Warsash Shore to Southampton Water

Sunday 3 March

Heavy overnight frost but a beautiful, clear, sunny morning without any wind at all making the temperature seem much warmer than previous days.  Following the pains in my left leg over the past month, this was my first opportunity to test it out on a three mile walk along the shore from Warsash down to the Solent at Southampton Water and on along to the meandering pool before returning home; all accomplished without any major problems.  But, just in case, I decided to leave both camera and scope at home and, as you might expect, I could well have don with them given the 32 species recorded along with seven Roe Deer and a handsome dog Fox resting on the far bank of the Meandering Pool.

A quiet start at almost low tide  given that  a ass public exercise in litter picking was taking place so until the School of Navigation only a couple of Black-headed Gulls, Redshank and Blackbird recorded.  Once at the pier the first of the scores of Brent Geese along with a few Oystercatchers and a small number of Wigeon.  The small pool on my left held a Little Egret and approaching the Spit I noted the scores of Wigeon along with a Cormorant and Herring Gull.  Many more Brent Geese and then eight resting Sanderling to be followed by the first Ringed Plover as I reached the end of the Spit inlet.  Beyond the Spit on the Solent side scores of Oystercatchers and the resident Yellow-legged Gull often seen here at mid-water.

Brent Geese Branta bernicla

Reaching the Scrape I immediately noted the pair of Shelduck along with more Brent Geese and Black-headed Gulls with a couple of diving Little Grebe.  A pair of Mute Swans were making use of the canal between me and the Scrape and also giving me the opportunity to pick up the quartet of Canada Geese. As I moved away from the Scrape to take the walk alongside the gorse patch a distant Woodpigeon followed by a pair of Linnet.  At the far end I also came across a long-waiting female Stonechat. Once at the Meandering Pool a pair of Mallard and Gadwall plus a lone Little Egret abut at the far side beyond the water a Carrion Crow disturbing a Magpie.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

The homeward journey proved very rewarding with first the singing Skylarks and then on the Solent itself a Great Northern Diver.  No sooner seen than a Great Crested Grebe also in view.  Away in the reedbed I could hear at least one Cetti's Warbler and so back tot the Spit inlet where the incoming water was pushing the birds towards the shore line. Also resting on the banks or working the water's edge a pair of Teal along with eight Ringed Plover a handful of Dunlin and a single Turnstone. So back to the pier where a dozen Turnstone were working the seaweed and , at last, a sight of one of the many Robin heard during this part of the walk towards the Strawberry Fields. A most rewarding walk.

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Teal, Great Northern Diver, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Red Kite, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Dunlin, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Woodpigeon, Skylark, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Linnet.

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