New Forest coastal birding

Roseate Terns Sterna dougallii (centre)

Thursday 23 May 

Off to Normandy Lagoon and Pennington Marshes by 8am but arriving at the M27pproach the motorway was absolutely solid and going nowhere, so a quick diversion to travel via Southampton centre.  This resulted in an extra thirty minutes driving but, approaching Lyndhurst, a large flock of feeding Rooks on the left and finally arrived at my usual parking spot next to the Normandy Lagoon entrance gate by 9.30 to be greeted by Blackbird, Robin, Wren and Blackcap as I prepared to set off to the seawall.

Pleasant birding weather with increasing sunshine but still a very cool breeze.  The initial field past the gate held both Magpie and Woodpigeon and the I was up onto the seawall overlooking the lagoon. My first view of the lagoon presented two pairs of Canada Geese, each with goslings, and a handful of Shelduck.  Just the one Avocet along with a trio of Cormorant and a single Redshank. 

Redshank Tringa totanus

The, a most pleasant surprise as I came across an old friend from back in Spain and, at last, I had made contact with a relatively nearby birder, Peter Ashley.  Peter confirmed that the Roseate Terns were still present and kindly offered to walk back and show me their favoured resting place of "Tern Island."

Canada Geese Branta canadensis with goslings

Moving a little further along to get a better a view of the nearby islands and a few Oystercatchers plus more Avocets and a good number of Black-headed Gulls.  Taking the left-hand bend to walk to the far end of the lagoon I noticed the foraging House Sparrows below and then we were opposite Tern Island and looking amongst the massed Common for the one or both of the Roseate Terns.  Having finally found one we realised that the partner was lying almost next to it in the longer grass and nesting appeared to be underway.

Common Terns Sterna hirundo with Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus

Whilst Peter departed to continue on back to his car I took a longer look around the lagoon and soon added the very many Avocets along with Lapwing, more Redshank and a Great Crested Grebe.  On the edge of the far island I found a couple of Dunlin and  a similar number of Turnstone on the next island.  A nesting Oystercatcher was nearby  and finally more Shelduck along with both Mallard and Tufted Ducks.  

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

On the water at the far end a Mute Swan and a handful of Starlings whilst immediately below me a resting Ringed Plover and a Little Egret feeding in the flooded ditch in front of the fence. making my way back to the start I eventually found a couple of Little Tern and then a much closer look at the visiting Bar-headed Goose.

Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus

Walking back to the car the long way via Acre Pond a passing Carrion Crow and then a couple of Chiffchaffs and more Robins as I walked along Normandy Lane to the car.

Fifteen minutes later I was at the bottom of Lower Pennington Lane and stopped at the gate on the right-hand bend to check the flooded field.  Mainly Canada Geese and Lapwing but a lone Magpie foraging and the arrival of a Starling and quartet of Jackdaws before checking the far end of the lying water.  A small number of gulls, mainly Black-headed but a couple of Herring and  single Lesser Black-backed Gull.  But even further back on the water, a lone male Gadwall.  Both Shelduck and Redshank were also noted. Meanwhile, at the back of the grass in front of me and under the hedge, I was being watcher by the resting Fox!

Fox Vulpes vulpes

On to the end and parking the car to start a short anti-clockwise walk across the field to Butts Lagoon and back to the car by crossing the area to follow the eastern path to the gate. Leaving the car I first stopped to appreciate the singing Greenfinches and Whitethroats atop the hedge in front and a Dunnock slipped in lower down the vegetation.

Greenfinch Carduelis chloris

Woodpigeons and Robin to my right as I set off and soon added a number of Blackbirds, I had a view across the water of Fishtail Lagoon and noted a number of Little Egrets, Avocets and Shelduck. Also on the water a small number of Canada Geese and both Mallard and Tufted Duck but right at the back the distant remaining single Spoonbill could be seen stretching and then feeding.  nearby a pair of feeding Black-tailed Godwits.

Distant Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia

Climbing the steps to take a look at Butts Lagoon I soon found a Coot, and more this end of Fishtail lagoon, and numerous singing Reed Warblers.  A pair of Mute Swans with three cygnets and another pair both on Fishtail Lagoon and distant Pennington Lagoon. A Raven flew over me and landed at the far end of the seawall before retracing its flight within a couple of minutes and once more immediately overhead and away.

The passing distant Raven Corvus corax

As I walked along the path across the northern edge of Butts Lagoon I first recorded a trio of Linnet before hearing the Cuckoo behind me, possibly surveying the reed bed below and its many breeding Reed Warblers.  Above me a quartet of Common Swifts passed over and then, once back on the path towards the gate, time to top and check the small pools to my right.  Not just a couple of Canada Geese but a pair of Egyptian Geese on the bank.

Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca

And as I approached the exit gate to the car a Carrion Crow flew over and I stopped to admire the half-dozen New Forest ponies along with four young foal.  Back at the car, the Whitethroats were still singing from the bushes in front.

Whitethroat Sylvia communis

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Bar-headed Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Spoonbill, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Greenshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Roseate Tern, Common Tern, Little Tern, Woodpigeon, Cuckoo, Swift, Sky Lark, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow,  Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Linnet.

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

New Forest ponies with their foals

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