More New Forest Birding

Sunday 29 December

Normandy Lagoon looking inland with many Brent Geese Branta bernicla

Back to the new Forest on Sunday morning, albeit still calm and murky/misty weather giving poor visibility.  This time to the Solent shore starting at Normandy Lagoon just south of Lymington with a follow-on to nearby Pennington Marshes. Arriving at Normand lagoon just before 10 there was already a mass of dogs and walkers but not seeming to interfere with my birding. Heading towards the lagoon from the car I quickly recorded Magpie, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow and Robin and once on the sea wall looking to the site aw many nearby Teal and Shelduck.  Right in front of me five Little Egret and a Heron and scoping further away soon picked up the nine Spoonbill and at at least a dozen Avocet.  

Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia with Wigeon Anas penelope and Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

On the banks many Lapwing with foraging Dunlin, over forty Ringed Plovers and a couple of Turnstone at the water's edge.  As I checked out the whole water I soon found not only many Wigeon but a good number of Pintail plus Mallard, Shoveler and Tufted Duck.

Dunlin Calidris alpina

Making my way to the far side I also picked the Brent Geese and a Little Grebe plus both Redshank and Greenshank.  Away to the south on one of the grassy spits out into the Solent proper a resting flock of at least fifty Oystercatchers. Nearby a Great Crested Grebe and a few Cormorant were constantly moving between this are and the lagoon.

Greenshank Tringa nebularia

My return walk to the car took me towards Acre Pond and before leaving Normandy Lagoon I also managed to se both a female Reed Bunting and male Stonechat. On Acre Pond a good number of Coot plus more Wigeon, Mallard and a lone Canada Goose and another Heron.  In the nearby trees I also recorded Blackbird, House Sparrow, Blue Tit and Song Thrush.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Arriving at the bottom of Lower Pennington Lane I just managed to squeeze into the last available parking spot before starting and anti-clockwise triangular walk that took me first to Fishtail Lagoon before heading off via Butts Lagoon to Pennington Lagoon.  Dunnock and Woodpigeon as soon as I arrived and with flooding in the main meadow to my left no Golden Plover or geese but a dozen or so well-dispersed Lapwing.

Male Pintail Anas acuta

Stopping a few times as I worked my way past Fishtail Lagoon I soon found a variety of bird life including the occasional Heron  and Little Egret plus three Spoonbill at the far end.  Nearer to me many Teal and Wigeon and soon I was also noting the scores of Pintail.  Mallard, Shoveler and Shelduck were also present as were a number of Brent Geese.  Quite close on the eastern bank not just a dozen or so Dunlin but a feeding Snipe.

Snipe Gallinago gallinago (left) with Dunlin Calidris alpina

Once at the sea wall I could look back on the nearer deeper water of Fishtail Lagoon and check the may Pintail and score of Brent Geese for the reported long-staying immature female Long-tailed Duck.  Eventually found, the bird looked so small and despite her constant diving I did manage to finally get a distant record shot before the bird disappeared.  More Cormorants were seen here as was a couple of foraging Mapie.

The distant immature female Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyermalis

Moving towards Butts Lagoon a Curlew flew past eastwards and then many Coot noted on the water along with both Mute Swan, Shoveler and Mallard.  This water and the adjacent start of the Pennington Lagoon not only produced more Pintail but a good number of Tufted Duck and three more Snipe.  An Oystercatcher was feeding on the far bank and then it was time to turn inland and head back towards the car.

Male and female Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula

Stopping on the higher ground after leaving the lagoon, I first found a distant Kestrel resting atop a tall bush to me left and then, to the right, A similar sighted Carrion Crow.  The first of the large ponds on the right not only produced both Mallard and Teal abut also a quartet of Gadwall.   A Redshank dropped in and ere long I was back at the car. But before departing I took a walk down the lane towards Keyhaven to have a closer look at the large pond on the right where I found a number of Herring Gulls and a few Coot.  A Robin was watching me from a nearby hedge and as I looked over the water a Marsh Harrier drifted westwards above me, so bringing the morning's tally to 46 species.

A few of the many Brent Geese Branta bernicla

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Long-tailed Duck, Goldeneye, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Spoonbill, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Snipe, Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Reed Bunting.

Dunlin Calidris alpina

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Lots of male Pintail Anas acuta to be seen today

Wigeon Anas penelope

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.