Looking back at 2020’s Wildlife watching

Posted on 5th January 2021 by Richard

Negatives for humans, some positives for Wildlife

This Planet has been inhabited by wildlife for some 3.5 billion years, but in the last 100 years or so, we humans appear to have done a pretty good job of exterminating a lot of it and it’s hard not to think, see it whilst it’s still there.
However, the onslaught of a pandemic has at least given some hope to some of our species, even if they are hanging on by the skin of their teeth.

January started relatively quiet, the pandemic was reaching us but no one really knew how much that was going to affect us this year. Along came March and our Prime Minister, wisely, put the Country into lockdown. By coincidence this ran alongside bird and other creatures breeding times and for once, they could get on with it with hardly any traffic and pollution to match.

Click photos for details

By April, we were waking up to clearer air and bird song was rife.

At the end of full lockdown at least I was able to travel a bit more; my sister’s house in Burley New Forest, Fishlake Meadows in Romsey, Salisbury, the hills around Winchester and other coastal places. Plus course, able to see the family more than I had been.

Great Spotted Woodpecker - Tangier Farm Bishop's Waltham

One advantage of the lockdown for me was to explore more around Bishop’s Waltham and I’ve ended up with various walking routes and distances taking in fields, meadows, rivers, streams and woodland. I can’t say I was ever bored, but did get to know more or less what and where I would see certain things on the way !

Field Mice - Claylands - Bishops Waltham

Along came Spring proper and I was really trying to make up for good time, in fact I actually felt fitter for the almost daily walks and observing all that was going on around me.
When nature gets a little bit of positivity it seems it’s always bitten back with something and now the ‘new norm’ was (and still is) the totally irresponsible act of people throwing away their face masks wherever they wanted to.
This has caused all sorts of damage to our birds and other wildlife, Gulls have been seen taking them and like plastic bags, this means almost certain death.
Add to that, a nice sunny day and thousands pack beaches such as Bournemouth and leave behind them tons of plastic bags, left over food, foil barbecues and even human waste. Shocking.
Moan over !

On the human side another good thing came about, people were talking to each other more. On my walks I came accross a lot of people who stopped, asked me what I was doing with the camera, then so often carried on to say they had taken time to learn identity of birds etc.
A brilliant BBC Springwatch series also brought about a lot of interest and love him or hate him, Chris Packham delivered so many messages about the state and future of wildlife in a very non patronizing way.

White Goose - North Pond - Bishops Waltham

Summer came and went and so did another lockdown, the Summer madness combined with returns to School etc. paid their price.
With Christmas approaching and seeing the after effects of Thanksgiving Day in the USA., you started to wonder when our next major awakening would be and sure enough, here we are in early January 2021 shut in yet again.

It’s not so bad for us seniors, we only need to go out when we want, all be it if we are blessed with relatively good health. Plus of course we have our income with regular pensions coming in, not so for many thousands facing redundancy or furloughed.

For me, another few weeks of keeping low but enjoying some walks, this time through more winter time, so some consolation.
Onwards and upwards, it can only get better………can’t it !!

Goosander visits Bishop’s Waltham

Posted on 15th December 2020 by Richard

A pre Christmas treat for local Birdwatchers!

Goosander – Bishop’s Waltham South Pond

A Goosander isn’t the rarest of birds, but it is in Bishop’s Waltham. My Postman is born and bred here and an extremely keen Birdwatcher and he’s never seen one here before!

Having only heard about it (and I should have known as I live no more than 300 meters away from the Ponds) after it had been showing for 4 days I thought I may have missed it. On day four it was raining but on the fifth day armed with Camera, off I went, low and behold it was still there. The only problem being it was mid – late afternoon and she was sleeping in a back garden which borders the pond !

Giving me a bit of a showing

That was the fifth day, but the sixth day proved to be sunny and I ventured down there a little earlier.
Needless to say, when I stood on the east side, she was on the west and when I went to the west side, she was on the east !
Bearing that in mind I decided to stay tight, stand behind a bush and wait.

A fine pose

After about 15 minutes I was looking down at my Camera and suddenly heard the flap of wings going past me. I looked up to find it had come down no more than 20 meters away. So many times this has happened, I’ve pointed the camera and clicked only to find the rear half of a bird flying away, this time I was lucky.

The North Pond packed with Ducks, this one, just the Goosander

Where she had come from and where she was going is anyone’s guess, two days later and she departed. Safe journey and find a nice male to breed with !

