Warsash and Solet Shore

Wednesday 19 March

A five km walk along the Warsash and Solent shores as far as the Meandering Pool and back to coincide with an incoming tide proved most worthwhile with 30 species recorded in the two and a half hours.  Not as cold as previous days with a mixture of cloud and sunshine and plenty of birds to be seen starting immediately with a large flock of Brent Geese and equal numbers in three following flocks giving a cumulative total of 320 individuals.  Feeding with the first flock a number of Black-tailed Godwits and a few Redshank and Curlew plus a single Mute Swan.  And all the time a regular supply of Black-headed and the occasional Herring Gull.

Brent Geese Branta bernicla

Moving on down to the School of Navigation pier more Brent Geese and a couple of Shelduck along with a small flock of Dunlin.  Just the one Little Egret but a pair of Teal beneath the pier and a handful of Wigeon along with more Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks. Again, many more Brent Geese to be seen on both the open water and mud flats along with a few Oystercatchers.

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

Once at the Spit the main flock of about thirty Wigeon along with a pair of Ringed Plovers and another Dunlin.  On the Solent itself a feeding Great Crested Grebe.  Walking through the small spinney reach the Solent shore both a Chiffchaff and Blue Tit as well as a singing Cetti's Warbler.

Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula with Dunlin Calidris alpina

And so to the Scrape where I immediately found a pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls along with six Pintail and a trio of Mallard.  More Black-headed Gulls, a Cormorant and a trio of Shelduck. Continuing on along the coast to the Meandering Pool a handful of Linnets and a quintet of Skylarks. Once at the pool, a single Heron and Little Egret plus a pair of Teal.  Having met fellow birders at the far end, they directed me to the recently-arrived Long-tailed Duck that was mid-Solent. Time to make my way back to Warsash and home and able to add a pair of Stonechats and, finally, a Magpie to join the previously seen five Carrion Crows.

Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

Birds seen:

Brent Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Wigeon, Mallard, Teal, Pintail, Long-tailed Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Skylark, Stonechat, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Linnet.

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