Monday 28 November 2011

Hosehill Lake, Theale (27/11/11)

A blustery but bright day and a quick jaunt up to the lake.  Managed to park on the west side of the lake and scanned for the reported Smew.  Eventually managed to pin them down on the west side of the lake by the reeds - 2 red-heads, but as I was nearly looking straight into the sun, the views weren't great.

A visit to Dinton was disappointing because the work party had emptied the scrape so little chance of seeing the reported Jack Snipe


Tuesday 15 November 2011

Farlington / Hayling Oyster Beds (12/11/11)

I arrived late after oversleeping but managed to catch up with all the birds that had already been seen.  This included a flock of Avocet on the sea behind the lake, 3 Greenshank and at least 3 Water Rails on the lake and a few Snipe there as well.

We then proceeded to walk around the reserve with the best birds being 1 male and 2 female Bearded Tits, a couple of Buzzards, a distant Peregrine, Rock Pipit by the southern sea wall and plenty of waders in the high tide roosts.

I then popped over to Broadmarsh to try and see if the Long-tailed Duck was still present on the sewage farm ponds but I couldn't find it.  There were 3 Green Sandpipers there.

Onward then to Hayling Oyster beds but despite the large numbers of waders there was little of note except 3 Goldeneye and a few Red-breasted Mergansers.  No sign of any Black-necked Grebes