Itchen bird list and online guide

This page gives the status of all birds recorded on the Itchen and also links most species to the Birdguides online guide - a unique online resource, providing access to illustrations, text, maps, freeze-frames and video clips of almost all the birds seen regularly in Britain (some facilities require registration with Birdguides). Any records not included here? Please e-mail me for inclusion at itchenbirds@yahoo.co.uk please report broken links or mistakes to itchenbirds@yahoo.co.uk Many thanks to Birdguides for providing the online resource facility. You can visit their main site by clicking the link below Birdguides

Red-throated Diver

Picture by Marcus Ward Gavia stellata Scarce (normally coastal) winter visitor and passage migrant. BOH refers to a bird on the Itchen at Winchester (date not given). 1 Highwood Reservoir Feb 4th – 8th 1996. 1 Chessel Bay Dec. 15th – 16th 1997. Red-throated Diver

Little Grebe

Tachybaptus ruficollis
Picture by Colin Bates
Fairly common resident breeder. A survey of the River Itchen between Bishopstoke and Itchen Abbas on Jan 1st and 2nd 1983 located 110 birds. 9 breeding pairs were recorded in the 1995 WB survey at Winnall Moors. 8 breeding pairs were recorded in the 1998 WB survey at Winnall Moors. 17 were recorded between Woodmill and Winchester Feb 18th 2001. Only 3 birds were located between Winchester and Bishopstoke on 8th May 2003, Mink may have had an effect on populations at this time.
15 were recorded on a 3 Km circuit of the Itchen /Itchen Navigation at St. Cross on 7 Dec 2004.

Great Crested Grebe

Podiceps cristatus
Picture by Colin Bates
Moderately common resident on larger bodies of water such as Alresford Pond and Allington, which it prefers and where it has bred. Seen less often on rivers.

Slavonian Grebe

Podiceps auritus
Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant.
1 in Winchester College Watermeadows in November 1954
BOH refers to birds at Winnall Moors one of which was present from Jan 10th – Feb 23rd 1979.
1 Highwood Reservoir Feb 25th & 26th 1996

Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis
Picture by Colin Bates
Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant. BOH refers to a few records at Wichester Sewage Farm including succesful breeding in 1987.
1 Nuns Walk Stream, Winnall Moors Dec 29th 1996

Leach’s Petrel

Oceanodroma leucorba
Rare coastal autumn and winter visitor usually appearing after gales. An individual at Brambridge on September 26th 1982 can be considered exceptional.

Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo
Picture by Colin Bates
Increasingly common inland, numbers greater in winter, often seen perched on electricity pylons. The increase in numbers is illustrated below with Itchen Valley maximums (nos of birds seen together in roosts or otherwise), Alresford Pond being the favoured location.

1984 – 4 1985 – 5 1986-1990 – No records available
1991 – 13 1992 – 14 1993 – 14
1994 – 17 1995 – 21 1996 – 27
1997 – 23 1998 – 14 1999 – 15
2000 – 26 2001 – 42 2002 – 38

Shag

Phalacocorax aristotelis
Picture by Colin Bates
Scarce winter visitor to the coast, exceptional inland. BOH refers to birds at Alresford Pond and Ovington/Winnall Moors, dates not given.

Bittern

Botaurus stellaris
Scarce but fairly regular winter visitor. One was observed following a manure-spreader at Twyford on Feb. 26th & 27th 1986. Recorded most winters but in very low numbers.

Little Bittern

Ixobrychus minutus
Rare vagrant, 1 Itchen record - an adult female was at Winchester Water Meadows on May 7th 1964.

Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax
Rare vagrant, a sub-adult was at Arlebury Lake on March 25th 1990 and another in the Woodmill/Itchen Valley Country Park area Nov 15th 1992 to Feb 9th 1993.

Cattle Egret

Bubulcus ibis
Picture by Colin Bates
Rare vagrant with only a handful of Hampshire records. One record for the Itchen Valley, a summer plumaged adult was present at Winchester Sewage Farm, July 15th 1998.

Little Egret

Egretta garzetta
An increasing resident along all parts of the Itchen, less common in summer. Known roosts at Alresford Pond and in the Lower Itchen Valley.
The increase in numbers in the Itchen Valley is illustrated below, the difference in counting methods reflected in numbers recorded. Note from 1996 onwards individual records are omitted.









Total annual records for the Itchen Valley * = Tidal Itchen
1993 – *1 1994 – 0 1995 – c4 + 1*
Monthly maximums (at individual locations)
1996 - 5 (Upper Itchen Valley)
1997 – 12 (Upper Itchen Valley)
1998 - 5 (Upper Itchen Valley) - 3 (Lower Itchen Valley)
1999 - 6 (Upper Itchen Valley) - 2 (Lower Itchen Valley)
2000 – 9+ (Lower Itchen Valley)
2001 – 42 (Upper Itchen Valley)
2002 – 83 (Itchen Valley daytime), 56 (Alresford Pond roost)
7 over Bishopstoke Mill, early morning 8th Dec 2004

Great White Egret

Egretta Alba
Rare vagrant
The only Itchen records are of at least one, possibly two birds that were present at Alresford Pond and the Itchen Valley Country Park late 2003 (from 24th Nov – IVCP and 13th Dec - Alresford Pond) and early 2004 (until 6th February at least).

Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea
Picture by Colin Bates
Moderately common resident occuring on all parts of the Itchen including the tidal region. Breeding occurs on the upper reaches of the Itchen. A peak count at an Avington fish farm of 153 occurred on Jan 22nd 1984.





Alrebury Park was considered to be a new breeding location in 1993, breeding pairs there have remained stable as shown below.

12 breeding pairs in 1993
10 breeding pairs in 1994
12 - 15 breeding pairs in 1995
13 - 16 breeding pairs in 1996
15 breeding pairs in 1997
15 - 16 breeding pairs 1998
15 breeding pairs in 1999
15 breeding pairs in 2000
10-12 breeding pairs in 2001
15 breeding pairs 2002

White Stork

Ciconia ciconia
Rare vagrant. Two Itchen records, 1 at Martyr Worthy Apr. 11-13th 1975 and 1 flying south at Winnal Moors June 26th 1986.

Spoonbill

Platalea leucorodia
One record of an individual over Bishopstoke Apr. 26th 1981.

Mute Swan

Cygnus olor
BOH considers that the Mute Swan Itchen population has increased considerably since 1955. Mute Swan survey results are listed below -
Breeding pairs in the Itchen Valley (non-breeding in brackets)

1978 14 (18)
1983 27 (33)
1990 25 (106)

Peak counts include 81 at the Itchen Estuary in August 1986 and 97 at Alresford Pond July 2002. There were 114 in Southampton Water (mostly in the Itchen Estuary) Jan 9th 1999.
A colour-ringed bird resident at Highbridge in 2003 had been ringed as a cygnet in Christchurch Harbour.

Bewick’s Swan

Cygnus columbianus
A scarce winter visitor and passage migrant. One wintered at Winnal Moors winter 1962/63 until April 28th and then moved to Avington until May 6th. A presumed escape was seen regularly in the Winnal Moors/Itchen Stoke area between Sept. 25th 1983 and June 20th 1987. Two flew east over Highbridge Dec 27th 1999.

Note - link provides limited information

Whooper Swan

Cygnus cygnus
A scarce winter visitor. 20 were seen flying south at Swaythling February 19th 1956. BOH refers to adults (nos not given) present at Winnall Moors from Mar 12th - Apr 9th 1963. An adult was in the Bishopstoke/Mansbridge area from Dec 23rd 1981 –Feb. 14th 1982. 4 adults flew south over Itchen Valley Country Park on Nov 16th 1992

White-fronted Goose

Anser albifrons
A scarce winter visitor. 1 was at Arlebury Park with Canada Geese Mar 17th – May 9th (also Alresford Pond Apr 4th) 1996 and again Mar 7th 1997, a presumed escape. 14 south then east were seen from Tesco car park, Winchester on Dec 16th 1998. A possible hybrid was present between Arlebury and Easton Mar 14th – 24th and Sept 5th 2001.

Greylag Goose

Anser anser
A moderately common and increasing resident (probably mostly originating from feral populations), passage migrant and winter visitor although the Itchen does not seem to be favoured habitat. There were 12 at Arlebury Park on Apr 13th 1996. Pairing with Canada Geese is not unusual such as one pair at Itchen Abbas (2002).

Snow Goose

Anser caerulsecens
A scarce feral resident in Hampshire. 1 was at Avington Lake July 6th 1993. 1 was at Ladywell Lake, Alresford Feb 12th 1994. An oiled first-winter was at the Albert Road sewage outfall on Mar 23rd, it was cleaned and released on Cemetery lake, Southampton Common but had gone the next day. 1 at Arlebury Park Mar 10th and Apr 14th 1996. 1 at Alresford Pond Apr 27th 2002

Bar-headed Goose

Anser indicus
Scarce feral resident or escape in Hampshire. BOH 1992 list Bar-headed Goose as a Category D (introduced species and escapes) but in HBR’s1994-95 is included within the systematic list probably because it was considered to be self-sustaining in low numbers. From 1996 it was again relegated to the escapes category.
1 was at Alresford Pond on April 11th 1994. 1 was at Alresford Pond April 2nd 1995. 1 was recorded as resident in the Upper Itchen Valley in 1996.
3 singles were at Alresford on April 21st. Also 3 at St. Cross on Sept 13th 2001with probably the same birds roosting at Alresford Pond Sept 10th – 26th.
1 was at Allbrook on 22nd Sept 02.
LINK NOT AVAILABLE FOR BAR-HEADED GOOSE

Canada Goose

Branta canadensis
Picture by Colin Bates
A common resident that breeds on the Itchen.
The population has been increasing since the 1950’s; control measures may have slowed this increase.
In 1983 20 pairs were found at six sites in the Itchen Valley raising 75 young, and in 1986, 38 pairs were found but neither of these surveys were complete. Peak autumn counts in the Itchen Valley- 1971-75 (18); 1976-80 (83); 1981-85 (217); 1986-1990 (247). There were 123 at Avington Lake Aug 24th 1996. There were 171 at Alresford Pond Aug 1998 and 120 at Ladywell Lake Mar 1998. 158 was the maximum monthly count at Alresford Pond/Arlebury Lake Oct 2001.

