A beautiful day with a 'booming' Bittern.

Saturday 1st March 2025.

A drake Pintail was one of many showing well in the sunshine off the harbour wall near the Sluice Gate.

Geoff, Andy and myself went to two sites today and the weather was very kind to us indeed. Yes, there was a heavy frost first thing this morning, but it was bright and sunny with a cloudless sky throughout the day. Farlington Marshes was our first port of call and in the afternoon, we enjoyed a superb afternoon at Fishlake Meadows and today, both Andy and myself picked up two more ‘year-ticks’ to our respective yearlists.

Farlington Marshes & Langstone Harbour:

Footprints in the ice. We found these footprints when we walked along the footpath by the Bushes area. They were most likely to belong to a Moorhen or Coot?

We managed to park close to the main entrance when we arrived around 8.30am and making our way to the main Lake, a Song Thrush was seen singing to the east within the Bushes area. High tide was around midday today and out on the mudflats to the west of the reserve, there were small numbers of Redshank and Curlew; but there were a lot more waders on the Lake itself. We made our way to the Viewing platform and enjoyed a variety of waders including a flock of 29 Avocets on the water. I have to say, the Lake is looking a lot better since the Sluice Gate was temporarily fixed and the water level has dropped considerably.

Above, more Pintail seen from the seawall and below, a Redshank flying onto the main Lake.

Above, a large number of Avocets were on the Lake and below, these Eurasian Teal were sunning themselves just below the Viewing Platform.

Other waders present included good numbers of both Redshank and Dunlin feeding around the edges of the Lake and an impressive number of Common Snipe were also feeding on the wateredge as well as a pair of Greenshank at the far end of the Lake. Out in the fields, there was still a healthy number of both Brent and Canada Geese grazing on the rich grass, though all took off when a Common Buzzard passed by overhead. On the rising tide, more Redshank and Dunlin were flying onto the reserve, but the remains of the damaged reedbed held hardly anything, apart from a few Grey Herons resting near the Stream area.

Above, Common Snipe feeding with a Redshank on the main Lake. You can see the ice build up on the shoreline to prove how cold it was last night. Below, a Grey Heron preening on the Willow Pool.

Above, the sunny weather brought out some of the Rabbits from their warrens. Below, we found this Owl pellet on the sea wall by the Point Field. Possibly, from a Barn Owl?

Walking anticlockwise around the reserve, we kept a sharp eye out for an early Wheatear; but we were not lucky this morning. Nearing the Point Field, I was hoping for a Bar-tailed Godwit among the many waders on the mudflats, but again, no such luck. However, there was a good sized flock of Knot to the south of the reserve, plus large numbers of Dunlin and Grey Plover on the mudflats. Geoff pointed out a Harbour Seal resting on the mudflats, looking huge despite the distance between us and the impressive mammal. The Point field was very quiet, though our first Cetti’s Warbler piped up deep within the brambles, though it wasn't seen. I was hoping for a Dartford Warbler to pop up here this morning, but no sight or sound of any this morning.

Above and below, Dunlin were still in good numbers on the mudflats off the Point Field.

Above, a flock of Shelduck coming onto the reserve from the harbour and below, a drake Shoveler on the Deeps. We didnt see many Shovelers on the reserve today, so this close bird grabbed my attention.

Out in the harbour to the east of the reserve, there were at least two pairs of Red-breasted Mergansers swimming in the channel as well as a pair of Great Crested Grebes. The Deeps held all the usual waders and wildfowl that included at least four Black-tailed Godwits. I could hear several Mediterranean Gulls passing over, but a pair of birds flew over our heads as I obtained a reasonable photo of the birds. Apparently, there are hundreds now on Hayling Oyster Beds currently and I just might pay a visit to see this spectacle soon.

Above, a pair of Med Gulls sailing high overhead by the Deeps and below, one of the singing Chiffchaffs near the Info Building.

