Farlington Marshes

Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta

Thursday 5 October

A dry, overcast day for my morning visit to Farlington Marshes. No sooner into the reserve and a Greenfinch posed at the top of a nearby tree and a little further away a resting Kestrel. And before reaching the coastal path for an ant-clockwise circuit I had also added Dunnock, Woodpigeon and a couple of Robins.  Once overlooking the now muddy flats of the harbour with the tide well out , a number of Black-headed Gulls plus a score or more feeding Lapwing.  On the small pond to my left a half-dozen Mallard and a single Moorhen as a Magpie made a hasty departure.  A Blackbird was resting atop a nearby small tree and in front of me the first Stonechat of the morning.

Teal Anas crecca

Working my way towards the observation area I added a number of Curlew and plenty of Redshanks on the muddy flats and on the large pool to my left very many Black-tailed Godwits and Teal.  Also present on the water, more Redshanks along with both both Coots and Moorhens plus a pair of Avocet and a Shoveler. Towards the back of the meadow, many Canada plus a couple of Barnacle Geese. In the meantime, a Cetii's Warbler was making itself known in the hedgerow below.  Finally noting the pair of Mute Swans and a moulting Shelduck I continued on my walk.

Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis

The walk round the perimeter edge produced a number of Curlew along with a many Little Egrets and a single Herring Gull.  Before turning north at the furthest point I had also noted a large flock of Linnets plus a small charm of Goldfinch and the occasional Carrion Crow. However, the most pleasing sighting was not the distant Oystercatchers and a Cormorant on the narrow channel but a lone Whimbrel.

The final stretch of shore line well away from the main , now empty harbour, produced a large number of Ringed Plovers plus a couple of Grey Plovers and a Heron.  Then a Turnstone working the weeds in search of food before finding a pair of Water Pipits, my bird of the day.

Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta

Turning inland to work my way back to the car park, with a slightly extended deviation due to maintenance work of the direct path, I came across a Green Sandpiper following the sighting of both Chiffchaffs and a Collared Dove as I left the coastal path. Eventually I arrived at the lagoon in front of the old Visitors Centre where rested a number of Teal and mallard along with a pair of both Shoveler and Gadwall.  On the banks many Coots and Moorhens along with a lone Heron.  On the water itself, in addition to some of the above, both a single Black-tailed Godwit and a Little Grebe.

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

As I left the water, a couple of Blackcap and more Linnets were feeding in the bushes to my side and, eventually, a single Blue Tit.

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Barnacle Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Little Bittern, Heron, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Curlew, Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet.

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