New Forest Birding

Friday 16 May

A day in the New Forest with Richard Osman with the morning spent at Normandy Lagoon then over to Lower Pennington Lane to explore the adjacent marshes.  Beautiful sunny weather with the temperature gradually increasing through the morning so necessitating the extra layer for the first couple of hours.  As soon as we arrived at Normandy Lagoon lots of singing Chaffinches, Chiffchaffs and Robins.  Making our way to the seawall a passing Carrion Crow and Magpie plus a quartet of Canada Geese making their way onto the marsh.

Magpies Pica pica

Once on the seawall lots of the usual species on the shallow lagoon including many young Avocets and Canada Geese being well monitored by their parents.  Certainly very many Avocets to be see.

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

Also very many Common Terns and now seeming to be occupying more than the usual "tern island." At least four Little Terns present plus a few Mallard, quartet of Tufted Ducks and just the one Shelduck. Lots of breeding Black-headed along with a handful of Herring and a couple of Mediterranean Gulls.  Two Cormorants noted at the back of the water and in addition to the Canada Geese a single Barnacle Goose noted.  Naturally, there were Little Egrets to be seen.

Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis

Waders were made up of mainly breeding Redshank, Lapwing and Oystercatchers plus a single Ringed Plover and a handful of Dunlin.

Dunlin Calidris alpina

Smaller birds consisted of a few House Sparrows feeding on the insects above the low bushes at the side of the seawall and then a couple of lovely Whitethroat and a Pied Wagtail in amongst the gull colony.

Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba

Whilst on the far end of the sea-facing wall we were able to identify both Great Black-backed Gull and a number of resting Eider Ducks on the Solent edge of the furthest island. As we made our way back to the Acre Pond we encountered first a lovely male Stonechat and the our first Whinchat of the year. The water itself held a couple of Coot and a Barn Swallow flew over. In the garden of the nearby house not only the Whinchat on the fence but Blackbird, Robin and Woodpigeons on the lawn. A Wren was noted as we exited the path onto the road for the final part of our walk back to the car.

Whinchat Saxicola rubetra

Then on to Pennington Marshes where we immediately found Woodpigeons and Canada Geese.  Once out of the car Greenfinch, Blackbird and Whitethroat as we started our anti-clockwise circuit. And by the time we reached the seat overlooking Fishtail Lagoon we had also seen a Heron passing overhead and recorded both Linnet and Skylark. Lots of Cetti's Warblers calling from the reeds below us and then time for refreshments at the seat whilst we checked out the birdlife on Fishtail Lagoon.

Whitethroat Sylvia communis

Very little water in the lagoon but no shortage of Shelduck, Mallard and Black-headed Gulls plus the first of very many (13) Little Egrets to be seen on this walk. Both Lesser Black-backed Gull and Carrion Crow were noted before yet another Magpie.  Below us both Reed Warblers and a single Moorhen the the Coots were seen at the back.  However, attention was very much focused on the lone Ruff foraging along the edge of the shingle island to our left. But on the every far side a single Greenshank and a number of passing Barn Swallows.

Distant record shot of Ruff Philomachus pugnax

Continuing on we stopped at the top of the steps to find the pair of distant Whimbrel the check Butts Lagoon where, in addition to resting Mallards and a couple of Little Egrets on the small island, there was a pair of Spoonbill. In the main water behind us no less than ten Great Crested Grebes and, on the far bank, three distant Grey Plover in summer plumage.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Pennington lagoon itself held 52 Back-tailed Godwits plus more Coot, Little Egret, Tufted Duck, Mallard and a couple of Gadwall. Even a Common Tern put in an appearance. The Oystercatcher was unexpected and as we made our way back to the car we caught sight of a handful of Starlings.

Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Barnacle Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Eider Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Spoonbill, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Redshank, Greenshank, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Greater Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Little Tern, Woodpigeon, Skylark, Barn Swallow, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Whinchat, Stonechat, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Linnet.

Common Tern Sterna hirundo

Little Tern Sterna albifrons

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

Redshank Tringa totanus

Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula

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