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Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa |
Sunday 30 March
Leaving Warsash just after 9am with fiend Richard Osman, almost an hour was spent working the shore between Southsea Castle and and Blue Moon Aquarium to the the north in search of a Purple Sandpiper without any success. However, able to record both Herring and Black-headed Gulls along with Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Starling and House Sparrow; just the six species.
Then it was on to Farlington Marshes to undertake an anti-clockwise circuit of the boundary along the shores and track leading back to the shed and car park. Arriving at 11.05 we sent glorious 2 3/4 hours in very bright sunshine but with a strong wind. First a quartet of Greenfinches and a Wren before reaching the seawall where the tide was almost fully in and just a few Black-headed and a lone immature Herring Gull on view. A little further along a trio of Mallards just off the seawall and a single Oystercatcher. A pair of Carrion Crows were foraging beneath the wall. On the reserve itself lots to be seen on the main pool in front of the viewing point.
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Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta and Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa |
From the viewing point we could see a large resting flock of Avocet and Black-tailed Godwits in the middle of the water with a few individuals beyond. Over to the far left a group of eight Little Egret and resting under the lip of the far shore more then two score Redshank along with a handful of Dunlin. On the far left embankment a lone Heron and immediately in front of us a quartet of Coot plus a dozen or more Teal. beyond the water in the meadows the widespread Canada Geese flock with a pair of Mute Swans. A distant wader on the far side was confirmed as a Curlew by using Richard's scope, which also revealed the first of the Lapwing seen during the morning.
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Resting Teal Anas crecca
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A stop midway along the back path revealed a
Skylark and pair of
Meadow Pipits on the meadow with a singe
Great Crested Grebe on the water to our right. A couple of
Moorhen were noted between the canal and meadow and in the distance we could see so may resting
Shelduck. Indeed, as we continued our walk round to the Scrape we were to find many, many more resulting in about 130 individuals. Whist checking the distant Shelduck e came across a handful of
Wigeon and a pair of
Greylag Geese.
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Distant Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis |
Turning left towards the Scrape we stopped to check the large Black-headed Gull colony on the long, narrow island just off the shore and then watched as many as thirty Mediterranean Gulls pass overhead and into the reserve for their roost. A lone Cormorant flew towards the open sea and then we picked up a handful of Red-breasted Mergansers drifting towards the mainland with regular dives. A the Scrape there were very many Black-headed along with a number of Mediterranean Gulls. Another Mute Swan and eight resting Shoveler plus a pair of Gadwalls. Yet more Mallards and in the background the sight of many Canada Geese and all those Shelduck which seemed to be spread far and wide. Then all was chaos as a Marsh Harrier passed over and lifted most of he birds. When resettled, we could count a roosting flock of around120 Oystercatchers.
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Roosting Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus |
Moving away from the Scrape we came across a couple of Brent Geese with two more just before turning towards the shed. Once at the shed a Chiffchaff in the adjacent tree and on the lagoon and edges many more Moorhen and Coots. making our way back to the car we came across a Blackbird in the hedge to our left and then it was time to make our way back to Warsash but not before a refreshment stop in Titchfield. Approaching and in the village we came across both Red Kite and Kestrel along with a Magpie, Jackdaws and more Woodpigeon. Finally, back home on Warsash and welcomed by my resident Robin and Dunnock.
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Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus |
Birds seen:
Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Red-breasted Merganser, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Lapwing, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Greenfinch.
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Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa |
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Little Egrets Egretta garzetta |
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Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus - and they need to move soon! |
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Part of the Oystercatcher roost accompanied by many Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus |
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