#Hantsbirds

Goosander with a Shelduck and Black-headed Gulls. It looks similar to the shelducks and has white underparts, dark green head, dark back, and a thin red bill. The Shelduck has is mostly white too with dark green head and some chestnut markings on breast and side, and some dark patches on back. Black-headed Gulls have dark brown hoods, pale grey upper parts and white underparts

Wading birds at the edge of a scrape. They are feeding in shallow water. Some are Black-tailed Godwits looking increasingly orange as they moult into breeding plumage. Most have their heads in water. There is a smaller Dunlin with black belly and brown upper parts. At the back by a reedbed are Snipe which are more golden in colour

Also on the scrapes at Titchfield Haven was the resident Goosander and some migrating waders - Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Snipe & c30 Black-tailed Godwits #HantsBirds

Gulls on a vegetated causeway between two scrapes. In the centre is a presumed hybrid gull which I think is Mediterranean x Black-headed because its primaries are mostly black with white mirrors. It should have all white primaries. It also has pale grey upper parts, white underparts, and a black head with red bill and legs. There are Black-headed gulls nearby which have dark brown hoods, slightly darker grey upper parts and smaller white mottoes in the primaries.

At Titchfield Haven last night was this presumed Mediterranean x Black-headed Gull hybrid? #HantsBirds @ejbennet.bsky.social

Willow Warbler foraging in Matley Wood yesterday evening #NewForest #HantsBirds

#HantsBirds

Great to see my first fledglings of the year yesterday. This Song Thrush was invisible against the leaf litter until it was flushed into some nearby ivy #NewForest #HantsBirds

Ah that's better - there be Reed Warblers 😌 A few back & singing deep in the reedbed at Titchfield Haven #HantsBirds #PWC2026

This ladderback made the early morning worthwhile today! #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

Are Reed Warblers usually later arriving than Sedge? Can remember early April birds in previous years but did I just get used to migrants instead of breeding birds then (until recently) or have they shifted a bit or something? Felt odd not to hear any on a wetland reserve in mid-April #HantsBirds

Seal with what a I think is a silvery fish that is being held out of the water. The seal had a long snout so looked like a Grey Seal each of the times it surfaced. There is also a herring gull flying near by. It is an immature bird with brown wings with black primary tips

Flock of gulls that look mostly white with dark heads in the evening sun. There are two red buoys in the distance

Not the sea watching I was hoping for but yesterday evening was improved by a fishing flock in the middle of the Solent (mainly BH) and an early walk this morning yielded a Grey Seal fishing off Salterns #HantsBirds #LowCarbonBirding

Dartford Warbler calling and pulling caterpillars from gorse bushes this morning #NewForest #HantsBirds

A Dunnock posing in between calling yesterday in Busketts Lawn Inclosure #NewForest #HantsBirds

Near constant movement of Black-headed Gulls through the Solent this evening and earlier today (perhaps all day but alas couldn't watch all day!). Smaller numbers of Med Gulls & 1 Common Tern #HantsBirds

Also unseasonably warm & really hazy 😞

Does anyone know of anygood patches of Blackthorn in the New Forest or of any recent records of Sloe Carpet moth? Any info is appreciated #hantsbirds #teammoth

Weston Shore Southampton sea defence rocks March cloudy skies

Weston Shore, Southampton: 3 Wheatear on sea defence rocks by sailing club 2m+1f #HantsBirds #birds #ukbirding

American Golden plover. It has brown upper parts and pale underparts with buff-brown ish breast. It has a white eye stripe. It lacks the golden tones of European Golden Plover. It is stood on the exposed mud.

American Golden plover. It has brown upper parts and pale underparts with buff-brown ish breast. It has a white eye stripe. It lacks the golden tones of European Golden Plover

View of the Hamble estuary at Warsash. The path has water either side. On the right is the river with lots of small sailing boats and on the right is mud / salt marsh. The tide is low so both sides have exposed mud. In the distance the Isle of Wight is just visible and if you quint there is also a pink hut which is where the pink ferry goes to link Warsash with Hamble-le-Rice. It is sunny with blue skies and some clouds.

