Tuesday 28 January 2014

Hampshire (26/1/2014)

Despite feeling under the weather I needed to get out for some fresh air, so I wrapped up warm and spent what turned out to be a difficult day in the New Forest area.  First stop was Lepe where I had reasonable views of the Lesser Yellowlegs.  Then onto Pennington Marshes where the conditions were so bad I eventually scoped the fields near the car park where most of the waders were feeding.  In amongst the usual suspects were a couple of Ruff.

I then went onto Sopley where I couldn't find the Green-winged Teal in the horrible conditions.  At Harbridge I ticked off the lone Bewick's Swan and then moved to Blashford Lakes where I at least salvaged some of the day with a Black-necked Grebe, drake Red-crested Pochard and Lesser Redpoll (but no sign of any Common Redpolls).

At Kingfisher Lake I had a couple of brief views of what was probably the Ferruginous Duck but the views weren't tickable.

Tuesday 21 January 2014

Tices's Meadow (18/01/2014)

Despite searching couldn't find any Yellow-legged Gull but did see the Black-necked Grebe distantly on the far bank.

I nice flock of Redwings and Fieldfares in the tops of distant trees.

South Coast jaunt no. 1 (19th Jan 2014)




The first of my planned south coast jaunts had its ups and downs.

First stop was Walpole Park where the adult Ring-billed Gull showed very well feeding on the large amounts of bread birders were feeding it.  Also here was an adult Mediterranean Gull.

At Titchfield Haven I only had a brief stop as a 10km race was taking place which would have closed the road, no sign of the Velvet Scoter - just a small selection of waders.

Thence onto Southsea Castle where a £1.60 car parking charge was a bit steep to see a couple of close Purple Sandpipers and a Rock Pipit.

I then dropped into Farlington Marshes where there was the usual stuff but nothing terribly exciting.  At Hayling Oyster Beds the Long-tailed Duck had gone but the high tide roost was impressive.  At Budd's Farm no luck with any of the rare grebes.

Finally dropped into Thursley Common where there was no sign of the Great Grey Shrike but had a Green Woodpecker.

Tuesday 14 January 2014

A cold and frosty morning (Moor Green Lakes, 12th Jan 2014)

Not a great start - I managed to get a boot full of freezing water.

A fairly good mornings work with 7 Goosander, 2 Little Egrets, a couple of Snipe, Green Sandpiper and Stonechat but no sign of the reported Smew.

Friday 10 January 2014

Theale area (08/01/2014)

After avoiding the various floods I managed to get to where I was going.

I checked out the main put but there was little on there except a red-head Smew in the SW corner.

I then had a look at Hosefield Lake and picked up a pair of Goldeneye.

However, did get my first Red Kite of the year.

Monday 6 January 2014

Frensham area (05/01/2014)

On a cold and frosty morning I went to Frensham and the Glossy Ibis wasn't visibile.  However, with a bit of persistence I eventually managed to find the bird partially hidden by a fence but with careful positioning could see it reasonably well.

I then moved onto the Great Pond to try and find any Firecrests without any luck.

Wednesday 1 January 2014

Weymouth area (29/12/2013) + Blashford Lakes







Reached Portland Harbour at first light.  Opened up with a Great Northern Diver and a few Shags.  Then someone shouted they had the bird so I walked to where everyone had gathered and had great views of the Brunnich's Guillemot.  The bird was continuously diving and swam quite a long way every time.  Eventually it preened for a while.

Also around the harbour were 2 more Great Northern Divers, a 1w Black Guillemot and a couple of Razorbills.

At Ferrybridge were 4 Mediterranean Gulls.

At Radipole the Glossy Ibis showed unbelievably well on a flooded playing field.

On the way home I stopped at Blashford Lakes where had a nice selection of species including Goldeneye, Bittern, 2 Redpolls and Bullfinch.

The Burgh (26/12/2013)

A fairly pleasant day for a walk.  There were olenty of Buzzards and eventually a Red Kite but it took a lot of looking for any Grey Partridges.  Eventually saw a covey of 5 birds and on the way back a couple of Corn Buntings.

No sign of any Bewick's Swans on the floods.