SOUTH EAST

A near totally summerplumaged White-billed Diver was off the north-east corner of Kent, showing incredibly well at times. The region did not miss out on the Pallid Swift influx, with birds reported on the north Kent. BEDFORDSHIRE HIGHLIGHTS: A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Holcot Wood (3rd). About 16 Waxwings flew over The Lodge, Sandy (3rd). A Great Northern Diver was at Brogborough Lake (from 30th). Six Common Scoters were on Stewartby Lake (17th). A dark-bellied Brent Goose was at Grovebury SP (17th) and Priory CP (26th). Hawfinches flew over Sandy, Sharpenhoe Clappers and Blow’s Down at the beginning of the month. Robin Chittenden. For the latest bird news please phone 09068 700 245. Calls to 09068 700 245 from a landline or mobile phone cost 65p per minute plus your phone company access charge. Service provided by Birdline East Anglia. For enquiries please call 0330 333 6946 or 07941 333 970. www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk twitter.com/birdlineeanglia facebook.com/robin.chittenden7

BERKSHIRE

HIGHLIGHTS: Dinton Pastures had a Yellow-browed Warbler (1st-2nd), Grey Phalarope (1st) and four fly-over Cranes (25th). Great White Egrets were at Padworth Lane GP (6th) and Moor Green Lakes (19th-22nd). A Cattle Egret was at Fobney Meadow, Reading (1st-6th). Three White-fronted Geese were at Dorney Wetlands (26th).

DINTON PASTURES CP: Highlights included a Bittern (7th), Ferruginous Duck (2nd-10th) and two Water Rails. QUEEN MOTHER RESERVOIR: There was a Shelduck (19th), three Red-breasted Mergansers (16th), a Caspian Gull (6th) and two Water Pipits (21st). THEALE GP:

Highlights included nine Black-necked Grebes (17th), a Shelduck (26th), three Red-crested Pochards (22nd-26th) and a Water Rail (20th). OTHER SITES:

Merlins were at Roden Downs (2nd) and Churn Farm (11th). Two Water Pipits were at Fobney Meadow, Reading (1st-7th). A Black Redstart was at Cookham Rise (1st). A Firecrest was at Whiteknights Park, Reading (3rd-17th). Marek Walford (www.berksbirds.co.uk) BUCKINGHAMSHIRE HIGHLIGHTS: A Black-necked Grebe was at Calvert (5th). Great White Egrets were at College Lake (2nd) and Little Marlow GP (27th). Three White-fronted Geese were at Dorney (from 26th), with a Brent Goose at Tattenhoe Park, MK (17th). A Scaup was at Dorney Lake (from 28th), with a Rock Pipit there (2nd). An Avocet was at Foxcote Reservoir (17th). Hawfinches were at Ivinghoe Hills (2nd-3rd) and Great Hampden (17th). CALVERT:

There was a Bittern, two Red-crested Pochards (6th), three Goosanders (27th), a Woodcock (18th) and Caspian Gulls (1st, 3rd, 7th & 21st). COLLEGE LAKE:

There were two Red-crested Pochards (6th), a Goosander (25th) and Jack Snipe (from 25th). IVINGHOE HILLS:

There were nine Goosanders (2nd), Ring Ouzels (3rd, 6th & 10th), 124 Bramblings (3rd) and 15 Crossbills (13th). LITTLE MARLOW GP:

There was a Pintail (from 20th), Red-crested Pochard (19th), two Goosanders (20th-28th), Yellow-legged Gulls (8th, 20th & 26th) and Caspian Gulls (3rd, 8th, 20th & 30th).

