New Forest Birding

Saturday 11 May

For this beautiful warm and sunny day I was out of the house by 6.30 and of to the new Forest making a first stop at Normandy Lagoon before driving "round the corner" to Pennington Marshes. Almost 50 species recorded with the final bird of the morning being the recently-visiting Garganey on the flooded pools at the eastern end of Pennington.  First one I've seen for  few years, probably in Spain before Covid raised its ugly head.

Dunnock Prunella modularis

Greenfinch, Robin, Dunnock and Whitethroat as I made my way across the field to Normandy Lagoon and then, with the low sun in my face, almost to the end of the first die before being able to look backwards and check out the occupants.  Lots of Black-headed Gulls and Common Tern along with Avocets, Redshank, Lapwing and both Mallard and Tufted Duck. 

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

On the muddy sea side more gulls plus Heron and a solitary Bar-tailed Godwit. And I did not expect to see a quartet of Dunlin on the lagoon and took a while to locate the pair of distant Little Terns.  Along the edges a number of both Whitethroat and Linnet.

Whitethroat Sylvia communis

Working my way back to the car via Acre Pond I added Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, House Sparrow and Wren followed by more Whitethroat.  And, as a bonus, in addition to the Heron a single Greenshank resting on a mud bank.

Greenshank Tringa nebularia

A short drive took me to the bottom of Lower Pennington Lane where I undertook a clockwise circuit taking in the western end of Pennington Lagoon before following the path past Butts Lagoon to Fishtail Lagoon and then up the bank and back to the car.  Very little on the sea other than a pair of Great Crested Grebe but the initial walk to the sea wall produced Robin, Whitethroat, Linnet, Goldfinch, Dunnock and a number of Skylarks.

Linnet Carduelis cannabina

Butts Lagoon provided the Tufted Ducks and Mute Swan along with many singing Reed Warblers whilst Fishtail Lagoon held more Avocets and Mallard plus plenty of Black-headed Gulls and Shelduck.  A Barn Swallow flew past as I made my way down the steps and then up the bank to follow the eastern side of the lagoon as I made my way back.  Looking at the back of the lagoon, not only a about thirty resting Black-tailed Godwits but a pair of Egyptian Geese and a sleeping Spoonbill.

Resting Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa

Moving back to the left-hand bend near Normandy Farm, I stopped to check the flooded field at the back of Normandy Marsh and not only more Canada Geese, Lapwing, the occasional Magpie and Carrion Crow but, near a few Mallard, along with three other birders we found the visiting Garganey.  That and the passing Jackdaw ended the morning's birding and back home by 11.30 to continue the exterior painting before the bad weather returns.

Heron Ardea cinerea

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Garganey, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Spoonbill, Marsh Harrier, Coot, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, bar-tailed Godwit,  Redshank, Greenshank, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Little Tern, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collard Dove, Skylark, Barn Swallow, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet.

Common Terns Sterna hirundo

Dunlin Calidris alpina

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Linnet Carduelis cannabina

Distant Little Terns Sterna albifrons

Redshank Tringa totanus (left) with Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

Tufted Duck Aythya filigula

Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis

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