February 2017 Year=129 Hants=122

Wednesday 1st February, and I had a nice walk around Barley Pound Crondall Hampshire, seeing: RED KITE, Buzzard, Red-legged partridge, Pheasant, Stock dove, Woodpigeon, Skylark, Robin, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song thrush, Redwing, Mistle thrush, Goldcrest, Marsh tit, Blue tit, Great tit, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion crow, Starling, Chaffinch & Yellowhammer.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 116 (Hampshire year list = 109)

Thursday 2nd, went down to Hill head and walked along the beach to Brownwich, returning along the cliff top, some good birds seen: Great crested grebe, Cormorant, Mute swan, Dark-bellied brent goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Scaup, Eider, LONG-TAILED DUCK, COMMON SCOTER, Buzzard, Pheasant, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Golden plover, Lapwing, Sanderling, Turnstone, LITTLE GULL, Black-headed gull, Herring gull, Great black-backed gull, Stock dove, Woodpigeon, Skylark, Pied wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Mistle thrush, Magpie, Carrion crow, Starling, House sparrow, Greenfinch & Snow bunting.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 119 (Hampshire year list = 112)

After I went to Blackwater Arboretum in the new forest, hoping for hawfinch, it was quite windy, so only brief views of possible hawfinches as they flew straight into cover to roost. Birds I did note while there: Robin, Blackbird, Song thrush, Goldcrest, Long-tailed tit, Marsh tit, Coal tit, Blue tit, Great tit, Nuthatch, chaffinch, Greenfinch, Siskin, LESSER REDPOLL & Bullfinch.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 120 (Hampshire year list = 113)

Thursday 9th and after catching up on admin for work, I had a quick look and the rose-coloured starling that had been around on a housing estate in Crawley West Sussex. Black-headed gull, Collared dove, Blue tit, Magpie, Carrion crow, Starling, ROSE-COLOURED STARLING, & Chaffinch.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 121

Tuesday 14th as I had been working in the area, I went to Cuckmere haven East Sussex, to try for the twite, birds I did see: Little egret, Grey heron, European white-fronted goose, Canada goose, Dark-bellied brent goose, Shelduck, Teal, Mallard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Black-headed gull, Lesser black-backed gull, Herring gull, Great black-backed gull, Woodpigeon, Wren, Blackbird, Song thrush, Great tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook & Carrion crow, Starling.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 121

Friday 17th, and another day birding in Hamphire, I started at Whiteley for the waxwings, while there saw the following: Woodpigeon, Waxwing, Magpie, Starling, House sparrow & Goldfinch.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 121 (Hampshire year list = 114)

Then down to Hill head to walk along the beach, towards Brownwich to find the Velvet scoter, Great crested grebe, Cormorant, Dark-bellied brent goose, Shelduck, Scaup, Eider, Long-tailed duck, Common scoter, VELVET SCOTER, Oystercatcher, Sanderling, Black-tailed godwit, Turnstone, Mediterranean gull, Black-headed gull, Common gull, Herring gull, Collared dove, Skylark, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Magpie, Carrion crow & Greenfinch.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 122 (Hampshire year list = 115)

Then along to Dunces arch inclosure near Lyndhurst, where I saw GOSHAWK & Buzzard from the open area behind the water treatment works, in the wood, Stock dove, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Long-tailed tit, Blue tit, Carrion crow, Siskin & COMMON CROSSBILL.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 124 (Hampshire year list = 117)

Finished the day at Shatterford, where the following were seen: Grey heron, Teal, MARSH HARRIER, Buzzard, Lapwing, Stock dove, Great spotted woodpecker, Green woodpecker, WOODLARK, MEADOW PIPIT, Wren, robin, Mistle thrush, Long-tailed tit, Coal tit, GREAT GREY SHRIKE, Jay, Magpie, Carrion crow, RAVEN, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Lesser redpoll, Bullfinch & Reed bunting.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 129 (Hampshire year list = 122)

January 2017, a new year and a new challenge

January 2017, a new year and a new challenge, and that challenge is to do a Hampshire year list.

Anyway on Friday 6th January, I started the year list with a lunchtime walk around Gravesend cemetery Kent, as I was working close by. Seeing:BLACK-HEADED GULL, WOODPIGEON, COLLARED DOVE, WREN, ROBIN, BLACKBIRD, MISTLE THRUSH, BLUE TIT, GREAT TIT, JAY, MAGPIE, CARRION CROW, STARLING, HOUSE SPARROW, CHAFFINCH & GOLDFINCH

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 16

Monday 9th and as working down in Bournemouth, I had a quick look in the Ivy lake and woodland hides at Blashford lakes Hampshire. Where I saw and added the following:LITTLE GREBE, GREAT CRESTED GREBE, CORMORANT, GREY HERON, MUTE SWAN, CANADA GOOSE, WIGEON, GADWALL, TEAL, MALLARD, SHOVELER, POCHARD, TUFTED DUCK, COOT, Black-headed gull, HERRING GULL, STOCK DOVE, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, 

