Workmans Lane, Warsash then and along shore back to Warsash

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

Tuesday 19 August

Only "quiet" day of the week so up to the top of Workmans Lane to walk down to Solent shore, via a diversion across the horse field, and then back to Warsash and home (Jenny take me back to collect the car later).  broken cloud and a light to variable breeze but still pleasantly warm. parking the car, I noticed a birder just arriving from the lane below who was new to the area so he was pleased to accompany him back and through the horse filed as he had missed the entrance.  So, off we set with a couple of passing Woodpigeons and Blue Tits foraging about in the open trees to our left.  My acquaintance mentioned he had seen a few very distant Yellow Wagtails amongst the small herd of cows as he walked southwards along the coast and in a few minutes I was able to show him the field in question on the right of the lane, opposite the horse field. And, yes, we did find a trio of the birds along with a couple of Pied Wagtails.

Juvenile Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

A few of the Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica

Also a trio of House Martins Delichon urbicum

Arriving at the track leading into the horse fields we spent some time watching the fifty or more Barn Swallows, mainly juveniles, and a few House Martins that were feeding and tree resting almost opposite the entrance.  At this point, also, the sun broke through and the temperature started to rapidly rise.  A few Carrion Crows on the filed to the left but the horses well over half-way across the field from the track and no sign of any Yellow Wagtails.  However, we started to see small groups of Linnets and then a single Rook flew past.

Strange to see eight fellow birders already on site near the Donkey Paddock and it turned out a single Wryneck had been seen at the start of the day but those present were still waiting their opportunity.  A single Stonechat on the bushes but no sign of the four Whinchat that had been on the brambles a little earlier. A couple of Magpies beyond the horses and then a small flock of Starlings and more Linnets.

Linnets Carduelis cannabina

Continuing on to the end and round the corner to check the hidden pond I found a pair of Egyptian Geese, one a juvenile, so, presumably, the rest of the family were below the bank out of sight.  making my way back to the road I stopped near the exit and was lucky enough to see the bird movement as at least seventeen Yellow and three Pied Wagtails accompanied by a dozen or so Starlings suddenly lifted slightly from the ground feeding area about fifty yards in as they moved to fresh pastures with ten yards and, once again, disappeared from sight. The cows had moved south to the adjoining field and close enough for me to pick out and other trio of Yellow Wagtails and chance for a difficult photo of an individual on the fence wire and slightly obscured by grasses.

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava

Then, having returned to the car to retrieve a cap, I continued on down the lane and path to the shore but not before also recording Robin, Dunnock and Collared Dove.  One at the shore, to coincide with the rapidly falling tide following the second high tide at 11.30, a good number of Herring Gulls and around fifty Oystercatchers.  Also off shore on the island about to be fully exposed more of the same but also a single Great Black-backed Gull. But on the wall stretching down to the sea a single Oystercatcher and a pair of juvenile Carrion Crows with their parent on the beach below.

Juvenile Carrion Crows Corvus corone

Approaching Chilling Head with more Oystercatchers and a good number of Black-headed Gulls on the beach, I stopped as a small warbler dashed out of the brambles ahead and over the top to the southern side and I was able to confirm a Lesser Whitethroat.  Then it was on towards the Meandering Pool which produced no birds and entering the path alongside the fence to the gorse area a Whitethroat on the first bush followed by the regular appearance of more small groups of Linnets.  But then, on the path immediately in front, a beautiful Wheatear which kindly hopped up onto the fence the posts for better views!

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

Arriving at the Scrape few birds than expected, especially on the long wooden island at the back.  A few Mallards and a score or more Black-tailed Godwits but no geese on this occasion.  The island to my front right held a pair of Avocet, a single Common Tern and a score of Mallard.  On the water behind in front of the reeds a pair of dabbling Gadwall.  Two more Common Terns were found moving around the water but nothing else with the islands to the left now ell covered in high grass.

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

Very distant Sandwich Terns Sterna sandvicensis

The final walk back to Warsash via the Spit produced a trio of House Sparrows, and, in total, about 25 Redshank and 40 plus Black-tailed Godwits.  Just the single Cormorant resting at the end of the Spit but plenty of Black-headed and a few more Herring Gulls.  Approaching the navigation pier a Wren on my right and then, once past the pier, I found a trio of foraging Turnstone.  Finally, just beyond the Turnstones at the water's edge a couple of resting Sandwich Terns.  A lovely, but tiring, walk of over six kilometres taking just under three hours.

Birds seen:

Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Cormorant, Little Egret, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Blue Tit, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Linnet.

Whitethroat Sylvia communis

Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa

Common Tern Sterna hirundo with Mallards Anas platyrhynchos

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

Oystercatchers and Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus

Turnstone Arenaria interpres

Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca

More Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica

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