Where to watch birds in South Hampshire

In this section I aim to provide information on birdwatching around the lesser known sites in South Hampshire. As Titchfield Haven is my local patch I have also included this site even though it is very well known. This site is under development and I will try and add a new site most weeks although this may not always be possible.

Titchfield Haven

Undoubtedly on of the best reserves in the county with a superb visitor centre with a shop, tearoom and a display about the reserve. Six hides give excellent views over the reserve all of which I think have disabled access. A reserve worth a visit anytime of the year.

Winter perhaps offering the largest quantity of birds. During these winter months large amounts of wildfowl use the reserve's meadows and scrapes to feed. Among the commoner species good numbers of Little Grebe, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler and Pochard are all usually present although Pintail and Tufted Duck are only occasional. Off Hill Head a few seaduck may be present, most likely are Common Scoter, Eider and the odd Red-breasted Merganser although other species may occasionally occur, especially during periods of cold weather. This cold weather may well produce divers or one or two of the rarer grebes with the regular Great Crested Grebe on the sea. It is during such cold weather that the river provides a chance of Smew or Goosander and on the meadows a party of grey geese or one of the rarer swans may appear. Water Rail are often easiest to see during the winter and Bittern is seen fairly often but usually only in flight. Cormorants are presnt on the reserve in good numbers all year round and during the winter months these birds my occasionally be joined by a Shag.

In the winter months waders can be found on the meadows, on the wader scrapes or on the beach at low tide. Along with the commoner species a Greenshank or Ruff is occasionally present with Jack Snipe usually here but very difficult to see. Along with the commoner gulls feeding on the beach or roosting on the river or the scrapes there is a chance of a Glaucous, Iceland, Mediterranean or even a Ring-billed Gull being picked up. During winter gales Kittiwakes or Little Gulls may also appear. Both Kestrel and Sparrowhawk are seen most days with Peregrine and Buzzard now fairly regular throughout the year. During the winter small bird interest is fairly low but Bearded Tit, Kingfisher, Water Pipit, Stonechat, Dartford Warbler, Chiffchaff, Lesser Redpoll, Siskin and Firecrest are all seen during the average winter with a varying degree of abundancy.

During the spring and autumn passage periods Titchfield Haven provides the best chance in Hampshire of producing a Garganey. Whilst shy elsewhere this beautiful duck is often quite bold here swimming out in the open infront of one of the hides. Along with the resident Grey Herons and Little Egrets, Spoonbills are occasionally found. Waders provide the largest during this time with, amongst the commoner species, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Little Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Knot, Sanderling, Ruff and Whimbrel all annual. Gulls may include any of those found in winter. At this time of year both Hobby and Merlin occasionally hunt the meadows with the former often congragating in small groups to hunt the hirundines that come into roost. Seawatching during this time may produce skuas, divers, rarer terns and waders with any of these occasionally occuring inside the reserve. Landbird migrants at this time include all the common suspects such as Whinchat, Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail aswell as the chance of something rarer such as a Dartford Warbler, Firecrest, Pied Flycatcher or Black Redstart being found.

During the summer some waterfowl and waders can still be found along with reedbed species such as Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers, Reed Bunting, Bearded Tit, Water Rail and Little Egret all breeding or attempting to do so. Most of the common warblers are present and Turtle Dove may breed.

Old Winchester Hill and Beacon Hill(Warnford)

These two sites on the opposite sides of the River Meon from each other are two of the most underwatched sites inland in South Hampshire. As they offer a similar range of species I have decided to describe them as one site.

During the late spring and summer these two hills provide one of the best areas to see farmland birds with both partridges, Turtle Dove, Garden Warbler, Willow Tit, Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting and perhaps still Stone Curlew and Quail breeding in the general vicinity.

The passage periods offer the spectacle of visible migration with Swifts, Skylarks, hirundines, pipits, thrushes and finches all appearing in good numbers. Landbird migrants are also common at this time of the year with Wheatear, Whinchat, Redstart and Turtle Dove all regular. Ring Ouzel, Black Redstart, Pied Flycatcher and Firecrest are all occasionally seen. Rarer species such as Honey Buzzard, Serin, Golden Oriole, Wryneck and Montagu's Harrier have all occured at one point or another.

Winter is the quietest time on these two hills but species of interest can still be encountered. The partridges, buntings and Willow Tits are much easier to see at this time of the year as they have to seek food to survive the cold conditions that are regular. In the ploughed fields flocks of Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Lapwing and Golden Plover may be found. These birds in turn bring in birds of prey with Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Buzzard regular and Peregrine increasingly so. Hen Harrier, Merlin, Short-eared Owl and Barn Owl are also occasionally seen, especially during the colder spells.

Information on the better known reserves can be found at http://www.hants.org.uk/hos/sites.html.