Slash's Hants 2009 List

[Matelot birder]

Hi

I am a bit late starting and to be honest I dont have an amazing list at the moment for Hants, however I am determined to finish with a reasonable year total for my adopted county of Hampshire.

Up to the beginning of the week I was on 117 with more than a few easy birds still to get.

I had to go to London on Wednesday so I stopped off near the M3 at Tundry Pond and added;

118 - White-fronted Goose
119 - Egyptian Goose

On Friday I headed out to Hook-with-Warsash with a friend who pointed out a regular spot for;

120 - Little Owl

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

Today, I added three birds to my Hants total

The first was at Frithend Sand Pits where we were after the Ring necked Duck. this could not be found, but a calling

121 - Tawny Owl

was a surprise. Next we went to Rotherlands LNR in Petersfield, here we had

122 - Green Sandpiper

on the small river. We ended up at Farlington Marshes and watched a female

123 - Merlin

chasing down a skylark for a long time, they both went down behind the seawall, so we will never know if the Skylark survived, I doubt it though.

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

Today I started at Nore Barn, Emsworth and feeding happily with the Spotted Redshank was;

124 - Greenshank

From here I went to the upper part of Titchfield Haven and had a female

125 - Marsh Harrier

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

Not been on since Friday, went out to Lakeside Country Park to try for the Mealy Redpoll, spent five hours looking at Lesser along with Siskin but no Mealy. As I was about to leave, a nice male

126 - Bullfinch

started calling behind us, so not a complete waste of my morning.

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

Whilst waiting for the trouble and strife today, I heard the subsong of a warbler, this turned out to be a lovely male

127 - Blackcap

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

A very early morning at an undisclosed Hants site, saw me
eventually find a

128 - Jack Snipe

This site is excellent for Redpoll and I saw these in good numbers.
I also saw my second Blackcap of the year and my first

129 - Chiffchaff

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

Steve C and I had a few days off, so decided to hopefully add some migrants to our Hants lists.
We headed to the north of the county and after a lot of searching, we finally ended up at Martin Down, where we flushed a pair of

130 - Grey Partridge

From here we went to Blashford Lakes and were pleased to see

131 - Sand Martin

about 20 birds flying low over Ibsley Water.

Steve wanted Short-eared Owl, so we ended the day at Barton-on-sea Golf Course, we did see an Owl and also a newly arrived, male

132 - Wheatear

Tuesday started at Keyhaven Marshes, where I finally added

133 - Water Rail

Not a rare bird, but elusive for me this year. From here we headed into the heart of the New Forest and settle down at a well known raptor watchpoint. We soon had a singing

134 - Woodlark

After a few hours watching the skies and looking twice at every Buzzard, we finally had great views of a pair of

135 - Goshawk

as they chased each other across the pine tops.

Eyeworth Pond was next, to catch up on a bird that I knew was present there in good numbers.

136 - Mandarin

Our last visit today was at a site near to home, where we found another bird we knew to be present.

137 - Barn Owl

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

An early start saw us heading around Farlington Marshes to the deeps at the back. The night before the bird had been reported and we found it sleeping near some Shelduck.

138 - Spoonbill

From here we headed for Old Alresford Pond. A Garganey had been reported that morning but we couldnt find the bird after a lot of searchig. Luckily we tried a different angle and found the bird feeding deep behind some tree roots at the far end of the pond.

139 - Garganey

Here we met a few guys who said they had been to Frithend Sand Pits, we drove across the county and with their directiosn we soon had good views of

140 - Ring necked Duck

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

We went to the Lower Test Marshes with a specific species in mind. We were given excellent instructions and after a while, we had good views of a group of four

141 - Water Pipit

as they landed in the dead trees in the middle of the reserve.
As we were watching these, Steve spotted a bird in the sky and I finally added

142 - Peregrine Falcon

a bird which is now far more common than 10-15 years ago.

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

This afternoon we set off for Romsey and the River Test. A short walk up the beautiful river valley and we were watching a single

143 - Whooper Swan

associating with a couple of Mute Swan.

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

Firstly a back dated bird that we having been pondering over for a while, seen on the 22 Feb at Blasford Lakes, we are finally happy about a

144 - Mealy (Common) Redpoll

Back to today visited Curbridge on the River Hamble had seven Greenshank roosting and picked up another common but elusive birds, in the shape of a pair of

145 - Grey Wagtail

displaying under the bridge at the "Horse and Jockey" pub

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

Another migrant today. A walk with my boys through the gorse at Browndown, Gosport and my first singing

146 - Willow Warbler

of the spring, a beautiful song and always heard on TV, when they show British countryside in spring or summer.

[Matelot birder]

A look at the net and I was dragging the wife out the door with the promise of a takaway on the way home.
After locating the area through a maze of houses, I saw a flock of 14

147 - Waxwing

At the top of a pyracantha, trilling to each other.

