2021 - A Year Like, Well, Like Last Year

 At the end of last year as I started my round up of the year I pondered on the events of the year and how at the start we just did not realise what was coming, at that time we were facing another round of lockdown and social restrictions, while vaccines were just around the corner. The hope then was that 2021 would see us come out of this pandemic and return to some resemblance of normal life.

Well the vaccines came and with it the conspiracy theories, but through the summer the signs were good and hopes high that we had this invisible enemy on the run.  However over the last few weeks it has become a bit like deja vu, and as I write this we don't know what to expect with regard to a return to restrictions.

However despite all this there was the wildlife, again though no international travel, but I did manage to leave the mainland to visit the Isle of Mull in late May.  So here is my summary of the highlights for me this year from the natural world, mostly in my home county of Hampshire, but also with other trips around the United Kingdom:

January

The year started on the 2nd at Titchfield Haven in cold conditions, the reserve itself was shut so the focus was on the sea and what could be seen from various points around the reserve boundaries.  On the sea the usual resident Eider were joined by Common Scoter a Great Northern Diver and a single, very distant Guillemot.  Later in the day Bearded Tits showed very well in the reed bed at Warsash, with Pochard and Pintail on the Hooks Link Scrape.

Early morning on the 9th along the Canal Path produced the Barn Owl in the split tree, then back at Hill Head a good group of 82 Great crested Grebes, more Eider with a male Scaup.  On the beach the enigmatic Sanderling.

For the rest of the month the focus was local.  The Tufted Duck seen on Christmas Day last year remained through the month on Swellinghill Pond, but the highlight of the month locally was a female type Black Redstart present on the 17th around the gardens in Chalk Close and visible from my lounge!

The end of the month saw snow cover the fields around Four Marks producing some lovely black and white landscapes.

February

The start of February was cold and this resulted in some good garden sightings, male and female Blackcaps, Siskins, a single Lesser Redpoll, Redwing on the berries and up to three Red Kites over the garden at any one time.

I returned to the Titchfield Canal Path on the 6th, with the Barn Owl still present and plenty of Stock Dove.  A visit to a site in Lee-on-the Solent produced a very smart Black Redstart.  On the 13th I was back at Hill Head where there were 13 Bar-tailed Godwits on the beach and Marsh Harrier and Peregrine taking turns to unsettle the duck and waders.

Farlington on the 20th produced a single Spoonbill and good numbers of Mediterranean Gulls, later in the day a trip to Warblington produced, after a long search three Cattle Egrets.  There were Eight very distant Black-necked Grebes off the Oyster beds, while at thee nd of the day a trip to South Moors didn't find any Short-eared Owls but there were close ups of Goldeneye and Red-breasted Mergansers.

There was an extra day in February this year and this was spent in the New Forest at Acres Down where, along with Woodlark and Hawfinch there were up to three Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, displaying and fighting over territory.

At least five Goshawk were seen from the watch point, while in the car park was the first Red Admiral of the year.

March

March started in Four Marks with the first Brimstone of the year along Brislands on the 1st, and the same day I found two Tawny Owls in the usual tree in Old Down Wood, this is the tenth year running they have been present.

A male Blackcap was present in the garden until the 22nd, when there were over 100 Common and Mediterranean Gulls over the garden.  Walks around Four Marks through the month produced Grey Partridge and good numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing feeding in the fields.

A visit to Hill Head on the 13th saw many more Mediterranean Gulls over the scrape and on the sea Common Scoter and Eider.  The highlight though were the Sanderling on the beach, a count of between 100 to 150 was impressive.

Marsh Harrier and the Barn Owl in the usual tree were seen along the canal path in the afternoon.

With the temperature warming up, more Brimstone and the first Peacock were seen, while the summer migrants started to arrive with singing Chiffchaff and Blackcap in Old Down Wood.

On the 20th a trip to the Keyhaven - Lymington reserve proved to be very successful.  Two Great Northern Divers were offshore with plenty of waders about including Bar-tailed Godwit and Avocet.  On Salterns Lagoon we were treated to a very close experience by two Spoonbills.

