Nature Notes for w/e Jan 16th
19 January 2012
Portsmouth & Portsdown
An iceland gull continues to be seen in the Portsmouth harbour entrance. It apparently roosts at The Camber.
A white squirrel was in St Ronan’s Rd Southsea on 11th.
Up to 10 purple sandpipers have been at Southsea Castle this week. Single razorbill and shags have been off shore.
Shags and two eider were present at the Eastney sewage outfall.
Up to 30 avocets have been present to the west of Farlington Marshes this week. A marsh harrier was reported on 15th.
Two razorbills were in No 2 Basin in the Naval Base on 14th/15th.
Havant Hayling & Emsworth
Brent Geese: 500 were at Northney on 11th but huge flocks have been seen flying east suggesting migration movement e.g. 1150 at Sandy Point in 2 hrs on 15th and similar movements at Selsey. These birds came off the sea so may be I of W or cross channel migrants.
A weasel and a bank vole were seen in Havant Thicket on 8th and a water vole in Brook Meadow Emsworth on 12th.
A cattle egret is still being seen at Warblington although it has been a little bit more elusive lately.
Eight roe deer were spotted on fields west of Northney on 11th.
A black brant goose was in fields west of the southern end of the Billy Trail on 12th and 15th.
Besides the regular spotted redshank, a peregrine was in the Nore Barn area on 12th.
A water rail flew down the Langbrook Stream on 12th.
Siskin and a crossbill were in the Larches in the north of Stansed Forest on 12th.
Around 90 knot were on the mud at Emsworth on 13th.
Six water rails, three spotted redshanks and three Sandwich terns were counted on the Thorney Island WeBS count on 14th.
Birds seen off Sandy point on 15th included at least 10 kittiwakes, 1 red-throated and 6 unidentified divers and a pomarine skua.
Forty golden plovers flew over Hayling Island on 15th.
A mistle thrush was singing in the Stansted groves this week.
Plants seen in the Havant area this week included field pennycress, green alkanet and small flowered cranesbill in Juniper Square; dogs mercury in Pook Lane; hemlock water dropwort in the Langbrook Stream; giant butterbur by the stream; and lesser periwinkle at Pitts Copse Stansted;
Waterlooville and South Downs
A red admiral was seen at Lovedean on 10th. A Cosham garden has regular sightings when the sun shines.
A male crossbill was seen in Queen Elizabeth Country Park on 12th. Seven were in Denmead on 14th.
