Overton Biodiversity Society

January 2004

1^st

a male Blackcap was seen in Woodlands gardens and a Pheasant around a bird-table in Copse Road. There was no sign of the Dipper in the Flashetts area.

2^nd

the Long-eared owl reported in December made the Hampshire Chronicle! The Pheasant was again making the most of the spilt bird-table offerings.

3^rd

House sparrows eventually appeared in a Woodlands garden for the first time this year.

4^th

a Goldcrest visited a bird-table in Copse Road, where the Pheasant was once more present.

5^th

a male Tawny owl was vocal, near the golf course, early morning. A Nuthatch was the latest addition to the bird-table in Copse Road, 7 Long-tailed tits also being seen.

6^th

a Kestrel hunted over verges, immediately north of Kingsclere Road railway bridge.

7^th

a Blackcap was in Copse Road and a Lesser black-backed gull moved south-west over Court Drove mid-morning.

8^th

two doe Roe deer were at the southern end of Southington Lane mid-morning, having to resort to going into gardens due to the heavy flooding of the lane. The Blackcap was still in Copse Road. 3 Long-tailed tits, in Southington Close, were the first noted there this season.

9^th

a Buzzard and 2 Kestrels were seen at Willesley Warren, a Blackcap visited a Station Road garden and a Meadow pipit was at Northington Farm.

10^th

the Blackcap remained in Station Road.

11^th

Tawny owls were regularly being heard on the western side of the village.

12^th

a Great spotted woodpecker was visiting feeders in Southington Close. 130+ Gadwall, 100+ Canada geese and 13 Teal were over the village, possibly flushed from Laverstoke Park.

13^th

a Pheasant was Copse Road bird-tables again and a Blackcap was in Station Road.

14^th

a Badger sauntered across the B3400, and over the hill, just west of the village at 03:42. A flock of 8 Long-tailed tits were about Copse Road.

Right: Eurasian Badger Meles meles

15^th

a Kestrel was once again hunting over the fields south of Southington. An adult and immature Mute swan took a winged tour around the village late morning.

16^th

wildfowl off Station Road included 4 Shoveler and 4 Little grebe. A Kingfisher, 2 Chiffchaff and a Redwing were also found there. A Green sandpiper fed, again, in the stream immediately north of Flashetts where a Kingfisher fished successfully. A pre-roost movement of Pied wagtails appeared to be heading towards the mill whilst a Grey appeared to be settled at the filtration pools.

17^th

a Green woodpecker was an unexpected visitor to Poyntz Road.

18^th

a Blackcap was still in Station Road.

19^th

many Snowdrops were now in flower. The Blackcap was seen again in Station Road gardens.

20^th

the monthly wildfowl count had as highlights a Little egret, 3 Water rail, 3 Kingfisher, duck Pochard and 3 Grey heron. Of the other birds recorded a flock of 15 Meadow pipits near Polhampton, 2 Grey wagtails in the village, a Stock dove and Chiffchaff were most notable. A flock of 42 Goldfinch in gardens off Bridge street was unusual in its' size, being the largest noted locally for many months. A striking fungus in woodland off Station Road was identified as Scarlet elf cap and, in their own way, just as striking were 85+ Winter aconite flowers shining at Southington House.

21^st

a Grey heron was seen flying over the village and a Bullfinch was seen in Station Road.

22^nd

a Great spotted woodpecker visited bird-tables in Copse Road.

25^th

a Black cap was in Copse Road with another, a male, in Woodlands; the latter being one of just three birds noted whilst carrying out the Big Garden Birdwatch!

27^th

2 male Blackcaps were seen acting aggressively towards one another.

29^th

a Lapwing was seen, at the source of The Test, on driving past Lower Ashe Farm. 4 Long-tailed tits were feeding off peanuts in Southington Close.

Thanks are due to the following for their input to this report: Betty Bowden, Lindy Hatchard, Alison Hutchins, Jay Hutchins, Veronique Kerguelen, John Smith.