Weston Shore, Southampton

Wednesday 29 January

The stormy weather continues but with regular interludes of calmer weather and in Warsash we seem to have missed the worst.  Each day, either morning or afternoon, we get some dry hours with hazy sunshine albeit heavy train and thunderstorms yesterday with more rain this afternoon before the arrival of the next storm on Friday.  So at least we get a sunny day tomorrow and I get to visit the New Forest again.  But for today, out straight after breakfast to visit relatively nearby Weston Shore at the top of Southampton Water to check on our winter visits, but no waders as high tide.

Arriving at 9.20 for an hour's birding I was immediately greeted by dozens of, mainly, Black-headed but also Herring Gulls along with at least 40 Brent Geese and Carrion Crows and nine Mute Swans, all to be seen right in front of me.

Scoping the far side of the water in front of Hythe, I found five Great Crested Grebes and then successfully found the visiting Slavonian and Red-necked Grebes. A passing ferry disturbed the feeding Great Northern Diver which then flew a couple of hundred yards south before resettling, still on the far side.  Also on the far side a pair of Great Black-backed Gulls.

Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena (from Internet)

Eight Feral Pigeons on the beach to my immediate left and a Pied Wagtail at the far end of the car park.  Behind me both Magpie and Woodpigeon recorded before coming across a male Blackbird.

Great Northern Diver Gavia immer (from Internet)

Birds seen:

Brent Goose, Mute Swan, Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Mallard, Black-headed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Pied Wagtail, Blackbird, Magpie, Carrion Crow.

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