4th April - Noar Hill, Hampshire

Last night was overcast and there was still some cloud around this morning, but the cold wind of yesterday had gone.  Today was forecast to be the hottest of the year so far and as a result Ian and I agreed to meet at Noar Hill midmorning in the hope there may be some butterflies about.

As we walked up the footpath, I realised that this was probably the earliest visit here, normally it is around the middle of April, but with the weather having been so sunny we thought there might be a chance.

First stop was the chalk pit by the gate, there was nothing here though besides the song of Chiffchaff and Blackcap.  Walking up the slope there were Cowslips out, nothing like the coverage you see at its peak, but they were out.

We walked around the pits past the Juniper and Holly bushes with only a fast Peacock to record.  We were heading for the back of the reserve and the pits there.  On a sunny bank there were Bee-flies, but these were not the same species as seen at Browndown yesterday.  They were Dark-edged Bee-fly, these were Dotted Bee-fly.  This is a poor photograph, but it does show the dots on the wings that give it the name.

They were nectaring on the cowslips with their long proboscis that some thing is a sting!

The two pits at the back of the reserve were sheltered and when the sun came out so di the butterflies.  There were at least three male Brimstones and two Green-veined Whites, but they never stopped.  They were joined by a Peacock.

It took awhile but we finally managed to pin down a male Brimstone.

And I managed to catch it as it took off from the flower.

We decided to walk back to the open reserve and as we did a Holly Blue flew past, again not stopping.  We had a very nice relaxed lunch sitting on the grass amongst the few Cowslips.  Then we decided to walk around the outskirts of the reserve where there were more Brimstones, another two Green-veined Whites, a single Comma and another Holly Blue.

Coming down the side of the reserve the view across the field that takes in the Selbourne Hanger is superb.

At the main gate once more there was another Comma, but little else.  It would have been amiss if we hadn't seen a Red Kite in an area where they are numerous, so it was no surprise when one drifted over.

We made our way back on to the reserve, cloud had built up but it was still warm, but there was little butterfly action.  A Yellowhammer called from a bare tree, there was no classic song, just the "zeet" call.

We both agreed we weren't going to see the butterflies we hoped for, so decided to walk back down the slope to the cars.  As we reached the gate a Brimstone settled on a dandelion.

It was a warm day and there were butterflies to be seen, it was nice to get the Holly Blue, but frustrating they were not stopping.  There is no doubt I will be back.

3rd April - Gilkicker Point, Haslar Cemetery, Browndown South and Posbrook Floods, Hampshire

It was another sunny morning, but as I arrived on the south coast there was cloud hanging over the isle of Wight.  I met Ian close to Gilkicker Point and walked through the golf course to the development work on the old fort.  Reaching the beach there was a very fresh easterly breeze that was taking the edge off the morning sunshine.  Off shore we picked up Sandwich Terns and a single Common Tern, the first of the year.  Walking along the beach there were several Sandwich Terns fishing.

We walked along the beach and around the bushes, but there was very little about.  We could hear Song Thrush and Chiffchaff singing away in the distance but nothing that looked at all like a newly arrived migrant.

We made our way back and entertained ourselves with the ships om the Solent.  Walking back towards the cars a Swallow flew across the lake, but kept on going, heading west.  As we came across the Golf Course we could see a Fox sat on the grass.

It stood up and walked towards us, another tame male dog Fox.  A yawn!

Some nice portraits as we were able to get close.

It trotted past us, seemingly unconcerned, but keeping an eye on us.

It then paused on the fairway and as it did so another Swallow flew through, this time heading east.

Some more portraits.

It kept its eye on us as we walk away.

Next stop was just down the the road at the Royal Navy Haslar Cemetery.  Early spring one of the earliest orchids to flower can be seen in really good numbers.  We walked in and Ian led the way to the area where they are seen.  However we were a little early, there was n't any sign of the orchids, although I did find this one that was trying to flower, but looks like it has fallen foul to a lawn mower.

We are assured that the area is not mown, so it could be that they are mown while the orchids are still to emerge.  It will  probably take another couple of weeks for them to emerge in quantity.

From Haslar we drove another short distance to Browndown South, this would be my fourth visit this spring, the target being Adders, the sun though had disappeared behind a bank of cloud, not a good sign.

Walking onto Browndown a female Linnet was posing nicely on top of the gorse.

The wind was chilling and without the sunshine it was not a good environment for the Adders to appear.  As we looked in the usual spots amongst the bracken and sheltered from the wind we came across this, a Dark-edged Bee Fly.

As we strolled along the paths the sun started to emerge and there were spots where it felt quite warm.  Then, finally Ian found an Adder, a male spread out amongst the dead grass and bracken.

A close up of the head, beneath a branch of bramble.

We walked around again and went back to the cars to pick up lunch.  Coming back we were told where there was a couple basking so we headed back, the sun was now out, but the breeze was keeping the temperature down.  We did find another male and it was quite active, the tongue flashing out.

Then, we think it was down to the wind, it turned quickly and shot off into the gorse.  We searched some more, but with out any luck, so decided to try one more location, we were heading back to Bridge Street car park.

We set off down the canal path and immediately came across a Green-veined White butterfly that didn't stop.  A little further and there was a Peacock and Comma, but again avoided the camera.