A little further along at Normandy Marsh there was the first Little Ringed Plover of the year and Spotted Redshank and Water Pipit.  Coming back to Salterns and Oxey Marsh a drake Garganey appeared and showed extremely well.

It was back to Titchfield Haven and the surrounding area at the end of the month, where a single Egyptian Goose came in off the sea and a Marsh Harrier was seen carrying sticks and nest building.  Along the Canal Path there were the first Sand Martins of the year, while at Warsash a couple of Little Ringed Plover and the first Wheatear of the year, a very close encounter.

The end of the month saw mild weather conditions and this brought out the butterflies with Brimstone, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell on the wing locally and the first lambs were in the fields and several Brown Hare.

April

The start of April saw the weather change, north winds brought cold weather that lasted almost entirely through the month.  On the 3rd we were in North West Hampshire and managed to find two Stone Curlew.

Back home the first local Firecrest of the year was found on the 7th along Brislands just after a small snow shower.  The 9th saw me venture out of the county, taking the short trip to Thursley Common to meet up with the famous Colin the Cuckoo.  I had resisted this, but the experience was wonderful, I have never been so close to a Cuckoo before and took loads of photographs.

The day was made even better when I also managed to find a lifer in a Little Bunting on the same site, plus Wood Lark, Dartford Warbler and Wheatear.

Back in Hampshire on the 10th it was the yearly pilgrimage to see the Purple Sandpipers at Southsea, followed by a Little Gull at Budd's Sewage Farm.

From there it was to Farlington where there were two Little-ringed Plover, Bearded Tit and some wonderful over the water views of newly arrived Swallows and Sand Martins.

Despite the cold weather it was dry and bright and with this the Bluebells began to show in Old Down Wood from the middle of the month. Blackbirds and Robins had fledged young by the middle of the month, but one juvenile Blackbird was taken by a Sparrowhawk.

On the 17th it was back to Keyhaven - Lymington where my first Little Terns of the year were found on Normandy Marsh.  Up to eight Little Ringed Plover were on Fishtail and ten Bar-tailed Godwits in summer plumage were on the mud off Oxey Marsh.  In the sunshine there were Peacock and Red Admiral along the Ancient Highway, but in general butterflies were hard to find.

The first Orange Tip was at Swellinghill Pond on the 18th, while a Small White was in my garden on the same day.  A Willow Warbler singing at the pond on the 19th was unusual and in what was a very poor year for House Martins a pair were seen over the house on the 24th, but for the first time I can recall after living here for 28 years the House Martins did not nest in Reads Field.  On the 25th there were five Holly Blues at Gilbert Street, Ropley.

The end of the month it was back to Hill Head, the reserve was still not open, so it was sea watching.from the sea wall which produced a good passage of 68 Whimbrel, more summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwits, a Gannet and plenty of Little Tern.

A visit to Browndown South later in the morning found a few Small Copper in the sheltered areas, two Adders showed briefly and the sun also brought out the Dartford Warblers and both Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat.

May

The first of May dawned cold and frosty with a northerly wind, but beautiful clear skies.  Sandwich, Common and Little Terns were offshore and the Whimbrel passage continued.  A Cuckoo was calling along the Canal Path and overhead fifty plus Swifts.  At last we were able to get into the reserve and was greeted by the cacophony of sound on the south scrape from the Black-headed Gulls and Terns.

Both Godwits were on the scrape along with up to 20 Avocet.  A Lapwing on the north scrape was looking after four chicks.

The Firecrests around the village were now showing really well with at least eight pairs holding territory.

On the 8th it was an early start in search of the Wood Warbler, quite a rare breeding bird in the New Forest now, but I managed to find a single singing bird.  Other Forest breeding birds were a little easier to find, Firecrest, Redstart, Tree Pipit Hawfinch and Willow Warbler all present.  In the afternoon at Fishlake Meadows there was a Peregrine and Hobby and this very confiding Great Spotted Woodpecker.

