Barn Owl at Fort Cumberland.

Thursday 2nd February 2023.

The Barn Owl now occupies one of the holes at Fort Cumberland.

I only had an hour spare this morning and so I thought I would give it another try for the Little Owls at Fort Cumberland. There seems to be just one sighting of these birds here this year, but something told me that it was worth having another try (4th time this year!) for the birds and if they are not here, I shall try for the Newlands Barn bird instead! The weather looked a bit indifferent as heavy clouds slowly made its way in from the west. 

Above, one of the two Sanderlings on the foreshore and below, a Common Gull on the sea. 

The tide was ebbing when I arrived at Eastney Beach, though I was lucky enough to pick out a couple of Sanderling running along the shoreline and even managed to grab a few photos of the birds. Not a great deal else here though, with just a few Common Gulls for company, I walked close to the fence line to check if any Black Redstarts might be hiding here. They should be coming in now and this species here can get quite numerous. I have heard them singing here in the late Winter / early Spring in the past and I am sure it can be repeated.

Above, the Barn Owl and below, another one of the Sanderlings.

There was another young chap just ahead of me, but I kept my distance from him as he made his way to the very end of the fence. Funny thing is, though he gave me a few quizzical looks, I had a chat with him back at the car and he apologised to me for looking a bit dodgy as he was dying for a pee! He asked me about the Owls here and I was a bit reluctant at first, but he said he saw the Little Owls here in December.

Above, another photo of the Barn Owl and below, a calm sea over the Solent. Sad there was nothing on it to look at.

I made my way to the usual viewing area to check out the holes in the south facing wall of Fort Cumberland and to my surprise, I could see one of the holes was occupied. Excitedly, I moved up some more along the embankment to get a better view and low and behold, it wasn't a Little Owl, but a Barn Owl occupying one of the holes! I grabbed a load of photos and decided to leave the bird in peace, wondering if the Barn Owl had pushed the Little Owls out of their territory?

The Blackcap was still in my garden this morning.

Apart from the usual Feral Pigeons, there was absolutely nothing else of note here, not even any Stock Doves either! When I got home, I quickly done myself something to eat and checked out the garden feeders and I was pleased to see the male Blackcap back again for its 4th day in my garden. In Hampshrie today, the Great Grey Shrike was still present near Denny Wood in the New Forest. The adult Sabine’s Gull is still present at Southmoor and it looks as though it is even coming to bread according to one birder!   

A bit quieter around the Cemy.

Wednesday 1st February 2023.

Starlings on one of the neighbouring house rooftops.

Though I have a nice ‘Cold’ to enjoy, I took another stroll over Highland Road Cemetery, seeing that it was not only the first day of the new month and also a pleasant day. Though there was a bit of cloud overhead, the sun did come out now and then, in a balmy 9 degrees and a westerly breeze. 

Above, a juvenile Herring Gull on the roof of the Chapel. Below, this Robin was in full song as I passed by underneath it.

The number of species of birds here was lower than usual, with just 15 species seen or heard, but with Spring on its way, there will be more in the coming months. I was also keeping an eye on any plants starting to appear this morning and came up with some flowering Common Field-speedwell growing on some of the graves. The Winter Heliotrope was also still in bloom below the Holm Oak clump (see photo), but little else yet.

Above, Common Field-speedwell growing on the graves and below, flowering Winter Heliotrope.

Yet again, still no sign of the Green Woodpecker, but the Jay finally gave itself away, though this bird was very quiet this morning. At least three Wrens were seen this morning including two that were chasing each other. I was hoping that a returning Firecrest would be around the Holm Oaks this morning, but I was happy to make do with a couple of Goldcrests instead. 

Above, Magpies and a Carrion Crow in one of the Chestnut trees and below, the Jay eventually put in an appearance.

The birds seen or heard this morning within the Cemetery were as follows:

• Herring Gull
• House Sparrow
• Starling
• Wren
• Great Tit
• Blue Tit
• Goldcrest (male + female)
• Carrion Crow
• Jay
• Magpie
• Feral Pigeon
• Wood Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Goldfinch
• Blackbird

Above, these Robins came close to where I stood in the middle of the Cemy. Below, one of several Wrens seen this morning. 

