Rare Birds in Hampshire 21 Feb

[simoncurson]

21 Feb.
Not many really are birds about, but plenty of scarce things to look for.

Long-tailed Ducks and Slavonian Grebe are still on the sea off Pennington marshes.

Bittern and 7 Bramblings still at Blashford. The Bittern is tricky to see as it spends a lot of time out of sight (especially when I am there), but the Bramblings are with Chaffinches at the feeders by the centre and so are easier.

Great Grey Shrikes are still at Holm Hill near Puttles Bridge and Rhinefield and at Pig Bush/Shatterford area. They cover a lot of ground and can take some finding.

Bewicks Swans are still at Ibsley Bridge

The Cattle Egret may well still be at North End Farm just north of Harbridge near Ibsley.

Of local breeding interest - Woodlarks are singing now - I heard at couple at Church Moor on heathland over the road from Burbush Hill car park (this is between Burley and Thorney Hill). However do look in any areas of open ground with short vegetation.
Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers will be drumming now. You need to be in good old Oak woodland and early in the morning to see and hear them.
Hawfinches are singing too (same places as Lesser-spots and early in the morning too).
Goshawks will be displaying and can often be seen from Acres Down on sunny calm days from 11am to early afternoon
Firecrests will be singing soon. I heard them last year in many woodlands on the forest. They need either tall dense pine trees or Oak woodland with much Holy understory.

Let us know fo anything you see or hear!!

Simon Curson

[Weaverbird]

Hello Simon, Thanks for a really great day on Sunday. The bird life was fantastic as was the company of the group. A really excellent day out. I hope you got the photos I emailed you too. Are there any cattle egrets in Hampshire at present that I might be able to see reasonably easily?

[simoncurson]

There are still 3 Cattle Egret in Hampshire.
1 at Harbridge a little way north of Ringwood (see messages below).
2 together near Bucklers Hard, on the Beaulieu river south of Beaulieu. They are a mile WSW of St. Leonards Grange (a tumbled down old stone barn) in a field near Bergerie Farm.

Only additional rare bird around is a Pallas Warbler at Bere Regis.

The Great Grey Shrike continues to be seen at Beaulieu Station. From what I have heard it tends to be around Pig Bush in the morning and Beaulieu Road Station in the afternoon.

The Lapland Bunting is still in the arable field at the base of Hurst Spit.

Simon Curson.

[Weaverbird]

Hi Simon,
could you advise me of any grid references please so I can try and see the shrike, egrets and pallas warbler please?
thanks
Owen


There are still 3 Cattle Egret in Hampshire.
1 at Harbridge a little way north of Ringwood (see messages below).
2 together near Bucklers Hard, on the Beaulieu river south of Beaulieu. They are a mile WSW of St. Leonards Grange (a tumbled down old stone barn) in a field near Bergerie Farm.

Only additional rare bird around is a Pallas Warbler at Bere Regis.

The Great Grey Shrike continues to be seen at Beaulieu Station. From what I have heard it tends to be around Pig Bush in the morning and Beaulieu Road Station in the afternoon.

The Lapland Bunting is still in the arable field at the base of Hurst Spit.

Simon Curson.

[simoncurson]

Grid ref as follows -

Harbridge Cattle Egret is at SU 144,113, but could be in any of the fields around here.

Great grey Shrike has been around SU 255,025, but does range around a bit.

Pallas Warbler is at SY 809,920. This is 3 miles SW of Bere Regis in Oakers Wood. Park in gravel layby on B3390 and follow pylons NE for half a mile and then turn right. You are asked not to park on the minor road from Waddock to Cloud Hills.