SOUTH EAST

Highlights

Savi’s Warblers were reported from Pegwell Bay and Dungeness RSPB, both Kent, as well as a bird singing at Farlington Marshes HWT, Hampshire. In the same county, there was an intriguing heard-only report of a Short-toed Treecreeper, at Islands Thorn Inclosure, on 28th. BEDFORDSHIRE HIGHLIGHTS: A Rough-legged Buzzard flew east over Pegsdon Hills (21st). A Great Northern Diver was at Stewartby Lake (to 28th). Four Common Scoters were there and then Marston Vale CP (10th). A Black Tern was at Stewartby Lake (25th) and nine Little Gulls were at Priory CP (22nd). Up to 11 Garganey were at Broom GP (16th). Up to three Ring Ouzels were at Blow’s Down (2nd-7th) and a Redstart (7th). Other Ring Ouzels included up to three at Knocking Hole (7th-9th), singles at Willington GP (15th), The Lodge (17th), Bison Hills (20th), Warden Hill (21st), two Galley Hill (20th) and three at Whipsnade (25th). A Redstart was at Potton (12th). A White Stork flew over Grovebury SP (10th) and Spotted Redshank was there (20th). 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: A White Stork flew over Thatcham Marsh (8th). A Cattle Egret was at Theale GPS (10th-23rd). A Turtle Dove was at Eton Wick (23rd-24th).

DINTON PASTURES CP: Highlights included Shelduck (17th), two Great White Egrets (23rd), Garganey (30th), one or two Oystercatchers (3rd-23rd), Whimbrel (9th & 27th), Curlew (9th), Avocet (13th), two Mediterranean Gulls (5th & 6th), Little Gull (28th), Kittiwake (28th) and three White Wagtails (9th).

FOBNEY MEADOW, READING: Highlights included up to five Black-tailed Godwits (1st-8th), one or two Greenshanks (20th-25th) and a Wood Sandpiper (24th).

GREENHAM COMMON: Highlights included Great White Egret (6th-7th), Redstart (8th-6th) and one or two Ring Ouzels (5th-17th).

MOOR GREEN LAKES: Highlights included Great White Egret (5th), up to six Shelducks (9th-29th), Red-crested Pochard (1st-3rd), up to six Oystercatchers (1st-29th), two Black-tailed Godwits (9th), Whimbrel (9th), Greenshank (5th), two to four Mediterranean Gulls (15th-24th), Sandwich Tern (8th), Blue-headed Wagtail (21st) and White Wagtail (19th).

QUEEN MOTHER RESERVOIR: Highlights included two Red-breasted Merganser (10th-11th), Oystercatcher (6th), up to four Whimbrel (24th-25th), two Mediterranean Gulls (20th) and three Sandwich Terns (20th).

THEALE GP: Highlights included Shelduck (6th), one or two Garganey (1st-2nd), up to seven Red-crested Pochards (9th-30th), up to three Oystercatchers (9th-28th), up to 30 Little Gulls (8th-20th), one or two Arctic Terns (6th-27th) and up to four Black Terns (19th-25th).

WOOLHAMPTON GP: Highlights included Pintail (13th), Oystercatcher (22nd), 14 Little Gulls (8th) and Ring Ouzel (17th-19th).

OTHER SITES: A Great White Egret was seen at Earley (17th). A Mediterranean Gull was at Charvil CP (10th). Three Little Gulls were at Thatcham Marsh (8th) and one was at Lower Farm GP (9th). A Greenshank was at Sulhamstead Abbots (25th). A Ring Ouzel was at Inkpen Hill (19th-20th). Grasshopper Warblers were found at Dorney Wetlands (20th-21st), Southcote, Reading (26th-28th) and Kintbury (29th).