Barnacle Goose

Branta leucopsis
A scarce resident of feral origins. BOH refers to a few birds present in the Itchen Valley since the mid 1970’s. Occasional records in the Itchen Valley probably from well established groups elsewhere in the county.
1 at Alresford pond Aug 19th 1995.
16 at Easton Jan 26th – March 9th

Brent Goose

Branta bernicla
A numerous winter visitor mostly to coastal regions, the tidal Itchen will attract a few birds in the winter. Brent Geese have increased greatly in numbers since the 1950’s, a change in feeding habits and improved protection from hunting probably the most influential factors. BOH refer to 14 at Itchen Stoke in Feb 1940.
There were 16 grazing at Eastleigh sewage Farm in severe cold weather on Jan 26th 1987.

Egyptian Goose

Alopochen aegyptiacus
A scarce visitor of feral origins

Shelduck

Tadorna tadorna

Moderately common on larger expanses of water such as Alresford Pond, occasional Itchen breeding records.

29 at Alresford Pond on Apr 29th 1993. First breeding record for Alresford Pond 1995. 1 brood Alresford Pond 1999. 1 brood each at Alresford Pond and Itchen Valley CP in 2000. 1 successful pair at Woodmill 2001. At least 6 pairs attempted breeding in the Itchen Valley 2002.

Mandarin

Aix galericulata

An introduced species now established in various parts of the county, occasional on the Itchen. Escapes should also be considered. Mandarin are not established on the Itchen as they are in other parts of Hampshire probably due to their preference for wooded areas by waterways or lakes.

Wigeon

Anas penelope

Most numerous on the coast and in winter but fairly common on suitable habitat inland such as Alresford Pond and Allington.

In the upper Itchen Valley 50-80 (once, 100) regularly wintered at Avington Park until the 1970’s but subsequently declined. Has steadily increased at Allington and Alresford Pond with notable records as follows - 11 Alresford Pond Nov 5th 1993, 30 at Allington Dec 27th 1995, 17 Winnall Moors Feb 19th 1996, 40 Allington Feb 24th 1996, 18 Alresford Pond Jan 18th 1997, 42 Allington Dec 27th 1998, 55 Allington Dec 21st 2000, 119 Allington Dec 2001,

Gadwall

Anas strepera
Picture by Colin Bates

Winter visitor and resident breeder in the Upper Itchen Valley, fairly common on suitable open-water habitat such as Alresford Pond, Winnall Moors, Ladywell Lake, Northington Lake, Brown Candover and Allington, less common on Itchen waterways.

Increased in numbers since the early 70’s as in the winter maxima counts (5-year means) illustrated below
Allington 1970-75 (0); 75-80 (0); 80-85 (15); 85-90 (25)
Alresford Pond 1970-75 (2); 75-80 (6); 80-85 (19); 85-90 (44)

First Itchen breeding record was at Northington Lake in 1983 followed by Alresford Pond and Northington Lake again in 1984 and Winchester College Water Meadows in 1985. Breeding continued to increase with a post-breeding flock of c98 at Alresford Pond in Aug 1988.There were 13 broods recorded in the Itchen Valley in 2002.

88 at Allington Dec 1992, 98 at Allington Dec 15th 1994, 102 at Alresford Pond Sept 1997, 135 at Allington Nov 1998, 152 at Allington Dec 1999, 119 at Alresford Pond Sept 2000, 188 at Alresford Pond Sept 2001, 180 at Allington Jan 2002,

Teal

Anas crecca
Most numerous on the coast and in winter but regular on suitable habitat inland such as Alresford Pond and Allington, found in much smaller numbers on Itchen waterways.
Winter maxima counts (5-year means) illustrated below
Avington Park - 1955-60 (47); 60-65 (76); 65-70 (56); 70-75 (100); 75-80 (124); 80-85 (135); 85-90 (155).
Alresford Pond - 1955-60 (125); 60-65 (161); 65-70 (141); 70-75 (123); 75-80 (208); 80-85 (186); 85-90 (155).
120 at Allington Jan 1992, 210 at Avington Lake Jan 1997,

Green-winged Teal

Anas crecca carolinensis
Rare vagrant
1 record, Avington Park Jan 30th – Mar 25th 1962
NO LINK AVAILABLE FOR GREEN-WINGED TEAL

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos
Picture by Colin Bates
Common resident. The ubiquitous duck, found on all reaches of the Itchen.
133 pairs were found on the length of the Itchen above Mansbridge in 1976.
Autumn/winter maxima counts (5-year means) illustrated below
Avington Park - 1955-60 (460); 60-65 (564); 65-70 (405); 70-75 (318); 75-80 (240); 80-85 (139); 85-90 (199).
Alresford Pond - 1955-60 (305); 60-65 (322); 65-70 (465); 70-75 (296); 75-80 (371); 80-85 (418); 85-90 (293).
242 at Alresford Pond Sept 1993, 180 at Northington Jan 1993, 100 Allington Jan 1993, 162 Avington Lake 1994, 264 Winnall Moors Oct 1994, 700 at Alresford Pond Aug 1994, 164 Avington Lake Nov 1995, 110 Riverside Park Feb 7th 1995, 209 Woodmill Sept 2002, 182 Northington Sept 2002.

An individual ringed at the Volga Delta on Aug 24th 1941 was shot at Otterbourne, 3728 miles west, on Feb 12th 1944.

Pintail

Anas acuta
Winter visitor, scarce inland. Recorded in small numbers at Alresford most years.
15 at Alresford Pond and Northington Lake Jan 12th 1969, 11 Alresford Pond Mar 1st – 5th 1992

Garganey

Anas querquedula
Scarce passage migrant. Has occurred at Alresford Pond and Winnall Moors.
A pair at Alresford Pond on Apr 25th and a female Apr 28th 1995, a pair at Alresford CB’s/Ladywell Lake Apr 13th, a female Apr 14th, Alresford Pond male April 27th 1998

Shoveler

Anas clypeata
Regular winter visitor on suitable habitat inland such as Alresford Pond, Winnall Moors, Avington Lake, Northington Lake and Allington, found only occasionally on Itchen waterways.
11 at Alresford Pond March 1993, 40 Allington Dec 1993, 15 Alresford Pond Aug 1995, 16 at Alresford Pond Apr 8th 1997, 21 Alresford Pond Oct 10th 2001, 39 Alresford Pond Oct 2002,

Red-crested Pochard

Netta Ruffina

Scarce feral resident, rare migrant, winter visitor or escape. Feral collections such as the free flying feral flock at nearby Paultons Park, Ower should be considered as origins of birds seen in the Itchen Valley although European vagrants are possible.

1 female at Winnall Moors Mar 11th 1997, 1 male at Allington Apr 6th – 15th 2002.

Pochard

Aythya ferina
Picture by Colin Bates
Regular winter visitor on suitable habitat inland such as Alresford Pond, Arlebury Lakes and Allington, found only occasionally on Itchen waterways.
2 pairs bred at Alresford Pond in 1966 for the first time. 6 pairs bred at Alresford Pond and another pair at Winnall Moors in 1978, 3 broods at Alresford in 1993. 6 pairs produced a total of 28 young at Alresford Pond in 1994, 5 broods at Alresford Pond in 1995, 4 broods at Alresford Pond in 1996, 1 brood At Alresford Pond in 1997, 4 broods at Alresford Pond in 1999, 3-4 pairs at Alresford Pond in 2001, 2 pairs bred at Alresford Pond in 2002.
Winter maxima counts (5-year means) illustrated below
Allington - 1970-75 (21); 75-80 (43); 80-85 (104); 85-90 (90). Alresford Pond - 1955-60 (21); 60-65 (26); 65-70 (38); 70-75 (41); 75-80 (75); 80-85 (64); 85-90 (56).
95 at Alresford Pond Jan 1997

Ring-necked Duck

Aythya collaris
Rare visitor from North America.
1 at Alresford Pond Jan 27th 1990.

Ferruginous Duck

Aythya nyroca
Rare winter visitor
1 at Allington Oct 1st – Dec 26th 1973 and probably the same bird again Nov 19th – Dec 23rd 1974.
A drake seen intermittently at Itchen Valley Country Park/Allington Jan 1st – Apr 1st 2000

Tufted Duck

Aythya fuligula
Picture by Colin Bates
Breeding resident but most numerous in winter and on open water, occurs in smaller numbers on Itchen waterways. The first breeding record in Hampshire was at Northington Lake in 1890. Numbers began to increase with the advent of gravel extraction and the subsequent open water habitat. A survey of the Itchen Valley in 1976 located 27 pairs of which at least 15 bred successfully. 23 pairs were located in a 1978 wildfowl survey of the Itchen Valley. 3 broods at Alresford Pond 1993, 2 broods at Alresford Pond 1994, 3 broods at Alresford Pond 1995, 2 broods at Alresford Pond 1998, 1 brood at Alresford Pond 1999, 1 brood at Alresford Pond 2000, 1 brood at Ovington 2000, 1 brood at Stoke Charity 2000, 6 broods at Ovington 2001, 3 broods at Alresford Pond 2001. Upstream of Kings Worthy there were 24 pairs and 26 unpaired birds in 2002 – the most important breeding area in Hampshire.
Winter maxima counts (5-year means) illustrated below
Allington - 1970-75 (31); 75-80 (37); 80-85 (70); 85-90 (91).
There were 100 at Allington Jan 1987, 108 at Winnall Moors Feb 1990, 47 at Alresford Pond Dec 1993, 51 at Alresford Pond Mar 1993, 32 at Arlebury Lakes in Apr 1995, 38 at Arlebury/Ladywell Lakes Mar 10th 1996, 130 at Allington Jan 1997, 51 at Arlebury Lake Feb 1997, 130 at Allington Jan 1997, 70 Arlebury/Ladywell Lakes Dec 1998, 71 Arlebury/Ladywell Lakes Feb 2000, 80 at Alresford Pond Jan 2001, 95 at Arlebury Lake Jan 2002,

Scaup

Aythya marila
Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant
BOH refers to 5 winter records of Scaup at Highwood Reservoir in a ten year period following 1972/3.

