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|
Alresford Pond
 | Alresford Pond
Observations by Charles Cuthbert
Other notable records (Jan-June 2002)
Redshank 1 on 28/3; Common Sandpiper 1 on 24/4; Kingfisher breeding pair (occupied nest found on 15/5); Hen Harrier 1-2 on six dates from 17/1 to 27/4; Hobby 1 on four dates between 30/4 and 13/5; Osprey 1 on 1/5.
Water Rails present throughout, and doubtless breeding.
Breeding wildfowl included Mute Swan (1 pair raised 5 cygnets), Canada Goose (3+ broods), Mallard (5+ broods), Gadwall (2 broods), and Pochard (2 broods).
Cetti's Warbler : 13 singing males located between the road dam and railway line; also within this area 30 Sedge Warblers, 36 Reed Warblers and 4 Reed Buntings (numbers refer to singing males). The true number of breeding Reed Warblers was estimated at around 50 singing males/pairs.
Note : No visits were made to the site during August – December except for a brief visit on 10th November
Other records :
Hobby : 1 on 12/7.
Table below gives monthly maxima as recorded by Charles Cuthbert only and does not include further observations by others.
The * asterisks included in the table refer to adults/full-grown individuals only, and do not include ducklings or other broods of young unless stated.
|
|
Birds at Alresford Pond 2002 (Charles Cuthbert)
| Species |
January 02 |
February 02 |
March 02 |
April 02 |
May 02 |
June 02 |
July 02 |
No visits were made to the site during August – December except for a brief visit on 10th November |
November 02 |
| Little Grebe |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2 (1/5) |
1 (28/6) |
1 |
|
- |
| Great Crested Grebe |
- |
- |
1(6/3-9/3) |
2 (9/4 – 19/4) |
2 (7/5) |
- |
- |
|
|
| Cormorant |
38(17/1) |
29 (3/2) |
20 (15/3) |
10 (3/4) |
4 (2/5) |
7 (17/6) |
4 |
|
28 |
| Little Egret |
55 (17/1) |
30 (5/2, 18/2) |
2 (28/3) |
7 (19, 21 and 24/4) |
6 (2/5) |
- |
- |
|
- |
| Grey Heron |
3 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
|
- |
| Mute Swan |
25 (28/1) |
13 (3/2) |
7 (6/3, 28/3) |
12 (3/4) |
42 (22/5) |
74* (28/6) |
79 (inc. 5 cygnets) |
|
13 (incl 5 cygnets) |
| Canada Goose |
40 (6/1) |
5 (3/2) |
10 (28/3) |
8 (21/4) |
20 (1/5) |
6* (21/6) |
10 |
|
- |
| Barnacle Goose |
- |
- |
16(19/3) |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
| Snow Goose |
- |
1(27/4) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
| Shelduck |
5 (30/1) |
10 (19/2 , 26-28/2) |
10 (15/3) |
11 (14/4, 21/4) |
18 (10/5) |
10 (17/6) |
1 |
|
- |
| Mandarin |
- |
1 (20/2) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
| Gadwall |
37 (24/1) |
58 (1/2) |
14 (6/3) |
49 (30/4) |
32 (7/5) |
148* (26/6) |
75+ (11/7) |
|
- |
| Teal |
84 (24/1) |
24 (10/2) |
12 (28/3) |
17 (14/4) |
1 (many dates) |
1 (26/6) |
- |
|
- |
| Mallard |
126 (24/1) |
52 (1/2) |
18 (28/3) |
20 (3/4) |
26 (16/5) |
40* (26/6 |
100+ |
|
- |
| Pintail |
- |
- |
1 (28 and 29/3) |
1 (3-13/4) |
- |
- |
|
|
|
| Shoveler |
24 (24/1) |
6 (8/2) |
- |
2 (14/4 - 19/4) |
- |
- |
- |
|
6 |
| Pochard |
12 (17/1) |
12 (10/2) |
4 (28/3) |
10 (12/4 and 19/4) |
10 (7/5) |
2* |
3 |
|
- |
| Tufted Duck |
62 (2/1) |
20 (3/2) |
13 (28/3) |
32 (19/4) |
45 (7/5) |
14 (21/6) |
17 (9/7) |
|
- |
| Goldeneye |
1 (24/1) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
| Ruddy duck |
- |
- |
4 (28/3) |
10 (24/4) |
8 (28/6) |
8 (28/6) |
7 |
|
- |
| Moorhen |
6 |
4 |
- |
4 |
6 |
10 |
4 |
|
- |
| Coot |
29 (28/1) |
18 (8/2) |
14 (6/3) |
32 (24/4) |
56 (16/5) |
135* (28/6) |
100+ (9/7) |
|
- |
| Green Sandpiper |
1 (24/1) |
- |
- |
1 (14, 16 and 24/4) |
- |
2 (21/6 and 26/6) |
1 |
|
- |
| Little Gull |
1 (8/1 and 17/1) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
| Black Headed-Gull |
70 |
105 (20/2) |
125 (6/3) |
1 |
1 |
2 |
114 |
|
- |
| Common Gull |
580 (30/1) |
520 (8/2) |
70 (6/3) |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
| Lesser Black-backed Gull |
4 (6/1) |
1 |
2 (20/3) |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
| Herring Gull |
1 |
1 |
3 (14/3) |
3 (27/4) |
1 |
- |
|
|
|
| Great Black-backed Gull |
17 (6/1) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
| Swift |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
40 (22/5) |
50 (28/6) |
50+ |
|
|
| Sand Martin |
- |
- |
2 |
55 (16/4) |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
| Swallow |
- |
- |
- |
200 (30/4) |
35 |
40 |
50+ |
|
|
| House Martin |
- |
- |
- |
40 (30/4) |
10 |
20 |
10 |
|
|
| Pied Wagtail |
200 |
- |
25 |
20 |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
| Starling |
350 |
- |
200 |
- |
- |
160 (26/6) |
- |
|
- |
Lower Itchen Valley Breeding Survey 2002
 | Dave Unsworth and Colin Bates
Introduction
The following breeding survey is based on our visits to the Lower Itchen (Allbrook to Mansbridge) from March to July, and is based almost entirely on own observations. With such a larger area to cover adequately in the short time available, inaccuracies are bound to have occurred and the figures below are more likely to be under-estimates. In addition, the weather this spring was not ideal, with some visits being carried out in poor weather.
