Oxey Marsh and Normandy Lagoon

The hinting Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Saturday 21 October

Into the new Forest and on to the Solent shore south of Lymington to join the HOS (Hampshire Ornithological Society) field meeting around Oxey Marsh and Normandy Lagoon under the leadership of the ever enthusiastic and positive expertise of Ian Packer.  Awful weather forecast but the four sudden, sharp showers came as we entered the narrow avenue at the start and protection by the still well-leafed trees.  Then it was out on the open Oxey Marsh for an anti-clockwise circuit via the Solent seawall to Normandy Lagoon and back.  Nevermind rain, in still conditions the weather improved and became quite sunny and warm which saw at least four of the group of nine removing layers to their respective rucksacks rather than the other way round.  Having reached 50 species by the time we turned inland to towards Normandy Lagoon we were about to experience a shock change in the weather.  Once at the lagoon, with not even a small bush never mind a single tree in sight, the heavens opened with a further prolonged series of showers but, at least, a ten minute pause whilst we ate out picnic lunches on steps at the far end of the lagoon. Then it was off again to the far end and back and by this time the showers had turned into continues rainfall; that light penetrating rain that thoroughly soaks one.  So much for an hour on the operating table the previous afternoon with the last words form the surgeon, "Make sure you keep the arm dry for the next two days!"  Taken back home by my friend Richard Osman like a drowned rat or bedraggled rag doll that the cat brought in after a night on the tiles to a welcoming hot bath - and my left arm dangling over the side.

Not one but three Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria alongside the Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Departing the parked cars we quickly added Robin, Carrion Crow and Chaffinch before reaching the back of Acre Pond where we came across the Canada Geese flock and a few Mallard. The adjacent trees were alive with Woodpigeons, Blackbirds, Goldfinches and Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tits along with more Chaffinches. Even a Bullfinch was singing in the tall bushes behind us which was eventually seen in silhouette before giving a better showing.  A Cetti's Warbler was calling loudly and on the roof of the cottage to our right, both Starlings and House Sparrows.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Following the narrow channel to Oxey Marsh we found a pair of Little Egret and off to the field on our right a handful of Greylag Geese along with the first of the Magpies seen during the morning. Crossing Oxey marsh top the Solent's sea wall we found a small number of Meadow Pipits and, looking up, managed to find a single House Martin and a quartet of passing Barn Swallows. A small pool to our left held a pair of Little Grebes and a larger pool on the opposite side held Oystercatchers, Black-tailed Godwits, Redshanks and the occasional passing Black-headed Gull.  With Ian, Amanda, Brian and myself finding all sorts of bird life our day's list was rapidly expanding.  And on reaching the top of the seawall to look back over the marsh we also found a couple of Stonechat a passing Herring Gull, Greenshank and a Pied Wagtail on the beach to the south. I think Amanda was first to see the Kingfisher flash past and then the bird reappeared to rest on the fence for a minute or so giving all the chance for an excellent view.  Not just an immature Lesser Black-backed Gull passing over but a lone Curlew found "hiding" on the grassy bank above the Oystercatcher.

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa with Greenshank Tringa nebularia in background

Then it was off northwards along the seawall and noting the first Cormorant of the morning along with a couple of Great Crested Grebes on the open water of the Solent.  Checking a spit just about to be covered by the incoming tide, we found not only a single Mediterranean Gull on the far right but three Knot on the opposite end.  Also present a handful of Dunlin and a couple of resting Cormorants.  No sooner had we started off gain that we stopped to check the quintet of large ducks a little further out and Ian's trusty Swarovski travelling scope confirmed Eider Ducks.