Common Scoter

Melanitta nigra
Scarce passage migrant/winter visitor
BOH refers to a bird at Winnall Moors, date not given.
1 Chessel Bay Sep 22nd/23rd and Oct 21st 1994,

Velvet Scoter

Melanitta fusca
Rare passage migrant/winter visitor

Goldeneye

Bucephala clangula
Scarce winter visitor.
There is a summer record of an individual at Alresford Pond in the period 1963 – 1992, date not given.
1 at Highwood Reservoir Feb 19th – 27th 1994, a pair at Alresford Pond Apr 26th – May 3rd 1994, 1 at Alresford Pond May 10th – 13th 1994, 1 Alresford Pond Apr 9th 1995, 1 Highwood Resorvoir Feb 8th and Nov 10th 1996, 1 Ladywell Lake Dec 13th 1.998, 1 Alresford Pond Jan 24th 2002.

Smew

Mergus albellus
Rare winter visitor
Allington/Highwood Reservoir records coincided with general winter influxes with 5 records in the winter of 1978/9, 6 in 84/85, 1 in 85/86, 7 in 1990/91. A 96/97 winter influx in produced several records at Allington and the Itchen Valley Country Park including 7 on Jan 4th 97.
1 at Northington Jan 5th 1995, 1 Alresford Pond Dec 21st 1997, 1 at Ladywell Lake and River Arle on Dec 22nd 1997 (presumably the same bird seen at Alresford Pond the previous day).

Red-breasted Merganser

Mergus serrator
Winter visitor, most likely to be seen on the tidal reaches of the Itchen, rare inland. BOH refer to inland records Alresford Pond (5), Winnall Moors (3) and Bishopstoke (1) between 1954 and 1992 but does not give dates.
Tidal Itchen records for 1996 – 4 at St Denys Feb 22nd, 7 at Riverside Park Mar 11th, 1 at Northam Dec25th.
Tidal Itchen records for 2002 - 1 at Itchen Bridge 13th Feb, 1 at Itchen Bridge 25th Nov 2 at Itchen Bridge 9th Dec.

Goosander

Mergus merganser
Scarce winter visitor.
16 were recorded east over Bishopstoke on Jan 20th 1979. There were several records in the Allington/Bishopstoke/Highbridge areas 1988 – 1993 indicating a small number of birds wintering in the area. 2 redheads (female/juv) on Feb 11th and a male on Mar 9th 1996 at St. Cross, up to 4 at the Itchen Valley Country Park on various dates in Jan 1997, 8 east at Chessel Bay/Northam Jan 5th and 1 on Nov 13th 1997, 1 Bishopstoke Jan 26th 1997, 1 Alresford Pond/River Arle Jan 26/27th 1997, 2 Highbridge Dec 31st 1997, 1 Highbridge Jan 1st 1998, 6 at Allbrook Jan 8/9th 1998, 1 Alresford Dec 2nd 1998, 1 Alresford Pond Nov 11th 2001, 1 at Itchen Valley Country Park 10th Apr 2002.
M & f at Bishopstoke 21st Nov 2004 and 2 redheads on the same day at Alresford Pond

Ruddy Duck

Oxyura jamaicensis
Small resident population established from escapes.
1 at Highwood Reservoir Jan 3rd 1993, 1 Alresford Pond Apr 13th 1993, up to 4 Alresford Pond Apr 10th – May 19th 1995, breeding first suspected at Alresford Pond in 1999 with up to 4 birds present Apr – Oct and established there since.

Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus
Scarce passage migrant
1 at Cheriton Apr 21st 1996. 1 at Alresford Pond Sept 30th and another at Itchen Valley Country Park on Oct 1st 2000 coincided with a major influx over southern and eastern England

Red Kite

Milvus milvus
Picture by Colin Bates
Scarce but slowly increasing visitor having benefited from release schemes elsewhere. A tagged bird at Alresford on Mar 4th 1995, 1 at Ladycroft, Alresford Mar 3rd 1996, 1 at Itchen Wood Dec 28th 1998 and possibly the same bird at Itchen Abbas Dec 30th 1998, 1 New Alresford May 4th 2001, 1 Alresford Pond (date?) 2002, 1 at Itchen Stoke (date?) 2002, 1 at Itchen Valley Country Park on May 17th and June 5th 2002.

Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus
Scarce visitor
Between 1961 and 1992 there were 10 records for the Itchen Valley. Alresford Pond - 1 on Apr 29th, 1 on Aug 31st, 1 Sept 11th, 17th, 18th and 19th 1993. 1 at IVCP May 9th 1994, Alresford Pond Apr 28th, May 8th and May 12th 1995. 1 at Alresford Pond Apr 16th and May 6th 1996. Alresford Pond 1 Mar 2nd, Mar 16th, Mar 20th, Mar 23rd and Apr 13th 1997. 1 IVCP May 23rd 2002.

Hen Harrier

Circus cyaneus
Scarce winter visitor
1 Otterbourne, Nov 17th 1994, 1 Arlebury Park Mar 14th 1998, 2 roosted regularly at Alresford Pond winter 2001/2 and from Dec 15th 2002 and into 2003.

Sparrowhawk

Accipter nisus
Common resident, has increased in recent years.
4 including juveniles at Allbrook 11th Aug 2002

Buzzard

Buteo buteo
Picture by Colin Bates
Moderately common resident, has increased in recent years.
6 at Bishopstoke 1st Sept 2002

Osprey

Pandion Haliatus
Picture by Colin Bates
Scarce passage migrant
There were 15 records in the Itchen valley between 1951 and 1992 including 2 together at Alresford Pond Dec 3rd – 6th 1967.
1 Cheriton Wood 10th April 1993, juvenile seen almost daily at Alresford Pond between Sept 17th – Oct 7th 1993, Itchen Valley Country Park May 2nd 1994, 1 Alresford Pond Apr 2nd 1995, 2 Colden Common Mar 28th 1997, 1 Alresford Pond Mar 30th 1997, 1 St Cross Sep 3rd 1997, 1 Alresford Pond Apr 13th 1998, 1 Easton Apr 18th 1998, 1 Highbridge Aug 30th 1999, 1 Arlebury Park Apr 8th 2000, 1 Winchester Mar 26th 2001, 1 Alresford Pond Mar 31st 2001, 1 Highbridge Oct 7th and 12th 2001, 1 Alresford Pond Mar 31st 2002, 1 Alresford Pond Apr 28th 2002, 1 Alresford Pond May 1st 2002.

Kestrel

Falco tinnunculus
Picture by Colin Bates (juvenile Kestrel)
Common resident

Red-footed falcon

Falco vespertinus
Rare summer visitor and passage migrant
1 Male at Winnall Moors June 2nd & 3rd 1977,

Merlin

Falco columbarius
Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant
1 Alresford Dec 5th 1993, 1 Alresford Pond Sept 30th 1995, 1 St Cross Dec 27th 1997, 1 Kingsworthy Oct 27th 1998,

Hobby

Falco subbuteo
Scarce but regular summer visitor.
Regular Itchen observers will expect a handful of records each summer at most localities. 1 at Alresford Pond Apr 3rd 1997 was an early record.

Peregrine Falcon

Falco Peregrinus
Picture by Colin Bates
A scarce but increasing resident that may be found on most reaches of the Itchen. The Itchen Bridge and the water meadows north of Bishopstoke (often seen on the pylons there) return regular sightings. Away from the tidal Itchen most records are of single birds although there were two together at Allbrook Jan 11th 2004. One was seen to take a Jackdaw in flight at Bishopstoke on 5th Dec 2004.

Red-legged Partridge

Alectoris rufa
A locally common resident with numbers augmented by releases. The upper reaches of the Itchen appear to sustain greater numbers. 40 at Kingsworthy on Dec 9th 1999 were probably recently released for sporting purposes.

Grey Partridge

Perdix perdix

Locally common but declining resident. Records are sparse and probably do not accurately reflect the Itchen status but 11 were at Alresford Jan 8th 2002 with possible breeding at Arlebury Meadows and Itchen Stoke, also 2002.

Quail

Coturnix coturnix
Scarce summer visitor with occasional records from the upper Itchen Valley.

Pheasant

Phasianus colchicus
Picture by Colin Bates
Common resident whose numbers are augmented by releases

Water Rail

Rallus aquaticus

Picture by Colin Bates (see text)

Scarce resident though more common in winter. Breeding regularly recorded at Alresford Pond, isolated records elsewhere on the Itchen. Max winter counts – 15 Alresford Pond (date unknown but 1971-92), 10 Alresford Pond Oct 20th 1993, a breeding pair at Ladywell Lake 1999, 10 at Alresford Pond Oct 12th 2001, a recently fledged Juvenile at St. Cross June 25th 2002, 1 juvenile at Allbrook 17th July 2002 (photo above) 7 at Itchen Valley Country Park Nov 9th 2002.

One ringed at Twyford on Oct 17th 1976 was recovered in West Germany (729 km ESE) a year later.

Spotted Crake

Porzana porzana
Extremely rare autumn migrant or winter visitor
BOH refers to 2 pre-1992 records from Alresford Pond (dates not given)

Corncrake

Crex crex
Extremely rare passage migrant
A male held territory at St Cross from late April to July 12th 1957.

Moorhen

Gallinula chloropus
Picture by Colin Bates
Common resident
Selected records - 38 at Riverside Park Nov 28th 1995, 45 Winnall Moors Jan 14th 1997, 26 Bishopstoke Jan 18th 1997, 30 Alresford Pond Aug 15th 1997, 32 Allington Oct 17th 1999, 32 Arlebury/Ladywell area Feb 15th 1999, 70 on the Itchen between Southampton and Winchester Feb 18th 2001,

Coot

Fulica atra
Picture by Colin Bates
Common resident
Selected records – 266 Alresford Pond Oct 1964, 220 Winnall Moors Feb 1955, 273 Alresford Pond Oct 1979, 150 at Allington Jan 1993, 90 Northington Dec 1994, 53 Arlebury/Ladywell Lakes Jan 30th 2000, 280 Alresford Pond Sept 27th 2001, 52 on the Itchen north of Winchester June 1st 2002. 28 pairs at Winnall Moors 1995.

