Thursday 3 March
Calm and overcast with rain promised by midday just time for a walk up the Hamble River to the conservation area and back. Approaching high tide so hopefully most of the birds should be pushed back up the muddy shore towards the footpath, and I was not to be disappointed. However, even be4fore reaching the riverside the small, enclosed footpath leading to the shore produced a foraging Chiffchaff in the branches above my head. And then, on the shore itself, a score of Turnstone along with a dozen Wigeon and almost as many Brent Geese before reaching the ferry landing stage. But to my right, standing in the meadow's long grass, a lovely Roe Deer. And I was to find a further two during the walk to the conservation area.
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| Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus taken at distance with phone |
In the now rapidly filling gully to the meadow side of the path the first of three Greenshank for the morning along with a similar number of Little Egret. Not so many Black-headed Gulls about this morning but ere long I was studying the hundred plus Dunlin, many very close to the shore but no camera; the same problem with the deer so a question of relying on the phone.
By now there were many more Wigeon and the first of the Teal along with both Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit. Nevermind a couple of Grey Plover, I managed to eventually count 31 of the species as they came to rest and await the receding tide. Along with the large flock of Dunlin and Grey Plover I also found a couple of Oystercatchers. Just of the shore a pair of Little Grebe followed by two single Great Crested Grebes as I made my way upstream.
Once at the conservation area I added a couple more Curlew and also present were Carrion Crow and Jackdaw. This side of the path not only held the resting waders and ducks, including a score of Shelduck, but also provided two more sightings of the local Roe Deer. The tide was just about fully in as I made my back to the village and upon entering the footpath back to the road a trio of Wood Pigeon along with a few Greenfinch in the trees. Also present a single House Sparrow and a Dunnock working the path itself.
Birds seen:
Brent Goose, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Chiffchaff, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Greenfinch.
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