On the 15th May it was now a very early start at Hill Head, the days may be long but the weather was still very much stuck in winter.  Other than terns offshore there was little of interest and with the weather easing a little it was off to Martin Down for the rest of the day.  Normally at this time of year it would be the right time for butterflies, but on this day it was a case of waiting for the sun to show between showers.  However the shelter of Bokerly Ditch produced, Dingy and Grizzled Skipper, Small Heath, Small Blue, Brown Argus, Small Copper, Green Hairstreak and amazingly a Painted Lady.  There were no Marsh Fritillary or Turtle Dove, but plenty of Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer on show.

So it was back to Martin Down the following weekend, Overnight showers had eased away and I finally caught up with Turtle Dove in the usual plantation.  

Also showing well were Cuckoo, Lesser Whitethroat and more Corn Bunting.  The highlight for me though was discovering a new field and well over 20 Brown Hares, one or two of which came close.

Three species of orchid were in flower, Common Spotted, Early Purple and the small group of Burnt Tip Orchids

Sunshine was hard to come by in a generally overcast day, but there were butterflies along the sheltered ditch.  I finally found one Marsh Fritillary but the highlight was a pair of Duke of Burgundy butterflies at the south end of the ditch, a first for me at this site.

Of the Martin Down specialties Grey Partridge are the hardest to see, so it was nice to first flush a pair as we approached the car park and then to get a photograph albeit just the head in the grass!

At the end of the month we finally managed a trip that away, heading up to Scotland and crossing from Oban to Craignure on the Isle of Mull.  Highlight of the crossing were two summer plumaged Black-throated Divers heading north.  

On the 30th a guided trip introduced us to a Golden Eagle nest site in Glen More, this produced some of the best views I have ever had of this magnificent bird of prey.

On the 31st it was a visit to the Island of Iona for the specialty there Corncrake, unfortunately we couldn't find them but on the way back were treated to a wonderful Otter experience.

A great way to end the month.

June

Into June and still on Mull on the 1st it was a visit to the north where Dipper and surprisingly two butterfly species, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Green Hairstreak.  At Loch na Keel, great views of White-tailed Eagle.

On the 2nd it was a walk around Loch Buie in glorious weather and then on the 3rd a trip out to Staffa and the Treshnish Islands.  While waiting for the boat to arrive a male Hen Harrier was seen quartering the moor close by.  On the sea trip unfortunately no whales, dolphins or Basking Shark on the sea trip, but Great Skua, Arctic Skua, Manx Shearwater and Gannet.

On the Treshnish Island of Lunga it was all about the Auks, but the star of the show was of course the Puffin, it is possible to get up close to this enigmatic little clown.

On the 4th, the last day of the trip we were treated to amazing views of the Golden Eagle nest, actually being able to watch the youngster being fed by the adult and then this amusing incident.

On the 12th we crossed the border of Hampshire once again, this time the short trip to Durlston Country Park in Dorset.  There was no sign of any Puffin, but plenty of Guillemots and Razorbills, along with Peregrine.  The one butterfly hoped for was found quite easily, the Lulworth Skipper.

The fields that run down to the cliffs along the coastal path from Durlston to Dancing Ledge are also very good for Orchids with Common Spotted, Pyramidal and Bee Orchids in very good numbers.

It was back to Martin Down on the 19th, this time in search of the orchids.  In all we found Fragrant Chalk, Common Spotted, Burnt tip and Greater Butterfly Orchid.  There was no sign of the Rosy Starling that had been present for a couple of weeks.

There were still good numbers of Brown Hare in the fields off the ditch and the Spotted Flycatchers were still present along the footpath.

In the afternoon we stopped off at Fishlake Meadows where an Osprey showed very well.

At the end of the month on the 26th an early morning start produced a Common Scoter and distant Gannet at Hill Head.  A visit to the disused car park in Gosport failed to produce White-letter Hairstreak, but did find Essex Skipper, Meadow Brown and Marbled White.  The annual homage to the stunted Oaks on Browndown South managed to find a couple of Purple Hairstreak after some extensive searching and I missed what would have been the photograph of the year, a Nightjar sat on an old gorse branch out in the open.

