No 'Fudge Duck', but a good day's birding.

Saturday 20th December 2025.

Geoff overlooking Langstone Harbour from Budds Mound.

Geoff Farwell, Andy Fisher and myself went to three destinations today and seeing the weather was a bit similar to last Saturday (bright and sunny, with little wind), it was a pleasure to be out and about today. Our target bird was to be yesterday’s drake Ferruginous Duck on Brownwich Pond and then play it by ear for the rest of the day. Emma and Matt Parkes were staying on the Isle of Sheppey this weekend and so it was just us three in search of avian goodies.

Brownwich Pond,  near Titchfield:

Brownwich Pond. There was no sign of the Ferruginous Duck throughout the day here.

We eventually parked up in the small Car Park by Chilling Barns, which was full of very large puddles and extremely muddy before taking the long walk to Brownwich Pond. The only time I have ever been to this site was when a Bittern turned up and showed well many years ago one Winter. The location was a new one for both Geoff and Andy and it was quite an impressive sized Pond.

Above, some of the Canada Geese in the field south of the footpath with a large tanker passing by out of Southampton Water. Below, Rooks and Carrion Crows take flight north of the footpath.

Above, the drake Goosander at the back of the Pond with a Black-headed Gull looking on.

The maize stubble fields held a large flock of around 60 Canada Geese to the south of the footpath and it also held a large number of Skylarks searching for seeds etc in the field. The numbers of Skylarks varied at times, but when a pair of rogue dogs started running over the fields owned by some irresponsible owners, they flushed all the Skylarks and Geoff estimated about 120+ birds all told. Very impressive. To the north of the footpath, there were large numbers of Corvids around in the trees, that included mostly Rooks and Jackdaws. Small numbers of both Chaffinch and Pied Wagtails were seen close to the footpath; but not a great deal else along the footpath to the Pond.

Above, the poor female Tufted Duck that had a fishing hook through its bill. Hopefully, it will be rescued soon. Below, a Mute Swan came up to me for a close up.

Above, some of the many Skylarks flying over the maize field.

On reaching the Pond, a good search for the Ferruginous Duck drew a blank, but a drake Goosander at the northern end of the Pond showed very well at times after being very elusive in the small reedbed. Apparently, the Ferruginous Duck was associating with Tufted Ducks, but apart from one unfortunate female bird that had sadly got caught up with a hook and fishing line, the other Tuftied and the ‘Fudge Duck’ had departed. We were joined by some other birders who told us that the Fishing Bailiff had been informed of the unfortunate Tufted Duck and hopefully will be caught and have the hook removed.

Above and below, more Skylarks appeared when a pair of dogs ran across the same field.

Above, a pair of Chaffinches by the main footpath and below, several Pied Wagtails were nearby.

Apart from Mallards, Coots, a few Moorhens and a pair of Mute Swans, all was quiet here, though Geoff saw a Chiffchaff (we dipped on that) and a Cormorant dropped in to settle on the water. After a good hour here, we made our way back to the car where we watched the large flocks of Skylarks flying over the fields and up to 6 Chaffinches feeding close to the footpath. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew overhead and landed distantly in nearby woodland.

Posbrook Floods & the Canal Path, Titchfield Haven:

A female Marsh Harrier flew over the Bridge Street Floods to flush most of the birds off it.

On arrival within the Car Park, we had lunch and then made our way firstly up to the Bridge Street Floods, north of the road,  where yesterday, the Glossy Ibis, Water Pipit and a ‘Siberian’ Chiffchaff were seen. Apart from a Carrion Crow, we saw absolutely nothing! So we turned back and made our way south down the Canal Path. The weather was still excellent with bright sunshine as we checked out the Bridge Street Floods where a large number of wildfowl and waders were enjoying the calm weather. However, when a female Marsh Harrier passed overhead, that signalled the bird life there to all take flight. This included not only a large number of Black-tailed Godwits flying over, but also flushed the 5 Glossy Ibis which circled several times before landing back down on the floods.

Above and below, Teal on Posbrook Floods.

Above, a male Kestrel by the Canal Path and below, the Reserve looking south-east.

Above, a Grey Heron coming into land and below, four of the five Glossy Ibis taking off after being flushed by a female Marsh Harrier.

Above, one of the female Marsh Harriers over the Reserve this afternoon.

It was to be a good afternoon for raptors as not only did we see up to 5 Marsh Harriers (including two males) all in the air together, but also a Red Kite flying over, at least four Common Buzzards, a female Kestrel and a male Sparrowhawk while walking down the main footpath. We did check out Posbrook Floods thoroughly for the possible sighting of the Ferruginous Duck, but all we could find was a Little Grebe and a Grey Heron. On the way back, the same Floods soon held a large number of Teal, Wigeon and Shoveler and a pair of Gadwall dropped in too. 