The area covered was the flood plain south of the Allbrook to Brambridge road, down to the White Swan at Mansbridge. A few peripheral birds that could be heard were also recorded – mainly Blackcap and Chiffchaff in adjacent woodland.
Methodology
The positions of what were mostly singing birds were recorded onto 1:15000 scale maps. Over a series of visits, the “raw data” built up on these maps (a new map each visit) was used to estimate the number of “pairs” in each area. In addition, the precise route taken was also recorded – helpful in data interpretation when recording exact positions of birds further from the route taken, which are more likely to be less accurately recorded.
Species Accounts
Little Grebe
Birds or pairs were recorded in four separate locations.
Great crested Grebe
One pair bred.
Mute Swan
Five pairs bred.
Shelduck
Not seen by us, but a pair was present at Itchen Valley CP (IVCP) from March to May at least, and nested up the bank of the main river on one of the main meanders. A fisherman reported seeing them with a brood of chicks on the river on 11 May.
Gadwall
A pair was present during April and May at Itchen Valley CP (IVCP), and presumably attempted to breed.
Buzzard
Difficult bird to survey, but noted in parties of up to 4 between Allbrook and IVCP. Breeding presumably occurs locally, but exact locations not known.
Kestrel
One pair known to have successfully raised 4 young.
Hobby
Single birds noted on 4 May, 15 May, 3 June, 6 July, 16 July and 19 July, anywhere between Allbrook and IVCP. No known nests sites though.
Peregrine
A single bird seen 7 March, 21 April, 23rd April, 14 June, 16 and 17 July.
Lapwing
Following a series of appearances and disappearances from the fields at Highbridge and Manor Farm, 3 pairs finally settled and attempted to nest in maize at Manor Farm. A well grown chick was seen on 30 June and presumably fledged, although by that time the crop was quite high.
Lesser Black backed Gull
No survey carried out, but probably at least three pairs raised young on the roofs at Chickenhall Lane Industrial Estate.
Herring Gull
No survey carried, but much commoner than LBB Gull at Chickenhall Lane, although no young seen.
Cuckoo
First date 21 April. Present in only small numbers.
Little Owl
One was seen on 16 July at Highbridge Farm.
Tawny Owl
Two birds were calling from the wood close to Breech Farm on 19 May.
Swift
First date – 27 April (7). No nests sites found, but a number of birds were regular over Bishopstoke – including a group of 8 which frequently formed a screeching gang over the Stoke Park Rd area.
Kingfisher
Although no nests were found, single birds or pairs were noted in four separate locations.
Skylark
There is a substantial population on Southampton Airport, which is impossible to survey due to obvious access problems. Otherwise, the only bird was singing throughout the spring at Manor Farm.
House Martin
First date 21 April. In a very incomplete survey of Bishopstoke, 17 nests were found in Hamilton Rd, Scotter Rd, Church Rd, Nelson Rd, Longmead Avenue and Edward Avenue. This included a colony of 8 at the junction of Hamilton Rd and Scotter Rd.
Grey Wagtail
No survey was carried out, but individuals and pairs often encountered. More effort required in 2003.
Cetti’s Warbler
Single singing males recorded from three locations.
Grasshopper Warbler
A bird was singing early morning from the top of a bramble, near Eastleigh Sewage Farm on 3 June and was subsequently reported by a fisherman to be present for about two weeks up to mid-June. A male was also heard reeling briefly at Highbridge on 9 June and around 14-16 July.
Sedge Warbler
First date 19 April, by which time 21 singing males were recorded. Good numbers in suitable habitat all along the river. 60 singing males in total.
Reed Warbler
First date 21 April (1). Surprisingly, the most numerous warbler (82 singing males), occurring in many of the small linear phragmites beds to be found along the edges of watercourses and ponds.