July

Indifferent weather at the end of June and into early July played havoc with the butterfly sightings.  A trip to Abbott's Wood in Alice Holt on the 3rd failed to find the sought after Purple Emperor, but there were Ringlet, White Admiral, Silver-washed Fritillary and a Painted Lady.

A return visit on the 17th was in much warmer weather and instantly there were sightings of the Purple Emperor, but nothing that could be photographed.  Patience finally paid off in the afternoon when one settled for me on the path.

At the end of the month it was back to Titchfield Haven and it was all about the terns.  On the beach off the sailing club juvenile Arctic and Black Terns while in the reserve the Common Terns were busy coming and going with food for the juveniles.

Also present was a Little Gull giving great views in front o f the Meon Shore Hide.

The end of the month on the 31st a visit to Newland's Farm in Stubbington was successful in finding the resident Little Owls.

August

The start of the month was spent in the small county of Rutland.  Visits to Rutland Water saw Ruddy Shelduck and Osprey present.  Back in Hampshire on the 14th there was a Great Egret at Pennington and a very elusive Wood Sandpiper on the Shoveler Pools.  A couple of Painted Lady along the sea wall at Oxey Marsh showed very well.

On the 21st it was back to Titchfield Haven, the morning started well with an Osprey showing well from the Suffern Hide before heading away to the east.

But the highlight of the day was a message saying a Sabine's Gull had been seen on the sea from the sea wall.  A mad dash from the hide and a frantic search of the many gulls off shore finally managed to locate it (lesson learnt here, make sure you have your scope with you!)

Back in the hide there were great views of Green Sandpiper and later on the beach juvenile Arctic Tern.

The end of the month we were win Gloucestershire and a trip to Slimbridge produced some great views of Common Crane.

September

On the 4th it was Titchfield again with the autumn migration in full swing, Yellow Wagtails overhead in large numbers and Lesser Whitethroat and Whinchat along the Canal Path and a single Brent Goose off shore my earliest return.  On the reserve itself we were treated to wonderful views of Little Ringed Plover and Common, Green and Wood Sandpiper from the Meon Shore Hide.

The afternoon at in warm sunshine Old Winchester Hill saw the last real butterfly day of the year with Silver-spotted Skipper, rather faded Chalkhill Blues, but some immaculate Adonis Blues.

On the 11th it was back to the Keyhaven - Lymington Reserve.  Another Wood Sandpiper was present on Fishtail and a flock of a dozen Yellow Wagtail around cattle on Oxey Marsh.  Other sightings of interest was a Great Egret on Jetty Lagoon and a Bar-tailed Godwit on Normandy Marsh.  In the afternoon around Keyhaven there was a single Whimbrel and in the afternoon four Little Stint and three Brent on Fishtail.

On the 18th at Titchfield Haven a Water Vole showed well along the Canal Path, where there were also two Whinchats.  In Duck Bay early morning two Water Rails showed well.  On the reserve itself a Ruff and Yellow Wagtail were in front of the Meon Shore Hide.

At Farlington on the 25th, both Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits were present and a Reed Warbler was seen in one of the ditches alongside the sea wall.  On the lake were two Curlew Sandpipers and several Bearded Tits in the reeds.

An afternoon visit to Warblington caught up with the Glossy Ibis, that after giving us the run around finally showed very well.

October

The month started with one House Martin seen over the garden, one of a handful of sightings this year.  At Titchfield on the 3rd there was another distant Curlew Sandpiper along with a very showy Water Rail.

On the 9th it was the Keyhaven - Lymington Reserve for a Western Sandpiper, that after waiting finally showed very well if a little distant.  Also present on the day, a Little Stint, Bar-tailed Godwits, Greenshank, Ruff, ten Golden Plover and a Marsh Harrier.

On the 16th it was the usual mid October visit to Leadenhall in the New Forest for Ring Ouzel and as usual the distant and obscured views of two birds.

An afternoon trip to Blashford Lakes, the first time for a very long time was a little disappointing.

On the 23rd it was back to Keyhaven, the winter wildfowl were back in good numbers with plenty of Wigeon.  A wonderful sun rise provided a lovely background for the many flocks of Wigeon flying around.

