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

Mid August bubbling with Wildlife

Posted on 16th August 2017 by Richard

In the Garden

I thought I’d spoken about the Grass Snake, but looking back it appears not, so here’s a photo of it sitting under one of the Rubber Mats I have in the long grass

Grass Snake

I thought most birds around and about here had now all fledged, but upon hearing a few quiet tweets from the Laurel Bush was pleased to see what appears to be a juvenile Chiffchaff. I say ‘appears to be’ because, apart from the dark legs, has the characteristics and colour of a Willow Warbler !

Young Chiffchaff

Between the Lane and the Great Stour

Although there is a very apparent lack of birds at present (they’re all in my Garden I think) Dragon Flies and Damselflies are plentiful

Migrant Hawker

Conningbrook

I’ve only been able to make it to the Eco and Northern Lake but it’s been well worth the walk.
The Herons nesting on the Eco Lake have sprung a nice young one to the surroundings and seem to be mixing OK with the Little Egrets.

Four Spotted Chaser – Leveret

Two Herons ready to roost and Young Heron in Fields

The walk from Blackwell Farm to the Great Stour produced a Leveret hurrying around the path and into the overgrowth whilst above, the Swallows are still very active almost skimming the corn tops as they hurry about looking for an evening meal.

Great Stour between Conningbrook and Wye

With the forecast looking reasonably good for a few days to come and me being a fairweather birder, I hope to get back to the North Kent Coast shortly, probably Oare Marshes, always a great spot for Waders and more.
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Woodland at Hook with Warsash

Posted on 14th March 2017 by Richard

Just a mile on from Warsash and where the River Hamble finally flows into Southampton Water, is Hook with Warsash.
There are a number of walks around and about, one to the water’s edge going through semi Woodland and Reeds, another into Woodland and finally open field and heath.

Chiffchaff in early Spring noisy mode!

I usually do a little of them all and for those who think miles, it’s not, the three areas can be done by walking probably just a mile and a half and all walks have their own character and tundra.

Goldfinch

Again you will be subject to the passing dog or Cyclist but the area is large enough for you to find your own little corners and angles.
On this walk I went for the Woodland section and was surprised at how many birds I saw.

Greenfinch – Goldcrest

I didn’t have to look far to see Nuthatches and Goldcrests, two fo the not so easy to spot birds.
There were many Green Woodpeckers in the long grass of the open land, but too quick for me this time, pity.

Nuthatch

The other nice thing about this area is that it can be quite windy along the water, but most of the Woodland and Heath is protected from any cold breezes which may be apparent.
Other things to look out for are the occasional Weasel and Curlews feeding in the Fields when the tide is in, also a place where 100’s of Geese can take a rest.

I always enjoy it there. Even if I see few birds, the scenery is splendid and the tall trees give the Woodland areas quite an ancient feel.
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Servicing the Bird Feeders for Winter

Posted on 18th October 2016 by Richard

Although the Garden and it’s surrounding are pretty much bird friendly with so many wild Blackberries, Rowan and other fruit etc., I thought it about time to start off feeding the Birds again.

Because of the Stream opposite, a Field behind and next door keeping Rabbits, we are somewhat attracted to Rats, so my first job was to make a few alterations and adjustments to my existing set up.

In the Front Garden I moved the whole Feeder contraption further away from the branches of the small tree, surrounded the upright with downnpipe and attached a few thorn cut offs around the bottom.
It seems to have done the trick, no Rats climbing up anymore. In fact for some reason or other, the Rats seem to have vanished, maybe the local Predator Birds are having a feast, possible an Owl as well?

In the back Garden I made a better and bigger table to stop crumbs falling to the ground beside the Pond. The Rats were having a field day there rummaging through the One Day Lilys and other flowers.
I’ve also lowered the roof a little to hopefully stop the Sparrowhawk, or at least slowing him or her down so the Tits etc. have a better chance of escape.
As it happens, the Sparrowhawk has ample Pigeon available on the fields.
Again I’ve put thorn twigs on the upright and enveloped the upright with Downpipe.

None of this will stop the Squirrels of course, battling them is a lose lose situation. Watch, admire their diversity and cunning plus just accept it !

It was nice to see the Chiffchaff appear. Like the Grey Wagtails, they seem to wander off during late Spring then return again about now.
Blackbird numbers are increasing in droves. I don’t think there’s any Scandinavian migrants yet but certainly the increase in numbers shows they are moving south from other parts of the Country.
Starlings are also very apparent at present

Weather patterns seem to be changing every year with some birds too early, some late. I wouldn’t like to be a Farmer, I’m sure in previous times they knew exactly when to do what, nowadays it’s all a suck it and see situation.

