Brimstone – Little Langford – Mike Trew

Brimstone & Comma - in a Stratton, Swindon garden – Ken Cypher

Changes in farming practices and modern house building methods are being blamed for the sparrow’s decline Wildlife expert and TV presenter Chris Packham, chairman of the Hampshire Ornithological Society, said: “The House Sparrow is a great British bird, it would be terrible if we did nothing to stop its disappearance.”

Hampshire’s cabinet spokesman for the environment Mel Kendal, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for Hampshire to do something very positive for our local wildlife which might help safeguard the future of a familiar visitor to our neighbourhoods.”

Sparrow watchers are asked to log sightings online at www.hants.gov.uk/housesparrow where there is also advice on how to encourage sparrows and other birds into gardens and other places.

Report from Salisbury Journal, 10th March

However unlikely it may be to attack humans, police have warned members of the public not to approach the bird if they see it. Instead they should contact the police or RSPCA.

Report taken from Wiltshire Times website dated 12th March

2 Red Kite – Stitchcombe – John Booth

180 Golden Plover – Roundway Hill – Anthony Mitchell

WILLOW TIT - Vagg’s Hill - Simon Young

SMEW (male), 2 Goosander – CWP30 – Robin Griffiths

2 Redshank – CWP74 – Robin Griffiths

Cetti’s Warbler, Water Rail – CWP68d – Robin Griffiths

Cetti’s Warbler, 4 Shelduck, 3 Snipe – CWP68c – Robin Griffiths

14 Curlew – CWP59 – Robin Griffiths

OUT OF COUNTY…..2 SMEW (pair) – CWP42 (Gloucestershire) – Robin Griffiths

OUT OF COUNTY…..2 OYSTERCATCHER - CWP125 (Gloucestershire) – Phil & Graham Deacon

OUT OF COUNTY…..5 Green Sandpiper, 2 Shelduck – CWP126 (Gloucestershire) – Phil & Graham Deacon

OUT OF COUNTY…..60 Red-Crested Pochard – CWP114 & CWP116 (Gloucestershire) - Phil & Graham Deacon

30 Corn Bunting – Stanton St Bernard – Paul Tubb

Little Egret – Swindon – Sue & Trevor Clayson

40 Raven – around the wolf enclosure at Longleat Safari Park at feeding time - John Hansford

200 Fieldfare, 4 Marsh Tit, 20 Goldfinch – Ogbourne St George – Phil & Graham Deacon

Red Kite – Chiseldon – Phil & Graham Deacon

JACK SNIPE - Cumberwell – Rowena Quantrill

PEREGRINE – Blakehill – Robin Griffiths

2 OYSTERCATCHER – CWP69 – Rachel & Mike Trew

Oystercatcher - Mike Trew

129 Wigeon – CWP39 – Rachel & Mike Trew

34 Lapwing, 5 Teal – Kent End – Rachel & Mike Trew

150 Golden Plover, 75 Lapwing – Horton Down – John Powell

Hummingbird Hawk Moth - in a Chippenham garden – Lynne Hallam

2 BEWICK’S SWAN (flying over), 35 Reed Bunting, 60 Yellowhammer – Castle Eaton – Matt Prior

5 Little Egret – Forxfield – Trevor Dobie

2 RUDDY SHELDUCK, 5 Teal – Chiseldon floods – Malcolm Royal

8 Corn Bunting – Liddington Hill – Malcolm Royal

5 WHOOPER SWAN, Chiffchaff, Cetti’s Warbler, Water Rail, 18 Wigeon, Little Egret – Langford Lakes – Malcolm Royal

HEN HARRIER (male), Barn Owl – Combe Down - Malcolm Royal

300 Yellowhammer – Great Durnford – Jane Cole

2 RUDDY SHELDUCK, 2 Teal – Chiseldon floods – Malcolm Royal

2 Cetti’s Warbler, Water Rail, Goosander – Downton - John Fishwick

24 Curlew – CWP59 - Paul Tubb

SMEW (redhead) – CWP28 – Len Ingram

2 OYSTERCATCHER – CWP35 – Len Ingram

400 Black Headed Gull – following the plough, Winterborne Stoke – Mike Trew

MERLIN – Stockton – Mike Trew

2 Goosander, Little Owl - Stanton Park – Malcolm Royal

Green Sandpiper, 2 Teal - Chiseldom floods – Malcolm Royal

2 Red Kite – Monkton Deverell – Alison Rymell

2 Goosander – on the River Avon, Bradford on Avon – Paula Vass

Green Sandpiper, 13 Snipe – Upper Waterhay, CWP – John Grearson

10 Curlew – Manor Farm, Waterhay – John Grearson

Red Kite – Hindon – David Jonas

2 RUDDY SHELDUCK, roosting Tawny Owl, Wigeon, 6 Shoveler – Coate Water – Graham Cox

Green Sandpiper – Chiseldon follds - Malcolm Royal

Red Kite – Albourne Chase – Malcolm Royal

Little Egret, 40 Linnet, 5 Lapwing, 2 Black Swan – Axford - Malcolm Royal

Black Swan - Malcolm Royal

2 WILLOW TIT, 2 Red Kite – Savernake area – Malcolm Royal

The project runs from April 1 to August 31, with live footage being beamed from cameras on the birds’ nests into the Forestry Commission’s New Forest Reptile Centre, near Lyndhurst.

Visitors will be able to observe the birds’ behaviour and watch events unfold as they breed, hatch eggs, feed chicks and teach their young how to fly.

Dan Parkinson, of RSPB South East, said: “The technology used really gives people a privileged peek into the fascinating lives of these birds. We’ll be at the Reptile Centre every day to explain what’s happening in the nest. Seeing people’s reactions as they watch the raptorcam is just priceless.”

First in the spotlight will be a pair of Goshawks who get busy with nest building in March. The female is due to lay eggs at the beginning of April, with chicks likely to appear in May. From June, a pair of Hobbies will take their turn in the limelight.

Last year the project saw more than 19,000 people visit the centre, and the project’s website clock up 581,000 visits.

People can also watch the action unfold live online at www.newforestgateway.org

Report from Salisbury Journal

Report from  BTO

http://www.bto.org/news/news2010/marapr/Are_predators_to_blame_for_songbird_declines.html