Around the reserve was a single Bar-tailed Godwit in Butts Bay, a Marsh Harrier on the mud, Great Egret on Oxey Marsh, Slavonian Grebe offshore, a Little Stint on Normandy and a Red-throated Diver heading west past the Jetty.  Through out the day there was a general movement of Swallows that culminated in a large flock over Keyhaven Lagoon in the late afternoon.

At the end of the month we had a short trip to Norfolk.  The visit to Snettisham, despite it being a high tide, was a wash out as the tide was not high enough to trouble the waders.  At Titchwell in the afternoon though there were up to 300 Golden Plover on the freshwater scrape and there was a Bar-tailed Godwit on the beach, Red-throated Diver and Little Auk off shore and in the dunes four Snow Bunting.

The next day we were at Holkham and after the rain eased blues skies provided a wonderful walk along the beach.  Offshore, more Red-throated Divers, a Guillemot and three immature Gannets, while along the beach there was a flock of Sanderling, who can resist.

Back at Titchwell in the afternoon I had a brief view of a Jack Snipe before it flew off.

On Halloween I spent three hours in the Spurgin Hide at Titchfield waiting for a Jack Snipe to show, it never did.

November

A long awaited return to Pagham Harbour on the 6th saw a Merlin zip past me and across the Ferry Pool, the highlight of the walk from Sidelsham.  On the 13th it back into the New Forest, starting with Eyeworth Pond where early morning is seen to be the best time to catch the Mandarin unaware.

The hoped for Goosander were neither at Eyeworth, Janesmoor or Cadnam Ponds, but I did manage to find the Great Grey Shrike in Backly Bottom.

I spent the afternoon again in the Spurgin Hide at Titchfield, but with the same result as before, no sign of the Jack Snipe.

A walk around Four Marks on the 28th found a flock of 74 Golden Plover and good numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing.

December

We started the last month of the year at Hill Head, an overcast day wit a cold fresh north east wind saw very little movement offshore, in fact the only bird moving was a single Red-throated Diver.  On the beach there were 60 plus Sanderling showing well and a Marsh Harrier was over the reeds.

Once the hide was open we tried once again for the Jack Snipe and it was a case of third time lucky, it showing extremely well right in front of the hide, my only complaint was the low sun making exposure a challenge, but they were still the best photographs I have taken of this elusive little bird

We spent the afternoon across the border at Thorney Island in West Sussex. Five Short-eared Owls had been reported, but with a very strong wind it was going to be a challenge.  We waited throughout the afternoon with views of Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Greenshanks, plenty of wildfowl and waders and a Cattle Egret.  As the sun dropped late in the afternoon and the wind eased three owls appeared in the gloom.  We swore we would be back.

The next weekend, the 11th saw me visiting Elmley Marshes in North Kent on the Isle of Sheppey.  The last time I was here was nearly 30 years ago and it has changed a lot.  Had some great views of distant Short-eared Owl, a wonderful encounter with a Kestrel and seven species of raptor seen in the day, the highlight of which was this Merlin perched on a get post as we drove out of the reserve in the afternoon.

On the 18th we kept our word and decided to return to Thorney Island, but started out on Hayling Island at Sandy Point in overcast gloom where we caught up with an immature Black-throated and Great Northern Diver, plus Guillemot and Razorbill.  

Dropping in at the Oyster Beds we picked up a Long-tailed Duck and five Black-necked Grebe.  But it was all about Thorney.  Conditions were good, sunshine and no breeze and sure enough around 14:30 three Short-eared Owls showed and entertained all the way up to sunset, wonderful.

The last trip of the year was on the 28th, starting at Hill Head where in really blustery weather the last year tick of the year was secured with six Velvet Scoter, off shore, in the company of many Eider and two Slavonian Grebes.  The afternoon visit back to Thorney Island was not so successful with no sightings of the Short-eared Owls.

And so the year came to an end, my total list for Hampshire came in at 181, the same total for the last 3 years, across the country I managed 203, my highest for a long time.  Now to 2022, what will that bring, I know what I desperately hope for....