However, jobs done and all birds welcome down the Lane.

Grey Wagtails back down the Lane

Posted on 23rd September 2016 by Richard

After a summer break, the Grey Wagtails suddenly appeared this week, mainly hanging around the Stream which at present is quite low so giving them ample places to splash around in.
Add to that the re-appearance of countless Chiffchaffs, the Lane has become quite noisy again.

Autumn is upon us, at present warm sunny days with rapid temperature drops late afternoon bringing out the forever young (it seems) Blackbirds who scurry around the Blackcurrant Bushes and under the Laurel Tree.
This seems to go on until more or less darkness, only yesterday I nearly fell over one as I returned from my Garden Office to the Back Door.

Blackcap – Wren – Red Admiral

Butterrlies are hanging on but seem now to be reduced to more or less Whites, Speckled Woods with the odd Peacock and Red Admiral. Invertebrates are still making their winter homes in the bug house, the fox is feeding nightly as is the Hedgehog who seems to be eating less as the evenings go on.
Mind you, this is probably not bad. I know Hogs are supposed to be of good weight for their hibernation, but this one’s huge !!

Green Woodpecker over the fields at Conningbrook

So not many sightings this week, I did spot a huge Slow Worm by the Stream, but it this instance it didn’t live up to it’s name and did a fast exit before I could get my Camera pointed.
Why is it you always see something after the event !

In the Garden mid September

Posted on 13th September 2016 by Richard

It’s supposed to be Autumn but with a temperature of 32.5 degrees centigrade today, it felt like mid Summer in the Med.
With the heat in mind I thought I’d just sit under the Laural Tree and see what comes along.

As always, nothing disappoints, there’s always something that catches your eye and hopefully makes for a decent photo.
First in line was the Juvenile Blackbird, she’s been around for a few weeks now and doesn’t seem to mind coming pretty close if there’s food involved. However, the food she seemed to fancy was a tad mission impossibly !

A little later I saw the first Harlequin Ladybird I’ve seen this Summer, there’s quite a few Seven Spotteds still here, mainly around the Holly Bushes, so nice to see this one. Change is as good as a rest and hopefully shows the Garden is attracting wildlife of any type.

This was followed with a Darter who certainly seemed to take a fancy to me.

Around 6pm I went inside the Shed and got that feeling something’s watching you. Sure enough there was the Fox who I’ve been feeding up after seeing the poor creature looking worse for wear a few weeks ago, sitting patiently watching the back door in wait for the evening sachet of Tesco’s Cat Food !

A quick stroll down the Lane to the field produced a Yellowhammer flitting around the Hedgerow. Lots of noise from what sounded like Long Tailed Tits and plenty of Swallows flying over.

Upon returning home I heard the distinctive call of a Chiffchaff in the front Garden which immediately brought back memories of Spring when one perched on the tree above my Shed giving it’s repetative call from dawn til dusk.

Busy times ahead !

Hamble calm and still

Posted on 29th March 2016 by Richard

29th.March 2016
With my daughter and family away in the USA, I’m doing the House Sitting, sad they’re not there but a chance to pop out on daily adventure around the vicinity – today it was Hamble.

It couldn’t have been better, the tide was low which gave possibly the last chance to see our Winter migrants go off on their summer jaunts.

Black Tailed Godwits

Hamble is blessed with both Black Tail and Bar Tailed Godwits, today it seemed to be the Black Tailed showing their faces.
There wasn’t much happening really, beside the above a few Turnstones, Mallards and the odd Teal.

Some Redshanks did eventually turn up however and this gave a reasonable photographic opportunity.

Goldfinch – Chiffchaff – Greenfinch

After that I popped along to Hook-in-Warsah where again not much about, just the normal but a Chiffchaff and female Blackbird did make for a good shot.
Much noise from Buntings in the Reeds and Skylarks were obviously in attendance somewhere.

Nothing else to do I had a slow stroll along the Lane, some Goldfinches appeared and that was that.

Male Teal

Should you ever go to Hamble and would like to see a Kingfisher, try walking about 100 meters north of the Pink Ferry, there’s a bend in the Path with a Bench. Sit there and look across the pools in an easterly direction and you may well catch a glimpse of one, or two, p[erched on th fence poles or sitting on a mud bank as the tide comes in.

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Tag Archives: Chiffchaff