Superb variety of birds at Ibsley Water.

Saturday 25th March 2023.

The summer plumage Black-necked Grebe always remained distant on Ibsley Water today, but always spent its time out in the open among the Gulls.

It was back over Blashford Lakes again today for a good 6 hours birding from the Viewpoint overlooking Ibsley Water. The long drive there, which is always fraught with danger from dodgy drivers on the M27, was safely negotiated as Andy Fisher and myself went in search for more birds to add to our year list and whatever else might come our way. Yesterday’s sighting of an Alpine Swift over Ibsley Water was a very big temptation, but the chances of another was always going to be very slim; though it turned out to be a good day's birding.

Above, the Little Ringed Plovers always remained distant, spending most of the time on the spits in front of the Tern Hide. Below, a pair of Egyptian Geese flew low over our heads. 

Our day kicked off with our respective moth boxes where I scored a big fat zero! A windy night did not help and I now had to rely on Andy’s moth box to come up with the goods. He had a massive total of just one moth; but it was new for the year nonetheless. My first Brindled Pug of the year, which was near the roof of his conservatory. I currently have a bad back and reaching up to pot the moth was not pleasant at all. But where there's a will……!

Above, good numbers of Goldeneye are still on Ibsley Water and below, this singing Chiffchaff was right behind us near the Viewpoint. 

Above, the self-confessed the UK's laziest birder, but good company though!

Stopping off at the Garage at Blashford first of all for food supplies, we then made our way to the Tern Hide Car Park and promptly took our spots on the Viewing Platform. We now believe it gives a much better view of the whole area and God knows what we might have missed being stuck in the Hide with a very limited view of the whole area. At least you get a 360 degree look of the reserve and the big open sky above, instead of bouncing up and down when someone walks past behind you in the Hide! And don't even go there with those awful big windows. I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but whoever designed them Hides seriously needs a rethink. But hey, at least you don't have to pay to use them……..yet!

Above, several singing Dunnocks were seen by the Viewpoint and many giving chase to the females! Below a Long-tailed Tit was now bringing feathers to line the inside of its nest.

Above, the female Scaup (centre) sporting the flash of white around the base of the bill was showing very well throughout the day. Below, some of the 70+ strong Black-tailed Godwit over on the east side of Ibsley Water.

Back to the birds. During our time there, Andy and I reckoned we clocked up to at least 53 species of birds that included 6 species of raptor (Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, a male Marsh Harrier, several Red Kites and a Peregrine) and 7 species of wader (2 Redshank, 70+ Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin and 1 Common Sandpiper), which in truth, is certainly not bad at all for an inland reserve.

Above, another photo of the female Scaup with a Black-headed Gull. Below, the male Peregrine flying over Ibsley Water which scattered all the Godwit and Wildfowl. 

Above, the Common Sandpiper on the spit to the right of the Tern Hide.

The female Scaup showed well most of the time, associating as always with the Tufted Ducks. Again, 11 species of duck was a very good tally for this time of year. Species present included  Mallard, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Wigeon, a few Pochard, a female Goosander and at least 8 Goldeneye that included four drakes. Geese were represented by the usual Canada, Grey Lag and Egyptian, but in much smaller numbers of late. One of the star birds here, the Black-necked Grebe, was also showing very well, but busy diving a lot among the many Gulls out in the open water. The bird is now in summer plumage, but always remained distant.    

Above, another photo of the male Peregrine flying over Ibsley Water. Below, a Chiffchaff briefly singing behind us from the Viewpoint.

Chiffchaffs were singing all around us as were several Dunnocks around the brambles surrounding us and a pair of Long-tailed Tits were coming back and forth, building their nest nearby. Overhead, the occasional small flock of Sand Martins would pass by, calling in doing so, but although Swallows were being reported at Testwood Lakes and Fishlake Meadows further east today, we saw no Swallows in the whole time we were there. It was blustery all the time we were there on the wooden Viewpoint, though the wind did ease up a little in the afternoon. Though we checked the skies constantly during our time there, our optimism for seeing an Alpine Swift belting over waned, but we were rewarded with plenty of raptor sightings throughout our time there, which was always exciting. We were joined by several experienced birders that included one of the ‘Lazee Birders’, James Cutting with some of his family in tow. Always nice to see him. A great day's birding and despite the pain in my back, some great birds to reflect on.  

The Glossy Ibis still at Posbrook Floods.

Friday 24th March 2023.

The Canal Path heading back north to the car park.