KINGFISHER, GREEN WOODPECKER, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, DUNNOCK, Robin, Blackbird, SONG THRUSH, LONG-TAILED TIT, COAL TIT, Blue tit, Great tit, NUTHATCH, Jay, Chaffinch, BRAMBLING, GREENFINCH, Goldfinch, SISKIN & REED BUNTING

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 44 (Hampshire year list = 38)

Tuesday 10th and as I was on call for work, I drove down to Warblington Hampshire, where I had a great start to the day:CATTLE EGRET, LITTLE EGRET, DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE, SHELDUCK, Wigeon, GOLDENEYE, BUZZARD, PHEASANT, MOORHEN, Black-headed gull, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song thrush, REDWING, GOLDCREST, Great tit, Magpie, Carrion crow, House sparrow, Greenfinch & Goldfinch.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 54 (Hampshire year list = 52)

Then down to the lifeboat station on Hayling island, I then walked out to black point seeing: Little grebe, Cormorant, Little egret, Dark-bellied brent goose, Shelduck, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, OYSTERCATCHER, RINGED PLOVER, GREY PLOVER, KNOT, SANDERLING, DUNLIN, CURLEW, REDSHANK, TURNSTONE, Black-headed gull, Herring gull, RAZORBILL, Woodpigeon, PIED WAGTAIL, Carrion crow & Starling.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 66 (Hampshire year list = 65)

Then off the island and on to Farlington marshes, for the Short-eared owl. Species seen on my walk around the reserve were: Great crested grebe, Grey heron, Canada goose, Dark-bellied brent goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, PINTAIL, Shoveler, Red-breasted merganser, KESTREL, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, AVOCET, Grey plover, LAPWING, Dunlin, 

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT, Curlew, Redshank, GREENSHANK, Turnstone, Black-headed gull, Herring gull, GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, Woodpigeon, SHORT-EARED OWL, Robin, STONECHAT, Blackbird, Song thrush, Magpie, Carrion crow, Starling & Goldfinch.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 75 (Hampshire year list = 74)

Finally down to Southsea Castle, No purple sandpipers, but did see: 

Cormorant, Dark-bellied brent goose, Oystercatcher, Sanderling, Black-headed gull, COMMON GULL, Herring gull, FERAL PIGEON, Woodpigeon, ROCK PIPIT, Pied wagtail, Blackbird, Starling & House sparrow.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 78 (Hampshire year list = 77)

Wednesday 11th, after working in Poole, I spent the afternoon at Blashford lakes, starting in Ibsley water hide, then the woodland hide & finally the Ivy lake north hide, where I had a close encounter with a sparrowhawk, which came in looking to grab a starling. Little grebe, Cormorant, Little egret, GREAT WHITE EGRET, Grey heron, GREYLAG GOOSE, Canada goose, EGYPTIAN GOOSE, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted duck, SCAUP, Goldeneye, GOOSANDER, SPARROWHAWK, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, MEDITERRANEAN GULL, Black-headed gull, Common gull, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, Herring gull, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Great spotted woodpecker, Pied wagtail, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Long-tailed tit, Blue tit, Great tit, Jay, Magpie, Starling, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin & BULLFINCH.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 87 (Hampshire year list = 86)

Friday 13th, shot down to Southsea castle after working in Gravesend, and this time got the purple sandpipers. Cormorant, Dark-bellied brent goose, Oystercatcher, PURPLE SANDPIPER, Black-headed gull, Herring gull, Great black-backed gull, Feral pigeon, Woodpigeon, Rock pipit & Carrion crow.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 88 (Hampshire year list = 87)

Tuesday 17th, another day on call, so another day birding in Hampshire, this time I started down at Harbridge, seeing: Grey heron, Mute swan, WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, Greylag goose, Canada goose, Egyptian goose, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Pheasant, JACKDAW, ROOK, Carrion crow.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 91 (Hampshire year list = 90)

Then onto Eyeworth pond near Fritham for some colour, WOOD DUCK, MANDARIN, Mallard, Goosander, Moorhen, Woodpigeon, GREY WAGTAIL, Pied wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song thrush, MARSH TIT, Coal tit, Blue tit, Great tit, Nuthatch, Jay, Carrion crow, House sparrow, & Chaffinch.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 95 (Hampshire year list = 93)

Then I finished off down at Keyhaven & Pennington marshes, Little grebe, Great crested grebe, SLAVONIAN GREBE (4 on the sea), Little egret, Mute swan, Dark-bellied brent goose, Canada goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Tufted duck, Red-breasted mergansger, Coot, Oystercatcher, GOLDEN PLOVER, Grey plover, Lapwing, Black-tailed godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed gull, Herring gull, Great black-backed gull, Rock pipit, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Magpie, Carrion crow, Starling & Goldfinch.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 97 (Hampshire year list = 95)

