Farlington marsh & Hayling Island

Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus

 Sunday 29 January

The intention was to join the HOS meeting at Farlington Marshes but having arrived over thirty minutes early I decided to start off on the anti-clockwise circuit before catching cold and whilst there were also less people about.  If it was not for the hundreds of Brent (mainly) and Canada Geese then, especially with the tide almost fully out, there were relatively few birds about.  Dry, calm and overcast with a distinct chill in the air as I set off having already recorded both Magpie and Buzzard as I approached the reserve.  Very quickly a handful of Woodpigeons were observed and walking to the sea wall both a Blue Tit and five Greenfinches.  Once on the sea wall a few Carrion Crows, the first of very many Moorhen and a couple of Teal.  Continuing on I soon found a pair of Mallard along with a Coot and off on the mudflats  the first Curlew of the morning.

The pool to my left held not only Brent Geese but scores of resting Pintail and then dozens of Lapwing on the opposite side of the water. It was whilst I was counting the Shelduck that I saw the passing, the hovering Kestrel, and two more were to be seen ere my visit ended.  Naturally, always a few Black-headed Gulls to be seen but no Herring Gulls until I reached the far side of the peninsular.

Male Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

Continuing o I came across another flock of Canada Geese and this group also included the long-staying Barnacle Goose.  Whilst checking the group a Stonechat arrive to perch on a small twig below me on the opposite side on the dyke. A few more Mallards and the first of many Wigeon were next recorded. Once on the far side near the small pools I found more lapwing, Wigeon and Pintails along with the Shoveler contingent whilst on the shore a Redshank and Turnstone plus over a hundred foraging Dunlin.  On the running water a trio of Great Crested Grebes and more Oystercatchers and Shelduck. A Little Egret was feeding on the far bank.

Male Pintail Anas acuta

So on to the always closed Visitors Centre passing more Canada and Brent Geese and once arrived a pair of Mute Swans were observed on the water in front.  A Robin was singing and posing in the tree next to the building and also found in the area were Great Tit, Starling and Blackbird.

Having finished earlier than anticipated I drove on over to Hayling Island to check the entrance to the oyster beds behind the Esso petrol station.  A walk along the shore revealed more Brent Geese along with a number of Carrion Crows and Oystercatchers.  A single Little Egret was feeding near the sea bank and in front of me a couple of Rock Pipits were disturbed by a dog running loose along the shore and under no control from its accompanying owners.  Moving on to the main pool I found a trio of Black-heeded and single Herring, Great Black-backed and Mediterranean Gulls.  At the back of the water three Little Grebes were observed.  Looking out into the main channel I was fortunate to be able to locate the presently resident trio of Red-breasted Mergansers, a female and two males.

Great black-backed Gull Larus marinus

Finally, a drive down to the end of the island and along the shore road to the ferry terminal produced Woodpigeons, Starlings and House Sparrows in addition to the many Black-headed Gulls on the water itself.

Male and female Pintail Anas acuta with male Teal Anas crecca in background

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Barnacle Goose, Brent Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Red-breasted Merganser, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Rock Pipit, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Greenfinch.

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