29th January
Had a grey wet trip round the lakes this afternoon nothing new seen and only one Great White Egret about, and 46 Pochard spread about the two lakes. So that’s me done for January ending on 63 species seen for the month (Martin Wood.)
27th January
Usual waterfowl seen but only one Great Egret (Ian Lewis)
21st January
A good walk round watching and looking for new birds, recorded 44 species with 3 new birds for the Patch Work Challenge. The best bird was a Peregrine going west with some type of prey in its talons. Also a nice largish flock of c60 Lapwings flying west over the South Lake. And of course the 3 Great Egrets are still there two on North Lake and one on the large island.
The full list: Mute Swan, Greylag goose – 14, Canada Goose, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler – 8, Pochard – 40, Tufted Duck, Little Egret – 6, Great White Egret – 3, Grey Heron – 2, Little Grebes, Great Crested Grebes, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot,Lapwing- c60, Snipe – 5, Black-headed Gulls, Common Gull – 1, Lesser Black-backed Gull – 1 Great Black-backed Gull – 2, Woodpigeons, Collared Dove, Green Woodpecker – 2, Peregrine, Magpies, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Blue Tit –3, Long-tailed Tit – 4, Wren – 4, Starlings, Blackbirds, Song Thrush – 4, Robins, Stonechat – 2, Dunnock, House Sparrows, Grey Wagtail and Chaffinches (Martin Wood.)
20th January
Usual birds around the lakes this morning, by now this includes the three Great Egrets. Also a Green Sandpiper on the north lake. Water levels in the south lake somewhat lower than usual (Alan Pearce).
14th January
A surprise today came in the form of a flock of 13 Pintail. These ducks average just one record a year at Longham Lakes and the highest previous count was 7. The lakes were stuffed with egrets, with the 3 Great Egrets and at least 8 Little Egrets. Also Sparrowhawk among 44 species recorded by Martin Wood.
10th January
Nothing particularly new around the lakes today, with Great Egrets still present and a reasonable range of ducks. A Chiffchaff appeared along the west side of the north reservoir, and there was a flock of Redwings and Fieldfares on the large field on the north-west corner of the site. I heard a Pheasant, too, my first of the year (Dominic Couzens).
6th January
The 3 Great Egrets are still there. Also a male Garganey on the south lake and the Kingfisher at Longham Bridge (Gail Taplin). Just 41 species in a very quick visit, but there was a healthy sized goose flock on Hampreston Fields, with 90 Canada Geese and 22 Greylags. Also 2 Goldcrests in the scrub on the west side of Longham Reservoir North (Dominic Couzens).
4th January
There were 3 Mistle Thrushes and a Redwing on the field opposite the King’s Arms pub today – not strictly on-site, but viewable from the Longham Lakes recording area (Dominic Couzens).
3rd January
I saw 56 species today, and George Green recorded at least one other (a Nuthatch calling) so once again there were a lot of birds to be seen at Longham Lakes. The Great Egrets are still the highlight, along with Little Egrets and Grey Herons fishing along the banks of Longham Reservoir North. There are lots of Pochard around, and a few Wigeon among the commoner ducks. Other species included 3+ Stonechats, Treecreeper, 1 Grey Wagtail, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kingfisher, 5+ Snipe, 2 Reed Buntings and a Jay. My personal total for 2017 for Longham Lakes is now 65 species; also 2 mammals with several Rabbits today (Dominic Couzens).
1st January 2017
Determined to do more birding at Longham Lakes this year than last, I decided to spend the first few hours of the year birding here. It paid off handsomely, and I managed what is probably a record day total for mid-winter – 58 species. Highlights included the 3 Great Egrets, a good variety of ducks, 3 Cetti’s Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Common Snipe, 2 Little Egrets, a Water Rail heard, a Kingfisher on the River Stour, a Stonechat and a Bullfinch. For what it’s worth, there is a complete list at the end of this post. I met a birding couple and they pronounced what was present as “the usual trash”, which is a bit harsh!
Another highlight was chatting with a fisherman (Doug, from Ringwood Angling Club) near Longham Bridge. Apparently Atlantic Salmon regularly work their way up the Stour at Longham and may spawn not far away. He had also seen Sea Trout regularly, and Sea Lampreys and Eels also pass through in season. Graylings are common, Minnows are abundant near the Bridge and there are also Chub. Somebody apparently once caught a Pirana downstream, presumably released by somebody (no, really, it wasn’t a fisherman’s tall story, I don’t think). He also mentioned a lot of Otter activity and a Mink den – so keep your eyes open at Longham Bridge (Dominic Couzens).
Today’s bird list in order of seeing: Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Black-headed Gull, House Sparrow, Collared Dove, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Wren, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Stock Dove, Kestrel, Stonechat, Robin, Cormorant, Dunnock, Grey Heron, Magpie, Chaffinch, Green Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Song Thrush, Teal, Little Grebe, Gadwall, Moorhen, Water Rail, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Coot, Mallard, Lapwing, Wigeon, Great Black-backed Gull, Pochard, Rook, Common Gull, Cetti’s Warbler, Meadow Pipit, Redwing, Shoveler, Great Crested Grebe, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Great Egret, Chiffchaff, Buzzard, Common Snipe, Bullfinch, Feral Pigeon, Starling, Pied Wagtail, Kingfisher, Little Egret.
Mammals: Grey Squirrel.
Martin Wood comments: Apart from the 3 Great Egrets, Great Spotted Woodpecker was the best, along with plenty of Gadwall, 31 Pochard, 6 Snipe.