Testwood Lakes

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Sunday 27 April

A beautiful, sunny start to the day with clear blue skies and warm sunshine so before 9.30 I was on site at Testwood Lakes to the north-west of Southampton. As I walked from the lower car park to the Visitors Centre Blackbird, Magpie, Robin and Song Thrush noted along with the many Blackcaps and Wrens.  On the main lake to my left a trio of Great Crested Grebes and a pair of Mallard. 

Then it was on the the path through the tree to the two hides.  Stopping at the Sand Martin Hide there were dozens of Sand Martins feeding over the water and on the grasses between the water pools a number of Lapwing plus a trio of Egyptian Geese and a single Oystercatcher.

Checking the water itself I noted the occasional Moorhen plus a couple of Coot and a quartet of Gadwall plus a few more Mallard.  Just the single Greylag Goose immediately in front of me and off to the right a single Canada Goose.  Further away three feeding Little Egrets.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Looking more closely and taking distant record shots to confirm or otherwise I also caught sight of the visiting Wood Sandpiper but, in contrast to the weather above me, much inn shadow and poor light making recognition more difficult but eventually succeeded.  I also had a single Redshank to my right in almost similar conditions to add to the confusion!  Meanwhile, resting on a pole next to the hide the only Cormorant to be seen.  At the other extreme, on the furthest pool a Heron could just be made out below the nearside bank.

Distant record shot of Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola

Making my way to the Heron Hide I came across a pair of Mute Swans with the cob resting at the water's edge and the pen sitting tight on her nest just inside the reeds three metres away to the right. The nesting float held a pair of Common Terns and a further two were busy hunting above the water. Away in the trees behind me a tapping Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Common Tern Sterna hirundo

Accompanied by the many calling Cetti's Warblers and Chaffinches, not to mention Wren, Robin and Blackbird, I made my way back through the trees to take the circular path round the site stopping at the first of the two screens overlooking the pools from the south.  Good sightings of the many Lapwing plus Moorhens and the distant Heron and Little Egrets plus a few more Mallard.  Then, right in front of me at the water's edge, a lone Little Ringed Plover.  The bid remained foraging for a while until it moved off up one of the channels.

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

By now the Chiffchaffs were becoming very vocal and no shortage either of Blackcaps.  In the small section of reeds to my left a Sedge Warbler and the shallow pool on the far field was playing host to a dozen Back-headed and a couple of Herring Gulls.

This small wooded area with lots of bushes also produced a number of Garden Warbler with their delightful song and they were joined by a pair of passing Goldfinches.  Finally, as I rounded the last corner of the lake before heading towards the car park, a pair of Linnets passed in front of me resulting in a final total of 37 species for my two hours.

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Wood Sandpiper, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sand Martin, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

Redshank Tringa totanus

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