August – Early September

Posted on 16th September 2020 by Richard

Migration starts so busy times ahead

Hook-with-Warsash

It’s always nice to have a highlight of the month and this month was without a doubt the Pied Flycatcher at Hook-with-Warsash. I’d heard there was one about and after a long circular walk spotted it in a residential street on my car back to the car. In fact it was about 200 meters away from the car. It’s amazing how often you can walk a long way, just see the norm and when all is lost you spot something in the Car Park back at your home !

Pied Flycatcher – Cowes Lane

Butterflies in August

Posted on 24th August 2020 by Richard

Exploring around the Winchester area

Hampshire apparently has the highest number of Butterfly species in England; 46 out of 59.
Last year I managed 26 but doubt if I will achieve that many or improve this year, in fact I left deeper searching too late for many.

The Claylands Reserve here in Bishop’s Waltham has a good sloping south facing field and guaranteed to have Marbled Whites every summer.
Regrettably this year someone decided to cut the meadow grass at the height of Summer which led to a rapid decrease in species and numbers.

Marble White – Bishop’s WalthamI made a couple of journeys to known sites for Butterflies; Magdalene Hill Down and St. Catherines Hill, both on the borders of Winchester.
As I said, I left it late for some of the rarer species such as the Grizzled Skipper and more.
Magdalene Hill (100 acres and managed by The Butterfly Conservation Organization) certainly has more diversity and compared to St. Catherine’s hill is much less busy. Bearing in mind it was a hot summer’s day, I saw no more than a dozen people.

Here’s a few photos plus some Moths…

Small Copper – Brown Argus – Ringlet

Painted Lady – Chalkhill Blue – Cinnabar MothMany birders are very keen Moth Spotters and with 2,500 species in the United Kingdom I wonder who’s got closest to all of them !
I think searching for them all would definitely see me out !

Small Birds – Hook with Warsash in June

Posted on 25th June 2020 by Richard

Out and about again more

It’s good to get out more now, it’s summertime, no clogged up muddy boots and plenty to look for.

Hook with Warsash has been one of my favourite places since moving down this way from Kent. Situated at the mouth of the River Hamble you get the best of both worlds; coast, reed beds, fields and woods to boot.
Plus a chance to spot the Dartford Warblers amongst the bracken !

Young Dartford Warbler

Not being an early riser like a few years ago when I’d be up at ‘silly hour’ to fetch the wood in, light the Rayburn, feed the chickens and down about 3 cups of Coffee in the process, I usually arrive there around late morning armed with Sandwiches, a Thermos Flask and of course, the Camera.
Not many people about, just dog walkers and a few Birders. Luckily the Scrapes and most of the wildness is fenced off which keeps the dogs at bay and gives you a chance to rest the heavy lens on a fence post awaiting you very own spot of the day.

Linnet – Treecreeper – Whitethroat

Well, that certainly happened when two young Dartford Warblers gave a 10 second showing for a photo. These birds are the highlight at Hook with Warsash, beside the occasional rarity it’s these who birders and public alike always want to see. They’re elusive, but it’s the old right place right time scenario.

Greenfinch

All in all a good day and another day where you may see nothing for hours upon end, but something always pops up for you to rush home and upload your pictures to the PC !

Garden Birds Midsummer Day

Posted on 23rd June 2020 by Richard

Garden Bird Visitors in Waltham Chase

Now living in a Flat, it was great to be asked to feed an acquaintances Garden Birds for a week. Knowing they have a high number of birds turning up daily I obviously took my Camera along. Highlight was this nicely posed Bullfinch, the best photo I have yet of this magnificent bird.

Another more unusual visitor turning up were a pair of Nuthatches toing and froing from the trees in the fields behind and the Feeders in their characteristic acrobatic style.

The Nuthatch jumping from tree to feeder

Female Great Spotted Woodpecker – Whitethroat

The longest day of the year but the shortest time I’ve ever had to wait for a Bullfinch to appear !

One thing the worry of Coronavirus has given us is the situation to explore what’s around us and to soak in the beauty of nature and wildlife.
On my way home I passed quite a few walkers out and about walking to the fields, the woods and maybe beyond.

It was a good day.

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Wildlife – Magnificent May

Posted on 23rd May 2020 by Richard

Nature springs to life in Bishop’s Waltham

I say magnificent May for the reason the weather got warmer, wildlife very active and some hope after the Lockdown ending to a certain extent.
To get to the more tranquil places around here you first have to walk through more the Dog walker, Cyclists and Jogger parts of the countryside and through the past few weeks I’ve got to meet same faces daily and have a quick chat. What’s very noticeable is the amount of people speaking about what’s around them. I guess that not going to work so much and the need to get out more has brought about the will to appreciate and learn and indeed I still have a lot to learn !

