New Forest Birding

Tuesday 30 December

A beautiful sunny morning with clear blue skies and a very light wind as I set out to spend a morning in the New Forest.  And as the morning progressed the temperature rose from zero to 7C by noon as the wind eased to make for perfect birding conditions.   Passing through Lyndhurst I started with Starling, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove and Carrion Crow and then on to Normandy Lagoon where I arrived at 8.55 to be greeted by the local Magpies, Woodpigeon and a resting Kestrel.

Female Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

Arriving at the lagoon a Little Egret and couple of Mallards in the side canal and on the main and surrounds water very many Wigeon, Teal and Lapwing plus many Canada Geese.  A Cormorant flew over and a Meadow Pipit perched on the nearby fence before I started the scan of the area and noted many Shoveler along with good number of Pintail, Tufted Duck and Shelduck.  Further away seven resting Spoonbill and a handful of Avocet.

Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia with Shelduck Tadorna tadorna (above) and Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta (right)

A Stonechat "popped up" before I reached the end of the first straight to get the sun behind me and I quickly noted two Spotted Redshank and single Black-tailed Godwit before the two Bar-tailed Godwits put in an appearance with the barred tail showing very clearly as they moved on.

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica

Once on the front sea wall more easy to see and identify the many Teal and Pintails along with the scores of Brent Geese. Amongst the Brent Geese on the stony island in front of me a handful of Dunlin along with a few Ringed Plover and about a dozen Turnstone.  A Kingfisher flashed past me just above the canal and I was to later regain sight of the bird as it rested on a bush at the far end.  More Little Egrets feeding in and near the canal along with a handful of Redshank and, having noted both Herring and Black-headed Gulls along with a couple of Curlew, I took a closer look at the Spoonbills before continuing on to the far end to check the smaller pools before returning on the lower path alongside the canal.   Good job I did as it gave a chance to watch the busy-feeding Dartford Warbler in amongst the small gorse bushes next to me but often too close to get the bird in focus.

Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

Continuing on back towards the starting point I noted not only a pair of Mute Swans on the water but also a small flock of Rock Doves (Feral Pigeons) on the nearest island.  Passing by Maiden Dock a number of Oystercatchers and  a very large resting flock of Canada Geese.  More Redshanks in the almost empty Acre Pond.  Blackbird, Robin and Dunnock recorded as I walked back along the road to the car and upon arrival a couple of Chaffinches in the nearby trees.

Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus

So on to the Penningon Marshes at the bottom of Lower Pennington Lane.  At the western corner of Pennington Marsh itself a the entrance gate I stopped to check the present Lapwings, Magpie, Shelduck and Shoveler and resting Canada Geese and found the lone Bean Goose, sleeping slightly away from the Canada Geese flock, that has been resent for the past couple of days.  Further away I found feeding Oystercatchers and a foraging Pied Wagtail along with many Teal.   As I drove on to park the car at the end of the lane both a Blackbird and pair of Carrion Crows flew away from the neighbouring field.

Distant, sleeping Bean Goose Anser fabalis

Once off towards Fishtail Lagoon it was obvious that there was noshortage of Canada Geese, Teal, Shelduck and Brent Geese; they seemed to be everywhere.   Also present very many resting Black-headed Gulls, Mallard and Wigeon.  Even both a Coot and Moorhen along with a couple of Little Egrets to round the whole.    

Teal Anas crecca

Leaving the Robin sitting on the fence I climbed up to the sea wall and noted the many Dunlin and Redshank along with a few Oystercatchers and a single Grey plover feeding in the now exposed mud left by the receding tide.  A pair of Curlew joined the group as I made my way past Butts, with its quartet of Gadwall, to Pennington Lagoon.  Here I found very many Shoveler and Teal along with a pair of Mute Swans and more Pintail and Wigeon.  

Mainly Shoveler Anas clypeata with Pintail Anas acuta

On the other side of the sea wall the receding tide had attracted a number of Oystercatchers and Herring Gulls to the muddy shore along with a Heron and handful of Turnstone.  So, time to head back to the car and make the journey inland towards Fritham in order to see what might be about at both Cadman's Pool and Janesmoor Pond.

Turnstones Arenaria interpres

The ten minutes at Cadman's Pond produced a handful of Mallard on the water but feeding near the car park, where food had been left on top of the posts and some fallen logs, a regular supply of small birds plus a couple of Blackbirds.  Mainly Blue but also Great, Coal and Marsh Tits.

Coal Tit Parus ater

Janesmoor Pond was very quiet and a stop of five minutes only produced a Robin, couple of Blackbirds and a Song Thrush.  Nevertheless, a lovely morning's birding that produced a final tally of 54 species.

Little Egret Egretta gatrzetta surrounded by Wigeon Anas penelope

Birds seen:

Bean Goose, Brent Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Spoonbill, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Spotted Redshank, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Kingfisher, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Dartford Warbler, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, Chaffinch.

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

Brent Geese Branta bernicla

Part of the Dunlin Calidris alpina flock with a Curlew

Blue Tit Parus caeruleus

Just the shadow of the Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata!

Little Egret with Wigeon Anas penelope

Pintail Anas acuta

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula with 2 Turnstone (right)

Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

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