I managed a walk down the Canal Path at the top end of Titchfield Haven around midday and despite the blustery south-westerly, the weather was bright and sunny. I didn't really want to walk too far, so I got as far as the bottom end of Posbrook Floods and then made my way back again. I was really hoping for a Hirundine or two over the fields, but none were to be seen by me, but at least the Glossy Ibis were showing well.

Above, a Great Spotted Woodpecker near the car park. Below, a gorgeous Willow Tree now in leaf.

Above and below, Lesser Celandine plants were abundant along the Canal Path.

By the small car park, a Chiffchaff nearby was in song and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew overhead and landed in a nearby tree. The bright yellow gold Lesser Celandine plants were everywhere beside the footpath and the Hazel trees were in full flower, which attracted the many bees seen on my journey. I checked the ‘split tree’ for the Barn Owl, but it wasn't there, however, it was seen earlier by one of the Lazee Birders.

Above, a good mixture of Gulls on the Bridge Street Floods took flight when a pair of Buzzards flew over. Below, a little while later, this male Sparrowhawk buzzed overhead and scattered the Gulls again.

The large Gull roost, that consisted of Black-headed, Mediterranean, Herring and a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls suddenly all took flight as a pair of Common Buzzards flew over and headed west. A few minutes later, they were up again as a male Sparrowhawk also flew over, though this bird headed low east. A few Black-tailed Godwit were seen on the fringes of the pools and I gave the wildfowl a good look in case there was an early Garganey lingering among the Shoveler, Wigeon, Teal and Gadwall.

Above, Wigeon grazing by the Bridge Street Floods. Below, a Buff-tailed Bumble Bee enjoying nectaring on the flowering Hazel. 

One of many Chiffchaffs seen along the Canal Path.

Chiffchaffs were flitting about in the Willow and Hazel trees beside the footpath and a Cetti’s Warbler was heard blasting out its song somewhere in cover. I regularly checked the sky over the Floods for Hirundines, but there was no sign of any whatsoever. Yesterday, a House Martin was seen along with good numbers of Sand Martin. On reaching Posbrook FLoods, I noticed it was teeming with Gulls, but I could not find anything more interesting among the many Black-headed Gulls. It didn't take long for me to find the four Glossy Ibis that were clumped together by the edge of the pool, busy preening or sleeping.

The four Glossy Ibis present and correct by Posbrook Floods. 

More Chiffchaffs were seen in the overhead branches along the footpath as well as a few Long-tailed Tits; but no early Sedge or Willow Warblers seen or heard. Surprisingly, I thought there might have been a Blackcap or two, but none whatsoever. On the way back, a male Kestrel (which was incidentally ‘ringed’ on both legs) was perched on an overhead branch, searching the ground below for a tasty meal, but it soon saw me and flew off north. Another check of the Bridge Street Floods revealed no Hirundines, but I did see a male Stonechat briefly and then promptly when I went to photograph the bird.

Above, Jackdaws in search of food by the footpath. Below, this male Kestrel showed very well as I made my way north back to the car park.

A pleasant walk in the sunshine was had and then I made my way back home. Hampshire finally got its first Alpine Swift sighting at last, when one was seen flying fast over the Tern Hide at Blashford Lakes today, but it did not linger. Another one was seen flying over the A27 in Chichester today as well. Eyes to the skies will be the order of the day tomorrow.  

It wasn't till I saw this on my laptop that I noticed this Kestrel had a ring on each leg. I am sure I saw this bird earlier this year.

Some great birds in Hampshire of late.

Thursday 23rd March 2023.

This superb photo of a male Merlin at Blackgutter Bottom today. Photo by Pete Appleton.

The weather has been rather grim over the past few days with squally showers and blustery winds and therefore, no birding for me at all. On Wednesday night, I put the moth box on and was rewarded with just one moth! A Light Brown Apple Moth was sitting comfortably on one of the egg trays within the moth box, but nothing else in or around the box.

This Light Brown Apple Moth was the only moth in my box earlier this week.

There seems to be no letting up with the Alpine Swift sightings in the UK, though the vast majority seem to be in the north of the UK and no sightings in Hampshire still, which is disappointing. A record 50+ sightings of this species this week, apparently. A male Lesser Kestrel was found on St. Marys, on the Scilly Isles today, which will no doubt have a lot of ‘twitchers’ scrambling. I remember twitching one at Minsmere many years ago and bloody well ‘dipped’, despite being there for several days. That's ‘twitching’ for you!

Above, the female Surf Scoter off Pennington Marshes last weekend. Photo by Emma Parkes. Below, some film footage of the same bird by Andy Friend.