Lesser Whitethroat
First date 27 April (1). One or two presumed migrants in early May, then probably about 4 singing males established at IVCP only.
Whitethroat
First date 21 April (8 singing). As with Lesser Whitethroat, a few presumed migrants in early May. More at Manor Farm than expected – possibly due to the change in habitat there, with a new hedge now of considerable size, and previously rough grazing ploughed and left as set-aside, and now very weedy (food source?). 35 singing males in total.
Garden Warbler
The first was a migrant singing just south of the railway line on 4 May. Four singing males in total.
Blackcap
First three singing males along the footpath near the Sewage Farm on 25 March - singing rather poorly but presumably spring migrants. 41 singing males in total.
Chiffchaff
Impossible to be sure of arrival date due to wintering birds but song noted from 16 March and strong arrival by 30 March when 20 singing birds were noted – many were migrants and did not remain. 41 singing males in total.
Willow Warbler
First date 2 April (1). Surprisingly, none between the railway line and M27 – this area held about 35 singing males in the mid-80’s. (See “Population Trends” for a possible explanation).
Goldcrest
Not censused, but present in small numbers, eg 2 singing males in Decoy Covert.
Rook
The rookery at Allbrook close to the railway line (SU461212), held 18 apparently occupied nests, whilst the rookery at Brambridge Park (SU472222) held 61 apparently occupied nests.
Reed Bunting
14 singing males/pairs in total, with 7 of these at Manor Farm. Small number also noted here in winter, feeding in the set-aside. It may be that the same birds have simply remained in the same area to breed with a convenient source of summer feeding habitat to hand.
|
|
Bugle Farm Highbridge
PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Bugle Farm Bird Survey (Bugle Farm, Brambridge, Hampshire, SU 470,218)
Survey of birds present at the farm, and surrounding damp grazing meadows, small ponds and patches of willow carr. This is the area of meadows of approximately 400metres X 250metres bounded by Kiln Lane, Highbridge Road, the gravel pit works to the south, and the woodland east of Brambridge garden centre.
X - Sighted in the area.
P – Sighted passing over only, purposefully on route elsewhere.
February 1999-January2000
|
Bugle Farm Bird Survey
| |
Bird Species |
February 1999 |
March 19999 |
April 1999 |
May 1999 |
June 1999 |
July 1999 |
August 1999 |
September 1999 |
October 19999 |
November 1999 |
December 1999 |
January 2000 |
| Mistle Thrush |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Blackbird |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Blue Tit |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Jackdaw |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Wood Pigeon |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Robin |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Great Tit |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Collared Dove |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Magpie |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Chaffinch |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Long Tailed Tit |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Starling |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Moorhen |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Mallard |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
x |
x |
| Goldcrest |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Wren |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
| Woodcock |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Kestrel |
|
x |
x |
x |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Song Thrush |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
x |
x |
| Crow |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Black Headed Gull |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Goldfinch |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Greenfinch |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Meadow Pipit |
|
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
x |
| Dunnock |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Buzzard |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
x |
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
| Rook |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Green Woodpecker |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| House Sparrow |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
x |
|
|
x |
| Tawny Owl |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Redwing |
|
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
x |
| Bullfinch |
|
x |
x |
|
x |
|
|
x |
|
x |
x |
x |
|
| Pied Wagtail |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Sparrowhawk |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
x |
x |
| Mute Swan |
|
P |
|
P |
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
P |
|
| Kingfisher |
|
|
P |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Jay |
|
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
| Grey wagtail |
|
|
x |
x |
|
x |
x |
|
x |
x |
x |
|
x |
| Stock Dove |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Lesser Spotted Woodpecker |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Canada Goose |
|
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Treecreeper |
|
|
x |
|
|
x |
|
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
| Chiffchaff |
|
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
|
|
| Blackcap |
|
|
x |
x |
x |
|
|
x |
x |
x |
|
|
|
| Swallow |
|
|
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
|
|
| Willow Warbler |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Heron |
|
|
|
x |
x |
x |
|
|
x |
|
|
P |
x |
| House Martin |
|
|
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
|
|
| Lesser Black Backed Gull |
|
|
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
x |
x |
x |
| Cuckoo |
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Lapwing |
|
|
|
|
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
| Swift |
|
|
|
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
| Spotted Flycatcher |
|
|
|
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
| Nuthatch |
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
x |
x |
|
|
x |
| Hobby |
|
|
|
|
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
| Herring Gull |
|
|
|
|
|
x |
x |
x |
|
x |
|
x |
|
| Linnet |
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Coal Tit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
x |
x |
|
x |
x |
x |
| Cormorant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
P |
P |
P |
|
|
P |
|
| Sand Martin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
| Fieldfare |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
| Common Gull |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
| Siskin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
| Pheasant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
| |
|
Feb 1999 |
March 1999 |
April 1999 |
May 1999 |
June 1999 |
July 1999 |
August 1999 |
September 1999 |
October 1999 |
November 1999 |
December 1999 |
January 2000 |
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