Marek Walford (www.berksbirds.co.uk)

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

HIGHLIGHTS: Two Black-necked Grebe were at Calvert (23rd-25th). A Cattle Egret was at Little Marlow GP (13th) and a Great White Egret was at Linford (15th). A Brent Goose was at College Lake (4th-8th). A Marsh Harrier was at Sherington (26th), a Hen Harrier was at Rowsham (12th) and Ospreys were at the Jubilee River (19th) and Rowsham (10th). A Crane was at College Lake (3rd). Knot were at Little Marlow GP (18th & 22nd) and Bar-tailed Godwits were at Little Marlow GP (22nd) and Furzton Lake (23rd). A Sandwich Tern was at Little Marlow GP (17th) and a Turtle Dove was at Dorney Common (23rd-24th). A Short-eared Owl was at Steps Hill (11th & 16th) and an Alpine Swift was at Ivinghoe Hills (18th). A Wood Warbler was at Littleworth Common (30th).

CALVERT: There were two Garganey (23rd & 24th), 17 Little Gulls, a Mediterranean Gull (27th), a Black Tern (24th), nine Arctic Terns (27th & 28th) and a Redstart (3rd).

COLLEGE LAKE: There was a Ruff (3rd), a Jack Snipe (2nd-14th), a Black-tailed Godwit (13th), a Whimbrel (17th), 11 Little Gulls, a Mediterranean Gull (27th) and a Black Tern (22nd).

FOXCOTE RESERVOIR: There were two Red-crested Pochards (12th), two Common Scoters (9th) and two Little Gulls (8th).

IVINGHOE HILLS: There was a Tree Pipit (12th), Redstarts (16th, 21st & 22nd), Ring Ouzels (6th-22nd) and a Grasshopper Warbler (20th).

LINFORD: There was a Red-crested Pochard (14th-23rd), a Jack Snipe (24th), a Little Gull (19th) and a Grasshopper Warbler (22nd-26th).

LITTLE MARLOW GP: There was a Garganey (11th), a Whimbrel (28th), a Greenshank (19th), 13 Little Gulls, Black Terns (22nd & 25th), 19 Arctic Terns and a Tree Pipit (24th).

WILLEN LAKES: There was a Greenshank

(14th), an Arctic Tern (25th) and also a Whinchat (21st).

OTHER SITES: A Pintail was at Dorney Lake (2nd-15th), a Garganey was at Aylesbury STW (17th), two Jack Snipe were at Gallows Bridge Farm (7th), a Greenshank was at Marlow (23rd), 13 Little Gulls were at Startop’s End Reservoir, Redstarts were at Tattenhoe Park (3rd-11th), Kingswood (21st) and Wendover Woods (14th), Ring Ouzels were at Bledlow Ridge (23rd), Lodge Hill (18th), Marlow (18th), Quainton Hills (18th-22nd) and Rowsham (17th), Grasshopper Warblers were at Back Wood (30th) and Manor Farm (30th) and a Hawfinch was at Tattenhoe Park (12th).

Adam Bassett (www.bucksbirdclub.co.uk)

HAMPSHIRE

BLASHFORD LAKES & THE AVON VALLEY: A first-summer Bonaparte’s Gull appeared on Ibsley Water (from 25th), where there were also up to 12 Little Gulls, Arctic Tern (two, 27th) and Black Tern (three, 19th). Waders included Wood Sandpiper (three, 30th), Ruff (4th), Whimbrel (25th), Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers and Green and Common Sandpipers. Raptors included Osprey (4th) and Marsh Harrier (15th). Up to 100 Bramblings were present in the early part of the month. Elsewhere in the Avon Valley, an Osprey was at Harbridge (2nd).

HILL HEAD TO HAMBLE: Scarcities at Titchfield Haven included a Cattle Egret flying over the canal path (28th), Great White Egret (11th & 21st-25th) and two Spoonbills (22nd). An Osprey flew over (7th) and a Garganey remained on the Posbrook Floods (to 7th). Scarcer passerines along the canal path included Redstart and Whinchat, while up to seven Water Pipits remained in the first half of the month. Seawatching from Hill Head produced a total of 41 Arctic Skuas heading east during the month, plus four Great Skuas. A flock of seven Garganey paused offshore (15th). Also seen were Red-throated and Great Northern Divers, Fulmar, Kittiwake, Little Gull and Arctic and Black Terns. Reports from Hook-with-warsash included a Fulmar (30th) and Spotted Redshank (29th).

