Weston Shore, Southampton

Tuesday 25 November

With many recent recent reports of Velvet Scoters and Red-necked Grebe off-shore at the top of Southampton Water near Weston Shore, I made a relatively early drive over to the site in bright sunshine but still very cold following overnight slight frost.  Upon arrival with the tide just after the turn and limited foreshore, very many local Carrion Crows and roosting Herring and Black-headed Gulls. Also present a pair of Mute Swans, a very small flock of Rock Doves and a handful of Oystercatchers.  Just off-shore at least three Great Crested Grebes.

Roosting Herring Gulls Larus argentatus

Fortunately, another birder on site with his scope in full action had already found the trio of Velvet Scoters so, having first checked with the bins, able to quickly find the trio with my scope.  All very distant in mid-water and at least 200 metres off the shore.

Very distant record shots of the Velvet Scoters Melanitta fusca

Left on my own I scanned the breakwaters nearer the docks and found a few more Oystercatchers and a couple of Brent Geese.  But having scoped the distant mid-water towards the docks I not only found another two Great Crested Grebes but then the "missing" Red-necked Grebe showing very well, albeit very distant. Very dark on the throat and head plus the slightly different profile form the nearby Great Crested Grebes.  I imagine my companion will be most annoyed that he had failed to find the Red-necked Grebe!

Mute Swan Cygnus olor on Southampton Water

A walk through the woods on the other side of the road produced only Dunnock and Great Tit plus many more Carrion Crows. Then, walking back along the road to the car park checking all the resting gulls on both shore and water, I found a single Great Black-backed Gull.

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus

Homeward bound with a brief stop at Sophies Pond near the entrance to Victoria Park to check both the sea and pond itself, the latter produced a pair of both Mute Swan and Mallard along with an adult and juvenile Moorhen.  Lots of resting Black-headed Gulls enjoying the bright sunshine.

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

Out on the beach amongst the roosting Black-headed Gulls a quintet of Oystercatchers and a similar number of Turnstones.

Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus enjoying the sunshine 

Birds seen:

Brent Goose, Mute Swan, Mallard, Velvet Scoter, Great Crested Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Dove, Dunnock, Great Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow.

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus

Scores of Carrion Crows Corvus corone

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