Crane

Grus grus
Rare Passage migrant
BOH refers to 25 birds that flew south-east over Otterbourne on Oct 30th 1963 that presumably would have crossed the Itchen. These birds were part of an unusual and large influx into Southern England at that time.

Little Bustard

Tetrax tetrax
Extremely rare vagrant with only a handful of records in early January 1944 from the Alresford area that probably refer to the same bird.

No link available for Little Bustard

Oystercatcher

Haematopus ostralegus
Picture by Colin Bates
Moderately common on the tidal Itchen, far less common inland.
1 Allbrook Feb 19th 1998, 2 St Cross Jan 28th 2002, 1 Itchen Valley Country Park June 3rd 2002.
10 at Chessel Bay, Southampton 28th Oct 2002

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus
Picture by Colin Bates
Extremely rare vagrant. There are no records for the Itchen but one was nearby at Winchester Sewage Farm May 17th 1987.

Avocet

Recurvirostra avosetta
Picture by Colin Bates
Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor
One was found dead at Otterbourne on Jan 28th 1942 that had been ringed as a juvenile in Nyborg, Denmark in June 1941.
One was at nearby Lakeside (Eastleigh) on Mar 15th 2002.

Stone Curlew

Burhinus oedicnemus
Extremely rare summer visitor. There were 23 at Twyford on Oct 14th 1961 but as the exact location is unknown this may not be an Itchen record.

Little Ringed Plover

Charadrius dubius
Picture by Colin Bates
Scarce breeding summer visitor, late summer passage migrant.
Not recorded in Hampshire until 1951, 2 pairs were first noted as having bred in the Itchen Valley (though not necessarily near Itchen waters, man made gravel pits are often favoured locations) in 1980, subsequent breeding records; 1984 – 4, 1985-2, 1086 – 2, 1987 – 2, 1989 – 1, 1990 – 1. 1993 & 1994 information not available but a juvenile at Bighton Lane Cress Beds July 8th 1993 may have been reared locally. There were 2 pairs at 2 sites in the Itchen valley in 1995, 1 pair raised 2 young the other pair is not thought to have bred. In 1996 1 pair raised 2 young. 1997, 1 pair was recorded at one site, outcome unknown. 1999, 1 – 2 pairs at 1 site but thought not to have bred. 2000, a single bird was present at 1 site in May and June, breeding not attempted. 2002 Possibly 2 pairs, no sign of breeding. 2003, 2 pairs were present in the Alresford area.

Ringed Plover

Picture by Colin Bates
Charadrius hiaticula
Scarce breeder and passage migrant.
There were 2 territorial pairs at nearby Lakeside, Eastleigh in 1984 and a pair bred successfully at Southampton Airport in 1989.
21 were recorded at Alresford Pond between 1971 and 1992. 1 at Alresford Pond on 3 dates July 30th – Aug 17th 1997.

Dotterel

Charadrius morinellus
Rare passage migrant
Kelsall & Munn (Birds of Hants & IOW, 1905) refer to 2 shot near Ovington, Sep 30th 1893.

Golden Plover

Pluvialis apricaria
Picture by Colin Bates
Locally common winter visitor
Golden Plover are generally found on open areas such as farmland and playing fields, the majority of the following selected records refer to birds that probably occupy areas away from but close to the Itchen: 400 in the Alresford/Ropley area Dec 1076, 100 in the Eastleigh area (presumably Southampton Airport/Wide Lane) Feb 1978, 160 Alresford Pond 23rd Oct 1993, 600 Eastleigh area Oct 1995, 700 Eastleigh area Dec 20th 1998, 1420 Eastleigh area Dec 31st 1999, 200 Itchen Stoke Jan 11th 2000, 770 Eastleigh area Jan 2001, 1100 Eastleigh area Dec 2002.

Grey Plover

Pluvialis squatarola
Scarce inland, passage migrant and winter visitor.
Occasional Itchen (non-tidal) records between 1967 – 1992 from (all single birds) Alresford Pond, Allbrook, and Winnall Moors.

Lapwing

Vanellus vanellus
Picture by Colin Bates
Decreasing breeder due to loss of habitat. Locally common winter visitor.
There were estimated to be 60 pairs in the Itchen Valley in 1980, a more comprehensive survey in 2002 revealed only 6. 7 pairs at Winnall Moors 1995. 5 pairs at Winnall Moors 1997, 10 pairs at the Experimental Husbandry Farm, Martyr Worthy 1998, 5 pairs at Winnall Moors 1998, 7 pairs at Brambridge in 2002 – not thought to have bred, 5 pairs located at Bishopstoke 2003.
Selected records (which may refer to areas away from but close to the Itchen) - 750 Alresford area Aug 12th 1993, 1200 Eastleigh/Itchen Valley Country Park area Jan 21st 1995,

Knot

Calidris canutus
Rare winter inland visitor.
1 at Alresford Pond Mar 27th 1962,

Sanderling

Calidris alba
Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor
BOH refers to inland Hampshire records between 1958 and 1992, Winnall Moors being the only Itchen location (date not given).

Little Stint

Calidris Minuta
Picture by Colin Bates
Scarce passage migrant.
BOH refers to 4 records at Alresford Pond between 1951 – 92 (dates not given). 2 at Alresford Pond on 22nd Sept & 5 on Sept 23rd 1996.

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melamotos
Very scarce passage migrant.

Curlew Sandpiper

Caldris ferruginea
Scarce passage migrant
1 at Alresford Pond on Aug 16th 1987, 1 at Alresford Pond Sept 24th and 25th 1990, up to 7 at Alresford Pond Sept 27th – Oct 3rd 1991,

Dunlin

Calidris alpina
Picture by Colin Bates
Common winter visitor and passage migrant to tidal Itchen, occasional inland.
12 at Winnall Moors May 7th 1962, 1 Alresford Pond Aug 19th – 20th 2001,
20 at Spitfire Quay 6th Dec, 170 Itchen Bridge 23rd Nov 2004.

Ruff

Philomachus pugnax
Scarce passage migrant
Between 1956 and 1992 112 were recorded in the Itchen Valley including 37 at Alresford Pond and 45 at nearby Winchester Sewage Farm. Of the 37 Alresford Pond records there were 16/17 from Feb 28th – Mar 28th 1976. 1 Sept 19th 1993, 2 Sept 22nd and 1 Sept 23rd 1996 at Alresford Pond, 1 Alresford Pond Aug 15th and 20th 1997,

Jack Snipe

Lymnocryptes minimus
Moderately common but overlooked winter visitor.
Selected records - 6 at Winnall Moors Nov 24th 1975, 6 at Winnall Moors Jan 20th 1976, 2 Itchen Valley Country Park Feb 22nd 1994, 3 Itchen Valley Country Park Jan 25th 1998, 4 Itchen Valley Country Park Jan 23rd 1999, 4 Allbrook Dec 16th 2001, 3 Itchen Valley Country Park Feb 26th 2002, 10 Allbrook Feb 24th 2002, 5 Itchen Valley Country Park Dec 29th 2002, 7 Itchen Valley Country Park Dec 31st 2002, 7 Itchen Valley Country Park Jan 2003, 9 Itchen Valley Country Park Feb 2003.

Snipe

Gallinago gallinago
Declining breeder, perhaps now no-breeding. Moderately but locally common winter visitor.
In 1976 and 1982 surveys of the Itchen Valley identified 26 and 14 territories respectively, a similar survey in 2002 identified none at all. This decline may be attributed to a number of factors but loss of suitable breeding habitat through drainage and so-called improvement of wet meadows is most likely responsible.
Selected records – 82 Winnall Moors Sept 18th 1981, 200+ at Bishopstoke Jan 6th 1985, 100+ Winnall Moors Feb 13th 1994, 3 territories Winnall Moor 1995, 150 Bishopstoke Jan 27th 2001, 150+ Allbrook Dec 31st 2002, 100 Allbrook Jan 2003, 75 Allbrook Feb 22nd 2003.

Woodcock

Scolopax rusticola
Scarce winter visitor, although moderately common generally in Hampshire the Itchen does not appear to attract Woodcock. Selected records – 1 Itchen Valley Country Park Jan 29th 1997, 1 Itchen Valley Country Park Jan 23rd 1999, 3+ Itchen Valley Country Park Mar 24th Mar 2002, 1 Allbrook 31st Dec 2002, 1 Otterbourne 7th Dec 2003.

Black-tailed Godwit

Limosa limosa
Fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant to tidal Itchen, occasional inland.
Selected records – 4 Winnall Moors Apr 4th – 9th 1959, 5 at Alresford Pond Apr 3rd 1989, up to 5 at Alresford Pond Aug 29th – Sept 11th 1991, 6 NE over Itchen Valley Country Park Oct 28th 1993, 3 at Riverside Park Southampton 6th Jan 2005.

Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponica
Fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant to tidal Itchen, occasional inland.
Selected records - 1 Alresford Pond Sept 9th – 14th 1991, 17 circled low over Alresford Pond May 10th 2001.

Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus
Scarce but regular passage migrant.
Selected records –35 (west) at Riverside Park, Southampton May 6th 1995, 3 (north) Alresford Pond May 9th 1996, 1 Allbrook 23rd Apr 2000, 11 Itchen Valley Country Park Apr 27th 2002, 1 (north) Allbrook May 22nd 2002, several records from Itchen Valley Country Park in 2003: 1-8 April 23rd/24th, 5-23 Apr 26th/27th, 1-3 May 4th to May 8th.

Curlew

Numenius arquata
Fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant to tidal Itchen, much less common inland.
Selected records – 22 (north) over Bishopstoke Apr 14th 1981, 1 Bishopstoke 15th Dec 1991, 1 Alresford Pond July 23rd 1993, 1Easton Feb 3rd 1995, 5 Tichborne Jan 31st and Feb 3rd 1996, 1 (singing) Alresford Pond Mar 27th 1997, 1 (south) Bishopstoke 12th Apr 2002,

Spotted Redshank

Tringa erythropus
Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant.
1 Alresford Pond Aug 26th – Sept 6th 1990,

Redshank

Tringa Totanus
Decreasing breeder, common on tidal Itchen, less common inland.
Redshank appeared to spread into the Itchen Valley during the first half of the twentieth century although the so called improvement of wet meadows caused its decline in the latter half.