LANGSTONE HARBOUR AND HAYLING ISLAND: An Alpine Swift flew over Sandy Point (18th). Other scarcities on Hayling included Osprey (18th & 27th), 10 Little Gulls over the Oysterbeds (7th) and a Pied Flycatcher at Sparkes Marina (19th-20th). Manx Shearwaters were off Sandy Point on two dates (one, 26th & five, 27th), but only one Arctic Skua was reported there (16th). At Farlington Marshes there were one or two Spoonbills (from 23rd), Curlew Sandpiper (22nd-23rd), Jack Snipe (17th-23rd), Spotted Redshank (1st, 3rd & 13th) and Little Gull (13th).

LYMINGTON TO MILFORD-ON-SEA: Two Great White Egrets flew over Keyhaven (20th) and up to eight Spoonbills continued. Waders on the reserve included Ruff (max. six), Curlew Sandpiper (two, 24th) and Spotted Redshank (max. three). Also seen were Garganey (max. three), Little Gull (three, 13th), Merlin (5th) and Water Pipit (12th). The first two Pomarine Skuas of the spring headed east off Milford-on-sea (24th), where there were monthly totals of 32 Arctic Skuas and 11 Great Skuas. Also reported during the month were Velvet Scoter (four, 5th and two, 6th), Red-throated and Black-throated Divers, Fulmar, Manx Shearwater (seven, 5th), Kittiwake, Little Gull and Arctic Tern.

OTHER SITES: A Glossy Ibis was a popular attraction at Fishlake Meadows (to 24th). Also at Fishlake were a White-fronted Goose (10th), a pair of Garganey, a flyover White Stork (7th), Osprey (11th) and Black Redstart (22nd). Presumably the same White Stork was seen over Winchester (14th) and again over Romsey (19th). Other scarcities included a Montagu’s Harrier over Warblington (15th), a Crane over Southampton (18th) and a pair of early Dotterel at Cheesefoot Head (6th-8th). A Cattle Egret was over Aldershot (1st), while Great White Egrets continued to be seen at several sites in the lower Test valley, plus one on the Beaulieu Estuary (2nd). A drake Garganey was at Edenbrook Country Park (to 7th) and a Black-necked Grebe was off Netley (5th). Ring Ouzels were at seven sites, including three at Beacon Hill (Highclere), while Pied Flycatchers were at Acres Down (11th) and Fritham (15th). Fleet Pond had Little Gull on three dates, Arctic Tern (10, 19th) and Black Tern (25th). Away from the aforementioned sites, Stokes Bay picked up a Pomarine Skua (24th) and monthly totals of 12 Arctic and three Great Skuas, plus Red-throated and Black-throated Divers, Fulmar, Kittiwake, Little Gull and Black Tern. Southsea Castle recorded a Great Skua, eight Arctic Skuas, Black Tern and Great Northern Diver (all 25th).

Tom Jordan

HERTFORDSHIRE

HIGHLIGHTS: A Hoopoe was at Bishop’s Stortford (12th). Highlights at Amwell NR were two Red-breasted Mergansers (9th), three Common Scoters (9th), Spoonbill (30th) and a Smew was nearby at Bowyer’s Water (23rd). Also in the Lee Valley a Western Cattle Egret commuted between Cheshunt, Rye Meads and Amwell NR. A Garganey was at Rye Meads. Up to 17 Black-necked Grebes were at Hilfield Park Reservoir plus up to seven Little Gulls. At Wilstone Reservoir there was a Black-necked Grebe (19th), two Black Terns (20th) and five Little Gulls (16th). Three Black Terns were at Marsworth Reservoir (30th). Ring Ouzels were at Norton Green, Wheathampstead, Therfield (12th), Welham Green (15th) and up to two at Tring and Royston. An Osprey flew over Tyttenhanger GP (22nd).

