Don't let the rain put you off!

Friday 9th February 2024.

A very wet start to my walk around my local patch this morning.

It was dry when I left my house this morning to take the dogs for their morning walk around Highland Road Cemetery, but as soon as I entered the grounds, the heavens opened! Wonderful! The forecast today is rain showers with a breezy south-westerly wind and I think I caught most of those showers during the hour I was within the Cemetery. Never mind, as there were at least 17 species of birds on show today and more Daffodils were out in bloom; reminding me that Spring and migrants are just around the corner. However, there is still a lot of birding to do and with my forthcoming trip to Norfolk tomorrow, I am hoping to mop up some of the more scarcer winter species.

Above, at least 7 Collared Doves in the Conifer this morning along with a few Wood Pigeons. Below, this Wood Pigeon, which was feeding on the Ivy berries, popped its head out right by the main footpath. 

It was back to the common stuff within the Cemetery and what better than watching a Robin sing just feet away from where you are standing. So I took some film footage of the bird through my camera (see below), one of several birds in full song this morning, despite the rain lashing down. Blackbirds seemed to be all over the place including a few birds, again, perching on gravestones just a few feet from the main footpath.

It is simply a pleasure just to stand and listen to a Robin singing when you are just a few feet away from the bird.

The Green Woodpecker was first heard and then seen in the tall Horse Chestnut trees to the south of the Mausoleum and I managed to get a record photo of the bird perched on the bough of the tree and a pair of Jays were seen flying north over the Cemetery until disappearing into vegetation. The rain did not let up and so I made a hasty retreat back home to dry off. I have a busy day today getting everything ready for tomorrow's long drive, but I am so looking forward to it.

Above, Daffodils brightened up a dull, miserable morning here and below, the rain did not put off this Robin singing its heart out.

Above, this Jay showed briefly and was joined by a second bird. Probably its mate? Below, the Green Woodpecker put in an appearance and kindly perched out in the open for a change. It is always good to see them here.

The birds seen this morning in the Cemetery included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove (10+)
• Starling
• Blue Tit
• Goldfinch
• Pied Wagtail
• Carrion Crow
• Jay (2)
• Magpie
• Green Woodpecker
• Robin
• Wren
• Blackbird
• Song Thrush

I was reading on Facebook about a few disgruntled people moaning about the lack of writing and more about the photos on the Hampshire Birding Pages. I agreed with fellow birder Matt Parkes that the whole point of the site is about both issues: photos, birding experiences and sightings and really, what makes birders enjoy their hobby. Less of the criticism. If you don't want to read it, then don't. The quality of bird photos today is second to none and the sharper and closer the bird, then everyone is happy. You need either a bit of luck or some extremely expensive gear these days to get some of the quality photos, but I am more than happy with my Panasonic Lumix Bridge Camera and though not the best and sharpest quality at times, I am happy with just photographing what I see. Besides, I have some good friends who are more than happy for me to use their excellent photos. Sad news this morning, when a dead Puffin was found on the beach at Lepe. I have never seen a Puffin in Hampshire and very unlikely too as well, though one did fly past Selsey Bill last month. Happy birding everyone. 

Red-breasted Goose at Keyhaven Marshes.

Thursday 8th February 2024.

The Red-breasted Goose at Keyhaven Marshes today with Brent Geese. Photo by Andy Tew.

It was simply a horrible day today with heavy rain through the morning, a little rest bite around midday (managed to take the dogs for a quick walk around the block) and then more rain in the afternoon and on into the evening. But, despite the grim weather, several ‘Lazee Birders’ managed to drag themselves down to Keyhaven Marshes to ‘year-tick’ the superb Red-breasted Goose among the 1000+ Brent Geese in one of the fields (Hampshire's 13th record of this species). Fair play to the guys, but top listers Messrs. Fennemore and Friend were quick off the mark to add to their already enormous tally for the year and many fellow ‘Lazee’s’ quickly followed. Hopefully, the bird will hang around for the weekend for the rest of the guys, but I shall have to dip on this as my wife and I are off to Norfolk for the week on Saturday.

Mr Gary Fennemore (left) handing over the Hampshire Listers trophy to Mr Andy Friend with Mr Pete Appleton behind at a very wet morning at Keyhaven Marshes.

On my first shift this morning, there was a small flock of 11 Brent Geese present on Governor’s Green and a good gathering of both Black-headed and Herring Gulls present on the waterlogged grass; all busy searching for worms. When I walked the dogs around the block, I saw only my second Grey Wagtail of the year flying over the rooftops heading north, calling in doing so. They really have been scarce around here this year.

A recent sightings update.

Tuesday 6th February 2024.

I took the dogs for a walk around Highland Road Cemetery late Sunday afternoon and as we are now in February, the Cemetery now stays open to 5pm.

Sorry guys, not too much to report apart from the strong, gusty winds that nearly blew me over while at work in Old Portsmouth today. The Brent Geese have not been seen this week on Governor’s Green, but a female Sparrowhawk has flown over Pembroke Road today and yesterday. Around 12 to 14 species has been seen daily so far this week at Pembroke Road. 