The female Marsh Harrier over the Bridge Street Floods and below, the flushed and the flusher! Four of the five Glossy Ibis having been flushed by the Marsh Harrier at the bottom of the photo.

Above, a sleeping Grey Heron and below, a mixture of birds on the Bridge Street Floods.

Above, we have a mixture of Canada Geese, Wigeon, Cormorants, Pintail, Black-headed Gulls and Black-tailed Godwit on the Bridge Street Floods. Below, the male Kestrel near the main footpath.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen briefly flying over the reserve and a second bird was heard calling as it passed overhead as we walked through the wooded area along the footpath. At least two Stonechats were seen by Posbrook Floods, but too distant to see what sex they were but most likely a pair. Both Cetti’s Warbler and Chiffchaff were heard (though not seen) and also a Water Rail was heard several times from the reedbeds over on the east of the Reserve.

Budds Mound and Langstone Harbour, Bedhampton:

Andy overlooking Langstone Harbour this afternoon.

It was now around 2.30pm and I wanted to round the day off at Budds Mound as there were some interesting sightings around here early this morning that included a pair of Slavonian Grebes associating with a pair of Black-necked Grebes. Also, a couple of Great Northern Divers were also present as well as the female Scaup.

Above, a Redshank by the seawall on the receding tide and below, as was this Grey Plover.

Above, a Common Gull about to land on the water in front of us and below, the distant Great Northern Diver in front of Long Island.

When we arrived, we parked up and with my scope, I carefully checked out the harbour for the birds mentioned. Despite a lengthy search, plus the light was getting darker with large clouds now going through, the only notable bird seen was a single Great Northern Diver swimming just north of Long Island. Good numbers of both Red-breasted Merganser and Great Crested Grebes were picked up through the scope and a Little Grebe was seen swimming near the seawall. Below us, there were a few waders seen feeding along the shoreline that included Oystercatchers, Redshank and a lone Grey Plover. A Common Buzzard was seen perched on Long Island and a Kestrel was hunting in the fields near the Car Park to round off our sightings  for today. 

Large Long-tailed Tit flock in Pembroke Road.

Tuesday 16th December 2025.

An orange sunrise over Pembroke Road today.

A cool clear morning when I arrived at Pembroke Road this morning with some clouds although there was the threat of some rain hanging around. Thankfully, it didn’t materialise and wearing my Xmas hat this morning, it kept my head nice and warm. There was a southerly breeze blowing, but it was quite light for a change. The afternoon got a bit more cloudier but it still remained relatively mild and dry.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

Looking festive in Pembroke Road.

Up to 16 bird species were recorded today here in Pembroke Road and even the Buff-tailed Bumblebee was active by coming down to nectar on the flowering Penstemon plant nearby in one of the flower beds. This afternoon, a flock of 14 Long-tailed Tits flew into the Sycamore trees in search of small insects among the leafless branches, though something scared them and they quickly shot off back into cover in a nearby hedge.

Three separate flocks of Brent Geese flew east during the morning session, all around 7 or 8 in number and a much larger flock were seen grazing on Southsea Common when I made my way home. A Cormorant was seen briefly flying over Curtain Moat, but no raptors were seen today. Passerines noted today included a small flock of Blue Tits, a single Blackbird and the usual flock of Starlings around the Garrison Church. A Grey Wagtail was heard calling on the rooftops behind me, but despite searching for the bird when I went back to my car, there was no sign of the bird. Passerines heard today included a Greenfinch, the House Sparrows over by the Bowling Green, a singing Wren and a ‘ticking’ Robin.

When I got home to start some chores, I heard a Chiffchaff calling in someone's garden nearby, but no sighting of the bird.

In Hampshire today:

A couple of Great Northern Divers were in Langstone Harbour and a Light-bellied Brent Goose with the more common Dark-bellied birds was also present. Just the two Purple Sandpipers were counted at Southsea Castle and the Boat-tailed Grackle was still present in the garden within Holbury, Southampton.

Fellow 'Lazee Birder' Ollie Crabbe filmed this Grey Heron trying unsuccessfully to eat this fish caught over in Whiteley, near Fareham today.

A male Sparrowhawk over Pembroke Road.

Monday 15th December 2025.

Mute Swans on Canoe Lake last Friday while I walked the dogs around 5pm.

