SE Nature Notes w/e Jan 23rd
25 January 2010
Portsmouth & Portsdown
On Monday an Egyptian goose appeared among the Brents at Port Solent.
Among 49 bird species at Farlington Marshes on Monday there were merlin and peregrine on the islands, 10 duck species, 10 wader species, including avocets, and bearded tits. A barn owl was on the reserve on Wednesday. Most of these birds, including the owl, were still present later in the week with the addition of a black brant among the geese. Brent geese are already beginning to move east.
At Southsea on Thursday people saw a great northern diver, a rock pipit, 20 sanderlings and 2 purple sandpipers. There were 10 sandpipers on Saturday.
Although frogs and newts died in a Portsdown pond in the cold spell one was active this week.
Foxes, which usually mate this month, and a tawny owl have been vocal on Portsdown this week
Havant hayling & Emsworth
A black-headed gull in summer plumage was at Broadmarsh on Monday. On the sea 2 male goldeneyes were displaying
On Monday there were 44 tufted ducks on the Emsworth ponds. A kingfisher flew over the Slipper Mill pond at Emsworth on Thursday.
On Sunday 24th there were 21 black-necked grebes off the oyster beds on Hayling Island. There were still a few redwings in the Northney area.
From Tuesday until at least Sunday a velvet scoter has been seen off the oyster beds. There were still black-necked grebes off shore and on 23rd a flock of about 40 knot and a long-tailed duck were also there.
There were 4 Mediterranean gulls, an eider and 2 common scoters in Hayling Bay on Saturday. Further out by the sand banks there was a red-necked grebe, 7 Slavonian grebes and 3 great northern divers. Four sanderlings were busy on the shore line. Most of these were still there on Sunday.
On Thursday 2 whimbrels were at Wickor Point on Thorney Island.
A Dartford warbler was seen at Sinah on Saturday.
Two pale-bellied Brent geese were at the oyster beds on Sunday. Some hours later what may be the same birds were at Farlington Marshes.
A Langstone western shore resident reports a dawn chorus in his exposed garden this week. Individual bird song is becoming quite common now.
Plants seen in flower around Havant this week include intermediate periwinkle by the Havant Health Centre and water figwort in the Hermitage Stream at Bedhampton.
Fareham and Gosport
On Sunday 17th a cackling (half size) Canada goose was at Titchfield Haven.
A redhead smew made a brief visit to Titchfield Haven on Saturday 23rd. There was also a hybrid pochard on the river and a great northern diver on the sea. On Wednesday a bittern flew towards the Spurgin hide and at least 19 snipe and a bearded tit was seen.
On Thursday a male goldeneye was seen diving close to the Fareham Creek viaduct.
Waterlooville and South Downs
There was a large flock of redwings in a field at Denmead on Tuesday.
