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Osprey -
If you want to know more about this bird, please visit the RSPB page |
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"Phew what a scorcher!", as the papers often say. I’ve just read that last month was the hottest July since records began.
Let’s hope the good weather continues into August, but as I mentioned last month, in birding terms the Autumn has now already started.
Many wader species have now returned to our area from their breeding grounds, and some of them are still looking very elegant in their breeding plumages rather than the more subdued greys and browns that are more familiar to us during the winter months. It’s a good time to get to the coast to try and see if you can find some.
The best places to go are Calshot and Ashlett creek, Lepe and Inchmerey, or Shore road in Hythe. But what about the timing?
I generally find the best times are either side of high tide, as the birds are feeding on the exposed mud and can be quite close to you, whereas at Low tide they can be very distant and hard to see. The time of day can also be a factor too.
If you went to Shore road or Calshot very early in the day, the sun will be facing you, which could make it difficult to actually see the birds clearly, and if the weather is good, both Calshot and Lepe can get very busy which tends to scare the birds off anyway! Early mornings or early evening are often good times to go especially if the tides are right.
My network of observers have been a bit thin on the ground this past month, due to holidays, so there haven’t been many reported sightings of interesting birds in our area, but, the reports that I have had have mostly involved waders.
Although not directly in our own Fawley area there have recently been Avocets moving between Titchfield haven and Needs Ore, a lot of Green and Common Sandpipers, and a few Little ringed Plovers. There have also been reports of Gannets and Shearwaters off Keyhaven and Black Terns by Hill Head.
There is an escaped bird from Paultons park on the loose too. It’s called a Blacksmiths Plover and first turned up at Lower test nature reserve in Totton, before relocating to Titchfield haven. It has been know to "disappear" for a few days at a time so could turn up anywhere, including our area.
I’ve started checking Lepe almost daily now looking out for Ospreys, which will be returning very soon. They usually hang around for several weeks before they continue South to Africa, so there is a good chance of finding one.
Back in my garden, and indeed many of yours too, our common garden birds seem to have had a good breeding season. There are lots of young birds around, and I still have to fill up my feeders every day.
Normally by July, it starts to get a bit quieter on the garden feeding front, but that just hasn’t happened yet this year! Judging by my "Nutbags" bird food business, which had another record month in July, its the same story in your gardens too!
Nutbags is now fast approaching 300 customers, and it pleases me no end that quite a few have only just started feeding, are really enjoying it and wishing they started years ago!
We are coming to the start of a new sales year now with all the seed companies bringing out their new prices. So far it looks like most prices are staying the same, and as part of my continuing campaign to drive down prices of bird food, I am looking to make some cuts.
Please email me for details or see the website.
Happy birding.
Paul Matthews
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