New Forest Birding

Tuesday 30 December

A beautiful sunny morning with clear blue skies and a very light wind as I set out to spend a morning in the New Forest.  And as the morning progressed the temperature rose from zero to 7C by noon as the wind eased to make for perfect birding conditions.   Passing through Lyndhurst I started with Starling, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove and Carrion Crow and then on to Normandy Lagoon where I arrived at 8.55 to be greeted by the local Magpies, Woodpigeon and a resting Kestrel.

Female Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

Arriving at the lagoon a Little Egret and couple of Mallards in the side canal and on the main and surrounds water very many Wigeon, Teal and Lapwing plus many Canada Geese.  A Cormorant flew over and a Meadow Pipit perched on the nearby fence before I started the scan of the area and noted many Shoveler along with good number of Pintail, Tufted Duck and Shelduck.  Further away seven resting Spoonbill and a handful of Avocet.

Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia with Shelduck Tadorna tadorna (above) and Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta (right)

A Stonechat "popped up" before I reached the end of the first straight to get the sun behind me and I quickly noted two Spotted Redshank and single Black-tailed Godwit before the two Bar-tailed Godwits put in an appearance with the barred tail showing very clearly as they moved on.

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica

Once on the front sea wall more easy to see and identify the many Teal and Pintails along with the scores of Brent Geese. Amongst the Brent Geese on the stony island in front of me a handful of Dunlin along with a few Ringed Plover and about a dozen Turnstone.  A Kingfisher flashed past me just above the canal and I was to later regain sight of the bird as it rested on a bush at the far end.  More Little Egrets feeding in and near the canal along with a handful of Redshank and, having noted both Herring and Black-headed Gulls along with a couple of Curlew, I took a closer look at the Spoonbills before continuing on to the far end to check the smaller pools before returning on the lower path alongside the canal.   Good job I did as it gave a chance to watch the busy-feeding Dartford Warbler in amongst the small gorse bushes next to me but often too close to get the bird in focus.

Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

Continuing on back towards the starting point I noted not only a pair of Mute Swans on the water but also a small flock of Rock Doves (Feral Pigeons) on the nearest island.  Passing by Maiden Dock a number of Oystercatchers and  a very large resting flock of Canada Geese.  More Redshanks in the almost empty Acre Pond.  Blackbird, Robin and Dunnock recorded as I walked back along the road to the car and upon arrival a couple of Chaffinches in the nearby trees.

Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus

So on to the Penningon Marshes at the bottom of Lower Pennington Lane.  At the western corner of Pennington Marsh itself a the entrance gate I stopped to check the present Lapwings, Magpie, Shelduck and Shoveler and resting Canada Geese and found the lone Bean Goose, sleeping slightly away from the Canada Geese flock, that has been resent for the past couple of days.  Further away I found feeding Oystercatchers and a foraging Pied Wagtail along with many Teal.   As I drove on to park the car at the end of the lane both a Blackbird and pair of Carrion Crows flew away from the neighbouring field.

Distant, sleeping Bean Goose Anser fabalis

Once off towards Fishtail Lagoon it was obvious that there was noshortage of Canada Geese, Teal, Shelduck and Brent Geese; they seemed to be everywhere.   Also present very many resting Black-headed Gulls, Mallard and Wigeon.  Even both a Coot and Moorhen along with a couple of Little Egrets to round the whole.    

Teal Anas crecca

Leaving the Robin sitting on the fence I climbed up to the sea wall and noted the many Dunlin and Redshank along with a few Oystercatchers and a single Grey plover feeding in the now exposed mud left by the receding tide.  A pair of Curlew joined the group as I made my way past Butts, with its quartet of Gadwall, to Pennington Lagoon.  Here I found very many Shoveler and Teal along with a pair of Mute Swans and more Pintail and Wigeon.  

Mainly Shoveler Anas clypeata with Pintail Anas acuta

On the other side of the sea wall the receding tide had attracted a number of Oystercatchers and Herring Gulls to the muddy shore along with a Heron and handful of Turnstone.  So, time to head back to the car and make the journey inland towards Fritham in order to see what might be about at both Cadman's Pool and Janesmoor Pond.

