hantsbirdchat.bsky.social
@hantsbirdchat.bsky.social
On wet dog walk today I saw these Earth Stars by some Beech trees. Never seen them there before
December 4, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Not a rare moth but
a Clancy’s Rustic came to the light trap in the garden last night. I quite like the name whoever Clancy is or was😀
October 2, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Pied Flycatcher heard calling from the Oak trees behind the house the other day. A Hampshire first for me!
August 6, 2025 at 8:32 AM
First moths for the garden in July Lesser Broad Banded Yellow Underwing Common Footman Scallop Oak and Black Arches
July 4, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Solstice Moth Trapping brought in Elephant Hawk Moths a Scarce Silver Lines and (not shown) a Ruby Flounced Tabby
June 22, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Kingfisher, House Martin and Red Kite amongst the birds to be seen on a damp walk down the Titchfield Canal Path this afternoon
June 5, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Today is the 51st day of the year when I saw my 151st bird of the year. It was a Great White Egret at Fishlake Meadows. A Cuckoo was calling, warblers singing, dragonflies whizzing about and an invasive and large Signal Crayfish in the canal. Also a great display of Chicken in the Woods fungus.
May 31, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Carried out my first Nightjar survey on Wickham Common last night. No Nightjars but a good view of a ghostly Barn Owl hunting in the gloaming
May 29, 2025 at 7:03 AM
We’ve been raided by Badgers. Woke up this morning to find this big hole next to the pond. Lots of bumblebees milling around so I think the Badgers were after the bee’s nest. My wife is not pleased that her plants have been dug up.😆
May 27, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Completed by last BTO Breeding Bird Survey of the year up on the South Downs. Pleased to see Yellowhammer, Linnet and Skylark still hanging on in the farmland although numbers are not as they were
May 26, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Had a good trip out to Bere Forest last night looking for Woodcock. I heard three fly pasts but didn’t see the birds this time. All good for the BTO Woodcock Survey
May 23, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Great birds at Titchfield Haven today. The star of course was the Hudsonian Godwit that had been around for a few days along with a pair of Eider on the sea and a fly past by 5 Spoonbill. Avocets were nesting and warblers were singing
May 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Did my final BTO Dartford Warbler survey on a sunny morning along the Solent shore near Warsash. No DWs but there were plenty of other Warblers, Stonechats, Skylarks some Common Terns and a distant Cuckoo so it was a great morning for birding.
May 20, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Lovely day at the National Botanic Garden of Wales today. Lots of screaming Swifts and a Hobby nabbed one of them. First Spotted Flycatcher of the year for me.
May 12, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Out on the Pembrokeshire cliffs today and a boat trip around Skomer. Great birds. Chough rafts of Puffins Guillemots and Razorbills along with Kittiwakes Shags and Grey Seals
May 11, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Must be May. Here is a Cockchafer in South West Wales today
May 10, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Just finished read Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace. A fantastic book that I would encourage everyone to read but being retired does give me some time!
May 8, 2025 at 11:59 AM
My first singing Cuckoo of the year this morning near Locks Heath. First in that area for me for over 25 years
May 6, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Well done Canada! 🇨🇦 You elected a government headed by a grownup which is more than can be said for your near neighbour
April 29, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Hooray! The Swifts are back. I saw my first one of the year as it flew high over the houses in Locks Heath
April 26, 2025 at 2:52 PM
A nice bunch of Cowslips at Winnall Moors in Winchester. Garden Sedge and Reed Warblers singing. Herons geese and Mallards on the water. A Roe Deer bounced along the path away from me.
April 25, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Enraged to learn of the mindless theft of equipment used for monitoring Hawfinches in the New Forest this morning. As I understand it the equipment has limited usage other than for this type of monitoring. If anyone knows anything about this please return the kit or persuade someone to do so.
April 24, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Sunny walk down the Titchfield Canal Path today. Pochard Avocet and BT Godwit still about. Sedge Cetti’s and Reed Warblers singing strongly as well as Whitethroat Chiffchaff Blackcap and Chaffinch. A Roe Deer was sunning himself in a grassy patch.
April 22, 2025 at 5:39 PM
An early start on a grey morning for my first BTO Breeding Bird Survey of the year on my patch in Hampshire on the South Downs. Yellowhammer Whitethroat Linnet and Skylark were the highlights
April 21, 2025 at 4:59 PM
A wet dog walk along the Titchfield Canal Path this morning. Plenty of of ducks geese and Coot about. The weather didn’t stop the warblers singing (Reed Cetti’s Whitethroat Chiffchaff and Blackcap) with a migrating Tree Pipit calling as it passed by.
April 19, 2025 at 9:20 AM