Earlier in the week I had seen six Glossy Ibis drop onto Posbrook Floods, and this afternoon there was a report of nine on the floods.  As we walked towards the floods we saw three feeding in the marshy area below Posbrook.  Two together followed by a single

Scanning across the floods there were three more, but we couldn't get the count up to nine, we also couldn't find the drake Garganey that apparently was still around.  With no sign of any hirundines and only Chiffchaffs singing from the bushes we decided to head back.

I finally had managed to catch up with the Adders, but it wasn't the sort of views I have seen in past years.  The blocking weather continues, but tonight there is the chance of showers that may force some movement to drop down.

1st April - Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire

Last year I made a trip into Winchester to see the Peregrines around the cathedral.  The Peregrines were back according the Winchester Cathedral web site, so I was hoping for some action like I experienced last year.

Another beautiful day with blue skies and sunshine, everything looked perfect, the big question though was would the falcons turn up?  The answer to this was no.

I was left watch the feral Pigeons perched on the brick work where the Peregrines should be

Herring Gulls sitting on the roof of the cathedral

The only raptor seen a distant Buzzard.

And Jackdaws collecting nesting material in the grounds of the cathedral.

The web cams on the web site are working and looking at then ensting box there isn't any sign of any activity at all.  Last year the resident female was attacked and killed by a younger female.  She paired up with the resident male, but were unsuccessful, the eggs laid never hatching.  It would seem that this inexperienced female is having difficulty again this year

31st March - Titchfield Haven, Hampshire

The fine, sunny and warm weather continues and over the weekend a Garganey turned up at last on Posbrook Floods.  There was no debate on where I was going this morning as it was present all day Sunday and they usually stick around for a few days.

As I set off along the canal path the news wasn't good, a search for an hour and a half had not found it.  I remained positive and continued, stopping to watch the two Glossy Ibis, that remain, on the Bridge Street Floods.

I scanned the Posbrook Floods, but without any luck, there wasn't any sign of a Garganey.  There were a couple of Tufted Ducks, a drake Pintail and several Wigeon along with the regular Gadwall, Teal and Shoveler.

After twenty minutes searching I decided to move on, there would always be a chance on the way back.  Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers were singing along the canal and showing intermittently.  At the thatched cottage a Fox was hunting in the field.  From the look of the fur on the hind quarters, this is the same fox that gets around the reserve.

A little further along a Chiffchaff singing in the open.

I do not know what as happened to the feathers around the bill, they look black and dirty.

The warm weather is bring out the leaves in the Blackthorn, and the fresh green colours contrast nicely with the browns of the reeds.

Just past the sluice that controls the water in the canal going into the reserve a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming on the bough of an oak tree.

And a little further along the Firecrest was in song in the usual spot.

A Stunning little bird.

On reaching the end of the path I walked around the sea wall to the visitor centre.  Water levels were much lower in the bay, but still not low enough to expose mud at low tide.  However this Redshank was feeding close to the reeds.

At the harbour bridge a Little Grebe was diving just below the bridge.  Here you can see the position of the legs right at the back of the body.

After a brief visit to the Meon Shore hide I walked around to the Pumfrett where the birds were a little closer.  The water levels had fallen here too, but with there being the frantic gull activity there were few birds close to the Meon Shore, it was better at the Pumfrett.

Avocets feeding.

The male Marsh Harrier had shown over the reeds, but always at a distance.  

However a female Marsh Harrier did come close.

Then a head on glide towards us.

The male then returned a little closer.

There were well over fifty Avocet between the North and South Scrape, and as with Avocet there were some scraps with pair squaring up to each other with bills down and tails pointing up.

And when they fight they dance.

The Avocet on the left had been moving sticks and stones, as if making a scrape for a nest, I assume that this is the female and here she doesn't seem to pleased with her partner sleeping.

There were a few Mediterranean Gulls on the central causeway and they could also be heard calling as they flew around the scrapes.

The dark background created by a tree emphasises the beauty of the gull's snow white plumage.

I decided to leave the reserve and head back up the canal path.  As I reached the area wher ethe Firecrest had been earlier a Blackcap was now singing.  Have to assume it has just arrived as there wasn't any Blackcap singing earlier.

Another of the many Chiffchaffs singing.

A Jay flew across the meadow, heading towards the trees on the west side of the canal.

The view looking north east across the meadows.

And in black and white.

As I reached the floods I scanned again as I walked along the path.  I then noticed a group of birders, they had seen the Garganey but had lost it in the vegetation, I was able to get to a high point on the path and managed to find it.  The white stripe on the head as it moved through the sedge.

It gradually made its way towards the left and towards hopefully some more open water.  I tracked it through the sedge and waited.

Then looking north I noticed what I initially thought were six Cormorants, then as the bank it was clear they were Glossy Ibis.

They flew past and then circled as if looking for somewhere to land.  

The question was where had these come from?  There haven't been any reports of a group like this, recent reports are all of single birds, the two birds I saw here in the morning being the largest group recently.  These must be migrants, but arriving from where.

After circling low, they came in low over the sedge.

Eventually they dropped out of site behind the sedge.

With the Glossy Ibis not visible it was back to the drake Garganey and it finally came out into the open.

It was nice to finally get the Garganey, they are not always an easy bird to see as was shone by the no show this morning.  An interesting day, with some nice sightings.  But it seems as if the weather is too nice and is blocking the movement of migrants.  Last year the block was the cold weather, tis year it seems like the warm sunny weather.  The hope is that the winds will go around to the south east towards the end of the year.