OTHER SITES: There was a Bittern at Marsworth (14th & 25th), Mediterranean Gull at Caldecotte Lake (7th), Curlew at Bishopstone (18th), a late swift species over World’s End (20th), a Ring Ouzel at Pitstone Hill (2nd), Firecrest at Flackwell Heath (13th) and 60 Crossbills at Wendover Woods (from 10th). Adam Bassett (www.bucksbirdclub.co.uk)

HAMPSHIRE

BLASHFORD LAKES AND THE AVON

VALLEY: Three Great White Egrets were at Blashford Lakes throughout. A Cattle Egret was on Ibsley Water (13th). Roosting gulls on Ibsley included single Ring-billed and Caspian Gulls and up to six Yellow-legged Gulls. A Bittern was on Ivy Lake (7th). Other winter visitors on Ibsley included Black-necked Grebe (25th-26th) and up to two Water Pipits, while one or two Marsh Harriers were seen regularly. Wildfowl included five Pintail, six Goldeneye and 103 Goosanders. Roosting Starlings peaked at 30,000 (22nd). Elsewhere in the Avon Valley, Great White Egrets were seen at Bickton (10th), New Queen Public House (25th) and Wattons Ford (25th).

HILL HEAD TO HAMBLE: Highlights offshore were a Little Auk off Hill Head (5th) and a Red-necked Grebe off Brownwich (17th), as well as Long-tailed Duck (22nd-25th), Velvet Scoter (from 23rd), Red-throated Diver (max. four), Great Northern Diver (20th-22nd) and Slavonian Grebe (max. three, 19th-29th). A Snow Bunting was at Hill Head (22nd-26th). Reports from Titchfield Haven included Ruff, Jack Snipe (1st-2nd & 27th) and Short-eared Owl (5th), plus up to 10 Water Pipits by the canal path. LANGSTONE HARBOUR AND HAYLING ISLAND:

Reports from Farlington Marshes included White-fronted Goose (23rd), Spoonbill (9th), Short-eared Owl on just one date (2nd), Hen Harrier (2nd) and Marsh Harrier on five dates. Waders included up to 52 Avocets, Spotted Redshank (3rd & 14th) and Jack Snipe (max. three). A Red-necked Grebe was in Langstone Harbour (23rd), plus Great Northern Diver (two, 11th), Black-necked Grebe (max. eight) and Slavonian Grebe (11th & 23rd). On Hayling Island, Yellow-browed Warblers were seen twice (11th & 15th), while the Sandy Point area had Velvet Scoter (22nd), Red-necked Grebe (1st-2nd & 11th) and Slavonian Grebe (1st-2nd), plus Red-throated, Black-throated and Great Northern Divers. LYMINGTON TO MILFORD-ON-SEA:

A Twite was at Normandy Marsh (15th-16th & 25th-30th). Three Pink-footed Geese were in the Keyhaven/pennington area (from 18th), plus two White-fronted Geese (25th). A Bittern was seen once at Keyhaven (15th) and a Great White Egret was at Normandy Marsh (16th). Raptors included Hen Harrier (20th), up to six Marsh Harriers, Merlin on four dates and Short-eared Owl (10th & 14th). A Black-throated Diver was off Pennington (16th). A late Arctic Tern was present (8th), while a Little Gull was at Normandy (21st). Winter visitors included Avocet (max. 10), Ruff (18th), Spotted Redshank (max. six) and Water Pipit (6th). Milford-on-sea had a Sooty Shearwater (29th) and there were also sightings of Velvet Scoter, Great Skua, Kittiwake and Red-throated and Black-throated Divers

OTHER SITES: Vis mig at Tweseldown near Fleet produced a Twite (13th) and Snow Bunting (18th). A Snow Bunting also passed over Trigpoint Hill, Timsbury (18th). Seven Cattle Egrets were in the Romsey water meadows (from 27th), plus a single at Warblington (18th). Testwood Lakes and Fishlake Meadows each had three Great White Egrets, with singles at a further five sites. Testwood Lakes also had Bittern (from 4th) and Pink-footed Goose (12th-15th). Up to eight Spoonbills were at Inchmerey. Yellow-browed Warblers were at Kings Worthy (5th) and Ovington (17th) and Black Redstarts at Middle Wallop Airfield (2nd & 15th), Fratton (9th) and Redbridge (17th). In the New Forest, Great Grey Shrikes were seen at Shatterford, Ober Heath, Bramshaw Telegraph and Hampton Ridge Tom Jordan

