Warsash and Solent Shore

Sunday 3 May 

A cloudy but completely calm start to the day so a walk along the shore past the harbour at Warsash and on down to the Spit and continue along the Solent as far as the meandering Pool before returning.  Al, it seemed, very quiet yet by the time I reached home I had recorded 35 species. Once past the harbour a couple of Black-headed Gulls on the shore along with a handful of House Sparrows nearby and a passing Woodpigeon.  Continuing on down to the navigation pier a dozen Herring Gulls, Carrion Crows and at least 22 Starling foraging on Strawberry Fields.  Blackbird, Robin and Great Tit were recorded on the path edges as I passed by.

Once at the pier a Pied Wagtail on the shore just beyond and a couple of Oystercatchers nearer the water's edge.  I could see a lone Heron resting on the lee side of the Spit and behind me, in he vegetation, both a Wren and Cetti's Warbler.  Reaching the Spit a Common Tern was passing southwards close to the shore and in the reeds behind me a quartet of Mallard along with a single Reed Warbler.

Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus

On down towards the Scrape and the bushes on the far side of the canal produced both Whitethroat and Linnet and once at the pool a small number of Black-headed Gulls along with a pair of both Canada Goose plus a Gadwall, Shelduck and Moorhen.

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

Making my way past the gorse area to the Meandering Pool a passing Little Egret and the first of two Skylarks.  A Magpie in the trees at the back and overhead five Barn Swallows. Another Little Egret on the Meandering Pool then a few more Linnets a I made my way back to the Scrape where I came across a pair of Pochard a the back of the water along with a single Mediterranean Gull.

Sky Lark Alauda arvensis

Continuing on to the Navigation Pier and just beyond the first of two Dunnocks then, what a lovely surprise, a  most handsome male Wheatear suddenly on the fence in front of me.  meanwhile, a pair of Rock Doves on the slipway and out on the river a lone Great Crested Grebe.  Even more to my surprise a Curlew had arrived on the shore and finally a Blue Tit as I arrived home.

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Pochard, Great Crested Grebe, Little Egret, Heron, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Rock dove, Woodpigeon, Skylark, Barn Swallow, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Wheatear, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Linnet.

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