Spring 2016

30th May
I went to Longham this morning for a ringing session. It was surprisingly good considering that the wind was rather breezy. There were 21 new birds and 13 re-traps. These numbers were mainly boosted by a family flock of Long-tailed Tits, which included 7 juveniles, 2 new females and 4 other re-trap adults. The only migrants were one new and 2 re-trap Chiffchaffs and a new male Whitethroat. Robins were much in evidence, 5 new birds (4 juveniles and 1 adult) and two re-trap adults. The other species were Wren, Dunnock, Song Thrush, Blue Tit and Bullfinch. One re-trap Long-tailed Tit was ringed in September 2012, another in May 2013. Both re-trap Chiffchaffs were from Sep 2014.
There was a large group of Swifts overhead (and low around the south shore) for almost the whole time (0500 to 0900) – difficult to count but I reckon at least 40 (Roger Peart).

22nd May
No sign of the Black-necked Grebe this morning or on my last visit. Best birds today were 3 Common Terns flying over the South Lake towards the River Stour (George Green). Went round south lake this afternoon with my son loads of Swift and Swallows about, I have l also not seen the Black-necked grebe on my last two trips, last seen on the 17th. Best birds this afternoon were Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Shelduck and a Kestrel. Reed Warblers were very active this afternoon with 14 heard and some seen (Martin Wood).

19th May
Steve Morrison, doing ecological work on-site recorded Bombus muscorum on the watermeadows and a nest of Bombus hypnorum in one of the ‘dormouse’ boxes. He also found Longham Lakes’s very first orchid, a Green-Veined Orchid in the Bournemouth Water compound.

Birdwise, he recorded the following: Garden Warbler still singing south of Study Centre (this is by far the longest a Garden Warbler has ever stayed here); Mandarin – female with at least 6 young on the Stour (first confirmed breeding for Longham, suspected for the last couple of years); 2 pairs Grey Wagtail on territory (Stour). There was a pair of Shelduck and 2 pairs of Gadwall on the stink pools to the south of the river, away from public access. Also no less than 7-8 Cetti’s Warblers singing.

Otherwise, preliminary results of the breeding survey (without checking notes) – 2 pairs of Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 pairs Green Woodpecker, 11-12 Whitethroat, 20-25 Reed Warbler, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Jackdaw, c.8 Greenfinch, c.5 Goldfinch, only 2 Chaffinch, c.15 Blackcap, 8 Song Thrush, 11 Reed Bunting, plus the usual bunch of tits, Robin, Wren, Blackbird, etc.

Also, first couple of Scarce Chaser dragonflies on the wing.

16th May
Black-necked Grebe still present, Cuckoo calling down by the river Stour and male Mandarin Duck on South Lake and a good number of Swifts (Martin Wood, George Green). Some survey work at Longham produced a singing Garden Warbler just south of the visitor’s centre and later 2 adult Hobbys feeding over the south lake/river – 14.45 (Steve Morrison).

13th May
A Cuckoo flying over the Causeway was my highlight today, with a supporting cast of 1 Pochard, 3 Gadwall, 1 Peregrine, 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1 Great Black-backed Gull (Dominic Couzens).

12th May
Summer plumage Black-necked Grebe still present on South Lake but surprisingly elusive (George Green).

11th May
There was a superb new species for Longham Lakes today, a Nightjar found by Trevor Wilkinson in the early afternoon. It was posing in the sunshine on a post below a large oak south of the Study Centre. Thanks to Trevor for the phone call, which I got when taking my son to piano lesson at West Parley, barely 5 minutes away. What a great bird, the site’s 179th species. George Green also found a summer plumaged Black-necked Grebe on the South Lake. Best of the rest were a Garden Warbler singing just south of the Study Centre, 3 Egyptian Geese, 1 Shelduck, 1 Lapwing, 2 Dunlin and 1 Common Sandpiper. Martin Wood also watched Bream spawning.
There were 2 broods of Mallard ducklings, 6 and 2 respectively, plus 7 Canada Goose chicks and 4 young Starlings (Trevor Wilkinson).

10th May
My first settled Greenshank for the site, my other 2 records being fly-overs, also 2 Dunlin and 2 Common Sandpipers – all on the South Lake island. Best of the rest 2 Egyptian Geese (George Green).

8th May
Quiet today, with Reed warblers singing, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Lapwing, 1 male Blackcap, 2 Green Woodpeckers heard (Martin Wood). This morning produced only my 3rd site record of Garden Warbler. Best of the rest were a pair of Shelduck on Hampreston Fields and a Common Sandpiper on the South Lake (George Green).

