Feels potentially birdy today - looked atmospheric from the train with the mist. Alas it's an office day... hopefully a birdy weekend too🤞 Did have Large Yellow Underwing at the station & Chiffs hweet-ing in Winchester #HantsBirds
October 2, 2026 at 6:35 AM
Feels potentially birdy today - looked atmospheric from the train with the mist. Alas it's an office day... hopefully a birdy weekend too🤞 Did have Large Yellow Underwing at the station & Chiffs hweet-ing in Winchester #HantsBirds
The Autumn 2026 edition of Waterbird News, giving updates on the BTO Wetland Bird Survey and Goose and Swan Monitoring Programme is now available, with a great article on Hurst Point and Keyhavenn Marshes by Peter Hobby. Read it here: www.bto.org/sites/defaul...
#HantsBirds #UKBirding
#HantsBirds #UKBirding
www.bto.org
October 1, 2026 at 10:28 AM
The Autumn 2026 edition of Waterbird News, giving updates on the BTO Wetland Bird Survey and Goose and Swan Monitoring Programme is now available, with a great article on Hurst Point and Keyhavenn Marshes by Peter Hobby. Read it here: www.bto.org/sites/defaul...
#HantsBirds #UKBirding
#HantsBirds #UKBirding
Lovely to see this Semipalmated Sandpiper up close at Keyhaven this week, often shadowed by a Little Stint #hantsbirds #patchbirding #ukbirding
September 27, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Lovely to see this Semipalmated Sandpiper up close at Keyhaven this week, often shadowed by a Little Stint #hantsbirds #patchbirding #ukbirding
Little Stint on Fishtail lagoon, Pennington today. Also great to see the Semipalmated Sandpiper, Osprey, Marsh Harrier, Kingfisher, Bearded Reedling, Dartford Warbler and Clouded Yellows on a memorable day. #Birds #HantsBirds #UKWildlife
September 26, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Little Stint on Fishtail lagoon, Pennington today. Also great to see the Semipalmated Sandpiper, Osprey, Marsh Harrier, Kingfisher, Bearded Reedling, Dartford Warbler and Clouded Yellows on a memorable day. #Birds #HantsBirds #UKWildlife
Brilliant to have an after work visit to Bunny Meadows this evening and see the Lapland Bunting, my first ever, such a beautiful bird. Kingfisher, Greenshank and lots of Ringed Plovers were other highlights. #UKBirding #UKWildlife #HantsBirds
September 25, 2026 at 10:47 PM
Brilliant to have an after work visit to Bunny Meadows this evening and see the Lapland Bunting, my first ever, such a beautiful bird. Kingfisher, Greenshank and lots of Ringed Plovers were other highlights. #UKBirding #UKWildlife #HantsBirds
A cracking mid-morning walk at Fishlake Meadows with @edgellergilly.bsky.social today. 60+ Clouded Yellows, 25+ Migrant Hawkers, Kingfisher, Osprey & 3 G W Egrets. Batteries fully recharged. #HantsBirds
September 11, 2026 at 4:06 PM
A cracking mid-morning walk at Fishlake Meadows with @edgellergilly.bsky.social today. 60+ Clouded Yellows, 25+ Migrant Hawkers, Kingfisher, Osprey & 3 G W Egrets. Batteries fully recharged. #HantsBirds
Some of Hill Head's Turnstones are looking particularly smart including this one who was blocking the path! #HantsBirds
August 31, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Some of Hill Head's Turnstones are looking particularly smart including this one who was blocking the path! #HantsBirds
August 28, 2026 at 10:11 PM
...and several large fishing flocks of Gulls and Terns in the Solent again today! Apologies for the questionable handheld digiscoping 😆 Also, sound up if you'd like a reminder of how cars & roads - noise pollution - ruin what would otherwise be peaceful soundscapes #HantsBirds
August 26, 2026 at 8:00 AM
...and several large fishing flocks of Gulls and Terns in the Solent again today! Apologies for the questionable handheld digiscoping 😆 Also, sound up if you'd like a reminder of how cars & roads - noise pollution - ruin what would otherwise be peaceful soundscapes #HantsBirds
Fish! Reason for the impressive fishing flocks of Terns and Gulls in the Solent, and why it's now part of a marine Special Protection Area, complementing the rest of the Solent's land/intertidal designations. #HantsBirds
