Lower Hamble River

 Sunday 3 July

Forecast says rain later, packing for an away break tomorrow needs to be done later and British Grand Prix live on television later, so what better than an early morning short walk up the Hamble river to the conservation area and back.  The tide was out, it was calm and pleasant and not many people about so no trouble at all in seeing something else other than the resident Black-headed Gulls.  regular sightings of individual Herring Gulls and then the first of four Curlew followed by a Little Egret.  Even a trio of Mallard at the water's edge just after the start of the walk upstream.

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus

Signs that the early summer return migration might possibly be underway with a single Black-tailed Godwit but no less than ten Redshank during the walk.  However, I think my bird of the morning might be the resting pair of Great Black-backed Gulls about half-way to my turning point at the conservation area.

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

Half-dozen Shelduck on their usual feeding ground on the right and approaching the conservation area the first of four Lapwing and a trio of Carrion Crow with an additional couple of the latter near the end of the return walk.  Whilst at the conservation I also recorded a Heron along with most of the Redshank. The sight of a Rod Deer out in the open with the tall grasses behind it was a lovely sight and near the end of the journey I finally found a couple of Oystercatcher on my hour's walk.

Carrion Crow Corvus corone

Birds seen:

Shelduck, Mallard, Little Egret, Heron, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Curler, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Staring.

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