, I had a spare in the back of my car. Phew!!! The Waxwings performed superbly again, showing down to around 20 feet at times, picking off the many berries present on the edge of the allotment. They did fly around a bit, but everyone seemed to be very happy with these birds. This species is a good one to get as these birds only invade the UK once every five or six years. Happy days indeed. Good to have a chat with fellow ‘Lazee’ Pete Appleton here too.

Above and below, this male Goldcrest fluttered about the undergrowth by the Canal Path. It allowed us some very close views of our smallest UK bird.

Above, this Cetti's Warbler finally came out in the open for me to grab a few photos. Normally a very shy bird, very occasionally they come out in the open and thankfully, this bird did the honours. Below, good numbers of Common Buzzards soared over the reserve, including this bird that flew low overhead.

Above, this male Kestrel was seen stooping over the reserve and this Robin sang right by my car in the car park. You cannot beat a nice close Robin in full song.

Next stop was Fishlake Meadows, which was just ten minutes away. The wind had got up a bit when we arrived and the temperatures were most certainly on the increase as our target species were both Water Rail and Cetti’s Warbler of which we were eventually successful. Walking along the Canal Path, a flock of 30+ Siskin flew over and a little later, a flock of Redpoll also flew over. Our first Common Snipe of the year quickly flew north over the reserve, quickly found by Andy and I spotted a distant Great White Egret over the west side of the Reserve along with several Grey Heron and a large flock of Wigeon and Teal. Raptors seen here this morning included at least 8 Common Buzzards, a Red Kite, Sparrowhawk and a male Kestrel. There were plenty of Cetti’s Warblers heard in the reedbeds and along the Canal Path, but it took nearly 30 minutes for us to eventually find one and after that, for they seem to be everywhere. Similar to the Cetti’s, a Water Rail was also eventually seen below the Canal Path searching for food on a small pool, though it proved difficult to photograph with all the branches in the way. Many more were heard on our walk, but only the one sighting today. A Kingfisher kindly climbed aboard our year list too, a dashing bird heading fast low north over the reserve close by and Andy found our first Chiffchaff of the year flitting about in the vegetation by the Canal path. Andy then received a text to say that a drake Ferruginous Duck was showing well on Posbrook Floods with Tufted Ducks (probably the same bird seen off Oxey Marshes earlier in the week). I have not seen this species for several years with the last being on Kingfisher Lake, Blashford. So off we went to see the bird.

Above, one of the pair of Stonechats seen as we walked down the Canal Path near Titchfield. Below, some ropey photos I took of the drake Ferruginous Duck.

Above, some film footage I took of the drake Ferruginous Duck on Posbrook Floods this afternoon.

I would've guessed the car park would be full by Bridge Street, Titchfield; and so we had to carefully park up on the street itself. Making our way down the path, we bumped into Dave Wallace who kindly told us that the Ferruginous Duck was still present with the Tufties. Great stuff. A pair of Stonechats were seen by a trough in the field adjacent to the path as we soon joined a good number of other ‘Lazee's' and ‘toggers’ (bird photographers) searching for the Duck. Apart from a few false claims of the bird showing (female Tufties!), the drake Ferruginous Duck showed very well out in the open (see video and photos) and one could get to see all the distinguishing features of the bird that included its slightly smaller size, chestnut colouring and the white vent under the tail. I even managed to ‘christen’ my mobile phone adapter on my scope to grab some nice film footage of the bird. While watching the duck, Andy spotted our first Black-tailed Godwit of the year flying south over Posbrook Floods. Having failed to find any on Farlington Marshes on New Year's Day, we finally caught up with this wader and comfortably climbed onboard our year list. Several Common Snipe flew in and flew off the Floods to keep us entertained and after a good chat with Andy Friend and other ‘Lazee’s’, we decided to join some of the ‘Lazee’s’ in viewing the Glossy Ibis and possible Water Pipit on Bridge Street Floods to the north.

Above and below, the Glossy Ibis on the Bridge Street Floods.

Above, both Geoff and I gave walking through this flooded path in just walking boots a miss, unlike our Superman, Andy! The Water Pipit was seen using my scope; the bird was by the far pool in the distance. Below, some of the 'Lazee's' with Andy making their way to the Siberian Chiffchaff that was showing in the nearby Churchyard. 

Above, more photos of the showy Glossy Ibis.

Above, film footage of the Glossy Ibis at the Bridge Street Floods, north of the road.

The footpath on the opposite side of Bridge Street was very much flooded and only those with Wellington Boots dared to venture further north. However, Andy was undeterred after we enjoyed prolonged close views of the three Glossy Ibis, and proceeded to join the others for a view of the Water Pipit that was feeding on the short grass within the flooded field. He risked getting a boot full of water as Geoff and myself stayed behind and setting up my scope overlooking the field to the north, I eventually picked up the Water Pipit and added it to my year list. Other birds present here included a couple of Common Snipe, several Teal, both Pied and Grey Wagtails and at least three Redwing in the trees nearby. Geoff found a Chiffchaff flitting about in the garden vegetation behind us, which rounded off a good trip here.

Above, this colourful male Pheasant hot footing it across a nearby field by the Church and below, Redwing were flying in to roost in the trees.

One of several Fieldfare seen on their way to roost late afternoon by the Church.

It was now 2.30pm and I decided to round off our day with a trip to South Boarhunt. Parking up within the car park at St. Nicholas Church, overlooking the farm to the south. This is where I saw my Little Owl last year and so waited up to 4pm for the bird to show. Sadly, it wasn't to be, but we did see a variety of other birds to keep us entertained. Good numbers of both Fieldfare and Redwing flew over and most were heading in to roost in trees by the Church, while a few Goldcrest and Long-tailed Tits were seen flitting about the hedgerows. Several Red-legged Partridges were seen walking around the Barns and out in the fields with Pheasants and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew high over the fields. So the day ended on 124 species for the year so far for myself, while Andy is now on 126 species and with many more potential winter species to be seen, I am looking forward to next Saturday.