HERTFORDSHIRE HIGHLIGHTS: Two Hen Harriers were in the area between Therfield and Royston. A late Osprey was at Tyttenhanger GP (18th). Two Red-breasted Mergansers were at Hilfield Park Reservoir (16th), with another at Tyttenhanger GP (17th). A Smew was at Bowyer’s Water (20th). Two Shags were at Startop’s End Reservoir (21st). Wilstone Reservoir logged a Water Pipit (11th), Sanderling (17th-19th) and Little Gull (17th). A Water Pipit was at Amwell GP (5th), with four Eurasian Whitefronts there (21st-22nd). A Black Redstart was at Hemel Hempstead (13th). Robin Chittenden. For the latest bird news please phone 09068 700 245. Calls to 09068 700 245

from a landline or mobile phone cost 65p per minute plus your phone company access charge. Service provided by Birdline East Anglia. For enquiries please call 0330 333 6946 or 07941 333 970. www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk twitter.com/birdlineeanglia facebook.com/robin.chittenden7 KENT HIGHLIGHTS: A Pallid Swift was at North Foreland (4th & 13th), then Foreness Point (10th & 13th) and Reculver (12th). Others were at North Foreland (13th) and New Romney (16th). Cattle Egrets and Great White Egrets were seen in good numbers at Dungeness and Elmley. Pallas’s Warblers were at North Foreland (2nd) and Foreness Point (20th). A White-billed Diver was at Foreness Point, Westgate on Sea, Margate and Minnis Bay (3rd-9th). Rough-legged Buzzards were at Chetney Marshes (8th), Minster (8th), Funton Creek (8th), Manston (12th), Chislet (12th) and Bough Beech Reservoir (21st). A Long-tailed Skua was at Hythe (10th). A Hoopoe was at Margate (10th-13th). A Grey Phalarope was at Swalecliffe (18th). A Siberian Chiffchaff was at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve (29th-30th). Robin Smith

SURREY HIGHLIGHTS: The last Ring Ouzel was at Thorncombe Street (15th). Hedgecourt Lake and Frensham Great Pond held both Black-necked and Slavonian Grebes (17th), with a Great Northern Diver at the latter (30th). A Short-eared Owl was at Papercourt Water Meadows (from 13th). LONDON WETLAND CENTRE:

Highlights included three Water Pipits, a Bittern, Goldeneye, Great White Egret, Jack Snipe, Marsh Harrier and Short-eared Owl. STAINES RESERVOIRS:

Five Red-breasted Mergansers were at Island Barn Reservoir (17th). Other birds included a Black-necked Grebe, Caspian Gull, Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Scaup and Water Pipit. OTHER SITES:

There were 35 Barnacle Geese at Esher SF (8th). A Great White Egret remained at Richmond Park, with two at Tice’s Meadow, Farnham (2nd). Beddington SF had a Great White Egret and Avocet (24th). A few Golden Plovers were reported from several locations. A Shag was at Stoke Meadows, Guildford at the end of the month. Peter Bryant

SUSSEX EAST SUSSEX: A probable Isabelline Shrike was recorded at Birling Gap (2nd). A Lesser Yellowlegs was at The Midrips (3rd-4th). A Great Grey Shrike remained around Ashdown Forest. Rye Harbour had a Cattle Egret, two Spoonbills and a Great White Egret (1st). A Rough-legged Buzzard was at Weir Wood Reservoir (3rd). A Pallas’s Warbler was at Beachy Head (5th-6th). A Common Rosefinch was ringed at Litlington (6th). A Barred Warbler was at Winchelsea (16th). WEST SUSSEX:

A Pallas’s Warbler was seen at Lancing (10th-13th). A Richard’s Pipit flew over Thorney Island (11th). Cattle Egrets were recorded at Offham (13th-17th) and Arundel (15th-18th). A Grey Phalarope was off Selsey Bill (18th), with it, or another, off Church Norton (20th). Robin Smith