Crondall (04/04/11)

Parked up opposite the hospital entrance and located the quarry immediately. The Hoopoe was seen on a dirt track that ran parallel to the hospital entrance road. It was actively feeding and seemed to be finding a lot of food. A smashing bird being salmon pink with black and white wings and an orange, black tipped crest which occasionally it raised.

I watched it for about half an hour but it was quite cold and left when the bird started walking further away.

Moor Green Lakes (3rd April 2011)

Had another stroll around the lakes and up to Finchampstead Ridges. Fairly quiet, the only highlights being a pair of Mandarins feeding under the feeders and a couple of male Blackcaps in song.

Pagham area (27/03/11)

The NE Hants RSPB group trip to the Pagham area. Before meeting up with everyone else I did a short seawatch from Selsey Bill. Highlights were a couple of Eider, Sandwich Tern, 2 Fulmars and a few Gannets. Met up with the group at Sidlesham Ferry. We had a long look at the ferry pool and some of the farmland and north end of the harbour before returning to the car. On the ferry pool were up to 7 Mediterranean Gulls either on the pond or loafing on its bank. 2 Red-legged Partridges were seen distantly on the grassy area but no sign of any Wheatears. A Little Ringed Plover was feeding on mud by the reed bed. A small falcon appeared briefly from the left but was lost to view behind some trees. Given the brief views I suspect it was a Merlin but can't be 100% sure. We then drove around to Church Norton but as the tide was very low there were few waders to be seen. We did see a Water Rail in a ditch by the Severals grassy area and there were at least 3 male and 1 female Wheatears on the shingle bank although they could be quite elusive. I went up to the wood to try and find Firecrest but only found Goldcrest. On the way there I saw an Adder sunning itself by a bramble bush. After lunch we went around to Pagham Lagoon where we had good views of the 2 female Scaup on the lagoon (Mum & Dad turned up so could show them as well). Finally we walked up to the North Wall but the only species of note were a few Black-tailed Godwits and a Cetti's Warbler seen briefly.

Woolhampton GP (30/03/11)

Dropped in for another visit on the way back from Newbury. A cold, wet and blustery day. Most of the birds were quiet but did managed a lot of Sand Martins with a couple of Swallows and my first House Martin of the year. The 3 Black-necked Grebes appeared to have gone. Also heard 2 couple of Cetti's Warblers.

Fleet Pond/Moor Green Lakes (26/03/11)

Two of the earlier Little Gulls were still present hawking Fleet Pond. Both of them were in adult winter plumage. Also at the pond were a lot of squabbling Mute Swans and a Grey Wagtail. I then drove over to Moor Green Lakes but was quite quiet with the only highlights being a couple of Green Sandpipers and a male Mandarin on the main lake.

Woolhampton GP (22/03/11)

Dropped in for a quick visit on the way back from a customer meeting in Newbury.

My quarry immediately found on the southerly side of the gravel pit. The 3 Black-necked Grebes were actively feeding near to the bank. One was in full summer plumage, one in intermediate plumage and one in mainly winter plumage.

Also briefly saw my first Sand Martin of the year.

Old Basing (26/02/11)

On hearing that the White-tailed Sea-Eagle from the New Forest had relocated to Old Basing I decided to go shopping in Basingstoke and dropped into Old Basing on the way there. However, I found that the bird had flown off quite early and so I went on a drive around the lanes to see if I could locate with no success.

I then went off to do my shopping and returned later.

I returned to the original viewpoint and was rewarded with the bird sitting distantly in the top of a dead tree. After a while it got disturbed by a Range Rover and flew off low east. Once again I tried to relocate it without any success.

Also in the area were a number of Buzzards and at least 3 Red Kites.