Wednesday 18th, and after completing my work at Chesterford research park, I drove to Bury St Edmunds hoping to see the waxwings. I drove into the Asda car park as I had run out of screen wash, and needed more for the drive home. I got out of my car and I noticed a small flock of birds, on the small trees in the car park going after the berries, it was the waxwings. On the previous occasions that I have seen waxwings they normally stay where the berries are, so I went into Asda for the screen wash. When I came out there were no waxwings, so I went for a walk, finding them near the leisure centre, where there were more trees with better looking berries. Birds seen while looking for the waxwings: Black-headed gull, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Pied wagtail, WAXWING (13), Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, FIELDFARE, Redwing, Long-tailed tit & Blue tit.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 99

Thrusday 19th, another day on call, and another day birding in Hampshire. I went straight down the Black point on Hayling island, seeing:BLACK-THROATED DIVER, Cormorant, Dark-bellied brent goose, Shelduck, Shoveler, Red-breasted merganser, Oystercatcher, Ringed plover, Grey plover, Sanderling, Dunlin, BAR-TAILED GODWIT, Curlew, Redshank, Black-headed gull, Great black-backed gull, Razorbill, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Pied wagtail, Magpie & Carrion crow.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 101 (Hampshire year list = 97)

Then to the old oyster beds on Hayling island, to view Langstone harbour, Great crested grebe, BLACK-NECKED GREBE (12 together out in the harbour), Dark-bellied brent goose, Red-breasted merganser, Oystercatcher, Grey plover, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed gull, Common gull, Herring gull, Stock dove, Woodpigeon, Robin & Carrion crow. 

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 102 (Hampshire year list = 98)

Then to Hill head for the SNOW BUNTING.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 103 (Hampshire year list = 99)

Then I drove down Brownwich lane, parking up out of the way as used by the farm. I walked down to view the sea and on the return leg stopped at Brownwich pond. I enjoyed close views of a female kestrel as she landed on a telegrapgh pole and then a tree. Great crested grebe, Grey heron, Mute swan, Dark-bellied brent goose, Gadwall, Tufted duck, EIDER, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Golden plover, 

Lapwing, Black-headed gull, Woodpigeon, Kingfisher, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Redwing, Mistle thrush, CHIFFCHAFF, Blue tit, Jay, Magpie, Carrion crow, Chaffinch & Goldfinch.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 105 (Hampshire year list = 102)

After studying for Lenovo exams, I drove to Over Norton Oxfordshire, parking in the Shell garage. I crossed the road and followed the footpath, where I joined the other birders to view the feeding station, and waited for the Little bunting. Birds seen: Woodpigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Great tit, Chaffinch, Brambling, LINNET, YELLOWHAMMER, LITTLE BUNTING & Reed bunting. The little bunting was a new bird for me, and I was pleased to see it, as I had dipped in Surrey and Sussex on other occasions when looking for other little buntings.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 108

Then on to Stow-on-the-Wold for the long staying Blue rock thrush. I parked down Lower park street, it always feels wrong to me, to be birding down residential streets, but as luck would have it a birding couple arrived and we teamed up. I stayed near the junction of Fisher close & Maugersbury park, and they went down fisher close. I noticed a bird fly up to a chimney pot that looked different, and its was the blue rock thrush, I let the others know, we had a look, and then walked down maugersbury park for a closer view, which we got, another new bird for me. Pied wagtail, Dunnock, BLUE ROCK THRUSH, Jackdaw & Starling.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 109

I still had time to stop at Bransbury common Hampshire on my way home, where I saw the following: Little grebe, Mallard, RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE, Pheasant, Moorhen, Woodpigeon, BARN OWL, TAWNY OWL, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Goldcrest, Blue tit, Jay, Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Yellowhammer & Reed bunting.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 112 (Hampshire year list = 106)

Thursday 26th and another study day, so I whizzed down to Little Murston Kent, for the Pine bunting, as it would be another new bird for me. I parked up down a trading estate of Swale way, and then walked passed the caravan site out to the sea wall, to join the other birders, it was freezing. Out near some small pools seed had been put down, and these were seen on the twitch and the walk to and from the twitch: Little grebe, Cormorant, Little egret, Egyptian goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted duck, Buzzard, Kestrel, Pheasant, Moorhen ,Coot, Lapwing, SNIPE, Turnstone, Black-headed gull, Stock dove, Woodpigeon, SKYLARK, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song thrush, Redwing, Blue tit, Magpie, Carrion crow, Starling, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, PINE BUNTING, Yellowhammer & Reed bunting.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 115