When I got home, a quick check of the birds enjoying the feeders in my back garden, I noticed the male Blackcap again flitting around by the Suet feeder. I did notice it was empty, so I topped it up along with the Sunflower Heart feeder. I wonder if there is a female bird around our gardens.

My turn for a Blackcap!

Monday 30th January 2023.

The male Blackcap in my garden this morning. That was totally unexpected.

The birds were still enjoying the food I put out for them this morning within my Southsea  garden and on checking them around 11am this morning, I noticed something interesting on the Suet Pellet feeder. After Andy Fisher got one in his garden yesterday, I then also got a gorgeous male Blackcap in my garden! The weather was sunny, with a bit of patchy overhead cloud, but nowhere near as cold as the weekend just gone.

The male Blackcap this morning took a liking to the food I put out for the birds.

I ran to grab my camera and waited patiently for the bird to return having been flushed by one of the House Sparrows and eventually, it flew in and I managed to grab a few photos of this most welcome garden visitor and my first one of the year too. The bird, I noticed, was taking a liking to both the Suet Pellets (which I topped up again this morning) and also the half Apples I have scattered in the front of my flower bed at the back of the garden. I noticed the Blackbirds were also interested in the Apples too.

Above, even the Robin came in to pick off a seed or two. Below, the ever-hungry House Sparrows enjoying their feast.

During a 15 minute spell, the bird came into the garden a few times more until it all went quiet, though a male Blackbird, a single Starling, a Robin and a pair of Great Tits also came into the garden to make use of the bountiful supply of food put out for them. The Blackcap now puts me on 129 species for the year, which is rather good for just the first month of the year.

Above, the male Blackcap on the Suet Pellet feeder. Below, one of our local Starlings came in to feed on the Pellets.

I sent Andy a text to say what I had seen and he replied that he was taking a walk down the Canal Path at Titchfield and happily added the Glossy Ibis to his year list.  

One of the pair of Great Tits enjoying a sunflower heart.

RSPB Garden Birdwatch.

Sunday 29th January 2023.

This Blue Tit took a liking to the Fat Balls this morning.

This weekend is the RSPB’s Garden Birdwatch and so I took time out this morning to record what birds were feeding or around my garden from 8.30am to 9.30am. It was overcast this morning, even with a threat of a bit of rain and still quite cold too (about 5 degrees), though hardly any wind at all. I was well wrapped up after topping up all the feeders and so armed with my binoculars and camera, I sat down outside by the back door and waited.

The local House Sparrows enjoying the bounty of food I put out for the birds this morning. Yes, they are common, but they have declined since the 1970's by an enormous number. 

As expected, the House Sparrows totally dominated proceedings, with at least 14+ birds present, but sitting there quietly, it is amazing how many different calls they make, especially when there is some sort of dispute going on between them; one hell of a din! Though the Goldfinches came a close second, I think the Robin was probably the best of all the sightings during my time here, though it proved a difficult individual to photograph. There were actually two Robins, though one was a few gardens away and singing its heart out.

Above. though this Robin was slightly out of focus, it was eyeing up the food this morning. Occasionally, it would fly onto the sunflower hearts and pick one out, though it never settled long. Below, another photo of one of the Blue Tits checking out the Fat Balls.

A pair of Goldfinches came down to inspect the feeders briefly in my neighbours tree, but did not venture onto the feeders. Though later on during the morning, they came back with five more of their chums in the same tree, but again, none ventured into my garden. A pair of Blue Tits came down to have a go at both the Fat Balls and the sunflower hearts at least twice during the hour, but there was no sign of the Great Tits this morning, which was a shame. First thing this morning, a male Blackbird came into the garden to feed on one of the Apples put out for the Thrushes. It or another bird didn't manage to get into the garden during the hour I was sitting out there, but remained in my neighbours Holly Tree, doing a bit of sub-singing instead! Another male bird simply belted across the garden and headed off south giving off its alarm call.

Above, four of the seven Goldfinches in my neighbours tree and below, a pair of Magpies flew into the same tree later in the morning. 

