Nature Notes for w/e Jan 2nd

5 January 2012

Portsmouth & Portsdown

Eight bearded tits were seen on Farlington Marshes on 27th. A marsh harrier was on the reserve and 22 avocets were in their usual spot on the Broom Channel on 28th.

From the Milton shore 42 red-breasted mergansers were counted on 28th.

On 1st January a peregrine flew across the harbour entrance to Eastney carrying prey. Six Sandwich terns were also present.

Havant Hayling & Emsworth

Three snow buntings were at Sandy Point Hayling Island just before Christmas.

A hummingbird hawk moth was an surprising sight in Westbourne on 22nd December.

At Tournerbury a black brant goose and a little owl (left) were present on 24th.

Three rock pipits were on the South Moors shore on Boxing Day.

Up to 3 great northern divers have been present in the entrance to Langstone Harbour for the last 2 weeks. At the other end of the Island guillemots, razorbills, eider and a Slavonian grebe have been seen in the Chichester harbour entrance.

On 27th 150 sanderlings were in the Black Point high tide roost.

A green sandpiper continues to feed in the concrete channel part of the Hermitage Stream in Leigh Park.

The cattle egret at Warblington was still present on Jan 1st.

A firecrest was seen again in Leigh Park Gardens on 30th.

On 1st January black-necked grebes were visible from the Southmoor hill.

A flock of 90 knot was present in Emsworth Harbour. On January 1st.

Flowers seen in Havant this week include marsh marigold, goat willow and blackthorn at South Moors; common whitlow grass in Waterloo Rd Havant; open hazel catkins at Langstone; and hemlock water dropwort by the Hermitage Stream in Bedhampton.