Another start to the working week and the weather was looking a bit dodgy with some rain forecast for today. There was a bit of rain this afternoon, but I was lucky enough to miss the worst of it as I started my second shift in Pembroke Road. It was very dark when I first arrived there this morning as heavy clouds and the threat of rain was imminent, but thankfully, it never came to anything. However, it was fairly mild and a southerly wind was blowing.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

I managed to notch up 14 bird species this morning, though apart from a brief male Sparrowhawk flying north over the road, it was the usual fare seen or heard today. A Blackbird giving off its alarm call had me looking up as the male Sparrowhawk made its way over my head and out of view over the rooftops.

A Greenfinch flew high over and other passerines noted included the usual calling House Sparrows, a Blackbird flying over and a few Blue Tits on top of the Sycamore trees nearby. A Dunnock was calling in the garden in the house opposite, but it never showed itself today. On Governor’s Green, I counted at least 40 Herring Gulls searching for worms again in the wet grass.

Some more photos of the Mute Swans on and around Canoe Lake last Friday.

Yesterday, birding pal Geoff Farwell took a walk around the Corhampton area where he saw the following: 15+ Red Kites, 8 Common Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Ravens, 23 Lapwing, 55 Stock Doves, 100+ Linnets, Siskin, Redpoll, 14 Redwing and 6 Yellowhammers.

In Hampshire today:

A superb photo of a male Bearded Tit by Pete Appleton.

There were up to 5 Purple Sandpipers at Southsea Castle today and over at Blashford Lakes, a Great White Egret, Green Sandpiper and up to 9 Goosanders were on Ibsley Water. Up to 5 Glossy Ibis were on the Bridge Street Floods, Titchfield, while over at the Hayling Oyster Beds, a Great Northern Diver, 5 Goldeneye, 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Whimbrel and a Golden Plover were seen. 

A Nuthatch in the New Forest. Photo by Emma Parkes.

A walk with my dogs at the harbour entrance.

Sunday 14th December 2025.

Beams of light over the Solent.

I made a change this morning and instead of taking my dogs for their walk around Highland Road Cemetery, I decided to try my luck around the harbour entrance at Eastney. There was always a chance of a Diver or an Auk in the area and so, with the weather being dry and bright; though most certainly not as gorgeous as yesterday, it was pleasant enough to stretch the dogs and my legs.

Harbour Entrance, Eastney:

A pair of Shags with three different age groups of Herring Gulls perched on one of the platforms within the harbour entrance.

Though it was a pleasant walk, there were no Divers or Auks to be found on my walk here this morning, but there were always birds around to look at. On reaching the harbour entrance Car Park, I did my usual walk up to the Hayling Ferry and checked the harbour entrance, Lock Lake and the northern half of the harbour. There were at least two Shags swimming in the harbour entrance and a possible third bird that flew out of the harbour into the Solent, but apart from the usual Herring and Black-headed Gulls, all was quiet.

Above, an Oystercatcher on the shoreline and below, a Black-headed Gull riding the waves near the Pier.

Ted and Buddy enjoy having a runaround on the beach and below, a female Kestrel hunting near the perimeter fence.

Looking into Lock Lake, a few small flocks of Brent Geese were nearby including a party of 6 juvenile birds, which is always a good sign. A Grey Heron was seen flying by the boats and a lone Great Crested Grebe swam very close to shore after virtually disappearing earlier after I saw it a long way out in Lock Lake. A few Oystercatchers were along the shoreline as I drove off later to make my way to the Car Park by Eastney Pier.

Above, the female Kestrel by the Perimeter fence and below, some of the Collared Doves present in the area.

Above, a scenic view of the Eastney Pier and below, the Great Crested Grebe near the Hayling Ferry.

From here, again, all was very quiet within the harbour entrance, so I gave it a good look around the perimeter fence where I found at least four Collared Doves (they seem so scarce this winter around Southsea) and a female Kestrel hovering nearby. Up to 9 Oystercatchers were feeding within the Perimeter fence but little else of note. I let my dogs off their lead so they could stretch their legs on the beach and as they went about their business, I checked out the Solent, but all was quiet again with just a Cormorant and a Black-headed Gull easily negotiating the waves.

Above, the same Great Crested Grebe just before it dived and below, a group of mostly juvenile Brent Geese in Lock Lake with one adult and a Black-headed Gull.

Above and below, Brent Geese in Lock Lake.

As we made our way back to the car, I noticed several clumps of flowering Oxford Ragwort growing by the perimeter fence along with Yarrow plants. I can only assume that the mild conditions of late have kept these plants in bloom. It was good to see the Council workers litter picking within the Car Park and even the Police Car turned up for good measure! We then got back into the car and headed for home.

Above, Black-headed Gulls on the University Buildings by the harbour entrance and below, an adult Shag swimming just offshore.

Above, flowering Oxford Ragwort by the Perimeter fence.