Saturday 31st January 2026.
The Grey Wagtail posing nicely for me by the Sluice at Brownwich Pond today.
It was back over Wicor Mill, Portchester this morning for this elusive Cirl Bunting followed by a trip over to the Canal Path at Titchfield. The weather didn't look too bad today, though a few showers were supposed to be coming in around midday that, apart from one heavy shower, never really materialised. We also took a trip over to Brownwich Pond for yesterday's drake Ferruginous Duck and then back over Wicor Mill for another attempt for the Cirl Bunting. Sadly, Geoff didn't join Andy Fisher and myself today for he had made other arrangements. Before Andy arrived to pick me up from my house, I watched the male Blackcap feeding on the Cotoneaster berries in my back garden to kick the day off with a good start.
Wicor Mill, Portchester:
The female Stonechat at Wicor Mill. It was soon joined by a Meadow Pipit until both birds flew off.
It was to be another failed attempt to get the Cirl Bunting this morning despite spending a good couple of hours here along with around a dozen or so Birders present including both birding pals Graeme Loader and John Goodall in attendance. It was first reported on the ‘Lazee’s Whatsapp’ site around 8.20am this morning, which was good news and even Graeme managed to see the bird before it flew off towards the Horse Paddocks and that was the last anyone saw of it! Sob!
One of many Redwings here at this site and below, a Fox came out and walked across the Horse Paddocks. It or another were seen on the nearby housing estate.
Nevertheless, talking to both John and Graeme was most enjoyable and a good catch up too as we had a few birds of note to enjoy. The area was very good for Redwing with many birds seen flying over and some landing nicely in the bushes and especially around the Horse Paddocks. A female Stonechat put on an appearance, first perching on the row of brambles in front of us and then flying over the small pond nearby. A Meadow Pipit joined it and a few more of this species were seen during our time here. A Rock Pipit was heard a little later and Andy saw it flying along the nearby shoreline.
Above, another photo of the Fox sunning itself briefly in the Horse Paddocks. Below, a Redwing in the same area.
It was high tide within Portsmouth Harbour this morning, but apart from a few distant Brent Geese, I could not see anything of note on the water. Also notable were the number of Greenfinches here. This species has taken a huge nosedive in numbers of late, so it was good to see so many here today at this site. Also House Sparrows. There was a large number, possibly 20+ in the nearby bushes; another species that seemed to have taken a big hit of late, especially around where I live. Having no luck with this particular area, Andy and I took a stroll over to the Horse Paddocks and that's where we bumped into Graeme. From here, again there were good numbers of both Redwing and Greenfinch, but no sign of the Cirl Bunting. A dog Fox casually strolled across the Paddocks and enjoyed a brief spell in the sunshine and posed nicely for us. Eventually, we decided to make our way from this site and try our luck down the Canal Path at Titchfield.
Canal Path, Titchfield:
We listened to the beautiful song of a Song Thrush while having a coffee by the first bridge along the Canal Path.
Despite a heavy rain shower on the way there, the rest of the day turned out sunny and bright. On arrival in the small car park at the top of the Canal Path, we noticed that Bridge Street had a 'Road Closed' notice due to the flooding just west of the car park; however, there were a few idiot drivers risking all by driving through the flooded road! Unbelievable! We then crossed the road and took a walk north to check the flooded fields, but most of the fields around the Horse Paddocks were flooded. Maybe good news for the ducks present that included around a dozen Teal enjoying the conditions, but the hopeful Water Pipit was what it was, just hopeful. The footpath became impassable due to the flooding and so we turned back and made our way south on the opposite side of the road.
Above, the flooded fields north of Bridge Street. Below, a drake Teal on the fields here. I liked the way it was hiding behind the vegetation in the sunshine.
As expected, the fields between the Bridge Street Floods and Posbrook Floods were saturated due to the recent heavy rain of late, but there was a wealth of birds seen along the footpath. From the Bridge, around 400 yards down the Canal Path, where we had a nice cup of coffee, we could check out the birdlife from here. A male Blackcap flew in and showed well of which Andy jumped for joy, for his first of the year. A flock of Long-tailed Tits came in and showed well and also a gorgeous male Goldcrest that simply would not sit still to be photographed! A Song Thrush was nearby and sang sweetly within the small branches of the hedge close by.
Above, this male Blackcap seen by the bridge was Andy's first of the year and below, a small number of Long-tailed Tits were seen here while we had a coffee.