Two of many Swallows Bishop’s Waltham

After weeks of walking around the locale I’m getting further afield now with trips to Titchfield Haven, Hook-with-Warsash on Southampton Water. Of the two, the latter is better, to get to the Beach and the protected area means a 400 meter walk from the car thus avoiding the crowds on the more popular beaches and Ice Cream Vans !

Green Woodpecker – Sedge Warbler – Skylark (Hook-with-Warsash

The Garden here is also very active, especially with the young Starlings from their nest in the Gutter above plus occasional visits from Long Tailed Tits, Goldfinches and the Great Spotted Woodpecker which for some reason loves the tree in the neighbours garden at the back, there every day without fail !

Young Starling causing havoc on the feeders

Blackcap – Hook-with-Warsash

Hopefully the rush of people going to the surrounding popular beaches won’t be the start of another Virus surge and life can get back to normal, Nature has moved ‘onwards and upwards’ over 5 or so weeks of partial rest.
The air is cleaner, the importance of nature has come to light. Long may it be so !

Winchester Green Party

Tweets by WinGreenParty

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April – Wildlife around Bishop’s Waltham

Posted on 21st April 2020 by Richard

Lockdown kicks in – the wildlife love it

Less traffic and less pollution seems to be bringing much benefit to humans and wildlife alike, but of course, we’d rather not be in the middle of a pandemic.
In some ways I guess it’s easier for us senior citizens, we don’t need to worry about losing our jobs or not getting our full income like many who’ve been furloughed.

I’m walking on average about 25k a week and getting much solace through scenery and just listening to the birdsong everyday.

Hedgehogs under the bird feeders

Two Hedgehogs have appeared in the Garden, so hopefully both will survive and presuming they’re male and female will produce some young ones.
There’s no mistaking the noise when they arrive, loud grunts and the scraping of any leaves on the ground !

Mistle Thrush – Red Damsel Fly – Orange Tip Butterfly

Butterflies are starting to appear again with the usual Orange Tips and Brimstones. I’ve also seen a few Speckled Woods and Peacocks.
Around the Garden here, some Starlings are busy looking after their eggs in the guttering above my Flat, right racket !

Grass Snake

Bee Fly

Life plods on and it’s not easy for many but it is very nice to see people walking in the countryside. I’ve spoken to quite a few and all say it’s so nice to have some time to explore their surrounding and quite keen to learn bird species and just watch what’s going on.

They say that from something bad, good will come. I haven’t a crystal ball to see where all this is going to end but it has been a wakening to what’s good outside our door and awareness of the need to preserve it.

Around & About in March

Posted on 27th March 2020 by Richard

Lockdown begins, bad for us, good for nature

After some weeks of the Coronavirus Pandemic spreading itself across the U.K., the Prime Minister announced what would be a virtual shutting down of the Country, we were told to stay at home with only essential shops remaining open.
Luckily we were allowed daily outdoor exercise and although officially limited to one hour, where I go for walks is mostly to places where people don’t go. In other words, further out into the horizons.

Kestrel

The town of Bishop’s Waltham has many walks and close by places to explore. The houses on the north side of the town border the South Downs National Park and to the south it’s mainly fields with streams flowing into the River Meon. North and south I have about 6 variations of circular walks ranging from 4k to 8k, so depending on my general state of mobility, this is a nice variation.

Jackdaw – Goldcrest – Deer

Song Thrush – A late Fieldfare (early March) – Common Buzzard

There are some benefits of being indoors so much and that is to look out the window more and see what’s going on nature wise more closely than usual maybe.
Outside mt window, we’ve had Long Tailed, Blue, Great and Coal Tits, Chaffinches, Goldcrest (right outside my window), Starlings, Jackdaws, Goldfinches and not forgetting Blackbirds and Robins of course

There’s always one close by !

Not only has Bishop’s Waltham the fields and River, but also a derelict Abbey (or Palace) and two large ponds no further than a 200 meter walk from my Flat.
Both are separated by the Winchester Road; the North Pond is largest more natural with varying depths of water which attract Herons and Cormorants, the south Pond was man made back in the day solely to farm fish. This attracts fewer water birds but does attract Kingfishers, Grey Wagtails and Gulls.

Much to see in the coming months !

Wildlife Diary

Recording wild life through the year around Hampshire, Kent and elsewhere

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