Longparish with HOS

Saturday 17 May

Longparish.  Has to be, potentially, one of the prettiest villages in Hampshire with the River Test and many of its water supply channels running through and around the houses.  And it was here that 20 members of the Hampshire Ornithological Society (HOS) under the leadership of Geoff Sharp spent over three hours walking the area and amassing a final total of almost 40 species during their morning visit.

The old mill area on the River Test

Whilst we gathered in the car ark in readiness for our off we managed to record Song Thrush Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Barn Swallow and Swift and no sooner underway managed to add Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinch.  A short stop in the meadow behind the church saw a Cuckoo fly over us so a most promising start to the morning. passing through the he village along Southside Road a Mallard duck with two ducklings resting next to the stream on our left with more Swallows and Swifts overhead.  A Blue Tit was accessing its nest site under the roof of the former chapel and also seen Robin, Blackbird and our first pf five Grey Wagtails seen during the morning.

Continuing on between the two branches of the river test we also recorded Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Great Spotted Woodpecker, and Kestrel.  A Herring Gull flew over.

Too late to catch the Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major out in the open

Taking a left turn to walk up  alongside the trout fishery we added both Greylag and Canada Goose before also seeing the pair of Egyptian Geese with their eight goslings.  On the far bank a Heron followed by both a Little Egret and a Coot. near the end of the ponds a singe Mute Swan.

The Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca family

Further on as we walked beside the river we came across a pair of Tufted Duck and a single Gadwall whilst in a tributary behind a diving Little Grebe.  Across the nearby meadow a pair of cock Pheasants and then the arrival overhead of a very light phase Buzzard.  Many more Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Chaffinches before we made a slight a stop to view the river from the bridge and noted both a Grey Wagtail and resting families of Canada Geese. 

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea

Turning left to head back through the reedbed to the river and start on the homeward part of the walk.  A lovely view of a Reed Warbler and then a Wren as we made our way. Overhead, a pair of Buzzards (including the light phase individual previously seen) and a hovering Kestrel and on the bank near the water's edge another Greylag Goose with her family.

Greylag Goose Anser anser

Onwards back to the car with more sightings of Grey Wagtails and accompanied by the constant singing/calling of Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Cetti's Warbler and Chaffinches.  Walking past the last houses before the car park we also came across a number of House Sparrows. And almost all the time back in this area a score or more Swifts above our heads.

Cock Pheasants Phasianus colchicus

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pheasant, Great Crested Grebe, Little Egret, Heron, Buzzard, Kestrel, Coot, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Cuckoo, Swift, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, Grey Wagtail, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch.

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea

Leading to the fishery

A weir on the River Test

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