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

Yesterday morning saw me bright and breezy at Old Winchester Hill with the hope of a mega and sure enough after 6 hours of trying, I saw the skulking

148 - WHITE THROATED SPARROW

Spring and migrants were well and truly here and I picked up my first

149 - Barn Swallow
150 - Whitethroat

From here we moved into the north of the county and had a pair of county rarities in Grey Partridge and excellent views of a pair of

151 - Stone Curlew

Next was Blashford Lakes and as we expected we had two

152 - Little Ringed Plover

and a single

153 - Common Tern

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

I knew that an early morning sea watch would lead to a few new species for the year and I wasn't dissapointed. Straight away we could see distant

154 - Gannet

Over the next few hours we had the following

155 - Red-throated Diver (1)
156 - Black-throated Diver (1)
157 - Common Scoters (25+)
158 - Velvet Scoter (10)
159 - Little Tern (5)
160 - Whimbrel (20+)

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

After a week in Gibraltar and a week working I managed to get out with Steve C and my old dad at Titchfield Haven
We brought out ticket and soon were watching a displaying

161 - Sedge Warbler

The reserve was pretty quite, but as soon as Steve mentioned a certain bird I picked one up in the distance over the floods, we eventually had at leats three

162 - Hobby

Hawking over the distance floods. Along with these were two other familiar migrants

163 - House Martin
164 - Common Swift

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

Yesterday was the Hampshire May Bird Race, so I expected to put a few species on for the year and I wasn't disappointed.
The first bird came at Cut bridge, near Hurst, when we had a couple of distant;

165 - Fulmar

Next we went to Eyeworth Pond, here we picked up a few migrants in;

166 - Cuckoo
167 - Redstart

Next was Keyhaven and more migrants in;

168 - Reed warbler
169 - Lesser Whitethroat
170 - Dartford Warbler

Acres down in the new Forest brought the best two birds of the day in;

171 - Tree Pipit
172 - Wood warbler

Blashford Lakes held yet another summer visitor;

173 - Common Sandpiper

Finally we ended the race at Botlley Wood near Whiteley and had;

174 - Nightingale
175 - Woodcock

Ay great days birding in a great county.

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

News on the birdlines and we were heading to Hayling Island, were we eventually picked up a female

176 - Kentish Plover

This was followed by a seawatch and views of many terns including

177 - Arctic Tern

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

On a blustery day, we decided to take a walk around Botley Wood for Butterflies and Orchids. Our first bird was a

178 - Garden Warbler

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

Another bird on the net and this evening found us at Fishtail Lagoon, Keyhaven watching one of my favourite waders.

179 - Pectoral Sandpiper

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

a call from a friend and I was in the car on my way to Sandy Point, Hayling Island. Here whilst looking for the rarity I saw my first

180 - Spotted Flycatcher

of the year. Eventually the bird came into view after we heard brief snatches of its song. This was a lifer for me, in the form of a

181 - Icterine Warbler

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

Last night I saw and heard a bird that has become common in some areas of the South of England. Although still rare in Hampshire, escape birds cannot be ruled out

182 - Ring-necked Parakeet

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

We spent the morning at Martin Down. We had two target species and we werent disappointed. Firstly we heard a familiar sound, a singing

183 - Corn Bunting

We eventually had 3 to 4 birds, at about the same time we saw a distant

184 - Turtle Dove

which eventually gave great views

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

Last night we went to a nearby wooded area and at about 21:45 heard our first

185 - Nightjar

singing, this year. Always a great sound accompanied by the hoot of the Tawny, the squeek of the Woodcock and the blast of the Nightingale.

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

a visit to a local nature reserve today in search of a bird I had yet to find this year which has a very distinctive call, some say like the wires of a yacht in the wind.

186 - Bearded Tit

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

Its been a while since I had a new year bird, but one came today and turned out to be a year, Hampshire and British tick

187 - Honey Buzzard

lets hope they come a bit quicker in the autumn

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

On return from holiday (out of county) I popped down to Titchfield Haven,
16 Black Terns had been reported earlier and I managed to see a couple still feeding over the reserve

188-Black Tern

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

Heading to farlington for a Spotted Crake, I spent 4 hours there without any luck, but on arrival there was a strangely plumaged

189 - Ruff

back tomorrow for the Crake !!

[Matelot birder]

Today saw me and Tony back at Farlington and after about an hour it finally showed

190 - Spotted Crake

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

Shot down to the front at Titchfield Haven to sort through the terns and amongst the Common were a single Sandwich, a Little, 2 Black and a single

191 - Roseate Tern

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

Spent the morning at a ringing site on the coast in the county and managed to see a few examples of a very elsuive bird, in the hand.

192 - Grasshopper Warbler

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

Time down at Titchfield Haven watching the Roseate Tern proved fruitful as someone shouted;

193 - Arctic Skua

moving along the Solent, every now and then harrassing a nearby gull.

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

Another morning ringing brought a major rarity in amongst the 200 or so other passerines.

194 - Aquatic Warbler

A stonking bird with pics on the website below

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

I spent another morning assisting with the ringing at Titchfield Haven as part of my training. Nothing exciting in the nets, but an

195 - Osprey

over flying the pans was a welcome bird for the year.

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

What a cracking day, firstly I had a call telling me that the rare American duck had been relocated at IBM lake in Portsmouth. When I got there the place was packed with Hants birders and the

196 - Blue-winged Teal

was sleeping quietly on the opposite bank. Every now and then it stretched and gave us a flash of blue. We then heard that a uncommon wader was present at Farlington Marshes. After work I wandered around to the deeps and the

197 - Grey Phalarope

was feeding just inside the reed bed about 20 feet away.
Here were also a couple of

198 - Yellow Wagtail

and as I wandred back to my car, I scanned the fence and picke up a

199 - Whinchat

Flycatching from the fence and the ground.

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

A good day yesterday, with my 200th Hants bird being a confiding

200 - Tree Sparrow

drinking in the small pond by the tea room at Titchfield Haven.
Later from the Spurgin Hide we had a

201 - Little Stint

in extremely bad light.

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo

[Matelot birder]

An unexpected bird this morning and indeed the very first bird of the day was a female

202 - Firecrest

This bird felt tiny in the hand but never fails to impress with its beautiful head markings

Three Amigo's Blog
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/amigo