Another cold and mostly overcast morning here in Southsea and though there was a very light south-easterly wind, temperatures remained in single digits throughout the morning. Pembroke Road was blessed with the Brent Geese popping in to feed on the grass on Governor’s Green and the Jay put in an appearance too. Later in the morning, I took the dogs for a walk around Highland Road Cemetery again, of which it was rather quieter than normal and very few dog-walkers too.
Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:
As mentioned, the Brent Geese were already present when I arrived at Pembroke Road, with a small flock of 5 birds grazing on the northern end of Governor’s Green. They were joined over the next 45 minutes by another 40+ birds; whereas yesterday, there were at least 75+ present late afternoon. Just the one Jay was seen today, going about its business in the trees opposite where I stood until flying off over the rooftops to the north. I got up to 16 species seen here yesterday, but only 12 were noted this morning, which included a small flock of Pied Wagtails on the Bowling Green.
Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:
Two juvenile Herring Gulls on the Chapel roof.
After a few chores done after my first shift at Pembroke Road, I took the dogs for a walk back over my local patch. Unfortunately, no sign of any Woodpeckers this morning, but there was a roving flock of Long-tailed Tits back in the Cemetery (scarce here), with at least 8 birds seen in one of the small ornamental Cherry trees, but before I could get any reasonable photos, a dog-walker flushed them and they flew off to the Mausoleum area. At least four Blue Tits were with them also.
Above, one of the Long-tailed Tits and below, up to three Greenfinches were seen including these two birds.
There was just the one Jay seen and though elusive at first, it eventually gave good views in the treetops by the Mausoleum. There were a lot of Magpies here again with at least 8 birds seen in the trees and a few more in the long grass.
Above, there was just the one Jay seen in the Cemy this morning and below, the large Oak Tree in the north-east corner of the site.
The birds seen or heard this morning in the Cemy included the following:
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Feral Pigeon
Long-tailed Tit (8)
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Wren
Robin
Starling
House Sparrow
Blackbird
Carrion Crow
Magpie
Jay
Above, looking south from the centre of the Cemy and below, another photo of the Jay.
In Hampshire today, both the Red-necked and Slavonian Grebe were seen near Hythe Pier and I read a report on the ‘Lazee Birder’s’ App that two Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were seen ‘drumming’ on the usual tree at Acres Down, New Forest. I shall have to pay a visit there soon for my ‘year-tick’ of this rare Woodpecker. Four Velvet Scoters are now off Brownwich Cliffs and a Slavonian Grebe off there too. Nationally, the Booted Eagle was reported at Marazion, Cornwall, yet again and seems well settled there. However, for the more adventurous, the drake Spectacled Eider is still on the sea off Texel, North Holland! I was reading about this bird on Birdguides last night and it said that for this bird to move away from its usual breeding area way up in the Arctic Circle is exceptional and the bird has been recorded as the most southerly bird ever recorded in the Western Pelearctic!
And at last, the Fly/Pye Cup is gratefully received by yours truly from last year's previous winner, Mr Fisher. For those not in the know, the cup is awarded for the first one to get to 100 bird species in Hampshire between the two of us.
Another great days birding with my pals Geoff Farwell and Andy Fisher today where our birding exploits took us to Weston Shore, Southampton; Hill Head & Brownwich Cliffs and both Bridge Street Floods and Posbrook Floods (top end of Titchfield Haven) and lastly one more top bird Reserve to see our first Long-eared Owl in Hampshire for many, many years; of which I have been asked to remain nameless for the security of the said bird.
However, I will start on a sad note that my father, James Goodridge, passed away in the early hours of Friday morning after a long illness. My father introduced me into the fantastic world of Birding at a very early age by taking me and my brothers over the countryside behind Wecock Farm Estate, way back in the early 70’s. His knowledge of birds and especially their calls, was something else and taught me my fieldcraft in looking for birds. I have a lot to thank him for and I can remember when he took us to Farlington Marshes for the very first time and I was freaking out over Reed Bunting and Yellow Wagtail (the latter used to breed on the reserve in very good numbers!). That did it for me and with the likes of Geoff and Andy joining me, my Birding ‘hobby’ suddenly took off into a different dimension.
Though I went on a few trips with him over the years, ill health on his part took its toll, though he really enjoyed his freshwater fishing on Southwick Park Lake, he did enjoy me pointing out the birds in the area. I remember taking both him and my Mum to see the Owls on Farlington Marshes way back in the 80’s and also to see the Dotterals on Cheesefoot Head not long ago. Many memories that will linger with me for the rest of my Birding days. He is finally at rest now with my Mum. He may have been a cantankerous and argumentative guy at times, but he was my Dad and I shall very much miss him and our chats and have a good laugh over a coffee.
Southampton Water, Weston Shore:
Gulls, Carrion Crows and Oystercatchers on the foreshore from Weston Shore. Sadly, the Grebes and Divers offshore were all distant birds on Southampton Water and light was poor too.
Though there was hardly any wind, there was very heavy cloud overhead and bitterly cold too. The temperature remained around 6 degrees all day, so I was so glad I was really togged up!
An Oystercatcher on the foreshore here.
Though it was tempting to go for the Lesser Scaup and Snow Bunting in Dorset with both Emma and Matt Parkes (of which the guys were succsessful), it was the lure of a Hampshire Red-necked Grebe I found more enticing as Geoff and Andy (now feeling much better) joined me to take the trip west to view Southampton Water. There was a host of goodies here to hopefully add to our year list and so parking up within the fairly large Car Park overlooking Southampton Water, I grabbed my scope and began to search the large expanse of water in front of us.