Lovely evening yesterday at Bunny Meadows, Warsash enjoying @collinsarc.bsky.social's American Golden Plover 🙂 Thanks to Andy for finding, and to Richard L for the lift as road closure means no buses to Warsash! #HantsBirds

Causeway at Warwash, Lower Hamble, Bunny Meadows nature reserve Hampshire site of American Golden Plover 31/3/26

Bunny Meadows, Warwash: American Golden Plover [very considerate to hang out with Grey Plovers so no need for hours sorting thru European Golden Plovers 😅 at ///spindles.campsites.rumbles ] also Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank still 51 Brent Geese on Lower Hamble #RareBirdsUK #HantsBirds #ukbirding 🪶

Titchfield Harbour with boats and Turnstones on the causeway

Titchfield Haven nature reserve path March sunshine

Great morning at Titchfield Haven with 🪶 #UKbirding: Avocet, Black Tailed Godwits, Sanderling, Marsh Harrier & #UKbutterflies: Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White. All rounded off with a Tuna Melt & Bread Pudding 😊 #HantsBirds

View of Southampton Rose Bowl (Utilita Bowl) cricket ground in March pre season preparations, looking towards the pavilion

The #birds in and around the RoseBowl Southampton this pm incl singing Chiffchaff, Greenfiches, overhead Red Kite, suggests this venue could improve my seen at Test #cricket list which is dominated by Lords at moment. #HantsBirds 🪶 🏏

Redpoll on a gravel / dirt path. It is a finch and has a red cap above its yellow bill. Upper parts are brown ish with bold white wing bars and underparts were pale with black streaking. Photo taken with phone and binoculars

Clear skies, almost empty boardwalk with a runner in the statahxw. There is short vegetated with taller reedbed behind. Reeds still straw coloured as new growth now visible yet. Tall trees in distance

Day off started with bus/train & errands in Winchester but allowed time to soak up morning sun at Winnall Moors 😌 Redpoll feeding on the path was unexpected*! #HantsBirds #LowCarbonBirding

*if only I'd brought the camera!

Male Crossbill at Busketts Lawn today. I love how they give themselves away by sending pine cones crashing to the floor #HantsBirds #NewForest

Any recommendations for tick repellent, either for clothes or skin or both? I know a lot of you do field work and I’ve already had my first this year from the garden #teammoth #hantsbirds

Nuthatch in Mallard Wood #HantsBirds #NewForest

Pete has confirmed it's a regular visitor here in spring, as well as visiting Snow Hill Marsh, West Wittering, where it was ringed as a chick in 2024. Not been reported anywhere else yet! #HantsBirds #SussexBirds

The Rushpole Wood area was absolutely brimming with Firecrests today. Well over 30 seen/heard on a 5 hour walk, far surpassing Goldcrests and considerably more than I have experienced in the New Forest before #HantsBirds #NewForest #Firecrest

Avocet in shallow water with colour rings on its legs. It is a medium sized wading bird that is white with some black markings including a black face. It has an upturned bill and pale bluish legs. One leg has a black ring over a blue ring and the other leg has a green ring over a pale ring which I think is lime. On its lower leg is a metal ring which will have a code and British museum address because this bird was ringed in the UK

Titchfield Haven: 19 Avocets on South Scrape this afternoon including one of Pete Potts' birds which I think is a frequent visitor here as it looked familiar! #HantsBirds

Back of camera photo of a very cropped male Wheatear. It is on grass with taller tufts behind it. It has pale underparts and darker upper parts and is standing upright, and bold white eye stripe

Wheatear at Titchfield Haven! 😍 Also Med Gulls mewing & 2 Lapwing displaying. #HantsBirds #PWC2026

Grey Heron eyeing up our urban garden pond.

It’s amazing what a garden pond will attract! #greyheron #hantsbirds

Helps if I put #hantsbirds
Also a likely Little Gull over the garden early afternoon (small, flappy, dark underwing, less pointy, no white leading edge)

Members enjoyed a trip to Titchfield Haven NNR yesterday, noting at least 52 species, including Sanderling, Mediterranean Gull and two pairs of Marsh Harriers. To join us on future field trips, see the programme on the website.

Images by @peterdriver.bsky.social
#ukbirding
#hantsbirds

I led a @berksbirdclub.bsky.social trip to Titchfield Haven today. Highlights included a gorgeous huddle of 90+ Sanderling on the beach, lots of Mediterranean Gulls, Marsh Marigold and a drake Goosander. Avocets, Blackwits and 2 pairs of Marsh Harriers were around all day.
#ukbirding #hantsbirds