It was back to see the Stone-curlews again for our annual trip to see these beautiful waders in the North of the County of which I will not disclose for obvious reasons and we were not to be disappointed. I had the pleasure of just Andy Fisher today as Geoff Farwell went to the annual Hampshire Ornithological Society AGM in Winchester. I was thinking of going, but didn't realise it started so early; but instead carried on birding throughout the day instead.
Once again, the weather was bright and sunny, though it was rudely spoiled by the occasional Hale Storm that came in on a very cold fresh north-westerly wind! We also tried our luck for Water Pipits around the Cress Beds around Alresford and lastly, a trip to the back of Portsdown Hill for possible Wheatears.
Cowplain Marsh Moth Box:
The only moth by Andy's Moth Box this morning was this Hebrew Character.
I didn't put my Moth Box on overnight as the temperatures dropped considerably overnight and so I left it to Andy’s Moth Box for any gems that might just turn up. In fact, there was only just the one Moth, a Hebrew Character to the rescue to avoid a complete blank. It will improve as the temperatures rise again (hopefully!)
A Chiffchaff was heard singing nearby from Andy’s garden and a flock of Jackdaws flew overhead in the clear blue sky as I chatted to Geoff and Andy over a cup of coffee.
North Hampshire:
The Stone-curlew was seen this morning. Once settled, it proved quite difficult to see.
As mentioned, I will not disclose the exact area where the Stone-curlews were, but the long drive up to the north-west area of Hampshire produced multiple sightings of both Red Kite and Common Buzzard in some of the best countryside Hampshire has to offer. I was convinced that a pair of Grey Partridge flew over the road near Corhampton and a few Yellowhammers were seen flying over the road on the way up and then Andy told me that James Cutting had successfully seen both the Stone-curlews and Corn Buntings at the site we were heading for. Now our tails are up! A Hare was seen running over a field close to the main road and looked stunning in the early morning sunshine.
Above, a Red Kite did a flypass over the fields to the south of where the Stone-curlews were. Below, a singing Skylark flying over our heads in the sunshine.
Above, one of several Linnets present and below, a distant Corn Bunting singing nearby.
On arrival, we parked up carefully just off the main (and somewhat busy B-road), grabbed the scope and birding gear and then searched the area especially for them. It didn't take long for Andy to find the Stone-curlew and then a second bird and through the scope, we had superb views of the birds. We were a good distance away and there was already a bit of heat haze across the field and so please forgive the quality of my photos and film footage of the birds. However, it didn't take them long to eventually sit down and by God, they became very difficult to see due to their plumage blending in with their surroundings.
One of the Stone-curlews that was seen this morning.
I soon heard the distinctive call of a Corn Bunting and again, it didn't take too long to pick out a bird sitting on top of a hedgerow in the distance as I quickly got Andy onto the bird for our second ‘year-tick’ of the day. Another two birds were seen further south down the road, perched high up on a lone roadside conifer. Skylarks were literally everywhere and using the nearby hedge were a mixed flock of both Goldfinches and Linnets. A few years ago, we had a Wheatear in the same field, but despite searching the ploughed fields nearby, there was no sign of any Wheatears today. A Red Kite soared over the same field and flew off into the distance on those long graceful wings which rounded off a successful trip to the north of the County.
Drayton & Pigglestone Cressbeds, nr Alresford:
Andy checking out the far end of the Beds for the Water Pipits that were sadly not present today.
Water Pipit was next on the itinerary as we took the 30 minute drive to Alresford to try our luck on the Cressbeds there. The weather was playing its part and remained sunny throughout and parking up firstly by Drayton Cressbeds, we quickly checked out the nearest Cressbeds. The site was actually closed and so we could not enter the premises and so had to look through the perimeter fence instead.
Above, a pair of Red Kites were patrolling the back of the Drayton Cress Beds and below, this male Grey Wagtail was one of three birds present.
Almost immediately, we came across at least 5 Green Sandpipers present on the Beds and both Grey and Pied Wagtail; but despite a lengthy stay and thoroughly searching the area for Water Pipits, there was no sign of the birds. It wasn't all doom and gloom as we saw a variety of birds here, notably a large flock of at least 20+ Linnets picking off seeds on the Beds and at least three Grey Wagtails were also present.
Above and below, Green Sandpipers on the Cress Beds.
A pair of Red Kites entertained us flying low over the Beds and one actually landed on the Beds briefly before flying off with its presumed partner. A couple of Common Buzzards drifted high over and even a male Kestrel put in an appearance by flying low over the Beds. We took a walk north along the Perimeter Fence to view the furthest Beds to the north, but apart from a few Green Sandpipers, there were again no sign of any Water Pipits. A Butterfly flew past and landed briefly on the Hazel trees and it turned out to be our first Small Tortoiseshell of the year. At least we got one more ‘year-tick’! A fellow birder walked up to us and after a brief chat, he told us that the Water Pipits had been seen on the nearby Pigglestone Cress Beds and so we took a drive down there to try our luck.
Above, one of three Green Sandpipers on the Pigglestone Cress Beds and below, the Cress Beds itself, complete with tractors!
Above, we got caught out with this Hale Storm!
To ‘cut to the chase’, again, there was no sign of any Water Pipits here and on the opposite side of the road either, but we did encounter up to three more Green Sandpipers present, plus a small flock of three Linnets and a pair of Common Gulls resting on the Beds. A couple of Chiffchaffs were singing nearby as we made our way back to the car and as we were walking back, we then got caught up in a Hale Storm!
Pigeon House Lane, Portsdown Hill:
A Common Buzzard perched in a field by Pigeon House Lane this afternoon.
I decided to round off our days birding at the back of Portsdown Hill for possible Wheatears and after grabbing some lunch at the first Garage we came across on the drive there, we arrived around 2pm at the back of Portsdown Hill and pulled in at a layby on Pigeon House Lane to scan the surrounding fields. Sadly, we did not find any Wheatears, but there were a few Common Buzzards and plenty of Red-legged Partridges to see.
A pair of Common Buzzards drifted over the fields once we stepped out of the car at Pigeon House Lane.
We took a drive through the country lanes to get us to Denmead and were dismayed to see the grubbed up area at the bottom of Pigeon House Lane where we used to see the Mandarin Ducks. It is now a large ugly plant-less pond and quite frankly, looks horrible. What possessed the idiots to do this is beyond comprehension and who does it benefit? Certainly not the birds.
One of several Red-legged Partridges in the adjacent fields.
So there we have it. Another Saturday's birding over, but a successful one, nonetheless. I heard that Emma and Matt Parkes were also successful in seeing their Stone-curlews at a well-known site in Wiltshire this morning along with up to 21 Great Bustards too! The biggest laugh today was when it was put out on social media that a Kentish Plover was found at Normandy Lagoon, near Pennington Marshes; of which it turned out to be a first winter Ringed Plover! We had visions of all the birders at the HOS AGM leaving early and rushing down to see the bird. Giggle!
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