Warsash Shore

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

Friday 6 October

Pleasant start to the day as I started my morning walk along the Warsash shore and own onto the Solent making the return point at the Meandering Pool (where only a single Black-headed Gull was to be seen!)  With the tide almost completely out the water line was at a fair distance so extra care taken in checking the bird life.  After a lone Black-headed Gull on the slipway at the harbour I soon encountered very many Black-tailed Godwits along with Redshanks and Curlew.  Just the occasional Oystercatcher but then the first of a half-dozen Little Egrets.

Moving on down past the School of Navigation I added many more Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks plus the usual foraging Black-headed Gulls and a handful of Carrion Crow. Only one Herring Gull seen but then a lone Cormorant on the open water.  Once in the lee of the Spit a number of resting gulls including a single Common Gull plus a single Black-tailed Godwit and thirty Wigeon. On the mud flats to the right more redshanks along with a lone Dunlin and Grey and Ringed Plovers.

Common Gull Larus canus

On the Solent side of the Spit over forty feeding Oystercatchers on the exposed shingle along with a few Curlew and more Carrion Crows.

Scores of Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus on the Spit at the mouth of the Hamble River

Moving on down to the Scrape I found a pair of Little Grebe plus thirty resting Teal. On the abandoned nesting platform a resting Great Black-backed Gull.  Between here and the Meandering Pool I came across a small flock of Linnet plus a couple of Stonechats but, even better, a late Wheatear. In the far distance behind the gorse enclosure a single Magpie.

Male Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

Making my way back towards the Hamble River I next came across a small flock of Meadow Pipit along with a single Pied Wagtail. A pair of Great Black-backed Gulls were resting on the point of the spit and as I approached the School of Navigation both Jackdaw and Woodpigeons were recorded.  And a final check of the mudlflats produced both a Turnstone and a surprise Sanderling.

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula with Redshank Tringa totanus and Dunlin Calidris alpina

Birds seen:

Wigeon, Teal, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Sanderling, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Stonechat, Wheatear, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Linnet.

Linnet Carduelis cannabina

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

Wigeon Anas penelope

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