I am writing this a few days before
the end of October as I'm about to
go on holiday, so I apologise in
advance if I miss out telling you
about any rarities that turn up during
this time! I will recap any major
news next month.
October is generally the last month
for seeing any summer visitors before
they migrate south to warmer lands,
and mostly they have now all gone,
though there are always a few late
stragglers.
I saw my last House Martin as early
as the 10th, though swallows are
still being reported at coastal locations
as I write.
Several interesting birds
have been seen in our area including
a report of 8 Ring Ouzels at Calshot
on the 19th, and 6 Common Terns at
the same place on the 20th, along
with large numbers of waders such
as Ringed Plover, Lapwing and one
Knot.
Winter visitors are also now returning
in large numbers, and Brent geese
are now very visible in the Solent.
The past few days have also brought
reports of many Redwings and Fieldfares
arriving too.
One of the best migrant
sightings for me personally came
on the 15th, and it was a bird that
I didn't even see!
My wife
rang me at work to describe the bird
that was sitting on our roof.
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| Black
Redstart.
Read more
about this Bird at the RSPB Website. |
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Black
and grey with a red tail, and white
on its wings could only mean a male
Black Redstart, and luckily, she
managed to get some photos of it
to confirm its identity.
It stayed
around in Hampton Close, all day,
but had gone by the next.
These birds
are also heading south on migration
and often linger at coastal locations.
They are often reported at this time
of year from the power station at
Fawley, along Ashlett Creek.
One of the rarest birds locally,
but just outside of our area is the
Bairds's Sandpiper that has taken
up residence at Pennington and Keyhaven
marshes.
It has been there for nearly
three weeks now and is still providing
good views.
This is one of those
species that has probably crossed
the Atlantic from America, so is
a long way off its normal course.
If you get the chance, it is well
worth a trip to see it.
There are
usually many birders down there who
can point it out to you.
November is a changeable month where
the weather can be like a pleasant
autumn day, or an early taste of
winter, and the birdlife can mirror
this too, with lots of winter thrushes
and ducks to see, or even a late
swallow, but the emphasis now will
be on winter species.
Large Finch
flocks will be found in country and
farmland locations hungrily feasting
on seeds to build up their energy
levels for the months ahead. It is
not uncommon to find mixed flocks
of several hundred birds containing
Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch,
Linnet, House Sparrow, Yellowhammer,
and Reed Bunting.
You might even
find rarer species too such as Siskin,
Redpoll and Twite and many local
birders suspect we might even have
some Tree Sparrows in some remote
areas.
Personally, I have never seen
one in Hampshire, but if we did,
it would probably be in the winter.
Garden Bird numbers
should also start increasing now that the shorter days
and colder weather are here, certainly
the birds in my garden are actively
feeding again, and I've also seen
two Goldfinches here for the first
time in many months.
Last year was
noted as a good year for wild berries
and nuts, but I have not seen as
many berries on the trees on my travels
around the forest this year.
This
could mean that birds will have to
visit gardens more often in their
search for food, especially if the
weather forecasters are right about
there being a bad winter this year.
This makes it very important for
us to start putting out food now
if you have not already done so.
The birds will rely on us, and repay
you with hours of entertainment.
If you are looking for Christmas
gift ideas, why not buy bird feeders
and food for your friends this year?
Paul Matthews
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