Workmans Lane & Solent Shore

Sunday 12 May

What might be the last dry day for a while so of up to the top of Workmans Lane in the village and then a clockwise walk down to the Solent shore at low tide after a diversion along the horse field track on the way.  Once at the shore, continue northwards up Southampton Water until the Scrape before returning as far as Chilling Head to take the path back up to Workmans Lane and back to the car.  A lovely two and a half hours in warm sunshine and hardly a breeze. 36 species in total and the pick would, probably, be Whimbrel, Marsh Harrier and Raven but, again, observing and listening to both the Whitethroats and Skylarks would lift anyone's spirits.

Whitethroat Sylvia communis

Walking down the lane I quickly recorded Chaffinch, Blackbird, Robin and Woodpigeon before, overlooking the house field on the other side of the hedge I picked up a couple of Canada Geese.  In the tree immediately in front of me a resting Song Thrush with a Wren down low a little further on.  Greenfinches were calling and moving around above me and even, for the first time, a pair of House Sparrows.

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

Continuing on down the lane my next check on the horse field confirmed a number of Jackdaw plus a pair of Shelduck on a small flooded area not so far away and, on the flooded are of the field on the right-hand side another pair of Shelduck. Reaching the track at the bottom of the horse field a dozen or more Starlings, mainly adults but feeding well-grown young.  A couple of Carrion Crows were seen as a Collared Dove announced its presence.

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

I started my walk along the track at the bottom of the horse field by noting the pair of Goldfinch drinking from a puddle in front of me and a Great Tit in the trees to my right. Strange to see a female Mallard up against the fence just twenty metres in, especially as there was a quartet at the end of the track near the small lake.  Also present there a single Egyptian Goose. Twenty Canada Geese counted at the back of the field alongside a dozen or so Black-headed Gulls then the sight of the Whimbrel almost at the back of the field.  Whilst t the far end, along with a couple of other birders on site, we watched a departing Raven from its nest on the electricity pylon and the first of at least three singing Skylarks. On a nearer pylon a Kestrel was resting on the top beam.

Skylark Alauda arvensis

The first of the Magpies noted as I made my way back to the lane and continued on down to the Solent shore. More sightings of Skylarks and the continuous singing of the Whitethroats but, as yet, no clear view of the bird.  However, I did stop on the gravel pathway to watch a ting bank Vole "limp" across the path with a definite tilt to the left as if injure or "drunk."  It came to rest to enable me to take a photograph and, I surmise, died at that spot.

The almost dead Bank Vole Myodes glareolus

Once at the shore no birds on the beach but a close sand bar, presently above water, held a mixed large group of Oystercatchers and Herring Gulls. A Little Egret flew down the Solent as I made my way to Chilling Head noting yet another Skylark above me to my right. Then it was on to the Meandering Pool, with not a single bird in sight, before taking the path alongside the gorse patch (where, following the fire which damaged much of the habitat and fence posts back in 2022, I noticed that all the fencing had now been removed) to record a number of Linnet and a male Stonechat at the far end.

Resting Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus and Herring Gulls Larus argentatus

So to the Scrape which held a number of Black-headed Gulls but also a half-dozen Mallard and another pair of Shelduck.  A pair of Avocet was resting on the small island to my right and at the back of the water a single Little Grebe plus a Common Tern resting on the posts. A Moorhen was noted paddling away on my far right and then time to set of back along the beach to Chilling Head.

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Oystercatcher, Shelduck and Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta

Passing alongside the gorse area not only a couple of Magpies at the back but above them, just clearing the trees and heading slowly southwards, a most handsome quartering male Marsh Harrier.  Still the Stonechat and a number of Linnets on show and then time o head up the tarmac path back to Workmans Lane.  Now, not only the singing, but good sightings of the many Whitethroats about.  At the top of the path , looking to me left, I noted that the nest box intended for the Little owls was occupied by a pair of breeding Stock Dove and once back on the lane the second nest box was in a similar situation. So on up to the car seeing and hearing most of the birds recorded on the outward journey.

Stock Dove Columa cenas

Also Stock Dove Columa cenas in the nearby second nest box

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Little Grebe, Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Whimbrel, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Skylark, Wren, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet.

Linnet Carduelis cannabina

Whitethroat Sylvia communis

Isle of Wight across the Solent seen from near Chilling Head

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