New Forest Birding

Greenshank Tringa nebularia

Friday 9 August

Collecting friend Richard Osman from Park Gate we were down on the Solent coast below Lymington by 9.30 to take a walk around Normandy Lagoon.  yesterday's very strong winds had abated somewhat and the sun was doing a vallient job in trying to warm up the area as we approached the seawall having already noted both Woodpigeon and a number of Black-headed Gulls.  With the tide out we quickly found our first Little Egret, a dozen Curlew and even more Redshank feeding on the mud along with a handful of Mallard and a dozen departing Dunlin before turning our attention to the lagoon itself which held a number of Canada Geese, Greenshank and a single Great Crested Grebe.

Feeding Curlews Numenius arquata

having moved further along the seawall to get the sun behind us whilst checking the back of the lagoon, we soon added a trio of Cormorant, Heron, Shelduck and even a lone Magpie.  Further on and round the corner we then found a number of Oystercatchers, with even more on the banks on the sea side of the path across the mud flats, plus more Redshank.  A Whitethroat posed for a few moments atop one of the bushes on the seawall and then we picked up both Black-tailed Godwit and a single Little Grebe.  At the far end of the seawall parallel to the coast and on the Avocet and Lapwing breeding territory we came across a half-dozen Pied Wagtail.  On an island in the fast filling Solent to our right a dozen feeding Curlew along with a pair of both Ringed Plover and Dunlin, the latter still with their black chests.  Starting our return walk towards the sailing club and Acre Pond, a handful of House Sparrows descended upon some brambles to fed on the blackberries and approaching Acre Pond a trio of carrion Crows in a garden on our left as splendid male Greenfinch rested on a nearby bush.

Curlew Numenius arquata

Finally, taking the road back to the car, we came across both Blackbird and Blue Tit.  Then it was the relative short drive round the corner to Lower Pennington lane to park at the far end for a refreshing coffee before setting on on a clockwise circuit of the nearby Pennington Marsh lakes.

Linnet Carduelis cannabina

Moving along towards the seawall we immediately recorded both Woodpigeon and Magpie and as we approached the Shoveler Pools a charm of forty Goldfinches feeding nearby.  All around us regular sightings of Black-headed Gulls and once we reached the narrow lagoon on the right a first sight of the very many Canada Geese and Black-tailed Godwits.  At the far back both a Heron and Little Egret whilst nearer to the front a good number of Coot and a pair of Mute Swans with their three well-grown cygnets.

Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa with a Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Time to take a left turn at the sea wall and follow the path for a couple of hundred metres to check out the narrow lagoon below us.  A pair of Oystercatchers and a small number of Redshank before more Black-tailed Godwits and another two Little Egrets before returning to the turn but carrying on towards Butts Lagoon.  As we passed the remains of the metal sheets in the water a lone resting Turnstone whereas the concrete building at the end of the "pier" contained 18 resting Turnstone making use of the shade.  Similarly, moving past the first lagoon another dozen Turnstone working the water line whereas the back of the lagoon held a number of Mallard, a couple of Lapwing and more Little Egret close to the massed Black-tailed Godwits.  Butts Lagoon itself was relatively quiet save for the dozen or so Coot.

Turnstone Arenaria interpres

Checking Fishtail Lagoon we found very many resting Black-headed plus a couple of Herring Gulls. More Little Egrets along with a single Curlew and a Greenshank before heading back along the grass towards the car. A Linnet was busy preening itself (see photos below) and over the now muddy section we came across a passing Lesser Black-backed Gull and Cormorant.  The visiting Common Sandpiper was also found plus both a Moorhen and Pied Wagtail.  Finally, a handful of Starling were seen in the bushes to our right and then a single Wren before reaching our destination.

Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Mallard, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Blackbird, Whitethroat, Blue Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet.

The preening Linnet

Linnet Carduelis cannabina

Little Egrets Egretta garzetta

Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus

Redshanks Tringa totanus

Turnstone Arenaria interpres

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