Thursday 29th January 2026.
Where has this month gone already? February is now just around the corner and hopefully, the first of the migrants will arrive back to our shores again (Wheatears, Sand Martins and a few other very early birds); but what with this consistent wet weather, who knows what is around the corner. Storm after storm it seems is flooding our countryside and battering our coastlines; a situation that is becoming all too common in our winters in the UK and yet there are still pessimists who believe there is no Global Warming going on!!! Our summers are getting hotter and drier, with reservoirs somehow lacking the ability to hold onto the water that winter brings and Heath and Woodland fires are becoming commonplace now. What is the future for our children and children's children as time goes on?
Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:
A dry start to the morning (which I am always grateful for), but it was quite cold with a south-easterly blowing over Southsea and temperatures around 6 degrees, though it felt a lot colder than that in the wind. My cold fingers and drippy nose were witnesses to that! A reasonable total of 14 bird species were recorded on my first shift that included a few surprises.
An adult Mute Swan was seen flying over the Curtain Moat, no doubt heading to Canoe Lake to join the 30+ birds already there. A Jackdaw, which is a rarity around these parts, flew low over the road heading north and calling. I am always pleased to see this tiny crow species here and both a very noisy Jay and a pair of Magpies were seen along with many Carrion Crows. The Blue Tits were flitting about in the trees opposite and included a male bird displaying. A Dunnock was heard singing in the garden behind the house opposite where I stood. Spring is certainly not far away. Three species of Gull were seen: Herring, Black-headed and Great Black-backed Gull, but no raptors were seen this morning.
On my second shift, the only other bird species added to my total here was a Great Tit that was heard calling in the Holm Oaks.
I got a text from Andy Fisher yesterday to say that he added Nuthatch, Marsh Tit and Yellowhammer to his Hampshire year list after taking a walk in the countryside while his car was in the garage.
In Hampshire today:
The drake Scaup was reported to be on one of the main pools this morning at Hayling Oyster Beds and 3 Great Northern Divers were seen over at Weston Shore, Southampton. Incredibly, last December’s male Cirl Bunting at Wicor Mill had been refound again by the finder. This begs the question on where had it been all this time? Hopefully, it will be around by the weekend and so I can add it to my Hampshire bird list.
Three White-fronted Geese were still on Farlington Marshes and HIll-head birder Mark Francis picked up a Red-necked Grebe, 2 Slavonian Grebes, 7 Kittiwakes and 3 Razorbills around the Brownwich and Chilling area. Six Woodlarks were seen in one flock at Woolmer Pond today, despite the fact we had none last Saturday!
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