4th May
Among a list compiled by the OWLs were Gadwall, Greylag Goose and Great Black-backed Gull.

3rd May
A morning’s visit produced only my 2nd Spotted Flycatcher for the site. Otherwise a single Whimbrel circling the South Lake, a singing Garden Warbler and an influx of Swifts (George Green).

Roger Peart: Had a decent ringing session this morning with 8 new birds and 11 re-traps. Good weather too! New birds included two Whitethroats (a male and female pair caught in the same net but at different times), first Reed Warbler of the year, and a male Blackcap.

Re-traps of interest were: 2 Reed Buntings (ringed June 2012 and Nov 2014), Reed Warbler (ringed 2011, re-trapped in 2012 and 2013 but not since until today), a Cetti’s Warbler (Oct 2015) a Blackbird and a Song Thrush (both ringed 2013 and this is the first recapture).

30th April
Hobby, Common Sandpiper and arrival of 30+ Swifts (George Green).

29th April
Dropped in to Longham Lakes on the way home from work this afternoon, and what a sight I had with a spectacular aerial display of c200 Swifts with some House Martin, Sand Martin and Swallows in the mix. The birds were at all heights from just above my head to very high, swooping this and that way while hawking for insects. In a 2 hour and 20 minute walk around the South Lake I managed to record 36 species, with four new birds for my Patch Work Challenge which stands now at the end of the month with 75 species seen and a point score of 79. One of the new birds I have been trying to spot for a long time and after almost two years I finally found, a Treecreeper in an oak. Also Whitethroat – 4, Reed Warbler -1 with others heard, Mandarin Duck – 1 male preening on a willow branch off the small island before taking a swim across the lake, Shelduck – 2 flying in from the east and settled on the water, west side of the large lake (Martin Wood).

25th April
A very enjoyable visit to Longham Lakes this afternoon. Plenty of Tufted Ducks (about 85), and Reed Bunting and Whitethroat much in evidence, and a Cetti’s Warbler too, but the highlight was about 90 Swifts with about 30 apiece of Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin. Also 3 Common Sandpipers: 2 on the big island and one on the eastern shore of southern lake (Steve Smith).

23rd April
I went to Longham mid-morning today to take a few poles and guys ready for Wednesday. Then I had a brief walk up the west path of the south lake as far as the causeway, noting the following: Blackcaps & Chiffchaffs singing, Whitethroat, Swifts – at least three high overhead; a few Swallows; at least 2 Mediterranean Gulls calling overhead; and 4 Mallard pairs with ducklings numbering 11, 6, 5 and 4. The two larger were fairly young, less than a week. I guess, while the two smaller parties were somewhat older, probably two weeks (Roger Peart).

20th April
Good diversity around Longham again today, with 57 species recorded. The first Swifts of the year came over in groups through the morning, with at least 30 logged, but probably many more overhead; good numbers of Swallows and House Martins, together with a single Sand Martin, made it a good aerial birds day. A Peregrine also flew over. The other highlight was a male Mandarin on the River Stour opposite Samuel’s Wood – it is possible that there is a pair breeding on site. Seven Gadwalls remain, but yesterday’s Shoveler and Teal seem to have gone. Mallards are well into production, with parties of 3, 6 and 6 ducklings around. A Goldcrest in Emily’s Wood was a surprise for the time of year. Otherwise, the first butterflies are on the wing, and included Peacock, Comma and Orange-tip (Dominic Couzens).

19th April
An hour or so’s walk around the Lakes today produced an excellent 53 species, the undoubted highlight being a fly-over Marsh Harrier, of which there are only 4 previous records. This was a dark juvenile and it flew north at a height of about 20m without stopping. Otherwise a Wheatear along the western side of Longham Reservoir South was a good one, and there were at least 2, and possibly 4 Common Sandpipers in (Dominic Couzens).

16th April
Arrival of summer visitors at Longham Lakes this morning with my first Sedge and Reed Warblers and Common Whitethroat. Also a large influx of mixed hirundines (all 3 common species) with several hundred present. Otherwise a pair of Shelduck and a Common Sandpiper on the island in the South Lake (George Green).  Also in the scrub on the western side of the lake 2 possibly 3 Blackcaps I saw a male and female and heard another bird sing. (Martin Wood).

12th April
This morning there were 3 Shelducks on the South Lake (George Green).

11th April
A small influx of Pied Wagtails which included a fine male White Wagtail (George Green).

