Have finally seen detailed plans for long term housing development in Test Valley: 

The Dog Walkers's field looks to have escaped the bulldozer! so hopefully it will continue it's run of decent sightings. Suspect this area has been saved by the fact pylons run through the middle of it! 500 Houses are planned in an area north of Hoe Lane, which is presently livestock and woodland, but with limited public access. I haven't seen a great deal of wildlife the few times I have ventured into this area.

Also, the woodland south of the village which has one or two decent areas (a roost of Woodcock, and a very overgrown area where I have heard Nightingale and Grasshopper Warbler) is likely to be converted into a Country park in time. This will make access easier, but hopefully keep the birding hotspots undeveloped. I will make sure the developers are aware of the good birding areas. A lot of the woodland earmarked for the Country Park appears remarkably empty in terms of wildlife, possibly due to the fact that you have to scramble through hawthorn, and jump small streams to get into the woods at present, so your mind is occupied on picking your way through the area, and not getting lost! A couple of paths through it may improve it's birdwatching potential.

Siskin numbers have hit 25 in the Garden this morning.