Lower Hamble River, Warsash

Curlew Numenius arquata

 Wednesday 6 December

A calm start with a little broken cloud with hazy sunshine and the forecast suggesting that this might be the only dry day of the week.  No surprise, therefore, that I was out of the house by 9 to take a walk up the Hamble River to the conservation area and back before returning home for a coffee and, all being well, setting off on the second walk of the morning in the opposite direction, as will be told later. With low tide at 11.30 it was perfect birding as the birds were still relatively close and the wonder of the double tide in Southampton water is that whilst it only takes three hours to fall, it takes double the time to return to the high water mark.

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

No sooner on the riverside path than both a Black-headed Gull and Little Egret feeding together which led to me finding both Redshank and Ringed Plover with a lone Heron watching over the proceedings before reaching the ferry access. Just beyond the first of the Turnstones along with the first of the Wigeon of the morning.  Even more Wigeon at the first bay along with  Herring Gull, Curlews and Grey Plovers. A shame that the low, bright sun prevented better photographs.

Wigeon Anas penelope

Moving round the bend I came across the feeding flock of approximately 120 Dunlin accompanied by another Curlew and a few more Grey Plovers.  On the water itself a trio of Little Grebe and on the far bank a dozen resting Teal.  Meanwhile, on the meadows on the other side of the path, a pair of Greenshank, a few more Redshank and yet more Grey Plovers.

Dunlin Calidris alpina

Hundred plus Dunlin Calidris alpina and the lone Curlew Numenius arquata

Having come across another large flock of Dunlin I also found a couple of Oystercatchers on the inland side of the path and at the water's edge the fist of the two score Brent Geese I was to see during the walk.

Brent Geese Branta bernicla

Once I reached the conservation area I found a very large flock of resting Wigeon along with another Little Egret and Greenshank plus a few Black-headed Gulls.  A Cormorant was resting atop a post as I arrived.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

It was as I made my back along the path that I first saw the Carrion Crows and almost immediately a single Magpie and eighteen Woodpigeons in the trees at the back of the meadow.  On the large muddy waste of the meadow a trio of Shelduck seemed to be sleeping as they awaited the returning tide.

Teal Anas crecca with Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola behind

Birds seen:

Brent Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Carrion Crow.

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola

Heron Ardea cinerea

Turnstone Arenaria interpres

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

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