The 1982 wader survey identified 12 Itchen territories; the 2002 survey identified none at all.
Between 1971 and 1983 Redshank were known to feed at cress beds and roost at Alresford Pond (a roost of 22 was recorded in Dec 1973). In 1995 a deliberate search of the Tichborne/Cheriton area (a former stronghold) found only 3 or 4 single birds.
Selected records - c40 were present at Alresford Pond Apr 1973, 23-31 pairs/territories upstream of Winchester 1983, 1 Alresford Pond Jan 3rd 1993, 1 Bishopstoke 6th June 1995, 1 pair/territory Winnall Moors 1995, 1 pair/territory Headbourne Worthy 1995, 2 pairs/territories Headbourne Worthy 1996, 1 pair/territory Tichborne 1996, 2 pairs/territories Winnall Moors 1997, 1 Tichborne sporadically Mar/Apr 1997, 1 Avington Mar 7th 1997, 2 Headbourne Worthy Mar 7th 1997, 1 Alresford Pond sporadically Mar/Apr 1997, 1pair/territory possible Headbourne Worthy 1998, 1 Headbourne Worthy Mar 21st and May 23rd 1999, 1 Kingsworthy Apr 11th 1999, 1 pair/territory Winnall Moors 2000, 1 Headbourne Worthy Mar 11th and 2 Mar 12th 2000, single birds or pairs present during the breeding season (though breeding not suspected) at Ladycroft and Headbourne Worthy 2001, single birds or pairs present during the breeding season (though breeding not suspected) at Brown Candover, Avington Lake and Headbourne Worthy 2002, 70 near the Itchen Bridge 13th Feb 2002, 2 Woodmill 27th Nov 2002.

Greenshank

Tringa nebularia
Scarce passage migrant, rare inland (non-tidal) winter visitor. Passage counts of up to 5 birds have been recorded at Alresford Pond/local watercress beds and Winnall Moors. There is a single inland winter record – Alresford Pond Jan 31st 1965.
Selected records 1 Alresford Pond Aug 11th & 13th 1993, 1 Ladycroft Aug 29th 1994, 1 Alresford Pond Aug 21st, 1 Alresford Pond Sept 1996, 1 Alresford Pond Aug 6th 1997, 2 Alresford Pond Aug 23rd 1997, 1 Avington Park Aug 23rd 1997, 2 Alresford Pond Aug 12th 2001.

Green Sandpiper

Picture - Colin Bates
Tringa ochropus
Scarce but regular passage migrant and winter visitor on most parts of the Itchen, more numerous on the upper reaches.
BOH refer to upper Itchen wintering birds reaching numbers of 50 or more. Since the 1960’s the Alresford area watercress beds have regularly held winter roosts of up to 10 birds with 21 there (possibly including some late migrants) on Oct 30th 1976. 20 were recorded at Alresford Pond on Feb 13th 1972.
Selected records – 14 Alresford Pond Apr 5th 1976, 24 at Alresford Pond Aug 14th 1992, 8 Avington Lake Aug 28th 1994, 8 Avington Lake July 1997, 8 Avington lake Sept 1999, 1 Bishopstoke Jan 1st, 24th Feb and 3rd Mar 2002.

Wood Sandpiper

Tringa glareola
Scarce passage migrant.
Selected records -13 have been recorded at Alresford before 1992. Three were at Pinglestone Watercress Bed Aug 22nd 1976. 1 Alresford Pond Sept 1st & 4th 1993, 1 Avington July 28th 1996, 1 Alresford Pond Aug 5th 1997, 3 Alresford Pond Aug 18th 1997,

Common Sandpiper

Picture - Colin Bates
Actitas hypoleucos
Scarce but regular passage migrant, scarce winter visitor.
Selected records – 1 Bishopstoke, Mar 2nd & 27th 1996, 8 Alresford Pond Aug 6th 1997, 10 Alresford Pond Aug 7th 1997, 5 Alresford Pond Aug 18th 1997, 6 Alresford Pond Aug 20th 1997, 1 Riverside Park Jan 18th 1998, 1 Riverside Park Nov 29th 1998, 1 Riverside Park Feb 7th & 13th 1999, 1 Riverside Park Nov 10th 1999 – Feb 25th 2000, 1 Riverside Park Oct 2nd – Feb 2001, 2 Riverside Park Feb 15th 2001, 4 Riverside Park Mar 18th & 28th and at least 1 present into Apr 2002, 1 Allbrook Jan 1st 2002, 1-4 Riverside Pak Nov 2002 to Mar 31st 2003, 9 Highwood Reservoir Aug 29th 2003’ 2 between Northam Bridge and Woodmill 10th & 13th Dec 2004. 3 at Riverside Park Southampton 6th Jan 2005.

Turnstone

Picture by Colin Bates
Arenaria interpres
Moderatley common passage migrant winter visitor to the tidal Itchen, rare inland.
Selected records – BOH refer to 2 (presumably passage migrants) at Winnall Moors, date not given.

Grey Phalarope

Phalaropus fulicarius
Rare autumn/winter visitor.
Selected records - BOH refers to 1 at Alresford Pond, date not given (1951-1992). 1 juvenile at Alresford Pond10-13th Sept 1994,

Mediterranean Gull

Picture by Colin Bates
Larus melanocephalus
A scarce but increasing visitor. The Itchen Bridge and Alresford Pond return regular sightings. Selected records – 10 at Alresford Pond 1978 – 1992 with max counts for that period of 2 (Mar 29th 1988) and 3 different individuals Mar 14th – 29th 1992.
2 Riverside Pak Mar 12th 1993, 1 Highwood Reservoir Dec 26th 1995, 1 Arlebury Park Nov 23rd 1997, 1 Itchen Stoke Mar 15th 2003, 1 grounded in a wood at St. Cross with Belgian ring July 19th 2003, 2 Chickenhall 27th March 2004.

Little Gull

Larus minutus
Scarce visitor, appears to occur mostly as a spring or autumn visitor on the Itchen although more widely in Hampshire it has occurred in all months.
Selected records – 1 Winnall Moors Apr 16th 1967, 8 in the twenty year period 1972 – 1992 at Alresford Pond, a juvenile at Alresford Pond Sept 9th – 16th 1993, a first-winter at Alresford Pond Dec 1st 1993, a first-winter at Alresford Pond Sept 8th & 9th 1996, a first-winter at Alresford Pond on 6 dates Oct 19th 2001 to Jan 19th 2002, 1 at Alresford Pond Mar 24th

Black-headed Gull

Picture by Colin Bates
Larus ridibundus
Abundant resident on all reaches of the Itchen.
Selected records - Peak roost counts at Alresford Pond – 2300 Oct 3rd 1983, 2500 Aug 27th 1990 (note Alresford Pond roosts occur July – November). Other roost counts – 400 Sept 13th 2002, 375 Oct 6th 2002, 1000 Nov 14th 2002,
Alresford Pond 1100 Mar 11th 1993, 2500 Alresford Pond Oct 20th 1993, 1250 Alresford Pond Oct 2nd 1994, 2000 Alresford Pond Sept 11th 2002,

Ring-billed Gull

Larus delawarensis

Rare visitor
An adult at Alresford Pond, Feb 26th and Mar 29th/30th 1993

Common Gull

Larus canus
Common winter visitor and passage migrant
Selected records 548 at Alresford Jan 9th 1992, 500 Alresford Pond Oct 20th 1993,
Summer records - 3 at Alresford Pond July 22nd and 30th 1996, 562 Alresford Pond Oct 12th 1998, 500 Alresford Pond Nov 28th 1999, 800+ Alresford area 14th Dec 2004.
A leucistic/albino was present at Alresford Pond on Apr 1st 2003.

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Picture by Colin Bates
The first breeding location for Lesser Black-backed Gull in Hampshire - Chickenhall Industrial Estate in 2001.





Larus fuscus
A common winter visitor and passage migrant, recently confirmed breeder.
The first breeding record for Hampshire occurred on factory rooftops on the Itchen at Chickenhall in 2001 and at least 2 – 3 pairs have bred each year subsequently. Greater numbers are suspected of breeding here but viewing difficulties make this difficult to confirm.

Herring Gull

Larus argentatus
A common winter visitor and passage migrant, a few pairs breed.
As with the Lesser Black-backed Gull breeding occurs at Chickenhall probably involving similar numbers.

Yellow-legged Gull

Larus cachinnans
The Yellow-legged Gull has recently been split from the Herring Gull (which it closely resembles) and is now recognised as a separate species.
Scarce but possibly overlooked, its Hampshire status indicates that it is commonest in autumn but the only inland Itchen record is of 1 at Highbridge Dec 31st 1997.
1 Itchen Bridge 21st Nov 2004.

Iceland Gull

Larus glaucoides
Rare - 1 reported at Itchen Bridge 10th Apr 2002 but there was debate at the time whether this may have been a leucistic Herring Gull.

Great Black-backed Gull

Larus marinus
Moderately common winter visitor and passage migrant, occasionally seen in the summer.

Kittiwake

Rissa tridactyla
Chiefly a coastal species and rare inland, those that do occur are probably gale blown birds.
Selected records - BOH refer to 3 “scavenging on the main road” at Swaythling on Dec 21st 1928 and another at Bishopstoke (date not given but refers to period 1973 – 1992). 1 Alresford Pond Mar 20th 1994, 1 Riverside Park Feb 22nd 1997.

Sandwich Tern

Sterna sandvicensis
Chiefly a coastal species, rare inland.
Selected records – 7 flying south over Bishopstoke Sept 23rd 1976, 1 St Denys May 30th 1998, 1 north over Itchen Valley Country Park Apr 21st 2003.

