Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus L.), Farlington Marshes

RBG and SEO at Farlington Marshes

red-breasted goose (Branta ruficollis) 
with dark-bellied brent goose (Branta bernicla)

one of two short-eared owls (Asio flammeus) seen on the day

all photographs © Ian Loyd

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus L.), Farlington Marshes

glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) at Farlington Marshes

glossy ibis with Canada goose (Branta canadensis)

glossy ibis, Canada goose and bar-headed goose (Anser indicus)

Foggy geese ticks at Farlington Marshes

Despite the increasing density of fog as the afternoon progressed, I managed to connect with 8 of the reported 15 white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons) and the single pink-footed goose (Anser brachyrhynchus) at Farlington Marshes [LNR] late afternoon.

The birds were just visible at the edge of the white out range making ID of the pink footed particularly difficult given the variation in both the white-fronts plumage and the added disadvantage of their white forehead blazes only standing out when a bird was face on, which happened rarely.

Anyhow two new Hampshire ticks and worth it for the effort of both weather conditions and ID challenge.

New Years Day via Farlington Marshes

Egretta garzetta

Branta bernicla

Photographs courtesy Alison Hogan

Very scarce Hampshire passage migrant; Farlington Marshes

First reported yesterday, I caught up with this very scarce Hampshire passage migrant at Farlington Marshes this evening unfortunately the digi-scoped photos turned out to be of very poor quality but hopefully the digi-scoped video at least captures the bird / imagination.

The spotted crake Porzana porzana is a member of the Rallidae family - like the moorhen Gallinula chloropus and water rail Rallus aquaticus filmed at Titchfield Haven recently. The Hampshire Bird Report 2007 indicates that only five of these birds were recorded on passage in Hampshire in 2007 all birds being seen at FM.



For more information on the national status of the spotted crake goto: http://rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/spottedcrake/index.asp
Also of note on the lagoon at FM between 18:15 and 19:15 - 2 common sandpipers Actitus hypoleucos, a single green sandpiper Tringa ochropus and two greenshank Tringa nebularia - water rail also showed well (1 ad and 1 juv.) and med. gulls Larus melanocephalus were present. 5 + bearded reedlings Panurus biamicus and 2 - 3 reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus provided additional value showing and feeding within the reed-bed edges. A little stint Calidris minuta was reported on The Deeps but not tried for.

Farlington Marshes Wetland Bird Survey [WeBS]

Farlington Marshes (Hampshire Ornithological Society 2009)

Farlington Marshes is located in Langstone Harbour, between the islands of Portsea and Hayling. The marshes cover an area of 125 hectares. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest [SSSI] comprising habitats of flower-rich grazing, reed-beds, both freshwater and brackish marshes and lagoons as well as scrub. The site also has designation as an SPA and Ramsar site. Farlington Marshes is managed by the Hampshire and IOW Wildlife Trust, whilst the islands and offshore saltmarshes are managed by the RSPB. The harbour provides an internationally important winter feeding ground for wildfowl and waders including the Brent goose Branta bernicla and Black-tailed godwit L. Limosa islandica


L. Limosa islandica (own library)

The Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS), organised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) is a monthly survey of wetland sites for wildfowl and wader species which takes place nationally across a wide range and number of wetland habitats. The data is used to inform policy makers on the development of coastal and wetland sites. Whilst the core count dates take place September through to March, Farlington Marshes like many other sites is counted throughout the year.

The WeBS count at Farlington Marshes begins at high tide when the maximum number of birds are shorebound on the marshes and surrounding islands, then continues on through to the "flight" when wildfowl and waders leave the islands to the east of the marshes to feed on the exposed mudflats. Following the flight - birds left on the islands are also counted. The count proceeds over five hours. The WeBs count at Farlington Marshes was undertaken by five people, whilst the RSPB warden undertook counts at other sites across Langstone Harbour.

The initial returns indicate that the count totalled 27 wader and wildfowl species including: 852 oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus and circa 1250 curlew Numenius arquata; 233 Black-tailed godwits; 23 greenshank Tringa Nebularia; 23 cormorants Phalocrocorax carbo; 3 Brent goose; 5 knot Calidris canuta and a single common sandpiper Actitus hypoleucos.


Actitus hypoleucos (own library)

2 species of tern Sterna spp; 5 species of gull Larus spp and eight other avifauna species including a single peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus were also recorded on the day.