Above, the Waxwings that were still present at Braishfield, Romsey, recently. Photo by Pete Appleton.

Great Crested Grebe.

A male Common Crossbill at Acres Down.

Great White Egret at Greylake RSPB Reserve, Somerset.

Peregrine.

Above, Emma Parkes took the above five photos recently, including the Water Rail above.

A male Siskin. Photo by Andy Tew.

It has been fairly quiet in Hampshire of late, but up to four Spoonbills have been on Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve over the past few days with the Siberian Chiffchaff seen again by  the Bridge Street Flood. Tomorrow looks like a wet one, but maybe these strong winds might bring something interesting in? Tonight, I am adding some superb photos taken recently by some of my birding friends and a few from myself. While checking the bird sighting reports on Birdguides, I noticed that a very early male Wheatear was on an airfield at Ternhill, in Shropshire yesterday. I think it is in for a rude awakening as snow is reported for the midlands over the next few days!!!

Dusk fell quickly as I made my way around Highland Road Cemetery last Sunday.

A 'lifer' moth & a trip to Acres Down.

Saturday 3rd February 2024.

Though a grey day, the views here are still spectacular at Acres Down.

And so it was the annual trip down to the New Forest at Acres Down for the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, but deep down, judging by the overcast and drizzly weather conditions, I knew it was going to be a ‘no show’. A small hopeful crowd had gathered by the usual tree, but there was no sign or sound of the bird all morning according to some of the birders we met. But on a positive side, this part of the New Forest still held some excellent birds as we still notched up another 5 new ‘year-ticks’ on our trip here.

If there was one moth I wanted to see, it was this superb Spring Usher. I have never been lucky enough to pick one up by the moth trap and today, by Andy's moth box, one was perched on the outside wall. Well chuffed.

Earlier this morning, back at Andy Fisher’s garden, his moth trap had attracted my first ever Spring Usher moth! Punching the air in absolute delight, I have always wanted to see one of these moths, especially because some ‘moth-ers’ were already trapping these moths already in Hampshire. Sadly, it was the only moth present, but what a stunner and while enjoying a cup of coffee in the garden with Geoff and Andy, a Siskin flew over and a Coal Tit flew in briefly and then flew off across the road. There is always something to see in his garden.

Not the most sharpest of photos in the poor light today, but this male Brambling was one of several seen high up in the trees in the woodland at Acres Down. Below, this Song Thrush was singing all the time we were there within the woodland.

Though we spent a good four to five hours at Acres Down, we certainly had a good variety of birds to see. Yes, it was overcast all day, but the woods were alive with birds. Among the many Chaffinches here (probably 200+), we found at least a dozen Bramblings high up in the trees, though they proved very difficult to photograph in the poor light. Our first Hawfinches of the year also showed well throughout the day, with some calling and even singing high up in the trees and while walking to the ‘LSW’ tree, a Common Crossbill flew high over the woods, calling in doing so. Three ‘year-ticks’ in the space of around 10 minutes was a good start to the day here. I had got some ‘gen’ regarding a Tawny Owl site close to where we were, but it turned out the Owl was not in the tree this morning, which was disappointing, but a good variety of birds were about to keep us entertained included Marsh Tit, Long-tailed Tits, Nuthatches, Siskins and even a few Redpolls high up in the trees.

Above, one of at least three Woodlark out over the heath near the woodland. This individual was flying around our heads while enjoying a spot of lunch. Below, a large number of Wood Pigeons were in the trees seen from the raptor watch-point. But they soon scattered when a passing Goshawk went sailing through. Though Goshawks are amazing raptors, the population of both Sparrowhawk and Hobby have dropped considerably as these large raptors are increasing in number. 

After a couple of hours in the woodland, we decided to make our way over to the raptor viewpoint where we encountered at least three Woodlarks (our first of the year). A few Meadow Pipits flew up as did a pair of Mistle Thrushes and over to the south, a large flock of Redwing were seen flying across the heath. There were large numbers of Wood Pigeons perched on the top of the trees down below and eventually, I caught sight of a large raptor heading fast over the top of the woodland and quickly identified the bird as a male Goshawk (our fifth ‘year-tick’ of the day). The bird scattered all the Wood Pigeons as the raptor flew fast and then low into the woodland and out of view. Soon after, a pair of Common Buzzards got up and soared around together and even the male bird was doing a bit of displaying. At least 8 Common Crossbills flew over during our time there as well as a flock of Goldfinch. After enjoying our lunch with a Woodlark flying and singing overhead, we made our way back into the woodland for another try for the ‘LSW’.

Above, a Hawfinch in the woodland at Acres Down. Good numbers were seen here flitting about in the trees and overhead.

Sadly, no sign of the star Woodpecker, but a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over and landed nearby along with more sightings of Hawfinches, Bramblings and the more common woodland species and seeing we nearly got all of our 6 target species today; as Meatloaf ‘nearly’ sang, ‘five out of six ain't bad!’