August 22, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Fish! Reason for the impressive fishing flocks of Terns and Gulls in the Solent, and why it's now part of a marine Special Protection Area, complementing the rest of the Solent's land/intertidal designations. #HantsBirds
Cool to get a low flying seabirds' eye view of the #Solent! Bird highlights include a Gannet off the Beaulieu Estate (& North Solent NNR), and Greenshank at Lymington. Low tide while we were on land - most birds were a long way out on the marshes! #HantsBirds
August 22, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Cool to get a low flying seabirds' eye view of the #Solent! Bird highlights include a Gannet off the Beaulieu Estate (& North Solent NNR), and Greenshank at Lymington. Low tide while we were on land - most birds were a long way out on the marshes! #HantsBirds
“Greyshank” at Keyhaven yesterday #HantsBirds
August 16, 2026 at 1:11 PM
“Greyshank” at Keyhaven yesterday #HantsBirds
It's been lovely watching the Sandwich Terns fishing off Lee-on-the Solent this week - even managed to get one in focus! #HantsBirds
July 15, 2026 at 11:31 AM
It's been lovely watching the Sandwich Terns fishing off Lee-on-the Solent this week - even managed to get one in focus! #HantsBirds
How could I miss off being serenaded by Woodlarks and Yellowhammers?! That too was lovely! Common Green & Meadow Grashoppers also part of the soundscape 😌 #HantsBirds 🪶
Lovely day in East Hampshire with colleagues enjoying species rich chalk grassland including 6 species of orchid (4 pictured) #WildflowerHour
June 16, 2026 at 5:16 PM
How could I miss off being serenaded by Woodlarks and Yellowhammers?! That too was lovely! Common Green & Meadow Grashoppers also part of the soundscape 😌 #HantsBirds 🪶
Another day surveying farmland birds near Winchester. The smaller of the 2 farms I cover has a small sympathetically managed area of woodland. So far it has thrown up 3 target species, a pair of Spot Fly, Firecrest and today Marsh Tit. Sadly Marsh Tit has disappeared from my local woods #hantsbirds
June 15, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Another day surveying farmland birds near Winchester. The smaller of the 2 farms I cover has a small sympathetically managed area of woodland. So far it has thrown up 3 target species, a pair of Spot Fly, Firecrest and today Marsh Tit. Sadly Marsh Tit has disappeared from my local woods #hantsbirds
There are now two more female Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers out in the world! What a joy it’s been to share this patch of woodland with these incredible birds for the last 11 days. Thanks to @lesserspotnet.bsky.social for the guidance. The clearing feels very quiet now! #HantsBirds #NewForest
June 2, 2026 at 6:59 AM
There are now two more female Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers out in the world! What a joy it’s been to share this patch of woodland with these incredible birds for the last 11 days. Thanks to @lesserspotnet.bsky.social for the guidance. The clearing feels very quiet now! #HantsBirds #NewForest
And away… I must have just missed this little one fledging this morning. She was sat in the adjacent beech for an hour calling to be fed. Soon after she was chasing her mother around further afield. One left to go! #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
June 1, 2026 at 9:54 PM
And away… I must have just missed this little one fledging this morning. She was sat in the adjacent beech for an hour calling to be fed. Soon after she was chasing her mother around further afield. One left to go! #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
Looking for the exits. The LSW chicks are very restless now - sticking their heads out the hole and yelling at their parents. Fecal sacs are no longer being removed. A chance they could fledge today at ≈22 days old. Both appear to be female #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
May 31, 2026 at 6:01 AM
Looking for the exits. The LSW chicks are very restless now - sticking their heads out the hole and yelling at their parents. Fecal sacs are no longer being removed. A chance they could fledge today at ≈22 days old. Both appear to be female #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