Common Tern

Sterna hirundo
Chiefly a coastal summer visitor, scarce but regular inland.
Selected records - 1 Alresford Pond spring 1993, 2 Highbridge 27th July 2002

Little Tern

Sterna albifrons
Rare (especially inland) Itchen summer visitor.
Selected records – 3 at Winnall Moors May 1st 1958

Black Tern

Chlidonias niger
Scarce passage (especially inland) migrant but can occur in large flocks
Selected records – 40-50 at Winnall Moors May 14th 1950, 12 at Alresford Pond May 15th 1974, 12 south over Winnall Moors Aug 29th 1984, 5 Alresford Pond May 11th 1993, 12 Alresford Pond Sept 15th 1994, 1 Alresford Pond Sept 26th 2001.

White-winged Black Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus
Rare passage migrant
1 adult at Alresford Pond Sept 3rd 1992

Guillemot

Uria aalge
Scarce winter visitor to the tidal Itchen.
1 near the Itchen Bridge 13th Feb 2002.

Razorbill

Picture by Colin Bates
Alca Torda
Rare Itchen visitor, especially inland.
An individual was at Highwood Reservoir on 24th and 25th Feb 1996, unfortunately it was found dead on Feb 27th. This is believed to be the only inland record for Hampshire.

Little Auk

Alle alle
Rare Itchen visitor, especially inland
Selected records - BOH refers to 1 at Old Alresford; date not given (but probably refers to the period 1967 – 1992). 1 at Kingsworthy Nov 1st 1967. An oiled and weak bird was picked from the Itchen at Winchester on Feb 8th 1983 which later died.

Pallas’s Sandgrouse

Syrrhaptes paradoxus
A rare visitor not recorded in Hampshire since 1908.
1 near Itchen Abbas May 5th 1888, 2 were shot from a flock of 20 at Itchen Stoke May 15th 1888.

Link not available

Feral Pigeon

Columba livia

Common resident.

Little attention is paid to this familiar town pigeon and the lack of records reflect this. May be encountered almost anywhere especially in towns.



Link not available

Stock Dove

Columba oenas
Common resident
Selected records - 100 Alresford Pond Oct 12th 1997

Wood Pigeon

Columba palumbus
Abundant resident and winter visitor, extensive passage evident in autumn.
Selected records - 2700 south over the Itchen Valley Country Park Nov 7th 2003.
c2000 north-east over Bishopstoke/Highbridge 09.25 - 11.00 28th November 2004

Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto
Common resident.
The Collared Dove first colonized the Itchen in the 1960’s soon after establishing its British foothold in Norfolk in 1955 quickly becoming widespread and common.

Turtle Dove

Streptopelia turtur
Declining summer visitor, possibly only a passage migrant on the Itchen.
Selected records – 1 Winnall 2nd May 2002, 1 Alresford Pond 4th May 2002, 1 Bishopstoke 24th Aug 2003,

Ring-necked Parakeet

Pssittacula krameri
Scarce visitor originating from feral birds but now self-sustaining in neighbouring counties, escapes should be considered.

Cuckoo

Cuculus canorus
Common summer visitor
Earliest Itchen birds– 1 Eastleigh SF Apr 8th 1995, 1 at IVCP Apr 6th 1996,
Other selected records - 8 at IVCP May 22nd 1995

Barn Owl

Picture by Colin Bates
Tyto alba
Locally common resident.
The Barn Owl population of the Itchen reflects its status in many other areas. After years of decline through loss of habitat, nesting sites, road traffic and persecution the population has probably stabilised thanks to efforts through various wildlife organizations.
Selected records – Regular breeder at IVCP until about 2002. A Barn Owl was the unfortunate victim of a bird strike at Southampton Airport (a short distance from the Itchen) on 5th Feb 2005.

Little Owl

Athene noctua
Locally common resident.
Introduced species in the late 19th century, now firmly established. It is likely that the Little Owl is present in suitable habitat throughout the Itchen.

Tawny Owl

Picture by Colin Bates
Strix Aluco
Locally common resident.
It is likely that the Tawny Owl is present in suitable habitat throughout the Itchen.

Long-eared Owl

Asio otus
Rare winter visitor, possibly overlooked resident.
Selected records - 1 was killed by a car at Twyford Aug 4th 1975 (as the exact location is unknown this may not be an Itchen record). One was released at Alresford Pond a few days after being hit by a car at Nutley on Dec 7th 1996. One carrying a Latvian ring was found beneath strawberry netting at Winchester Cathedral Dec 5th 2003.

Short-eared Owl

Asio flammeus
Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant to the Itchen.
Selected records – 5 at Southampton Airport Jan 17th 1985, 1 Winnall Moors July 23rd 1977, 1 Alresford Pond Oct 19th 1993, 1 Kingsworthy Nov 28th 1994,

Nightjar

Caprimulgus europaeus
Though moderately but locally common elsewhere in Hampshire the Itchen does not provide the habitat required by Nightjars, records are therefore scarce.
1 Highwood Reservoir May 12th 1995 (churring at 08.30 am)

Swift

Apus apus
Numerous summer visitor
Numbers are greatest on the Itchen in May when summer arrivals (many en route elsewhere) feed on the rich insect life of the river, the resident birds mostly being present until mid-late August.

Early arrivals – 1 Alresford Pond Apr 19th 1993, 2 Bishopstoke Apr 21st 1994, 60 IVCP May 3rd 1995, singles at Woodmill, IVCP and Eastleigh SF Apr 14th 1996, 54 Winchester College 30th Apr 2001, 130 IVCP May 5th 2003, 4 Martyr Worthy Apr 21sy 2003.

Late records - 2 Highbridge Oct 3rd 1998, 1 Winchester Sept 19th 2001, 1 Winchester Sept 10th 2004.

Selected records - 500 Highbridge 29th Apr 1994,
Few breeding records are submitted but there were c60 pairs nesting at the ancient buildings of Winchester college in 2003.

Alpine Swift

Apus melba
Rare visitor.
Selected records - 1 at Kingsworthy Apr 30th – May 7th 1964, a well watched individual at Abbots Worthy 18th – 22nd March 2004.

Kingfisher

Picture by Colin Bates
Alcedo atthis
Moderately common resident, some birds are thought to winter on the coast.
Selected records – BOH refer to a nest site in a chalk pit near Alresford (date not given), a juvenile ringed at Winchester College on 23rd June 1996 was recovered at a controlled ringing session at Bishopstoke Fish Farm on 7th September 1996, a movement of 7 km. A pile of feathers found at Avington lake July 24th 2001 were thought to be from a Kingfisher taken by a Sparrowhawk. A count of Itchen Kingfisher territories in 2002 revealed 4 up to Allbrook and 12 north of Alresford. There were 3 territories at IVCP in 2003.

Bee-eater

Picture by Colin Bates
Merops apiaster
Rare visitor
Not quite an Itchen record but one was seen nearby at Oliver’s Battery Aug 19th 1979. Another was seen calling continuously in Winchester May 31st 2001,

Hoopoe

Upupa epops
Rare passage migrant
Charlotte Yonge refers to a Hoopoe

“Once in a frost caught alive by a shepherd on the downs, but it soon died”

(her books refer to the Otterbourne area during the period mid to late 1800’s).
Kelsall & Munn refer to one taken (a short way from the Itchen) in Fair Oak in April 19th 1890.
Other selected records - 1 at Colden Common May 1st/2nd 2003 (exact location not known, may not be an Itchen record).

Wryneck

Jynx torquilla
Rare passage migrant
Charlotte Yonge refers to Wrynecks –

“Wryneck or Cuckoo's mate, squeaks all round the woods with his head on one side just as the cuckoo comes”

(her books refer to the Otterbourne area during the period mid to late 1800’s) suggesting perhaps they were not uncommon at that time.
Kelsall and Munn also believed them to be widespread at a similar period. It is believed that a major decline of this species (in common with the rest of England) occurred in the first half of the century.
Other selected records – 1 at Kingsworthy Aug 22nd – Sept 4th 1976, 1 Arlebury Park Apr 16th 1995,

Green Woodpecker

Picture by Colin Bates
Picus viridis
Common resident
Likely to be encountered in suitable habitat almost anywhere on the Itchen.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Picture by Colin Bates
Dendrocopos major
Common resident
Likely to be encountered in suitable habitat almost anywhere on the Itchen.Kelsall and Munn thought it nowhere common and Charlotte Yonge was presumably referring to the Great Spotted Woodpecker when she wrote -
“In 1890 Picus major, a small, black, and spotted French Magpie, as Devonians call it, was found, but we have no other right to claim it”.
Cohen in Birds of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (1963) thought it only common in a few favoured localities. For whatever reason, in suitable habitat it is certainly not uncommon now.
Selected records – 6 territories were recorded at The IVCP in 2003

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos minor

Scarce Itchen resident.

Woodlark

Lullula arborea
Scarce resident and passage migrant.
The Itchen does not provide suitable habitat to support the Woodlark, records are therefore scarce.
Selected records - A male held territory at Allbrook in 1988, 1 south IVCP Oct 18th 2002.

Skylark

Aluada arvensis
Common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant.
The status of the Itchen Skylark probably mirrors the substantial national decline thought to have brought about by changing farming practices. It is still a common bird in many areas but has also disappeared from others where it had been common until a few years ago.
Selected records – 350 in a maize field at Bishopstoke Nov 2nd 1980,

Sand Martin

Riparia riparia
Common summer visitor and passage migrant.
Charlotte Yonge referred to the Sand Martin when she wrote
“ Swarms sit in rows along the electric wires, and bore deeply into every sand-pit”

Selected records –

Maximum occupied hole counts at Itchen Valley colonies 1987 – 1996
Fair Oak Pit - 1987 (14); 1988 (290); 1989 (430); 1990 (449); 1991 (280); 1992 (370); 1993 (380); 1994 (378); 1995 (850); 1996 (700)

Brambridge - 1987 (0); 1988 (0); 1989 (0); 1990 (15); 1991 (0); 1992 (0); 1993 (0); 1994 (0); 1995 (0); 1996 (0)

Bishopstoke Pit - 1987 (350); 1988 (0); 1989 (0); 1990 (0); 1991 (0); 1992 (0); 1993 (0); 1994 (0); 1995 (0); 1996 (0)

Allbrook Pit - 1987 (350); 1988 (90); 1989 (260); 1990 (17); 1991 (0); 1992 (0); 1993 (0); 1994 (0); 1995 (0); 1996 (0)


Further available records for Fair Oak Pit – 1997 (650); 1998 (375 occupied holes); 1999 (297); 2001 (250 – 300); 2002 (120); 2003 (297).

