River Itchen, Southampton

Sunday 11 January 

With rain promised to start at around 11am and continue for the next twelve days or so, I decided to pay an early morning visit to the River Itchen in Bittern, about a couple of mile from Southampton centre.  Having reached 99 species for the month, I was hoping I might pick up one of the resident Black Swans and a further 3km walk up river produce a Grey Wagtail to make sure that I reached the hundred mark for the year in Hampshire.  It was not to be - at first!

Family of Mute Swans Cygnus olor

Upon arrival at 8.50 a family of Mute Swans under Cobden Bridge and walking up stream scores of resting Black-headed and a handful of Herring Gulls.  But no Black Swan in sight.  Continuing on up river the occasional Moorhen but, out of nowhere, a pair of Ring-necked Parakeets flew over my head and settled in a small tree full of berries.  (Photo taken but very small.) A trio of Cormorant as I continued.

2 Ring-necked Parakeets Psittacula krameri (left and right in bush)

Turning at Mansbridge I made my way back and soon picked up a busy Little Grebe.  All around me numerous Carrion Crows including a flock of over 50 on the playing field.  Magpies and Woodpigeons also present plus a final total of 60 Mallard, mainly on the upper, non-tidal river.  A Blackbird flew across the river and before returning to the main river near Bitterne Triangle I had seen a further three plus more Moorhens.

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

Then, where I had expected to find the Black Swans in the first place, a pair feeding under the bank and fortunately lifting a head to make me stop and patiently wait for the Black Swans to move out and more into view.  So, mission accomplished with two new birds for the year and the century achieved.

Black Swan Cygnus atratus

Birds seen:

Black Swan, Mute Swan, Mallard, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet, Magpie. Carrion Crow, Blackbird.

Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 

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