A few more migrants have been noted and in Hampshire, a White Wagtail was found at Hook-with-Warsash, a Willow Warbler at Blashford Lakes and good numbers of Sand Martin at both Titchfield Haven and Lower Test Marshes plus a Hobby reported just outside Hampshire, in Ferndown. I have been rumbling through the Lazee Birder Whatsapp and picked off a few superb photos from the guys. Enjoy.

Above, this cracking male Brambling near the Blashford Lakes Centre today. Photo by Pete Appleton.

From top to bottom: female Marsh Harrier x 2; a pair of female Goldeneye. Both species seen at Blashford Lakes today. Photos by Andy Tew.

Curlew added to 'Patch List'.

Tuesday 21st March 2023.

The male Firecrest over on the east side of the Cemetery.

Though the weather was a bit indifferent with heavy overhead clouds, a blustery south-westerly and always the threat of rain; it turned out to be a cracking morning for birds with possibly TWO ‘patch ticks’, notably a flock of Curlews and three ‘grey geese’. However, they were so high up, that the Geese could have either been White-fronted (that's what I think they were after checking out the photos on my laptop) or Bean Geese? The Curlew were pretty obvious despite being well over a 1000 feet up and heading east towards Langstone Harbour along with the Geese.

Above, a large clump of Lords and Ladies growing in the southern end of the Cemetery. Below, one of many Goldfinches still in the Cemetery. At least 20 birds are still around here. 

Above and below, the only Bee I saw this morning was a male Hairy-footed Flower Bee. 

It didn't end there either as I found a superb male Firecrest over on the east side, while I was walking north along the footpath. It was first heard in the lone Holm Oak on the east side and then flew out and landed in some small shrubs nearby along with at least two Chiffchaffs! Eventually, the Firecrest popped out of hiding and showed well searching for insects and I even managed a brief bit of film footage of the bird. Again, there was a small number of Chiffchaffs around the Cemetery with at least four of five birds seen on my walk.

Above, Red Dead-nettle surrounding a grave on the east side of the Cemetery. Below, a Wren burst into song on the west side of the Cemetery; one of several birds present. 

A Common Buzzard was a surprise sighting this morning as well. Once the local Herring Gulls started wailing overhead, I knew immediately that a raptor was nearby and looking north, I saw a Common Buzzard being mobbed by the Gulls until they backed off and let the bird soar high overhead. The male Sparrowhawk also made an appearance again as it came in from the south and flew low over the Cemetery heading north and out of view behind the trees. It is that time of year when everything is on the move and so to keep an eye out within the sky was never not going to be an option. Another Alpine Swift was seen again this morning and not too far away either; this individual was seen flying south-east over Bosham, West Sussex.

The Common Buzzard soaring just north of the Cemetery this morning

A couple of single Meadow Pipits headed high north and a Cormorant was seen to fly west low over the houses to the south, which constituted the best of the rest of the sightings; though the Jay was showing again, albeit briefly.

Above, the 'Grey Geese' flew very high over the Cemetery heading eastbound along with a flock of around 10 Curlew nearby. Below, I managed to get a shot of one of the Curlews with the Geese.

Above, this Robin was seen collecting nesting material on one of the footpaths. Below, there were at least two singing male Blackbirds in song this morning.

Not much in the way of insects here this morning although I did come across a male Hairy-footed Flower Bee near the Heather grave on the east side. Sadly, no butterflies, but the sun only occasionally popped out a few times all the time I was there. All the usual plants were present and correct though the Lords and Ladies clump on the southernmost end of the Cemetery were showing well.     

Above, can you see the Jay trying to hide from my view? Below, this male Greenfinch was one of several present today.

A reasonably good number of species seen this morning within or over the Cemetery today. The following birds were either seen or heard in the Cemetery today:

• Common Buzzard
• Sparrowhawk (male)
• House Sparrow
• Starling
• Wren
• Robin
• Goldfinch
• Greenfinch
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Firecrest (male)
• Black-headed Gull
• Herring Gull
• Jay
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Meadow Pipit (2)
• Wood Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Feral Pigeon
• Cormorant
• Blackbird

Above and below, the male Firecrest searches for insects in the bushes over on the east side. 

In Hampshire today, the female Surf Scoter was showing very well again off Pennington Marshes at Oxey Marshes and nearby, both Spoonbill and a Merlin put in an appearance. Blashford Lakes hosted the female Scaup, Ruff and Black-necked Grebe still and a Common Sandpiper was also present there today along with several Sand Martins. A White-tailed Eagle flew north over Warnford this morning.

Above, a brief film footage of the male Firecrest within Highland Road Cemetery this morning.