Warsash Workmans Lane and Solent Shore

Sunday 25 August 

The Scrape with  water at a higher level

A beautiful sunny start to the morning spoilt only by the cool northerly breeze.  Parking at the top of Workmans Lane I made my way down to the horse field but only managing to find a single Robin and a number of Woodpigeon.  Even the field seemed deserted with just a handful of Carrion Crows but as I made my way back to the lane first a  couple of Magpies then three different skeins of Canada Geese passing overhead giving a total of 67 individuals. 

Continuing on down the lane and on to the Solent shore first a Wren followed by a male Blackbird.  Once on the shore with the tide just about fully out, a good number of Black-headed Gulls and Oystercatchers to be seen.  A little searching also produced a Little Egret and then a number of Herring Gulls.

Avocets Recurvisrostra avosetta

Making my way towards the Scrape, with nothing to be seen on the Meandering Pools, a trio of Starling and then a couple of Linnet.   Indeed, as I made my way past the gorse enclosure I was pleased to see the feeding Roe Deer within forty metres.  

Roe Deer Capreolus capriolus

At the Scrape itself all looked deserted apart from a single Little Grebe and a Moorhen on the far side.  However, moving further on to look back at the water, I found a single later joined by three other Avocet.  nearby the "resident" lone Shelduck was also busy feeding whilst on the grassy island a Heron's head could just be seen. And as I was about to start my return journey a flock of twenty Black-tailed Godwits arrived, flew round a couple of times before settling next to the Avocets.

Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa with the Avocets

Walking back to Chilling Point the number of Herring Gulls feeding on the mud seemed to have increased and were now also joined by a two score Black-tailed Godwits.  Further out on a small shelf a Cormorant was drying itself in the sun.

Back up to Workmans Lane and a revisit to to the horse field.  A few more Carrion Crows now present along with a couple of Jackdaw.  As a flock of five Linnet flew over I made my way to the far end of the track to find the hunting Kestrel which, having apparently caught something on the ground, was now being mobbed by a Magpie which drove it away to the far end of the field.  The, stopping once more at the donkey enclosure, I found a very distant male Stonechat sitting on the fence. Time to return home and the last bird recorded at the top of the lane was a preening Collared Dove.

Distant record shot of the Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Kestrel, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Wren, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, Linnet.

For the latest news follow the Axarquia Birds and Wildlife Facebook page for more photos and comments and the opportunity to share with the wider birding world.