A wet and windy day on the south coast

[htcdude]

Well me Finch and another mate decided to go for the Junco and Spanish Sparrow, the weather couldn't have been more miserable! We had a list of things we might go to see, and if worst came to worst we we head over to RSPB Arne near Poole.

So we set out heading first of all to Hayling Island for the Shore Lark, which we got within 10mins, soaking wet Then headed over to Southsea Castle to try and find the Purple Sandpipers, and we found 6

Next stop was Gosport for the Ring-billed Gull. However we paid for an hour's ticket, spent an hour looking, and didn't find it. I did though manage to see my first Red-breasted Mergansers in the port.

The rain died down!! It was now a decision, do we go and try for the Sparrow and Junco, or do we go to Warblington for the Cattle Egret and Arne for the Spoonbill and hides??

We decided to try for the Spanish Sparrow first. After searching the relevant hedges we were kindly invited into a local's house who's back garden was feeding the bird. Result!

We were feeling lucky so headed off up the road for the Dark-eyed Junco. On the pathway down to where we'd heard it was hanging out I got my first Common Crossbill flying over, and whilst waiting for the Junco to appear we heard the undeniable call of a Raven as it flew overhead. Soon after the Junco appeared and we had excellent, though slightly silhouetted viewing. On the way out from the carpark we nearly ran over 4 more Crossbill.

After that was a quick dash to Penington Marshes to try and find any divers/grebes...no joy. We had already decided to try for the Hawfinch coming in to roost at Rhinefield back in the New Forest, but they had decided to roost early due to the clouds and rain coming back.

So..

All in all and cracking day despite the weather, 68 species in all and 6 new species for me!


Those we missed out on were Ring-billed Gull, Cattle Egret, and we had been slightly tempted by Hume's Warbler and Richard's Pipit.if we had time we would've gone for them too.


So a big to those who said it would be a washout

Nige

[Cordaline]

Brilliant result!
Well done y'all!
Definitely worth getting wet for!

[Wild-Woman]

Sounds like a great day Nige. Sometimes the weather just can't ruin it!

[Deb London]

Sounds interesting Nige - well done.

One of my next quests is to find a Hawfinch! Thought I'd look nearer to home as there may still be a few about. May take a couple of years though, assuming they are not extinct by then.

Well done with the others. Did I read it right, is that Spanish bird mating with our native sparrows, left, right and centre?

[htcdude]

Not sure about the Sparrow mating with everything, though it wouldn't surprise me! The guy we met said there were hybrids with the Spanish Sparrow, though I didn't ask if these were House x Spanish hybrids or House x Tree hybrids...

Unfortunately these were the best shots :-(




With regards to Hawfinch I've been told Great Bookham Common is a good place for them (great bookham common - Google Maps) I'm sure Adam will be able to confirm/correct.

Nige

[Adam Cheeseman]

Only a couple of the Bookham Common Hawfinches been reported on a few dates recently in the trees near to the railway station. I presume this means on the common behind the station. They can be very hard to find and will usually be around the area known as The Plain, which is an open area with hawthorn and willow scrub adjacent to the station. Occasionally some winters will have a flock of them there. Last time was a few years back when I saw 25 in the trees on the southern edge of The Plain.

Other areas where they are regular in thhe south are Monkton Farm, West Dean in Sussex (also Willow Tit here in spring). Mercers Lane, Romsey in Hants. They are also in the New Forest but I'm not sure where these are.

As far as the sparrow hybrids go, I believe they are Spanish x House Sparrows. I've not heard of any Tree Sparrows down that way.

Cheers,

Adam

[htcdude]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

They are also in the New Forest but I'm not sure where these are.

If you're coming off the A35 onto Rhinefield Ornamental Drive you'll come to a carpark on your left. Opposite that carpark on the other side of the road is a pathway. About 100m straight down that pathway there's an archway with a wooden owl on top. Go thorough that and a bit further on the pathway splits. That's the area you want to hang out before dusk. Just don't arrive late like we did, and they're there pretty much every night.

Also I presumed the sparrow hybrids might not be trees as these haven't been seen in Hampshire for quite a few years.

Nige