Warsash Shore

Redshanks Tringa totanus

 Sunday 18 June

Up early an out pf the house by 7 for a couple of hours walking along the Warsash shore and on down to Southampton Water ending up at the "Meandering Pools" before turning back for home.  Lovely sunny weather to start but by the return journey the wind beginning to freshen and bring in some broken cloud, although remaining quite warm.

Woodpigeons as soon as I left the house and once down on the shoreline near the slipway first a pair of Redshanks and a Little Egret as a Black-headed Gull moved off towards the water.  Continuing on up the path towards Strawberry Fields a Magpie and then the first of five Carrion Crows seen during the walk.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta with Redshanks Tringa totanus

Looking down at the shore a number of Herring Gulls and a couple of foraging Starlings. More Woodpigeons and a Collared Dove calling near the School of Navigation. Continuing on towards the Spit I could see a handful of Shelduck and a lone Heron in addition to the first of two Oystercatchers recorded.

I had already noted the many Reed Warblers as I approached the small spinney before continuing on down Southampton Water to the Scrape produced both Robin and Wren.  The first of five Sky Larks was seen before reaching the pool and once there discovered almost forty Mallards along with a pair of Coot, Little Grebe and Teal.  At least thirty Black-headed Gulls were also present plus a further five Shelduck.

A few Linnets and more Sky Larks but nothing else and then the Meandering Pool was completely devoid of water so started on the return journey.  Back in front of the School of Navigation a calling Cetti's Warbler and almost thirty Herring Gulls on the muddy shore. 

Herring Gull Larus argentatus

Finally, three Dunnock as I took the narrow [path back towards Strawberry Fields and to my left at the water's edge a single Curlew and two departing Rock Doves making their way back inland.

Curlew Numenius arquata

Birds seen:

Shelduck, Mallard, Teal, Little Grebe, Little Egret, Heron, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, Linnet.

Very distant Linnet Carduelis cannabina

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