An unusual nest site under a bridge over the River Itchen at Winchester (1961-7) where up to 28 pairs nested in drainage pipes.
Early arrivals - (nos unknown) March 5th 1994, 200 Alresford Pond Apr 9th & 10th 1994, 50 Alresford Pond, March 25th 2001, 2 Alresford Pond Mar 9th 2002; 2 Alresford Pond Mar 8th 2003.
Late summer - 50 Ovington 28th August 2003.

Swallow

Picture by Colin Bates
Hirundo rustica
Common summer visitor and passage migrant.
Charlotte Yonge referred to the Swallow as a Chimney Swallow and said “They chase the flies under the bridges on the Itchen, and display their red throats”.
Selected records – 4000 Shawford 1983, 2000 Shawford 1984.
Early arrivals – 25 Alresford Pond Mar 30th 1993, 1 Alresford Pond 19th Mar 1995, 1 March 13th Ovington 1997.
Autumn records - 450 Alresford Pond Sept 20th 2001, 3000 south near Southampton Airport Sep 21st 2002 causing aircraft to be grounded until the birds had passed through.
Winter records – 1 Winchester Dec 1974 – Jan 3rd 1975, 3 Alresford Jan 1st 1987, 3 Alresford Jan 1st 1991.

House Martin

Picture by Colin Bates
Delichon urbicha
Common summer visitor and passage migrant
Selected records – 700 Eastleigh Sewage Farm May 6th 1978, 3000 south-east over Winchester in 45 minutes Sept 30th 1985.
Early arrivals – 12 Eastleigh Sewage Farm Mar 27th 1989, 2 at Alresford Pond Mar 24th & 29th 1994.
Autumn records - 1 Highbridge Oct 29th 1995, 1 Winchester Oct 28th 1998.

Tree Pipit

Anthus trivialis
Scarce passage migrant.
The Itchen does not provide suitable habitat to support the Tree Pipit, records are therefore scarce. They may have been commoner in Victorian times as Charlotte Yonge wrote of the Tree and Meadow Pipit – “Small brown birds, not easy to distinguish; but the eggs differ, and both have been found”.
Selected records – 1 IVCP late April 1994.

Meadow Pipit

Picture by Colin Bates
Anthus pratensis
Common resident, more so as a winter visitor.
Selected records – 70 over Bishopstoke Mar 24th 1994, 9 at St. Cross 10th Dec 2002, 60 Eastleigh Sewage Farm Jan 2nd 2003.

Water Pipit

Anthus spinoletta
Scarce winter visitor.
Water Pipits were first discovered on the Itchen on cress beds at Headbourne Worthy and the Alresford area in the early 1970’s (the first Hampshire record being in 1951). Several colour ringed birds returned to winter in the upper Itchen in subsequent years having thought to have come from the mountains of central and southern Europe. Numbers however soon appeared to fall with only 1 bird being found on the county’s cress beds (Alresford) in a 1989/90 survey. Scattered birds have been found elsewhere on the Itchen such as at Eastleigh Sewage Farm and Winnall Moors. They have probably wintered since on the Itchen almost annually but in very small numbers.

Yellow Wagtail

Picture by Colin Bates
Motacilla flava
Moderately common passage migrant.
Charlotte Yonge noted – “ (Motacilla Rayi), Ray's Wagtail was catching flies on a window at Otterbourne House in 1890”.
The Itchen was formerly a stronghold for the Yellow Wagtail but has steadily declined as a breeding bird throughout the twentieth century and now appears to no longer breed. A survey of the Itchen valley in 1976 found 27 pairs the majority between Mansbridge and Bishopstoke, the remainder upstream to Winnall Moors. In 1982 only 2 pairs were found (at Bishopstoke). The only subsequent breeding record has been 1 at Cheriton in 1989.
Selected records – 40 Eastleigh Sewage Farm Apr 28th 1978, 100 Bishopstoke Sep13th 1982, 11 Highbridge 17th Apr 1991, 1 Eastleigh Sewage Farm Mar 31st 1996, 10 at New Alresford Sept 11th 2001, 1 Lower Itchen 27th April 2002, 1 IVCP 4th May 2002, 5 Allbrook 26th Aug 2002, 14 Bishopstoke 31st Aug 2003.

Grey Wagtail

Picture by Colin Bates
Moticilla cinerea
Common resident.
A characteristic bird of fast flowing water that fares well on the Itchen. The Grey Wagtail is believed to have expanded into England and Wales in the first part of the twentieth century and the colonisation of the Itchen probably reflects this. Charlotte Yonge observes “This pretty bird is really partly yellow. It is not very frequent here, but is sometimes found on the Itchen bank; likewise the nest in a reedy meadow.
Selected records - 43 pairs were identified in a survey of the Itchen Valley in 1972, 50 Eastleigh Sewage Farm Feb 6th 1978, 60+ Eastleigh Sewage Farm Mar 16th 1980, 27 Eastleigh Sewage Farm Feb 10th 1986, 6 Woodmill Dec 7th 1993, 13 between Southampton and Winchester Feb 18th 2001, 23 territories north of Durngate, Winchester summer 2002, 20 Eastleigh Sewage Farm Jan 12th 2003, 5 between Winchester and Bishopstoke 29th Dec 2004.

Pied Wagtail

Picture by Colin Bates (juvenile Pied Wagtail shown)
Moticilla alba
Common resident.
The Pied Wagtail is often found near water but also utilises reed beds and buildings for roosts.
Selected records – 800 roosted a short way from the Itchen in a building (now demolished) at Eastleigh Carriage Works Jan 1976, 400 feeding at Eastleigh Sewage Farm Nov 8th 1981, 150 Eastleigh Sewage Farm Dec 27th 2000, 500 Eastleigh Sewage Farm Dec 29th 2000, 150 (roost) Alresford Pond Oct 10th 2001, 200 Eastleigh Sewage Farm Dec 30th 2001, 200 (roost) Alresford Pond Jan 17th 2002, 500 (roost) Southampton Airport Feb 2nd 2003, 320 Southampton Airport Oct 11th 2003.

White Wagtail

Moticilla alba alba
Scarce passage migrant.
The European race of the Pied Wagtail, similar in appearance.
Selected records – 1 Winchester College Water Meadows May 21st 1994.

Waxwing

Picture by Colin Bates
Bombycilla garralus
Rare visitor
Selected records – 70 Northumberland Road and Radcliffe Road Northam Feb 25th 1996, 2 west over Highwood Reservoir Mar 2nd 2003.

Dipper

Cinclus cinclus
Rare visitor, has bred.
A pair bred for three successive years at Brambridge in the late 1930’s.
Other selected records – 1 Alresford Aug 2nd and Oct 18th 1942, 1 Winchester Jan 3rd 1970

Wren

Troglodytes troglodytes
Abundant resident
The Itchen provides an important source of insect food in the winter when hard weather can decimate Wren populations.

Dunnock

Picture by Colin Bates
Prunella modularis
Abundant resident
Selected records – 80 at Eastleigh Sewage Farm Oct 24th 1976,

Robin

Picture by Colin Bates
Erithacus rubecula
Abundant resident.

Nightingale

Luscinia megarhynchos
Scarce resident and passage migrant, declining.
In common with its status elsewhere in most of the county the Nightingale is becoming scarcer and has in the last few years disappeared from well-established Itchen locations. A 1999 county survey of Nightingales considered there to be 1-3 singing Nightingales in the Lower Itchen Valley with none recorded elsewhere on the Itchen.The Nightingale was well known to Charlotte Yonge who wrote – “Every year about the 18th of April the notes may be heard by the gate of Cranbury, in a larch wood on Otterbourne Hill, in the copse wood of Otterbourne House, at Oakwood, and elsewhere. For about a week there is constant song, but after nesting begins, it is less frequent. One year there was a nest in the laurels at Otterbourne House (since taken away), and at eight in the morning and seven at night the nightingale came on the lawn to feed, and was every morning chased by a surly John Bull of a robin. When the young are coming out of the nest the parents chide them, or strangers, in a peculiarly harsh chirp.
Selected records since 1992 –
4 territories at Bishopstoke 1993, 1 territory IVCP 1998, 4 territories in the Itchen Valley 2003.
Early arrivals – 1 Bishopstoke Apr 10th 1993, 1 IVCP Apr 14th 1995, 1 IVCP Apr 13th 1996, 1 Bishopstoke 13th Apr 2003.

Black Redstart

Picture by Colin Bates
Phoenicurus ochruros
Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant
Selected records – 1–2 Eastleigh Sewage Farm Feb 5th – 17th 1991, 1 Eastleigh Sewage Farm Mar 30th 1992, 1 Eastleigh Railway Yard Oct 15th 1993, 1 Bighton Oct 9th 1993, 1 Winchester College Nov 20th – 28th 1993, 1 Fobdown Farm (Alresford) Oct 16th 1994, 1 Pinglestone Cress Beds Oct 15th 1996, 1 Bighton Lane Cress Beds Oct 29th 1996, 1 Bishopstoke Nov 21st 1998, 1 Vospers Compound Nov 28th – 31st 1998, 1 Vospers Feb 20th – Mar 17th 1999, 2 Eastleigh Sewage Farm Dec 9th 2001.

Redstart

Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Scarce passage migrant
Selected records – 1 St. Cross, Mar 17th 1999, 1 Eastleigh Sewage Farm 17th Apr 2004.

Whinchat

Picture by Colin Bates
Saxicola ruberta
Scarce passage migrant.
Selected records - 8 IVCP Sept 9th 1994, 12 IVCP Sept 3rd 1995, 1 IVCP Apr 22nd 1997, 1 Bishopstoke June 15th 2003, 4 IVCP May 3rd 2003, 3 Allbrook 5th Sept 2004.

