Romsey and Testwood Lakes

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

 Friday 17 April

Away early and on site at Fishlake Meadows, Romsey by 9 o'clock. Woodpigeons as I left the car and immediately the first of the many calling Cetti's Warblers. Stopping for a while opposite the entrance overlooking the bushes on the other side of the canal path I immediately recorded both many Blackcaps and Long-tailed Tits.  In the same area the first of many Chiffchaff, Blackbird, Blue and Great Tits and a pair of Mallard on the canal itself.

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus (left) with male Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla

Continuing on down the path to the bench I had a Marsh Harrier overhead and then a pair of Bullfinch in the small tree in front of the seat.  Greylag Geese were flying past over the distant water and I could make out a number of Mute Swans.  The occasional Black-headed Gull few over and the Wrens were noted in the bushes below the path on the reserve side.  Nest my first Sedge Warbler of the year.  No sooner seen than I was to see three more, all giving photo opportunities.

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

No sign of the reported Cuckoo seen earlier in the morning but a Garden Warbler was identified along with Dunnock and a Song Thrush. Moving on down to the path leading to the screens I only ventured as far as the first water on my left where I found a Coot, Mute Swan and a pair of Pochard.  Then the first Reed Bunting of the morning and soon another. Whilst there I noted the resting Kestrel on the distant pylon and a Sparrowhawk moving south above the wires.  then it was back to the car park seeing many of the previously seen species but also a Magpie and a Nuthatch.

Moving on to nearby Casbrook Common I first stopped at the roadside viewpoint to check the main water and noted fifteen Mute Swan plus a pair of Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, more Coots and six Cormorants. Also present, five Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a singe Common Tern.

Casbrook Common was very quiet but it did produce a couple of Pheasant, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Starling and House Sparrow. And having gone so long with out seeing a Bullfinch, another male to add to the pair seen at Fishlake Meadows.

Record shot of male Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula

With time to spare I then made my way back to the motorway and across to Testwood Lakes Nature Reserve where I was able to spend almost a couple of hours walking the trails and concentrating both on the screens overlooking the scrape and the the first hide with its elevated observation room giving excellent views over the whole wet area.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Black-headed and Lesser Back-backed Gulls, a Mallard family and Chiffchaff as I approached the screens and then the appearance on many Little Egret plus a few Coot and a number of Lapwing. A pair of Greylag Geese and about a dozen Canada Geese.

Greylag Goose Anser anser

Just as I was about to move on a Great White Egret suddenly appeared to my (close) right and a Heron to the left.

Great White Egret Ardea alba

Many Chiffchaff along with Blue Tit and Blackbird as I made my way to the first hide and there, in front of me, a closer view of the resting gulls and Canada Geese plus a number of Lapwing and a pair of Oystercatchers.  Just visible, a Little Ringed Plover between a couple of Lapwing and a second at the far end of the water in front of me.  To the right, on the gravelly spit, a Common Sandpiper. Also a male Shoveler and more Coot.  Off to the far left, almost out of sight from the hide, six resting Cormorant.

Distant Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

But more intriguing, the activity of the many Sand Martins which have found the newly-built artificial nesting bank and were now busy collecting small items to nest their chosen holes.  Absolutely fascinating to see the birds fly straight to their chosen hole given that there are no natural features to help the birds locate their chosen nesting site.

Sand Martins Riparia riparia at the artificial nest bank.

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Mallard, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Pheasant, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Heron, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Coot, Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Sand Martin, House Martin, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Sedge Warbler,  Blackcap, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow,  Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Bullfinch,

Blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla

Blue Tit  Parus caeruleus gathering food/nesting material

Male House Sparrow Passer domesticus

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus with Little Ringed Plover between

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus

Who is this mystery bird?

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