![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3p7ztti7WF00NwZBSESRvda1HuW63OPb2i2WzUmEtttPKnJuOdk2LctAhVGBUOWraSo98QtjyKzoCQMnamXXzYfXW-SX3P2S0Jd3yjX864IyimUS3uY2TpbpQbcCqpGwF4Xb55uVarEqhW7k0CdM3KUomyt6hNGp-CG9ktP8Lanfoc5iquEbNQlpQg/w400-h266/BlackHeadedGull081516.jpg) |
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus |
Monday 15 August
Storms and rain forecast from this evening so a last chance to take a short birding walk up the lower Hamble River to the conservation area and back before the possibility of no birding in the coming three days plus. Warm and cloudy with a gentle breeze on the return walk as I set off in the late morning. As soon as I reached the shore with the tide about half-way in no shortage of Black-headed and a few Herring Gulls. Also working the first expose area a total of fifty Black-tailed Godwits and seven Turnstone.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdcjmvMNIQ429fDWOBEiZKYqohcEyOcVGlistmaVe84dCduaIzg6XZcNAZSrjGfKl1pQm7XLWJdjbo01pw3z84xj2Y_qGymg-IsP-iwxVMRJOEBNSuUP2uAo79udhf_i6fhako1Ay2PrTEpYuXnMG0lxHJLfsQUra1spPCF7y-qSZtSKvewPfLmc2rw/w400-h266/Turnstone081534.jpg) |
Turnstone Arenaria interpres |
Moving on past the ferry landing more gulls and the first Curlew. The mud gullies on the inland side of the path held a single Little Egret and yet more of the resident Black-headed Gulls. Ere long the first of three Carrion Crow before a flock of thirty Starling took off from my right and headed for the trees at the back of Bunny Meadow.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyUmj52mmZWnNHlQq25jWp5xpw0nVs8-Lm0An5p6wpAP73F151K6R1ZLAyyE12ObTVDVwcWRKWrWjWNuTl_ia-T3gnPgylAka7c2Nl_Jc7imuf5J7T5H6BnM7pOz1DfPigxpsS7201_sjvifqbwbi7Qrm_CVFQtJ83Xru8sbzeRCMK6Fj8LUYD57KvA/s320/Curlew081521.jpg) |
Curlew Numenius aquata |
Continuing on a pair of Pied Wagtail were foraging in front of me and looking towards the river one of the grassy islands held a good-sized flock of Black-headed plus more Herring Gulls along with two sleeping Great Black-backed Gulls. Another two Curlew and then a lone Grey Plover in its most handsome plumage.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPkmC6MznXqz_Pbrv_4CeLtKs9Zw4Y7UGBeYxeWn2lzXdamh6Ohc95tq5rALL1urwNWPWtPxZhlbzvEArWPHn-bat3AnHGeMiYpR2FykBWP9PCuUwUS_C6iBvp619PZECZ607YHUSZ6e3OgIuRlNgJtMSDuR5IHo8z_q-coo5haDdN0XlHveMz33eBg/w400-h266/GreyPlover081523.jpg) |
Grey Pluver Pluvialis squatarola |
Once at the conservation area I found more Black-headed Gulls and a further fifty Black-tailed Godwits. Also present five Heron along with three more Little Egrets. Also in attendance about thirty Redshank.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaXg81bgpfhoWmCTaUnrD7WhbzdVJZOueU2LnXiJSGugysstmrJGjpnXyx8gBsLnksQHH_O31YwjwBeTiMlazqBiB-aTnuET7nKmAWm2j7tRapBAfWV7PvrmpI9icifEcrM8jkaTzvQKjRY4_R6QgEzA2__HnINJxpEOMqgpA25LbCRGw35iC0b-Kcg/w400-h266/Heron081527.jpg) |
Herons Ardea cinerea with a Little Egret Egretta garzetta |
Making my way back I recorded a single Lapwing plus four Wood Pigeon in a neighbouring garden area. Finally, right at the end of the walk, a single Magpie. However, for I believe the first time, since walking this site I did not see a single Oystercatcher, whereas in the past there had always been at least two and often as many as a dozen.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALDtfCvo549ZvbZP5mfG3Y4Ju5RVHLM8HCFehocH-z2mEyD-Fv9M-nmBlpYV0hycOvJuhFHYhqAGjsAZN4YLfWuh9sxwa0cTJRmS8to-sig37GiJ_TwvFELv-YBWVbQ9Pgh8eIi7yJsQ1fZp8ZJcB9f0e9Tzqdz8YOSW4ilsb9AhjbeJR-pS7Msnivw/w400-h266/Redshank081531.jpg) |
Mainly Redshank Tringa totanus |
Birds seen:
Little Egret, Heron, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Pied Wagtail, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmEOu3ADuLxZaGZsEG1wUEflPlfX8EgeoNPLgE3NQzi5BazdVO2WyqYCZiF3Ve-zb3gukftP3D7svZm60NM0GoZGHuLzVI_YMqOKtmReKnwrzVpvmM-snhiD-aJ_Wi5zoTYLJgg0Q4tpTFs1RHtfVQ_E0htdldDzai8j10U5QtJ7ScRtUDAsSWZmd7w/w400-h266/BlackTailedGodwit081525.jpg) |
Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTUn1Vhjkgaisr-9RdOFXOnqRy5NcX_tgfxdwJNraQhb_3re5K78FnU7c1DZtg-K69ZPKNVY6xjT9z-LHy46gDLYrYnU9YnR7JEe2pF_v-XKsZu71aJvSVO9ZneINkGX5k2OqCPn0RuUPo7lSRE8jlBXCqrpeMxZwSSzyRbF9iezFKwhMn5VtfpW5Hg/w400-h266/GreatBlackBackedGull081518.jpg) |
Sleeping Great Black-backed Gulls Larus marinus |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-W7P4oEMV9jFu17MsTbKia-bmgfdmBjeDPdsVE5G7vAUonhIcu8qvPYjlZ0UKKv5dKBB4CXnrMl23mKAnJ1Vwd6Hlm6_SmKhkmfKPnhNPVwDeFe93z-xOXz184YJcqJOidrBmj-876LVDdVnwyYhhZjKlVQ3wLpkVez_oIAXYxHCzzt0Dvefuv2SaQ/w400-h266/LittleEgret081515.jpg) |
Little Egret Egretta garzetta |
For the latest news follow the Axarquia Birds and Wildlife Facebook page for more photos and comments and the opportunity to share with the wider birding world.
No comments:
Post a Comment