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| Early Daffodils Narcissus |
Tuesday 22 February
I thought it seemed too calm until I reached the shore where it became obvious that possibly Storm Gladys was well on the way as the wind whipped up and across Southampton Water. But the sun was trying its best to keep the rain away and eventually succeeded. Wood Pigeons as soon as I left the house and straight away a Herring Gull followed by a small flock of feeding Brent Geese as I started out on the small path to take me from the village to the School of Navigation with Strawberry Fields to my left and the muddy flats to my right. No sooner seen that the first Redshanks and a Curlew added to the observations.
A Blackbird dashed across the path and then a singing Great Tit in front of me in a low tree. A fits of a number of Carrion Crows was recorded and then, down below me, a number of Black-headed Gulls. Time to check out the water edges looking at the mouth of the stream entering the bay inland from the Spit and a number of gulls and a couple of Cormorant. Approaching a good sighting of lone Greenshank and a dozen Shelduck. Lots of Wigeon resting on the stream's western bank but only a handful of Teal. In amongst the many Black-headed a couple of Common Gulls.
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| Resting Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus with Wigeon Anas penelope |
Once on the main shore I was able to look back along the seaward side of the Spit and find the large flock of feeding Oystercatchers, more Brent Geese and additional Herring Gulls. Onto the Scrape which contained only a couple of both Shelduck and Black-headed Gull. Nothing at the Meandering Pool but returning to the Scrape a male Pochard and couple of Canada Geese had arrived. Similarly, there was another Canada Goose on arrival back at the Spit and a very large flock of Brent Geese.
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| A few of the Oystercatcher Haemantopus ostralegus flock |
Two Mute Swans entered the stream and as I continued back towards Warsash village. On the small pond inside the School of Navigation a single Little Egret was foraging for a meal and then, on the far shore's edge in front, a quartet of Black-tailed Godwits with a single Oystercatcher. Perhaps the best was last, as stopping to speak to the local ranger we turned to watch and listen to the singing Sky Lark as it hang and performed almost immediately above our heads.
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| Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa with an Oystercatcher |
Good news, the wild, but must have been planted by somebody, Daffodils on the path below Strawberry Fields were already out in bloom. Good to see them in time for St David's Day next Tuesday. Hopefully, the flowers will remain to be enjoyed by all rather than picked by some passing walkers!
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| Beautiful Daffodils Narcissus in bloom ready for St David's Day |
Birds seen:
Mute Swan, Brent Goose, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Pochard, Cormorant, Little Egret, Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Sky Lark, Blackbird, Great Tit, Carrion Crow.
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