Workmans Lane and Solent Shore

Sunday 27 August 

Lovely birding morning in fine weather albeit slightly chilly during first hour. Starting at the top of Workmans Lane there were Barn Swallows feeding over the fields on my left and a small flock of Starlings flew over as I commenced my walk.  Soon the first of many Woodpigeon and then on down to the horse fields also noting both Robin and Wren with an over-flying Black-headed Gull.  A  Carrion Crow and a Greenfinch before checking out the far side of the field on my right where I could just about make our the small number of Yellow Wagtails feeding around the feeding cows.

As I walked along the bottom of the horse filed first a large flock of at least 40 Linnets passed over then a dozen or more Yellow Wagtails making their way to the horses to the front right of me.  Away to the right a score of resting Jackdaws in a dead tree at the back of the field and a lone Magpie.  Once near the horses no less than four nearby Wheatear followed by a handful of Goldfinches whist a Green Woodpecker was constantly "yaffling" away to my left.

Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

Moving along the back path the bushes provided good numbers of Linnets and Goldfinches along with a couple of Whitethroat before finding the female Redstart.  Nearby a Wheatear was resting atop a short post and on the field behind me another three Wheatears.

Returning to Workmans Lane I carried on down to the shore where I found a resting Black-headed Gull, a foraging Little Egret and three Cormorants resting on the water's marking posts.  On along the coastal path to the Meandering Pool and then, passing through the gorse area, I had not only more Linnets and Wheatears but also a pair of Reed Bunting.

Moulting Linnet Carduelis cannabina

Once at the Scrape most surprised to find seventy Canada Geese on the water and islands along with 24 Avocet, 43 Mallards and eight Black-tailed Godwit.  Continued searching produced a pair of both Teal and Little Grebe plus a single Common Sandpiper. Just the one Coot and Moorhen before starting the long return journey.

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypeucosol at the water's edge behind the departingBlack-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa.

No sooner back on the shore than I saw the lone Sandwich Tern making its way up Southampton Water and a nearby immature Herring Gull.  Then back in the gorse area a resting Kestrel and a Starling whilst the Meandering Pool produced a single Greenshank.  Finally, walking back up Workmans Lane a Stock Dove was resting on a horse trough in the horse fields to my right.

Stock Dove Columba oenas

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Mallard, Teal, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Sandwich Tern, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Green Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, Yellow Wagtail, Wren, Robin, Redstart, Wheatear, Blackbird, Whitethroat, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting.

Canada Geese Branta canadensis with Black-tailed Godwits and an Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

Linnet Carduelis cannabina

Starling Sturnus vulgaris

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

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