04/02/14 Hampshire Birding

Tuesday 4th February 2014
Hampshire Birding with C  CW, PJ, AK

We decided there was enough good news coming out of Hampshire to justify a day out.  The weather was reasonable, thankfully dry but with some breeze.

First stop was Pennington Marsh where the target bird was a Long-billed Dowitcher.  It was seen from the car park yesterday so hopes were high.  However after searching in vain for almost an hour or so we had to cut our losses and move on.  We did see quite a few waders, including several Ruff, which made the visit pleasant.  Looking on the Hampshire website later it was comforting to know that other birders had not found the bird either.

Next stop was Lepe to see the Lesser Yellowlegs.  This was a dead cert as I had seen daily reports of it since it started to winter here a couple of months ago. True to form it was there and showing really well; in fact it came very close to us just before we left allowing AK to get the photograph he wanted.   Among the waders showing was a welcome addition to my year list - a Black-tailed Godwit - the only one I would find today. 

We moved on to Bishops Dyke (SU3405) where hopes were high of a sighting of a Great Grey Shrike, but again, after a thorough search, we failed to find the bird.  They are obviously as elusive here in Hampshire as they are in Sussex.  

Our final stop was Blackwater Arboretum where the rest of the group had great success in the past watching Hawfinches coming in to roost.  Incredibly, yet again, we drew a blank much to the astonishment of my friends.

So a rather flat mood set in as we headed back to Sussex.  The birds behaved just like the rest of us in poor weather and found a safe place to sit it out.

Addition to UK 2014 Bird List:
Black-tailed Godwit   (147)


Today's species list:
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Shelduck
Wigeon
Mallard 
Gadwall
Shoveler
Pintail
Teal
Pochard   (10)
Tufted Duck
Common Buzzard
Kestrel
Peregrine
Moorhen
Coot
Oystercatcher
Dunlin
Curlew
Turnstone   (20)
Redshank
Ruff
Black-tailed Godwit
Golden Plover
Lapwing
Black-headed Gull
Kittiwake
Herring Gull
Woodpigeon
Robin   (30)
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Long-tailed Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Starling
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch   (40)
Goldfinch


Today's species count = 41 (minimum)