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 Savi’s Warbler was at Pegwell Bay (3rd), and one was at Dungeness RSPB (23rd). An Iberian Chiffchaff sang at Monks Wall NR (16th). A first-winter Crane was around Dungeness RSPB (1st-15th), plus two Black-winged Stilts (20th-22nd), Blue-headed Wagtail and three Garganey (23rd), and an Alpine Swift (27th-28th), and up to five Cattle Egrets were there. Five Cattle Egrets were at Allhallows-on-sea (8th), with two at Sandwich Bay (9th), two at Hinxhill (11th), Stoke Marshes (six, 19th), and Luddenham Marshes (six, 22nd). Dungeness NNR had a White Stork over (8th), with it or another at Samphire Hoe CP and Worth Marsh (9th), Langdon Cliffs NT (10th), Hartlip (17th), and at Conyer late in the month. Dungeness NNR had a Serin (12th & 28th). A Black Kite was at Birchington (22nd). Pegwell Bay had a Kentish Plover (3rd), a Black Kite flew south there (4th), there was a Hoopoe (5th-7th), and a Cattle Egret and two Nightingales (18th). A Red-rumped Swallow was at Stodmarsh NNR (14th-15th). A Serin was at Finberry (14th), with one at North Foreland (16th). Conningbrook Lakes CP had a Stone-curlew (14th) and a Black-crowned Night Heron (28th), and a Glossy Ibis was at Oare Marshes NR (17th). A Rough-legged Buzzard was seen at Dunkirk (19th), with a juvenile at Elmley NNR (25th). Four Cranes passed over Northward Hill RSPB (19th).

SURREY

HIGHLIGHTS: A Cattle Egret flew over Tice’s Meadow (1st), with a Little Gull and a Firecrest also there (9th), a dark-bellied Brent Goose (16th-29th), a Ring Ouzel (17th), an Arctic Tern (18th), and finally a Wood Sandpiper (30th). The female Ring-necked Duck remained at Frensham Little Pond throughout the month. A Spotted Crake was briefly recorded at St Catherine’s Pool, Shalford (10th), with a Little Gull also seen there. A Black Kite went north over Capel (10th). A White Stork was over Addlestone (15th), with it or another seen over Chertsey (23rd). An Osprey was seen at Bramley (6th). A Short-eared Owl was at Papercourt Water Meadows (11th & 18th). A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Molesey Heath (12th). A Ring Ouzel was at Burpham (15th), with one at Woldingham (19th),

SUSSEX

EAST SUSSEX: The drake Ring-necked Duck remained at Rye Harbour NR (1st-12th), and the long-staying Great Grey Shrike was still at Ashdown Forest early in the month. A Glossy Ibis was at Cuckmere Haven (3rd), with one at Camber (12th-16th). A Kentish Plover was at Cuckmere Haven (14th). A Purple Heron was at West Rise Marsh (15th). A Siberian Chiffchaff was briefly at Icklesham (12th). A White Stork flew over Icklesham (13th). Two Black-winged Stilts were at Rye Harbour NR (17th-19th). A Black Kite was over Bexhill (20th). Two Cranes were at Horse Eye Level and over Mayfield (21st). A Red-rumped Swallow was at West Rise Marsh (28th).

WEST SUSSEX: Twelve Cattle Egrets were at Pagham Harbour LNR (1st), rising to 13 (7th) with several remaining to the end of the month, with one at Arundel (5th). A Black Kite was over Wakehurst Place (10th), with one seen at Wiston (29th). A White Stork flew over Nutbourne (20th). A Serin came in off the sea at Selsey Bill (22nd), with others (23rd & 24th). A Surf Scoter was with a flock of 30-plus Common Scoters off Selsey Bill (30th).