Turnstones Arenaria interpres

The ten minutes at Cadman's Pond produced a handful of Mallard on the water but feeding near the car park, where food had been left on top of the posts and some fallen logs, a regular supply of small birds plus a couple of Blackbirds.  Mainly Blue but also Great, Coal and Marsh Tits.

Coal Tit Parus ater

Janesmoor Pond was very quiet and a stop of five minutes only produced a Robin, couple of Blackbirds and a Song Thrush.  Nevertheless, a lovely morning's birding that produced a final tally of 54 species.

Little Egret Egretta gatrzetta surrounded by Wigeon Anas penelope

Birds seen:

Bean Goose, Brent Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Spoonbill, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Spotted Redshank, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Kingfisher, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Dartford Warbler, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, Chaffinch.

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

Brent Geese Branta bernicla

Part of the Dunlin Calidris alpina flock with a Curlew

Blue Tit Parus caeruleus

Just the shadow of the Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata!

Little Egret with Wigeon Anas penelope

Pintail Anas acuta

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula with 2 Turnstone (right)

Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

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Blashford Lakes, New Forest

Saturday 27 December

Heavy overnight frost but clear blue skies all morning as I drove over to the New Forest to visit Blashford Lakes near Ringwood.  But first a thirty-minutes stop at nearby Harbridge to look over the meadow from the river bridge to check the distant feeding flock of mixed geese.  It looked like mainly Canada with the odd Greylag but also featured 34 White-fronted Geese. Also present more than a dozen Mute Swans.  Turning the car near the far corner I came across a flight of eight Pheasants.

the distant flock of White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons

On to Blashford itself and first a stop at the Tern Hide overlooking Ibsley Water. Lots of Coot and Tufted Duck with many gulls, especially Lesser Black-backs but also Shoveler at the back and Wigeon to my right and close by a pair of Goldeneye.  A distant Great White Egret was recorded plus a few Great Crested Grebe but not too many Mute Swans on this occasion.

Female Goldeneye Bucephala clangula

On to the main reserve with Blackbird, Robin and the first Long-tailed Tits on the way to Ivy North Hide where I found Mallards and Teal along with a number of Cormorant and a nearby Cetti's Warbler.  Once inside the Woodland Hide chance to see the many tits, mainly Blue, but also Long-tailed, Coal and Great.  Blackbirds, Dunnocks, Robins, Goldfinches and Chaffinches also present plus a visiting Jay and a Magpie at the back of the trees.  The visiting Nuthatch was also a pleasant addition.

Coal Tit Parus ater

Before departing I took a first ever walk through the trees to the path running alongside the nearby Rockfort Lake.  Lots more Long-tailed Tits and a Goldcrest noted before reaching the screen overlooking Ivy North but all the water birds seemed to have moved away from where first sighted form the hide on the opposite bank.  On the lake itself hundreds of Wigeon accompanied by many Tufted Ducks, Mallards and Coots plus a few Great Crested Grebe and a couple of Mute Swans.  But nearer to me and almost masked the the hedge, I found not only a pair of Shelduck but also a drake Goosander.

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus

A most enjoyable, if somewhat cold, morning that finally produced a total of 40 species.

the Teal Anas cretta flock on the move

Birds seen:

White-fronted Goose, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Goosander, Pheasant, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Great White Egret, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Goldcrest,  Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, Chaffinch, Goldfinch.

Blue Tit Parus caeruleus

Great Tit Parus major

Dunnock Prunella modularis

Very distant Great White Egret Ardea alba

Robin Erithacus rubecula

Mute Swan Cygnus olor

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Christmas Morning birding on the Warsash/Solent Coast

Thursday 25 December

Christmas morning started bright and sunny but still with a very cold easterly reducing the actual temperature to below 1C.  Notwithstanding, I was out of the house and walking along the Warsash shore and down to Southampton Water by just after 9 to coincide with the (almost) start of the incoming tide.