Several bird species flew over the garden including Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Herring Gull and even a pair of Magpies landed in my neighbours tree briefly before flying off south over the gardens. I did see a Wagtail species fly over heading east, but it never called and so will remain a Wagtail sp. Both Grey and Pied Wagtails fly over my house in the winter quite regularly, though I have not seen the Grey Wagtail for a while now. Finally, I did get just the one Starling feeding in my garden, though a passing Cat put paid in the visit as the bird shot out of one of the feeders and up onto my roof of the house. 

Eventually, a Starling joined the other birds in my garden, paying particular attention to the seed pellets. 

Total birds seen this morning included the following:

• 14+ House Sparrow
• 6 Herring Gull
• 3 Wood Pigeon
• 3 Collared Dove
• 1 Robin + 1 heard singing.
• 7 Goldfinch
• 2 Blue Tit
• 1 Starling
• 2 Blackbird
• 2 Magpie.    

Andy Fisher struck lucky this morning when he spotted a male Blackcap coming onto his feeders within his Cowplain back garden. I was only asking him yesterday about any sightings of the Blackcaps that regularly winter in his garden! Thankfully, he filmed the bird on his mobile this morning (see below). I have had Blackcaps wintering around the garden here a few years back, but none of late, sadly.

Above, the male Blackcap in Andy's garden this morning. Film footage by Andy Fisher.

Farlington Marshes & Hill Head.

Saturday 28th January 2023.

An early start down at Farlington Marshes ensured us that we were going to give the reserve a good search. 

Farlington Marshes was on my radar this morning as we had the potential of grabbing a few more ‘year-ticks’ under our belt with a few outstanding species that have been recorded here of late. There was always the off chance of the Short-eared Owls this morning, but they did not appear well after we had left the reserve for Hill Head. Bloody typical! Nevertheless, I was more than happy by grabbing another three more species for the year: Bearded Tit, Knot and Dartford Warbler.

Above, this Little Grebe swam close to where we were sitting by the main Lake. Below, one of the 8 Avocets, with a Brent Goose, on the main Lake.

There was a high blanket of cloud overhead on our arrival at 8.20am, but as the morning wore on, it eventually moved south, leaving a clear blue sky and sunny weather; though it was damn cold again with the temperature only just above freezing. It was low tide within Langstone Harbour as we made our way along the seawall to the Viewing Platform, to view the main Lake. Here, we spent a good hour or so enjoying the superb bird life over a cup of coffee from Andy’s flask. There was hardly any wind this morning and so checking the reedbeds on the reserve proved fruitful. 

Above, the lone Mediterranean Gull on the Lake and below, a good variety of wildfowl and waders in the same area.

While checking out the Common Snipe one the edge of the Lake, I found Andy’s first Water Pipit of the year, busy searching for food, just south of the Lake on the short grass. That was just after I spotted a small flock of 4 Bearded Tits, my first of the year, flying low over the reedbed, but the birds quickly flew down into the reeds to remain hidden. I counted 8 Avocets feeding on the Lake among the many Lapwing and Common Snipe present, with a few Redshank also feeding along the fringes of the reedbed. Among the Black-headed Gulls, Andy spotted an adult Med Gull swimming on the water, which is always a bonus and I picked out a calling female Reed Bunting perched in the reedbed in front of us. Below us on the water, a Little Grebe was busy searching for something to eat close to the viewing platform and I watched it catch a small fish and devour it.

Above, not the best photo in the world, but the light was not great and this Water Pipit was distant, but a reasonable 'record shot' of the bird. Below, there is nothing more amazing than a huge flock of Geese flying low over your head like these Brent did this morning.

Up to four species of Raptor were seen on our trip here, starting off with a pair of Marsh Harriers seen over the reedbed, near the Stream area. A male Kestrel was hunting out over the fields and a female Sparrowhawk put a lot of the waders up when it flew low over the main reedbed behind the Lake and then perched on a fencepost. A Common Buzzard was seen later in the morning, perched on a bush near the seawall. 

Above, the female Sparrowhawk that flew over the reedbed behind the Lake. Below, some of the Russian White-fronted Geese among the Brent Geese.

From the viewpoint, I regularly checked the Point Field, should the Owls fly up, but though there was no sighting of them, however, I did spot a Fox walking across the field, flushing a lot of the Geese in doing so. Later, when we neared the Point Field, checking the Brent Geese flock in the adjacent field, we found the long staying family flock of Russian White-fronted Geese feeding among them. Cracking birds. 