Out on the Bridge Street Floods, there was a mixture of Cormorants, Lapwing and a variety of ducks that included Pintail, Wigeon, Mallard, Gadwall and Teal. A Reed Bunting flew high overhead and a male Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen climbing one of the small trees before flying off into nearby trees. Eventually, the pathway soon became impassable due to the Canal overflowing the main footpath and my footwear was not waterproof enough and so we made our way back to the car.
Above, a male Kestrel was seen by the Canal Path and at least four Stonechats were also seen including this fine male bird.
More notable birds were picked up along the way that included a fine pair of Stonechats out in the fields and while watching the male bird flying over the tussocks, another bird followed it and was probably the long-staying Dartford Warbler, but I couldn't be 100% certain as it dived into cover before we could get a better look at it. Raptors seen along the way included at least two Common Buzzards and a male Kestrel, but, surprisingly, no Marsh Harriers at all on our visit here. We bumped into a chap who had seen a Peregrine hunting over the reserve, though we never saw the bird. A pair of Common Snipe were seen briefly landing on the reserve, but very few waders were seen here this morning. While walking through the wooded area along the Canal Path, a pair of calling Nuthatches flew over our heads and a Treecreeper was heard calling out of sight within the trees. A pair of Egyptian Geese flew up the Reserve and appeared to land around the Bridge Street Floods to round off a pleasant walk here this morning.
Above, this Common Buzzard flew in towards us and then hovered over the field adjacent to us close to where we stood. Magical.
Brownwich Pond, Hook:
Nine of the eleven Tufties on Brownwich Pond with a Coot in the background.
Our target bird next was to be for the drake Ferruginous Duck on Brownwich Pond. Though there had been no reports of the duck this morning, we decided to give it a try anyway and was not surprised when there was no sight of the bird upon the Pond. Parking in the grotty little car park that had more pot holes than a World War One ‘No Man's Land’, by Chilling Barn, we made our way along the long track through the countryside to the Pond. To be honest, it was virtually birdless on the way there, but once we arrived, we picked out a tidy flock of 11 Tufted Ducks on the water…..but no ‘Fudge’ Duck!
Above, no sign of the 'Fudge' Duck, but a couple of Cormorants and below, a Grey Heron were present.
For compensation, there was also a Grey Heron fishing on the edge of the Pond, a drake Mallard at the northern end of the Pond and a couple of Cormorants fishing on the water. Best of all, was a Grey Wagtail that flew over the Pond and landed just 20 feet away from us by the Sluice from where we stood. There it stood for some time as I took some lovely close photos of the bird. Andy then told me that the Cirl Bunting had been seen singing in a hedge by the Horse Paddocks and so back we went.
Wicor Mill, Portchester:
Out in Portsmouth Harbour, there were a good number of waders including this large flock of Dunlin flying over the mudflats. Shelduck was on the foreshore.
Sadly, the sighting was seen around 1.20pm and no sign since, but we were convinced the bird was roosting at this site and so we waited up to 4.45pm for the bird to reappear. As the sun was disappearing in the west, it got colder and colder and I have to admit, though we stuck it out for around an hour plus here, my enthusiasm was waning. I was only pleased that Pompey were winning 3-0 at the time! However, a few birds were noted including a lot of Redwing passing over and some landing in the nearby trees. Again, Greenfinches were passing over in good numbers and both Linnets and Goldfinches were around too. The odd Meadow Pipit passed overhead as I scanned Portsmouth Harbour, which was now at low tide.
Above, sunset over Portsmouth Harbour and below, I think I knew every damn branch of that row of small trees and shrubs here!
There were a lot of waders on the mudflats with a large flock of Dunlin swirling low over the mud and smaller numbers of both Curlew and Oystercatcher. Out in the distant channel, a silhouetted pair of Red-breasted Mergansers landed in the channel and flocks of Gulls were flying into the harbour to roost. As the sky's clouds turned orange due to the setting sun, we called it a day and made our way home. OK, we failed to see two rare birds in Hampshire, but still a good variety of birds today to write about on my blog.
This 'Silver' Moon rose behind the Bushes and Shrubs at Wicor Mill to round off another enjoyable day s birding.
In Hampshire today:
The Black Brant was again seen off Northney, Hayling Island on the falling tide. Nearby, Hayling Oyster Beds held both the Black-necked, Slavonian and Red-necked Grebe along with 2 Great Northern Divers, the Long-tailed Duck and the Scaup. A Jack Snipe was flushed by a Marsh Harrier on Titchfield Haven in front of the Knights Bank Hide. Birding pal Geoff Farwell went to the Hoe Cross area near Hambledon and recorded the following bird sightings: a male Merlin, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Ravens, Woodlark, 90 Skylarks, 6 Stonechats, 100+ Fieldfare, 35 Redwings and 200 Linnets.
