Hamble River

Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba

 Saturday 18 December

Completing the shopping it was 11.30 with both Dunnock and Wood Pigeon in the garden when I crossed the road for a two mile return walk up the River Hamble in glorious sunshine and a clear blue sky, albeit none too warm at a lowly 8C.  A Robin as I approached the river and immediately realised the bad timing as the water was within  ten minutes or so of high tide.  However, I hoped that this might have pushed the birds up as well, so offering clearer views and perhaps close sightings of the Grey Plovers. 

So that's where the Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola were hiding

The occasional Black-headed Gull and a Redshank but next to nothing on the, now, shingle beach.  Yes, there were well over a hundred Brent Geese, over seventy Wigeon and almost forty Teal but the birds were huddled down and resting/roosting awaiting the the tide to turn.  On the other hand, lovely to see both a Rock Pipit and a Pied Wagtail as I walked the footpath. Other than the usual waders, perhaps one highlight was the sight of over  hundred resting Dunlin.  In end pleasing to record 26 species in a lengthy walk.

Birds seen:

Brent Goose, Canada Goose, Wigeon, Teal, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow.

Mainly Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus but note the Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

A few of the hundred plus Brent Geese Branta bernicla

Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo

Just a few of the very many Dunlin Calidris alpina

Find the Lapwing Vanellus vanellus!

Mainly resting Redshanks Tringa totanus

Male Teal Anas crecca with Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa and Curlew Numenius arquata(right)

Wigeon Anas penelope with single Brent Goose Branta bernicla

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