Above, the female Stonechat perched on this bramble and sharing it with a Dunnock and a Wren! Below, one of the many Common Snipe present on the Lake.

Though it was low tide, I had my scope with me to check the waders in the southern half of Langstone Harbour. Knot was on the menu and I found some very distant birds among other waders through the scope to add to my year list and better still, when we reached the Point Field we also got onto our first Dartford Warbler of the year. Several Dartford Warblers have been wintering here on the reserve, but they are hardy creatures and spend a lot of their time deep within the brambles, though occasionally pop out to explore. I saw something small fly out of a bush then land nearby and we then confirmed that it was a male bird. Earlier we had seen a female Stonechat perched on a bramble that also held a Dunnock and a Wren. Sadly, the Owls never showed, but we did get onto Andy’s first Cetti’s Warblers of the year by the main footpath by the Point Field. We had waited patiently for the birds to show after I picked up a pair of birds calling to one another (that scolding one note call) and were rewarded with some superb views of the bird.

This Pale-bellied Brent Goose showed well within a large flock of Brent as we neared the Info Centre.

Out in the harbour, looking east, the channel held at least 6 Great Crested Grebes and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers swimming on the still water, but nothing more exciting than that. The Deeps area was relatively quiet, as was the walk to the Blockhouse. The black Rabbit was on show again, being chased by two normal coloured Rabbits in the field adjacent to the seawall and a Song Thrush flew up and perched on a bramble before flying off. Walking towards the Info Centre, the field to the south, I decided to check out the large flock of Brent grazing there and promptly found the Pale-bellied Brent Goose among them.

We were perplexed on what species of Goose that these birds were as they were circling over the fields with the sun in front of us and quite high as well. Eventually, they landed behind the Stream area and settled on the Scrape behind the reedbed, where I could confirm they were in fact Grey Lag Geese.

We stopped off by the Viewpoint near the Info Centre where we waited for any Bearded Tits to show, joining another female Birder present who was also waiting for the same birds. I thought I caught sight of a Water Rail flying from one bit of reedbed to another, but I wasn't 100% sure and so I will not add it to my year list; however, two Water Rails called behind us within the reedbed to the north of the main footpath. On the Stream, there was a single Avocet swimming on the water and a good number of Brent Geese present, with most having a good bath in the freshwater. There were no signs of any ‘Beardies’, so we walked westbound towards the harbour wall, keeping in line with the white posts, hoping to hear the birds calling, but all was quiet.

This drake Eider was all on its own on the Solent, but another two more birds were found further east on the sea.

Pleased with our sightings here at Farlington Marshes, I wanted to try Hill Head for the Eiders out on the Solent, which were present yesterday and thankfully, the species duly obliged. We parked up near the Chalets, where typically, the ticket machine wasn't working properly (another bonus!) and I was soon onto a drake Eider sitting on the very calm sea; our first of the year. Whilst here, I gave the sea a very good scan and found two more immature drakes further east and at least a dozen or so Great Crested Grebes on the water that also included a flying flock of 8 birds heading west over the sea.

This male Fox was seen urinating opposite the car park on the reserve, then went on to have a good scratch before making his way west. 

Though it was very cold here, despite the sunny conditions, we persevered and made our way further east along the seawall. From here, we enjoyed another female Marsh Harrier flying over the reedbeds and a Kingfisher was seen several times flying back and forth over the main body of water in front of the reserve. I was just about to put my binoculars and camera away when Andy spotted something interesting flying high heading north. He called out that it was a Spoonbill and sure enough, it certainly was; another superb bird to add to our year list as we watched it circle north of the main reserve and landing around the ‘Frying Pan’ area of the reserve which rounded off another superb morning's birding.  

Some of the small flock of 8 Great Crested Grebes flying west over the Solent from Hill Head.

Later in the day, Andy went off to Petersfield Lake to ‘tick off’ the two ‘dodgy’ Ruddy Shelduck (whether they are genuinely wild or not is anyone’s guess, but this species is always controversial) and then up to Beacon Hill for possible Woodcock late afternoon. Sadly, he ‘dipped’ on those and saw, as he puts it, ‘Bugger all’!