Red-necked Grebes & Whoopers in Hampshire.

Thursday 28th November 2024.

While walking the dogs at 7am this morning, I couldn't resist taking a photo of the dawn over Highland Road Cemetery.

Personally, it has been an extremely difficult week of which birding and the like has taken second choice. Currently, I have a poisoned finger, which typing my blog up proved very difficult; but I felt with all the sightings this week locally in Hampshire, I thought it was time to update the blog. The weather has been all over the place this week and even this morning, it was an icy start to the day after all the rain we have had. The flooding in the UK has been horrendous, but we have had it not as bad here down in Southsea.

The Red-necked Grebe off Hill Head. Photo by Christine Whiffen.

One species I have not seen for a few years now is the Red-necked Grebe and there have been three birds seen locally including one off Weston, Southampton and another off Hill Head. Then another was found off Black Point, Hayling Island! The question is, will any be still around by the weekend? So, while everyone was looking for one of these birds, Jason Crook found a flock of five Whooper Swans on the mudflats in Langstone Harbour but eventually flew off westbound at 3.46pm.

Above, the herd of Whooper Swans in Langstone Harbour this afternoon. Photo by Jason Crook. Below, one of the birds heading west. Photo by Ollie Crabbe.

It has been rather quiet here at Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth; though I think the weather has a lot to do with that. I managed to get up to 13 species seen or heard this morning with the Jay being the most notable bird again.

A 'Blast from the past'. This Spotted Sandpiper was at Lower Brook, Romsey, 15 years ago this very week.