A Curlew heading northbound along the foreshore.
High tide was around 2pm today and the foreshore was exposed here for a good number of Gulls, Brent Geese and a few waders (Curlew, Redshank, Oystercatcher) to go about their business. A large flock of Dunlin flew low over the water heading south and a pair of Pied Wagtails were flying around the area. Behind us, within the woodland, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard ‘drumming’ as I started checking out Southampton Water. It didnt take too long to pick out our first Slavonian Grebe of the year some half distance out between us and Hythe Pier on the opposite side of the water. There were at least 20+ Great Crested Grebes on the water, but it took about half an hour to finally pick up the distant Red-necked Grebe swimming near the Slavonian Grebe. I quickly got the guys onto the bird through the scope and not long afterwards, we were also viewing our first Great Northern Diver further north within Southampton Water. I was sure a second bird was seen too nearby, but I just couldn't get enough sightings of the bird to be 100% sure and couldn't really rule out a Black-throated Diver. The bird was actively fishing and did not stay on the surface of the water long enough. Never mind, three good species added to our year list and to see all five species of Grebe in January was really pleasing.
Hill Head & Brownwich Cliffs:
Lapwing over Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve.
Recently, a pair of female Velvet Scoters were off Hill Head, notably Brownwich Cliffs and so I made this our next destination. We parked up at Hill Head and checked the waders on the foreshore to the west where Andy quickly picked up Sanderling and Ringed Plover for his year list. On a small island just south-west from where we stood, I scanned the island thoroughly and found our first Eiders of the year. At least 7 birds present, including four drakes among the small number of Gulls also resting on the island. A scan over the calm Solent proved fruitless, but Andy finally picked up his first House Sparrows of the year in the brambles opposite! Dude!!
The male Marsh Harrier sailing over the fields at Brownwich Cliffs.
We drove further west along Hill Head, parked up and then took the footpath up to Brownwich Cliffs until we got to the clearing overlooking the fields to the north and the sea to the south. The guys quickly scanned the fields and noticed a male Marsh Harrier sailing low over the fields and in turn, put up a large flock of both Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. Andy found the calling male Reed Bunting in a nearby hedgerow to add to his year list, while we picked out at least four Common Buzzards in various areas of the fields.
A Shag was seen on the water, but all the Scoter were a long way off to grab a photo.
Geoff found a distant pair of ducks on the sea near the Darling Buoy and sure enough, they were our first Velvet Scoters of the year, both female birds. It didn't take long before Geoff found another pair of ducks on the water and low and behold, these were our first Common Scoters of the year! They were a male and female bird, but they did not linger and both headed off west towards the Calshot area. A Shag swam close in on the sea, which was added to Andy’s year list and the only other notable birds here were at least three Great Crested Grebes on the water.
The Eiders off Hill Head this morning.
Bridge Street Floods & Posbrook Floods, Titchfield Haven:
This Egyptian Goose was my first of the year.
Our next target bird was the Glossy Ibis that have been regularly putting in an appearance at these sites; but for the first time today, we actually ‘dipped’! Trying Bridge Street Floods first, we took the footpath north past the Horse Stables, but the Ibis were nowhere to be seen. It wasn't all gloom as Geoff found my first Egyptian Goose of the year, standing quietly in a field by itself. I checked out a large puddle in a nearby field and found our first Grey Wagtail of the year and a little later, I found a Stock Dove perched on top of St. Peters Church, our first of the year (we did see another a little later down the Canal Path flying over). A pair of Red Kites were seen soaring to the east over the trees to add to MY year list and so pleased with what we had found here, we made our way to Posbrook Floods down the Canal Path.
Above and below, two more species were added to my year list; a Grey Wagtail and Red Kite.
The weather had not changed a bit since birding over at Weston and still remained very cold. The Bridge Street Floods held a good number of Gulls, but I could not find my first Med Gull of the year among them. A few Pintail, Gadwall, Teal and Mallard were swimming on the water and when a female Sparrowhawk buzzed through over the Floods, everything took off including a small flock of Black-tailed Godwit and much larger number of Lapwing.
Chiffchaff on the Canal Path.
At least two Stonechats were seen out in the fields, a male and female, but it was very quiet down the Canal Path. A few Long-tailed Tits were seen and a Cettis’ Warbler was heard but not seen. A male Kestrel put in an appearance flying low over the fields and by the Bridge, Andy notched up another ‘year tick’ with his first Great Spotted Woodpecker flying over. He was picking off a lot of the common birds he had not seen yet during our time there and one of those was a superb Firecrest flitting about around the Ivy on a large tree. Sadly, despite a good search around the Posbrook Floods, there was no sign of the Ibis. I also searched through the number of Tufted Ducks there in case the drake Ferruginous Duck was hiding among them. Nope! Sadly, this bird disappeared from Brownwich Pond earlier in the week and has not been found since.
A Common Buzzard overlooking the fields near Titchfield.
The walk back was somewhat quiet, though Andy finally got his first Chiffchaff of the year with a bird calling and flitting about low down by the Canal. I managed to prise out a female Greenfinch within the adjacent hedgerow for Andy to add to his year list to round off a nice walk at this location. Our final stop was to hopefully see the Long-eared Owl at a Hampshire site and though it took some finding, it looked superb through the telescope as we eventually left it in peace and headed off back home to reflect on another superb day's birding.
A male Kestrel seen today on our travels.
On the subject of Long-eared Owls, the warden at Pagham Harbour has since discovered another two more birds on the reserve along with the three birds already there! Incredible. How many more lay undiscovered on the south coast?