Redshank Tringa totanus

Our next stop was at the stat of the turn north-west towards Oxey Lake where, with a Dunnock flitting about in the bushes behind us, we tried to identify the distant birds on the exposed grassy island and lagoons.  We had son revealed the small number of Wigeon and then, along with more resting Cormorants, over a score of Brent Geese.  In the meantime, Brian, I think, had found a dark object well offshore beyond a couple of buoys that looked too big for an Eider but not right for the suggested Cormorant.  To me the head looked wrong and not the "usual" poise of such a bird so, once again, the scope into action and after much study we could see all the identifying criteria to confirm a resting Shag, my "Bird of the day."  T make matters even better, looking at the far spit we could see a group of about four Cormorant with and "odd one out" at the far end so presenting us with a second Shag.  Now what on earth was a Shag doing in this area rather than on a rocky, exposed shore?

Resting Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo on Oxey Lake

Moving on round the corner to take a look at Oxey Lake a Raven passed overhead and the inland pools contained more Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks.  Diligent searching found Little Grebes, Heron and another Greenshank as well as more Wigeon and Teal.  Bushes on the far side then produced another Stonechat along with a quartet of Linnet.  But, it was the shout from behind that made us all look up as an Osprey appeared overhead and gracefully circled around looking for a tasty meal.   At the same time, eventually most of us also noted the distant pair of Buzzards circling above the far trees. And as a final bonus before we moved on to cross Moses Dock to the Salterns Marsh, we had a visit from a Turnstone to the beach below us and an in-flying small flock of Wigeon.

Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Once on the far side of Moses Dock we were able to look back to the inside of the far side and see the very large flock of resting small waders. mainly Ringed Plovers of varying age and totalling well over fifty plus also a good number of Dunlin.  On the shore below us a number of foraging Turnstones plus another dozen Dunlin.  Then it was Acre Pond which held a few Mallard and Canada Geese plus a dozen Little Grebe.  And by this time we had recorded very many Little Egret, fast approaching a score.

Mainly a mixture of adult and juvenile Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula

Hundreds of Dunlin Calidris alpina noted during the morning

No sooner had we moved on than it became obvious that we were going to get the first shower since starting out.  It may only have lasted six minutes but by jove it threw it down.  On to Normandy Lagoon and more showers whilst completely exposed it more intermittent rain. But the visit did produce a further six species.  The first island held a lone Bar-headed Goose and the last time I had seen one of these foreign geese I was on the Somerset shore at Steart Nature Reserve when the general consensus was that it was probably an escapee from the relatively nearby upstream Slimbridge Wildlife Reserve.  Could this be the same individual?  Who knows.

Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus (taken from Internet) *

At the far side amongst the Canada Geese flock we found a couple of cock Pheasants and on the island in front a single Great Black-backed Gull.    No shortage of Lapwing here along with the many Dunlin and more Redshanks and a single Greenshank and even a trio of Shoveler exited the site to distant pastures new.  However, it was whilst looking at a Lapwing on the nearest island form half-way along the seawall that I saw a Turnstone moving past the bird at the rear of a narrow spit.  Not so much the Turnstone but the hidden "brown" bird that caught my attention behind the low scrub that it passed.  What could it be?  Much debate and then the necessary use of the scope so that Ian was able to confirm not one but two Golden Plover - and then I found a third when looking at the photograph below.  And so ended the session as the steady rain set in and we still had a long, very exposed walk back to the cars!

Lapwing V.vanellus (left) with two Golden Plover P.apricaria  and a Greenshank Tringa nebularia

By the time we set off back to the cars we had reached that memorable Heinz number of 57 species and were then added a pair of Jackdaws that flew over the cars as we reached our destination.  Only two short of  round 60 but dipped on Greenfinch, Collared Dove and Wren amongst others!

Turnstone Arenaria interpres

* Rain lashing down on the outward journey and the bird had moved on by the time we returned

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Bar-headed Goose, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Eider Duck, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Shag, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Osprey, Buzzard, Oystyercatcher, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Knot, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Turnstone, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Kingfisher, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Bullfinch.

Dunlin Calidris alpina

Greenshank Tringa nebularia

Redshank Tringa totanus

Two of the many Herons Ardea cinerea

Our wandering, searching Osprey Pandion haliaetus

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