The 2nd farm survey round bishops Waltham this am was hot, but not unbearable. Target species 3x Whitethroat 1 new territory, 1x Firecrest in a new area, and a pair of Spotted Flys. I can’t remember the last time I saw a Hants one or a breeding pair. Merlin couldn’t take the heat today #hantsbirds
May 29, 2026 at 1:09 PM
The 2nd farm survey round bishops Waltham this am was hot, but not unbearable. Target species 3x Whitethroat 1 new territory, 1x Firecrest in a new area, and a pair of Spotted Flys. I can’t remember the last time I saw a Hants one or a breeding pair. Merlin couldn’t take the heat today #hantsbirds
Two healthy chicks seen this morning - great to see both survived the Jay attack. They’re roughly 18 days old so due to fledge quite soon. The female parent seems to be visiting the nest less often now #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
May 28, 2026 at 11:55 AM
Two healthy chicks seen this morning - great to see both survived the Jay attack. They’re roughly 18 days old so due to fledge quite soon. The female parent seems to be visiting the nest less often now #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
Farm cluster bird survey today, Budhips Waltham. Brutal, the heat was unbearable. 150mins, 4 miles, 2 target species, Garden Warbler and Kestrel, but significantly reduced numbers overall (heat + most birds now breeding not displaying). Farm two tomorrow morning 🥵 #hantsbirds
May 28, 2026 at 10:22 AM
Farm cluster bird survey today, Budhips Waltham. Brutal, the heat was unbearable. 150mins, 4 miles, 2 target species, Garden Warbler and Kestrel, but significantly reduced numbers overall (heat + most birds now breeding not displaying). Farm two tomorrow morning 🥵 #hantsbirds
I fell asleep last night with ringing in my ears. It took a moment to realise it was the sound of LSW chicks. Jaygate is over for now - still at least one chick calling today. We’ll find out how many tomorrow morning #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
May 27, 2026 at 7:08 PM
I fell asleep last night with ringing in my ears. It took a moment to realise it was the sound of LSW chicks. Jaygate is over for now - still at least one chick calling today. We’ll find out how many tomorrow morning #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
The chicks are getting larger and louder now. That was until a Jay stuck its head in the nest cavity tonight. I don’t think it took a chick, at least one still calling, albeit much quieter now. Perhaps it’s the remaining younger chick or just spooked #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
May 26, 2026 at 5:43 PM
The chicks are getting larger and louder now. That was until a Jay stuck its head in the nest cavity tonight. I don’t think it took a chick, at least one still calling, albeit much quieter now. Perhaps it’s the remaining younger chick or just spooked #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
In 2.5 years I had only ever seen a female LSW, even when I found a nest late on Friday as only the female seemed to be visiting. So I was thrilled to see this male turn up on Saturday morning strutting his stuff! #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
May 26, 2026 at 6:36 AM
In 2.5 years I had only ever seen a female LSW, even when I found a nest late on Friday as only the female seemed to be visiting. So I was thrilled to see this male turn up on Saturday morning strutting his stuff! #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
Moth trapping at Pig Bush was also good for birds. A very vocal Cuckoo kept up until dark, a churring Nightjar in the tree above me also gave an early evening fly past. Firecrest, Tawny Owl and Woodcock later on made for an entertaining evening, even if the dreaded NF midge did not #hantsbirds
May 24, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Moth trapping at Pig Bush was also good for birds. A very vocal Cuckoo kept up until dark, a churring Nightjar in the tree above me also gave an early evening fly past. Firecrest, Tawny Owl and Woodcock later on made for an entertaining evening, even if the dreaded NF midge did not #hantsbirds