Above, a pair of Brent Geese near the main footpath and below, view of the top of the Stream.

Above, this male Kestrel was hunting in the Bushes area and below, Geoff and Andy enjoying the sunshine.

Above, will Andy manage to cross a very soggy stretch of water? Below, and touchdown. Splosh!

From the Information Centre, we saw our first singing Chiffchaffs grabbed our attention as at least two birds were seen singing. I managed to film both birds actually singing, but please excuse my poor film footage. Better still, my first Bearded Tit, a male, of the year flew over our heads and landed in the reedbed behind the Info Centre. Well pleased. A male Reed Bunting was singing in the same reedbed and showed briefly flitting about in the reeds and bushes. We walked along the footpath between the Bushes area and the Stream and though soggy, I was sporting my Wellington Boots today. Phew! It was rather quiet here up until a female Kestrel was seen hovering nearby and showing very well in the strong sunshine to round off a good trip here this morning.

Singing Chiffchaffs by the Info Centre. This was the first time we had heard singing Chiffchaffs this year, a wonderful sound of Spring. 

Fishlake Meadows, Romsey:

The female Marsh Harrier was seen several times this afternoon over Fishlake Meadows.

After buying some nosh from a nearby Grocery Store, we soon parked up within the reserve Car Park and then made our way north along the Canal Path. We were hoping to hear the Bittern ‘booming’ this afternoon, seeing it was reported earlier today from this site and thankfully, we all eventually got to hear the bird. From one of the viewpoints, we saw a Great White Egret lazily flap across the stretch of water in the distance and overhead, a superb female Marsh Harrier was flying low over the reeds and then circled higher and higher until flying off north. A Common Buzzard was also seen flying over. 

A singing Dunnock by the Canal Path.

Cetti’s Warblers were calling everywhere though proved difficult to see at times within the reedbeds and brambles. I was hoping for a Blackcap along the Canal Path (a male bird was seen earlier this week here), but no sign of any today. A pair of Marsh Tits were a surprise find, both birds coming very close to where we stood by the main footpath, but both proved very difficult to grab a photo. A pair of Siskins were seen in trees adjacent to the footpath, with the male bird in full song as the female went about searching for food.

The female Marsh Harrier over the reserve.

We met up with another birder and while chatting, he told us that he had heard the Bittern earlier this morning and told us to head to the Screen area where he had heard it. Again, I was thankful I had taken my Wellington Boots as the main path to the Screen was flooded in areas as Geoff and Andy struggled to get through. From the Screen, we heard at least ten Water Rails calling deep within the reedbeds, but, frustratingly,  not one would show. The female Marsh Harrier came into view again and showed superbly sailing over the reedbeds and then headed off back north. Earlier, Geoff had heard the Bittern ‘boom’ briefly, but both Andy and I somehow did not hear it. Then, eventually, the Bittern ‘boomed’ for us, which sounded like someone blowing into a bottle! Though not seen, we are assured that we can add this species to our year list from the ‘Lazee Birders'; so therefore I had my second ‘year-tick’ of the day. 

One of several Reed Buntings seen on the reserve this afternoon.

Before we left the Screen area, we saw a Kingfisher flying low over the water and a male Reed Bunting  had perched on a nearby bush. Overhead, both male and female Sparrowhawk were seen and thanks go to the Long-tailed Tits that were flitting about in the bushes behind us for giving off their alarm call. I would not have seen them if they did not give off their alarm call. Yet another great days birding with the guys with plenty to see and arguably the best weather of the year so far.  

Above, the singing male Siskin by the Canal and below, a small flock of Grey Lag Geese flying north.

I was pleased to hear that both Emma & Matt Parkes and James Cutting got to see the organised ‘twitch’ to see the Black-throated Thrush this morning at Landford, which was arranged by Simon King et al and over £500 raised for charity too. Happy days.

The Black-throated Thrush in Landford this morning and was showing well. Photo by Emma Parkes.