Stonechat

Picture by Colin Bates
Saxicola torquata
Moderately common passage migrant and winter visitor, scarce breeder.
Charlotte Yonge wrote simply – “Hops about on stones” which gives little clue to its status, Kelsall and Munn considered it “to be found in all parts of county but numerous only in those districts where furze abounds” (pre-1905).
Selected records – 15 Itchen Abbas Sept 20th 1974, 14 Alresford Dec 14th 1976, 10 IVCP Oct 13th 1995, 7 Allbrook Oct 30th 2001, 7 IVCP Jan 10th 2003.
Pairs/singing Males – 2 Bishopstoke 1994, 1 IVCP 1999, 1 Brambridge 2003, 1 Lower Bishopstoke 2004.

Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe
Scarce passage migrant
Charlotte Yonge wrote simply – “Comes to the downs” which may indicate that the Wheatear bred in the Itchen Valley during the Victorian period.
Selected records – 1 Bishopstoke 3rd May 1991, 8 Eastleigh Railway Yard Apr 21st 1994.

Ring Ouzel

Turdus torquatas
Scarce passage migrant, rare winter visitor.
Charlotte Yong noted – “Rare, but observed by J. B. Yonge in Otterbourne Park, 14th September 1865, and it has been seen several times later”.
Selected records – 1 at Winchester College water meadows from Jan 23rd – Feb 27th was one of only four Hampshire wintering records.
1 IVCP Oct 15th 1993, 1 Oct 15th IVCP 2000, 1 Shawford Oct 15th 2001, 1 IVCP Oct 16th/17th 2002, 1 IVCP Apr 26th/27th 2003. (Note the proximity of the autumn dates!)

Blackbird

Picture by Colin Bates
Turdus merula
Abundant resident.Charlotte Yonge gave this Victorian account of the Blackbird – “(Merula vulgaris).--Out, with angry scream and chatter at the approach of an enemy, darts the "ousel cock so black of hue, with orange-tawny bill." How dull a lawn would be without his pert movements when he comes down alternately with his russet wife. One blackbird with a broad white feather on each side of his tail haunted Elderfield for two years, but, alas! one spring day a spruce sable rival descended and captivated the faithless dame. They united, chased poor Mr. Whitetail over the high garden hedge, and he was seen no more”28 at IVCP on Oct 18th and 30 at St Cross 6th Nov 2002 were considered to be migrants.

Fieldfare

Turdus pilaris
Common winter visitor, often in large numbers.
Selected records – 100 at IVCP 24th Mar 2002, 420 at St. Cross 11th Nov 2003.
Early arrivals – 46 at IVCP Oct 16th 2003.
Late birds – 5 at Alresford Pond Apr 27th 1999.

Song Thrush

Picture by Colin Bates
Turdus philomelos
Common resident.
Charlotte Yonge appreciated the Song Thrush with her account – “(Merula musica).--Happily everywhere warbling on warm days in autumn and winter with a sweet, powerful song, some notes more liquid than even the nightingale's. The shells of the snails he has devoured bestrew the garden-walks”.
Selected records – 100 at Winchester College Water Meadows Oct 4th 1985, 25 at IVCP Oct 7th 1994, 25 at IVCP Oct 18th 2002, 10 at St Cross Jan 9th 2003, 33 at IVCP Oct 18th 2003, 15 using set aside land at Bishopstoke Dec 7th 2003.

Redwing

Turdus iliacus
Common winter visitor, usually in large numbers.
Selected records – 400 at IVCP Dec 17th 1995, 255 IVCP Nov 8th 2003,
Early arrivals – 160 at IVCP Oct 28th 2002, 1 at Bishopstoke Sept 26th 2003,
Late birds – 225 over Highbridge Mar 9th 2003, 2 at IVCP Apr 14th 2003,
An interesting record was of one eating a 6” eel at Alresford on 14th Dec 2004.

Mistle Thrush

Turdus viscivorus
Common resident
Charlotte Yonge noted – “(Merula viscivora). --This handsome bird is frequent, and commonly called House Screech. A story told by Warden Barter may be worth preserving. A pair of Missel Thrush seeing a peacock too near their nest, charged full at him, and actually knocked him down”.
Selected records – 45 at Alresford Pond Aug 2nd 1993, up to 22 at Riverside Park on several dates in Aug 2003.

Cetti’s Warbler

Cettia cetti
Moderately common resident
The Cetti’s Warbler is a relatively new addition to the counties avifauna, the first British record was in Hampshire at Titchfield Haven in 1961. The first Itchen record was a singing male at Alresford Pond May 5th – June 30th 1974 and single males again held territory in the Itchen Valley near Winchester in the spring of 1977, five were recorded in the Itchen Valley in the autumn of the same year. Today the Cetti’s Warbler is well distributed along the Itchen and continuing to occupy new areas.
Subsequent approx. annual totals for territories in the Itchen Valley to 2003 are shown below –
1978 - 1
1979 – 0
1980 – 1
1981 – 1
1982 – 4
1983 – 4
1984 – 0
1985 – 2
1986 - 4
1987 – 4
1988 – 3
1989 – 8
1990 – 7
1991 – 5
1992 – 5 (min count, not all areas covered in this year).
1993 – 11
1994 – 15
1995 – 23
1996 – 18 – 20
1997 – 5
1998 – 11+
1999 – (no data available, incomplete counts)
2000 – 13
2001 – 19
2002 – 41 (incomplete count, upstream from Winchester only)
2003 – 15 (incomplete count, IVCP – Highbridge only).
Selected records – I ringed in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire was found at Alresford Pond on July 11th 1992 and bred there in 1993. I ringed as a juvenile at Fordingbridge in June 1990 was found breeding in the Itchen valley in 1990 and 1992.

Grasshopper Warbler

Locustella naevia
Scarce summer visitor.
Presumably more common in Charlotte Yonges time when she noted “(Salicaria locustella).--Well named, for it chirps exactly like a grasshopper in the laurels all through a summer evening”.
BOH considered that the Grasshopper Warbler had declined considerably since 1979.
Annual records from 1992 –
1993 -1 at Itchen Abbas Apr 28th 1993, 2 males held territory at Lower Bishopstoke, 1 Arlebury park June 16th.
1994 – No records
1995 – 1 reeling at Alresford Pond Apr 20th – May 28th, 1 IVCP/Bishopstoke Apr 29th & 30th, 1 territory held at Winnall Moors, 1-2 pairs present at Ovington during the breeding season,
1996 – 1 singing male at IVCP Apr 16th & 17th, 1 singing male at Arlebury Apr 30th, 1 singing male at Highbridge early June,
1997 - 1 singing male at IVCP May 3rd.
1998 - 1 singing male IVCP Apr 22nd, 1 singing male Itchen Abbas late April – late June, 1 singing male Highbridge May 10th
1999 - 1 singing male IVCP May 10th.
2000 – 1 pair presumed breeding at Winnall Moors.
2001 – No records
2002 - 1 singing male Bishopstoke on a few dates between June 3rd and Aug 4th, 1 singing male at Allbrook on a few dates between June 3rd and Aug 4th.
2003 – 1 Brambridge Apr 18th and Apr 22nd, 1 IVCP Apr 22nd then daily to June, 1 Winnall Moors May 21st, 1 Southampton Airport Aug 25th.

Sedge Warbler

Picture by Colin Bates
Acrocephalus schoenpbaenus
Locally common summer visitor
Charlotte Yonge was evidently familiar with the Sedge Warbler when she wrote - (Salicaria fragilis).--Whoever has heard it scolding and chattering in a ridiculous rage at a strange footstep will not wonder at the Scotch name of Blethering Jock. A pair nested in Dell Copse for some years, and the curious nest has been found among the reeds on the banks of the Itchen.
Selected records – Ringing studies in 1976-77 indicated that there may have been at least 100 pairs within a 2 km radius of Winchester centre and probably 1000 pairs upstream of Twyford (a healthy population would also be expected downstream of Twyford). 222 – 245 pairs estimated on the Itchen River 2002, 60 territories between Mansbridge and Highbridge 2003.
53 juveniles were mist netted in a small area near Winchester on 4th July 1976; a late bird was caught and ringed at Winchester on Nov 9th 1963.
25 pairs at Alresford Pond 1993, 16 pairs at IVCP 1994, 41 pairs Winnall Moors 1995, 43 pairs Winnall Moors 1996, 29 pairs Winnall Moors 1997, 27 pairs Winnall Moors 1998, 33 pairs at Winnall Moors 1999, 30 pairs at Winnall Moors 2000,
Early arrivals – 1 at Avington Lake Apr 2nd 1999, 1 Alresford Pond 31st March 2001,
Late birds – 1 caught and ringed at Winchester on Nov 9th 1963

Marsh Warbler

Acrocephalus palustris
Rare summer visitor and passage migrant.
Kelsall and Munn refer to a nest with eggs found at Alresford Pond in 1863. The Marsh Warbler appears to have been very scarce in the first half of the twentieth century. Recent Itchen records probably exist but given the scarcity of the species and the possibility of birds being in suitable breeding habitat locations are rarely revealed.

Reed Warbler

Picture by Colin Bates
Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Locally common summer visitor
Selected records – 50 pairs estimated to be at Alresford Pond in 1977; 200 pairs estimated to be in the Itchen Valley 1979-77 (would appear to be a conservative estimate given that 50 pairs were considered to be at Alresford Pond); 7+ pairs at IVCP 1994; 19 pairs at Winnall Moors 1995. A count of the Itchen on June 1st 2002 revealed 82 territories to Allbrook and 149-159 above Winchester. A 2003 survey of the Lower Itchen revealed 62 territories between Mansbridge and Allbrook
An adult female ringed in Winchester on July 13th 1990 was recovered in Mauritania a few weeks later on Aug 2nd (3896 km SSW).

Dartford Warbler

Sylvia undata
Rare winter visitor to the Itchen.
At least 4 were present on set aside land at Bishopstoke from Nov 15th 2003 until 26th Feb.

Lesser Whitethroat

Sylvia curruca
Common summer visitor
Selected records -
An individual at Bishopstoke on Dec 19th 1979 was an unusual winter record.
Early arrivals – 1 at IVCP Apr 25th 2002, 1 at St. Cross Apr 18th 2003.

Whitethroat