SE Nature Notes w/e 26th Nov
28 November 2011
Portsmouth & Portsdown
The only short-eared owl report this week is of one at Farlington on 21st.
On 22nd 2 bearded tits, 6 snipe, 2 greenshanks, 9 avocets and a harbour seal were seen at Farlington Marshes.
On Wednesday a large white butterfly was disturbed by conservation volunteers on Portsdown.
Two mutant white greylag geese continue to be seen with the Canadas at Farlington. There were more than 80 shelduck and a continuously singing skylark on the reserve on 24th.
Birds seen at or from Milton Common this week included 5 shovelers, 8 Sandwich terns, 5 water rails and 78 red-breasted mergansers.
Havant Hayling & Emsworth
A red kite was seen recently north of Up Marden being mobbed by crows.
The Ferruginous x Pochard hybrid (aka fudge) duck was reported to be back on the Budds Farm lagoons on 18th.
Summer snowflake is in flower in Mill Lane Langstone—some 3 months early. Other Havant area plants in flower this week included narrow leaved pepperwort by the Langstone roundabout, sweet violet in St Faith’s churchyard, white melilot, goat’s beard, fleabane and teasel at Broadmarsh and meadowsweet at South Moors.
On 20th 65 great-crested grebes (left) and 2 female common scoters were seen off the oyster beds. Six goldeneyes were in the harbour on 18th.
Two spotted redshanks and around 200 black-tailed godwits were seen from Nore Barn on 24th.
A fly agaric fungus was seen in Hollybank Woods on 24th.
The Thorney Island cattle egret was close to Thornham Lane on 26th.
Water rails have been heard on the Langbrook Stream and Langstone Pond this week.
Up to 25 avocets have been in Nutbourne Bay this week.
There was a possible water vole sighting at Langstone Pond on 25th.
Fareham and Gosport
Gosport’s ring-billed gull is still being seen at Walpole Pond.
A bittern was at Titchfield Haven on 25th.
Waterlooville and South Downs
Two white squirrels were in Frogmore Lane Horndean on Monday 21st.
A pin mould was found growing on what I think may be clustered bonnet (right) and on a white possibly bonnet fungus in Queen Elizabeth Country Park this week.
Two red kites were seen at Old Winchester Hill, where skylarks and song thrushes were heard singing, on Sunday 27th.