No sooner at the slipway and I had my first Redshank and Black-headed Gull and once on the coastal path up and past Strawberry Fields a number of Oystercatchers and the first large flock of Brent Geese with the final count being over 220.  Also present almost 200 feeding Dunlin along with more Oystercatchers, Redshanks and a smaller number of Turnstone.

A few of the hundreds of Dunlin Calidris alpina

Moving on down to the navigation pier I came across the first Carrion Crows and Woodpigeon of the morning along with a couple of Herring Gulls.  Out on the main water beyond the lifeboat retainer a pair of distant Mute Swans. On the large mudflat beyond the pier many more Dunlin and Brent Geese along with half-dozen Shelduck on the water close to the shore.

Male Wigeon Anas penelope

Once at the Spit no shortage of Wigeon and roosting Black-headed Gulls. And at the inland end both a single Great Black-backed Gull and a sleeping Curlew.  Mind you, on the return journey the Curlew had moved to the water's edge but still catching up on its sleep!

Sleeping Curlew Numenius aquata

Curlew at water's edge with Wigeon

So on down to the Scrape where the water was well above its normal depth and just the main island showing upon which rested a couple of Canada Geese and a resting Lapwing.  A third goose was in the water nearby.  At the far side of the water a resting Herring Gull on the pontoon and close to the bank a pair of Mallard and couple of nearby Little Grebe.

Canada Geese Branta canadensis sheltering resting Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

The walk down to the Meandering Pool past the gorse are produced nothing but I did record a female Stonechat on the return walk through the gorse area.  Passing through the small spinney I cam across a male Blackbird and then when back at the navigation peer, having passed the massed walkers who seemed to have turned out in force (with or without dogs) for their traditional Christmas Day exercise, I stopped to check the small pond near the navigation school which seemed to hold just a single Black-headed Gull.  However, as I started off again I managed to find both a Heron and a Little Egret resting low on the back at the northern end

Little Egret Egretta gazetta

Starting off towards the path back up to Strawberry Fields I noted the half-dozen Teal in a flooded gully on the muddy beach and then a pair of Robins on the path itself.  And so back to harbour and on home for a refreshing drink and preparations for the coming feast.  Happy Christmas one and all.

Teal Anas crecca with Oystercatcher in foreground

Birds seen:

Bren Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Wigeon, Mallard, Teal, Little Grebe, Little Egret, Heron, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Carrion Crow.

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus

Wigeon with Turnstone Arenaria interpres in background

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Hamble River, Warsash

Wednesday 24 December

Finally, after hours of delay, able to get out and take a walk up the Hamble River to the conservation area and back in beautiful, sunny weather but with a very cold easterly wind reducing the temperature down to as low as 1C.  But, nevertheless, good to be out in the fresh air for a short while. 

Herring Gull Larus argentatus

Less than a handful of birds on the shore and exposed islands themselves but a very large flock of Brent Geese on the flooded Bunny Meadow. In with the geese a few Wigeon and  handful of nearby Herring along with more than a score of Black-headed Gulls.

Wigeon Anas penelope with Brent Geese Branta bernicla

On the open river a fishing Great Crested Grebe and another individual resting on an exposed island just off the shore.  A Curlew flew up river above me and then, on the main temporary lagoon on the meadow, hundreds of Brent Geese plus a few Wigeon and a handful of Teal.  At the far back sheltering under the reeds a pair of Shelduck and the first Redshanks.

Brent Goose Branta bernicla

But then was the small "island" towards the back of the water which held the very many roosting Dunlin along with at least eight Grey Plover.  A few Wigeon and Teal on the water at the back before I moved on to the conservation area itself.  Here I found more Wigeon and Black-headed Gulls.

Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus

Making my way back I came across a quartet of Carrion Crows and a similar number of Magpies to give a final tally of 16 species in less than an hour.

The Dunlin Calidris alpina roost

Birds seen:

Brent Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Rock Pipit, Magpie, Carrion Crow.

Brent Geese Branta bernicla in flight

Curlew Numenius aquata

Dunlin Calidris alpina

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola

Redshank Tringa totanus

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

Turnstone Arenaria interpres

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.