Hamble River, Warsash

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis

Friday 8 November

Time for a quick walk up the Hamble River as far as the conservation area and back in dry, overcast weather and on  rising tide.  Lots of birds to be seen but a "dead" camera; everything works until I press the trigger, than nothing. (More later)  And this explains why I had no photographs yesterday morning after the distant Robin!

As soon as I reached the start a dozen Brent Geese with more up river during my walk.  Also both a Redshank and an Oystercatcher along with a couple of Black-headed and single Herring Gulls.  As I moved on up to the large bays a trio of Sandwich Terns also made their way up river.  In the first bay a couple of Curlew and six Black-tailed Godwits along with27 Wigeon and 24 Teal.  On the more open water a pair of Shelduck.

Continuing on not only more Brent Geese and Redshank but both a Curlew and a Grey Plover on the meadow itself.  Hiding near the shore line the first of four Little Egrets seen on the outward journey.  Then a massed murmuration as two separate flocks of Dunlin, totalling about 140 in all, swirled along the shore below me. Another two Curlew recorded plus more Redshank and ten Turnstones before reaching the conservation area.  Here many more Teal and Wigeon along with a score of Black-headed Gulls and seven resting Herons.  But just the two Carrion Crows this morning.

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis

Once back I took the local bus into Southampton centre along with my camera expecting the worst when I called in at London Camera Exchange.  But the kind young gentleman recognised the problem in within minutes all was resolved.  Somehow I must have caught one of the buttons on the back and the camera had been reset to something else; just hope it does not happen again!

Birds seen:

Brent Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Little Egret, Heron, Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Sandwich Tern, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow.

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