Keyhaven and Pennington Marshes

Sunday 2 February

Cold but sunny and dry and no wind for the latest meeting of the Hampshire Ornithological Society's field visits, this time covering the Keyhaven and Pennington Marshes on the Solent coast of the New Forest west of Lymington and with a total of 27 members present led by the ever-cheerful, enthusiastic and experienced local birder, Ian Packer.  And, indeed, a most enjoyable and rewarding six hours with just on 70 species recorded.

Meeting at Keyhaven car park at 9.30 for a clockwise loop round the northern Keyhaven Marshes before proceeding on to the Pennington Marshes followed by the direct route back along the sea wall and path, I managed to take advantage of arriving early by visiting the Milford Conservation's hide overlooking the adjacent lagoon and so giving me an almost private view of the water and edges plus the feeding station immediately below the hide.  Here not only numerous House Sparrows and both Blue and Great Tits and the occasional visit from both Blackbird and Dunnock but what seemed like an almost tame Water Rail that spent most of the time foraging below the feeders. Off to the right of the boundary hedge a Kingfisher posed whilst waiting fir its next fishing dive into the water below.

Water Rail Rallus aquaticus

On the water a number Mallard and Pintail plus a feeding Little Grebe with both resting Black-headed Gulls and a Little Egret.  At the far end a flock of Teal and to the left resting Lapwing with a Redshank and few Oystercatchers and, up against the reeds, a cock and hen Pheasant.  But pride of place must go the visiting immature Little Gull which was happy to fly up and down the water albeit not near enough or at rest to try and get a good focus on the bird.

Best of a hurried and distant record shot of the Little Gull Larus minitus

Back to the car park to join up with the gathered members ready to set off back to the hide before continuing up the ancient highway to the back of Fishlake Lagoon.  Good to see so many familiar faces and especially Amanda Cameron and new member Laura Coulson from near Porchester who Richard and I had the pleasure to meet last month whilst birding at Farlington.  Arriving at the hide I stayed outside and checked the water-filled harbour where I found a Mute Swan and a couple of feeding Kingfishers. Then on a few yards over the bridge to check the far side of the lagoon where we recorded a passing Carrion Crow, found a pair of Gadwall and a distant Marsh Harrier.

Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

Moving u the track of the ancient highway difficult to see much as too many people in a small area and the low Sun shining into our eyes as we tried to check out the silhouettes of the birds on the marshes to our right.  Mainly Canada and the many Brent Geese identified but approaching the bottom of Pennington Lane we had both Kestrel and Magpie off to our left and in front large flocks of Lapwing up in the sky plus a flock of approximately 300 Golden Plover above them.

Brent Geese Branta bernicla

Leaving the highway to walk back down tot the seawall with Fishlake Lagoon on our right chance to get a better view of the bird life with the Sun now beginning to be to our advantage. On our left the Golden Plovers had settle on the flooded meadow along with the very many Lapwing and e also found a distant Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit and Shelduck by checking the Heron at the furthest part of the meadow. Even a few Wigeon and amongst the Canada a couple of Greylag Geese.

Part of the Golden Plover Pluvius apricaria resting flock 

The bushes immediately in front of us produced both Blackbird and Song Thrush and to the right a Meadow Pipit flew south just beyond the hedgerow. On the flooded marsh itself numerous ducks and gulls including both Herring and Black-headed plus a single Great Black-backed Gull. Ducks included Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Pintail and Shoveler along with Coot and another Little Egret,

Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus with Brent Geese Branta bernicla

Then it was on down to the seawall and up the steps to overlook Butts Lagoon and the hope of a Bearded Tit.  However, whilst we were looking down into one of the favoured areas, the handful of members following behind were able to draw our attention that they were actually looking at a gorgeous male Bearded Tit right in front of them!  Fortunately, friend Laura was able to get the shot that appears below.

Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus (PHOTO: Laura Croucher)

Just as we were about to move off when a Bullfinch was sighted in the dip below Fishlake Lagoon and it then moved a tree on the steps up towards the field leading back to Pennington Lane so giving all members a chance to capture a sighting of this handsome male bird. On Butts Lagoon itself a Heron plus more Coots, Tufted Ducks and a few Lapwing. On the opposite side of the seawall on the Solent itself a Great Crested Grebe plus a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers.  At this point a large Dunlin flock arrive on the distant beach.

Record shot of the distant Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Turning eastwards we started off along the seawall separating Penington Marsh from the Solent and with a single Turnstone foraging on the wall itself we also found more Great Crested Grebes plus a nearby drake Eider on the Solent. Having stopped for lunch near the "jetty" a pair of Snipe was on the meadow.  Continuing eastwards we stopped to finally confirm that we had actually found a single Slavonian Grebe before pushing on adding a Cormorant as well as more Wigeon, Redshank and Teal. rather than start our return walk along the coast we continued another few hundred yards in the hope of a closer look a the Slavonian Grebe but it was not to be.  However, whilst searching Ian did find a lone Goldeneye which I think all members got a chance to view through one of the few scopes available. And away to our left we also found a lonely Rook before I was able to direct our attention to the distant Greenshank.

Common Gull Larus canus amongst a few Brent Geese Branta bernicla

And so the return walk commenced, with a stop to admire the Rock Pipit below the bank to our right, with the first stop back at Fishlake Lagoon where whilst checking all the many resting gulls we found a handful of Lesser Black-backs amongst the many Black-headed Gulls.  As an added bonus, Amanda was also able to find me the single Common Gull on the water between a few Brent Geese. Also, so many Shelduck and then I found the sleeping Spoonbill at the very far, western, end of thee water; a bird that took so long to lift its head and so confirm his species to many others who were in doubt!

Sleeping Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia

Meanwhile, away in the far distance over the trees, in reply to Ian's disappointment that we had not seen a Buzzard all day, lo and behold a Buzzard being mobbed by a Raven!  A long stop to try and find the Dartford Warbler in the gorse area that we had been informed about by a passing birder coming in the opposite direction but, finally, our Laura managed to achieve a "lifer" by being the member who first saw the bird, albeit I did not.  But for me it was a case of pressing on so as to be back in car park before my ticket expired (6 hours!) yet still time to come across a female Reed Bunting on the hedgerow in front and below me, on a small pool, a Spotted Redshank to complete the local birding list.  But I did also find a Pied Wagtail as I drove through Brockenhurst and a Collared Dove aside the road as I made my through the usual Lyndhurst traffic congestion.

Common Redshank Tringa totanus

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Spoonbill, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel, Water Rail, Coot, Oystercatcher, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Redshank, Greenshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Little Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Kingfisher, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Bearded Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting.

Cormorant Phalacocorax carbo

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna with Brent Geese Branta bernicla

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