8th April
A White Wagtail and a pair of Shelduck on the island in the South Lake this afternoon (George Green). Additional sightings included Treecreeper, 2 Grey Heron, a Mallard with 8 ducklings, Pochard (male), Gadwall (male and female), Teal (male and female on pond in field), Mistle Thrush plus Fox and Roe Deer (Trevor Wilkinson).

5th April
Sightings included: 29 Mute Swan, 12 Canada Geese, 4 Little Egret, Shoveler, Teal, 4 Gadwall (2 pairs), Mallard (separate groups of 5 and 8 ducklings), 3 Buzzard, 3 Cetti’s Warbler (1 seen, 2 only heard), 5 Reed Bunting and Pheasant (heard). (Trevor Wilkinson). In addition 2 Sparrowhawks together, 2 Grey Wagtails, Willow Warblers and 2 fighting Grey Herons (Pat and Dave Harris).

2nd April
First Wheatear and Willow Warblers (at least 3 birds singing) of the spring. Also a few Sand Martins (George Green). Another birder had a Green Sandpiper and a Red-legged Partridge earlier in the morning (latter has not been seen at Longham since 2009). Several sightings of Swallows today. This and Sparrowhawk were new to Martin Wood’s Patchwork Challenge. He also had Shoveler – 10, Wigeon – 1, Gadwall – 2, Canada Geese – 15, Chiffchaff – 3, Buzzard – 2, Lesser Black-backed Gull – 2 and Herring Gull – 11.

28th March
Lots of interesting counts by Darran Jones today on his Patchwork Challenge visit, which included two firsts for him this year: Green Woodpecker and Swallow. Also Blue Tit (6), Bullfinch (2), Canada Geese (10), Chaffinch (5), Chiffchaff (3), Collared Dove (3), Cormorant (12), Coot (too many), Gadwall (8), Great Tit (5), Greylag Geese (5), Great Crested Grebe (12), Mallard (5), Magpie 7, Shoveler (3), Teal (6) and Tufted Duck (100).

27th March
Still 10 Shoveler about, 6 Pochard (4M 2F) , 1 male Kestrel, 5 Sand Martin and one odd looking Scaup/Tufted duck female (Martin Wood)

25th March
Went to Longham Lakes this morning (08.55 –11.00 hrs) a wonderful sunny morning’s walk round the lake; the highlights were Mediterranean Gulls 74 settled on the water and two flying about, Reed Bunting – 10, Shoveler –10, Lesser Black backed Gull –1, Black-headed Gull c130 settled on the water, Cetti’s Warbler – 2 one calling in the north west corner and one on the north east side of the lake just before east fields, Chiffchaff –2 very smart looking birds singing,  Lapwing – 1 on the large island (Martin Wood).

19th March
A flock of at least 20 Black-tailed Godwits on the island at the north end of the South Lake today. Amazingly they were often out of view hidden in the long grass. Also 8+ Sand Martins but only 20 or so Med Gulls. Small arrival of Pied Wags and Reed Buntings which seemed to be associating with each other as they fed along the causeway (George Green).

Late afternoon, only had 3 Sand Martins, 4 Med Gulls , 6 Reed Bunting, 15 or more Pied Wagtails, 2 Jays, Meadow Pipit and a Cetti’s Warbler calling. Out on the fields were 4 Greylag Geese (Martin Wood).

15th March
At Longham there was still a small group of Pochard on the North Lake and the usual wildfowl out on the lakes. A couple of Jays were seen and 10 Redwing, with two new bird added to the Longham list: a Siskin and 3 Snipe (Martin Wood). In late morning, Mediterranean Gull 2 ads, Raven 1, Snipe 2 (on North Island), Common Gull ad 1 (Lorne Bissell).

12th March
After the mist had cleared, had a count of 104 Mediterranean Gulls this morning (Robin Trundle).

11th March
Had a nice spring walk round Longham South lake again this afternoon. Fields are flooded again which had a few Shoveler, Mallard and gulls on dry land. Best of the birds were: Lesser Redpoll – 4, Med Gull – 3, Lesser Black-backed Gull – 2, Goldcrest – 2, Buzzard – 2 (Martin Wood).

5th March
4 Goldcrests this afternoon (Martin Wood)

4th March
Dropped in to Longham Lakes on the way home from work this afternoon. This is just the highlights along with the usual species on the lakes: Pochard 16 this group consisted of 14 males and two females; Reed Bunting – 1; Pheasant – 1 new bird for the patch list; Chiffchaff – 2; Kestrel – 1 male; Buzzard; Redwing – 29 two different groups in different fields; Med Gulls – 6; Black-tailed Godwits – 16, new birds for the patch list. The Patchwork Challenge list is now up to 57 species (Martin Wood).