Emer Bog and Baddesley Common

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England, Hampshire

Overview

Emer Bog and Baddesley Common is an area of grassland, heath, bog and forest in the Test Valley, Hampshire, UK.

It is owned by the Hampshire Wildlife Trust who have provided and maintain boardwalks to help you get around the main bog. The main bog or Emer Bog as it is called is the main habitat.

Birds

Notable Species

In winter Snipe and Jack Snipe feed here, as do Mallard and the occasional Teal or Mandarin. Water Rail can be heard from the bog and probably nests.

In summer Woodcock can be watched roding over here, while Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler and perhaps still Grasshopper Warbler breed. The woods around here hold commoner woodland birds including all 3 woodpeckers and there appears to be a particularly high density of Treecreeper. Marsh Tit is also present and Common Crossbill have been seen in the pines.

Baddesley Common is often worth a visit for migrants and heathland birds. Woodlark, Tree Pipit, Cuckoo, Stonechat, Yellowhammer, Linnet and Bullfinch breed, as do many commoner species. Nightjar have bred.

The alders here are a favourite spot for wintering Siskin and Lesser Redpoll (a large flock of about 100 Siskin was present in January 2007), and Brambling appear to be regular visitors. Fieldfare and Redwing are numerous here, as are Goldcrest.

Baddesley Common regularly attracts migrants including Wheatear, Whinchat, Spotted Flycatcher and Redstart, while Wryneck and Red-backed Shrike have been recorded in recent years. In the winter 2006/2007 Eurasian Goshawk was seen. Northern Hobby are regular overhead in summer, and Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk & Kestrel breed.

Rarities

Spotted Crake was located at Emer bog in August 2007. Wryneck] and Red-backed Shrike have occured on passage. Marsh Harrier has been seen flying over.

Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

Little Grebe, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mandarin Duck, Common Teal, Mallard, Pheasant, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Eurasian Kestrel, Eurasian Hobby, Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Northern Lapwing, Common Snipe, Eurasian Woodcock, Red-legged Partridge, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, European Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Cuckoo, Tawny Owl, Common Swift, Common Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Woodlark, Eurasian Skylark, House Martin, Barn Swallow, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Eurasian Wren, Dunnock, Eurasian Robin, Common Redstart, Whinchat, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Eurasian Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Dartford Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Common Reed Warbler, Greater Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Common Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Willow Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper, Eurasian Jay, Common Magpie, Eurasian Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Eurasian Linnet, Common Redpoll, Eurasian Bullfinch, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting

Other Wildlife

Butterflies are very well represented with Silver-washed Fritilary and White Admiral being numerous at Emer Bog in the summer, and Purple Emperor is also present but typically elusive. On Baddesley Common Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Small and Large Skippers, Brimstone, Small and Large Whites, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral are all numerous.

Dragonflies can be seen at Emer Bog including a colony of Ruddy Darter.

Roe Deer are numerous and frequently seen, often in Emer Bog itself where they are useful for flushing out Snipe!

Adders are often seen, Grass Snakes are presumably present in what seems like good habitat, and Common Lizards can often be seen basking on the boardwalks at Emer Bog.

Site Information

History and Use

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Areas of Interest

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Access and Facilities

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Contact Details

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External Links

• Hampshire Wildlife Trust's Guide to the reserve PDF file
• JNCC: Emer Bog
• Hampshire Conservation Volunteers: Emer Bog and Baddesley Common
• Baddesley Common on Streetmap