Farlington Marshes

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

Wednesday 9 July

Car duly serviced at nearby Farlington, I was able to start a clockwise loop of Farlington Marshes by 3.15pm.  Very warm, lots of sunshine and just a light, cool breeze when on the exposed sea wall.  But first an anti-clockwise visit of the viewing point not far away to check the lagoon and noticing both Blackbird and Song Thrush on the first field after the wooded area.  Further along the field a wandering Moorhen and then chance to take a prolonged look at the inside lagoon.  Lots of Canada Geese and Black-headed Gulls along with a large split flock of Black-tailed Godwits, a few Avocets and Shelduck plus the occasional Mallard, Lapwing and Carrion Crow. But not too many Coot in this area and just the single Little Egret on the seaside mud flats.   Only two Great crested Grebes on the lagoon. And looking carefully at the resting Black-headed Gulls I was also able to identify a single Mediterranean Gull.

Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa with Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus. Note the single Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus in the bottom right.

Viewing completed, I returned the fifty yards to take the path across the field below the sea wall to the old barn.  On my right a small number of (still) singing Reed Warblers and checking the resting birds on the river found more Black-headed plus a trio of Herring Gulls along with both Avocet and Shelduck.  A handful of Oystercatchers plus the fist of two Herons on the walk and a single Redshank.  Overhead at least a half-dozen Swifts and arriving at the barn to check the far lagoon also had a pair of Barn Swallows overhead.  Nearer to me, a half-dozen Moorhen an a number of Coots plus more Mallards.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

The onward walk to the Deeps produced a large number of Starlings and a couple of Magpie and then the first of a handful of Linnets.  Out of the water to the left f the far sea wall a group of ten Mute Swans and at least another seven Little Egrets.  Over the inside field a Skylark and then a high, quartering Marsh Harrier.  No sign of the reported Cattle Egret. At the Deeps itself more Black-headed Gulls and a few Shelduck plus a single Black-tailed Godwit and the last island produced both a Green Sandpiper and a Ringed Plover.

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

The thick bushes below the bank produced first a Whitethroat and then a pair of juvenile Meadow Pipits before coming across the second Heron.  Approaching the viewing area from the opposite direction first a male Reed Bunting then a pair of Canada Geese with five well-grown goslings on the path in front of me.  Continuing on through the trees to the car park I finally located the singing Greenfinch to round of the walk with a total of 36 species.

The Canada Goose Branta canadensis family

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Mute Swan,  Shelduck, Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Little Egret, Heron, Marsh Harrier, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Swift, Skylark, Barn Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting.

Distant Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Magpie Pica pica

Extremely distant Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Distant high Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus 

A few of the scores of Starling Sturnus vulgaris

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta with Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa

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