Warsash and Solent Shores

Friday 3 November

The storms have disappeared and the sun is once more shining above in the light cloud covering.  Even the wind has abated and is hardly more than a light breeze so what better way to start the day than walk along the shore at Warsash and on down to the Solent and Southampton Water.  With the tide starting its inward journey as soon as I reached the slipway I had a single Curlew along with up to forty Turnstone between this point and the shoreline below Strawberry fields.  Also present were a few Black-headed- Gulls along with the occasional Oystercatcher and Redshank.  A Carrion Crow came to forage along the shore and a Robin was seen on the path in front of me.

Curlew Numenius arquata

Then it was on down to the School of Navigation and the shore line to the north of the pier provided the first few Brent Geese along with more Black-headed and the occasional Herring Gull.  Both Magpie and Mallard were recorded on the small inland pond behind the wall.  To the south of the pier very many more Brent Geese and Redshanks plus another Curlew.

Brent Geese Branta bernicla

Arriving at the Spit and mouth of the Hamble River I could now see well in excess of two hundred Brent Geese and the first of the wintering Wigeon.  A small flock of Woodpigeons flew overhead and many Carrion Crows were making their way to the feeding are on the Solent side of the Spit. Just the single Little Egret to be seen but  I did find the resident pair of Great Black-backed Gulls.  Along with the many Brent Geese at least 80 Dunlin were feeding as a massed flock at the water's edge plus more Redshanks. Then, making my way alongside the Spit, a single female Goosander was a very pleasant surprise and, looking out into the Solent, a single feeding Great Crested Grebe.

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus

Carrion Crows Corvus corone waiting their turn at the feast

Moving on down to the Scrape an almost deserted water with just a single Black-headed Gull,  the one Little Grebe and four Pintail resting on the main island. Next the walk through the gorse are to the Meandering Pool which, again, just held a single Black-headed Gull.  As I approached this water a flock of two dozen Curlew flew over me at out over the Solent and at the back of the gorse area a  similar number of Black-tailed Godwits came to rest just beyond the tree line.  But with the sun behind me on the return walk I was rewarded with a trio of Sky Larks, eight Meadow Pipits and a total of three Stonechats.

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

By the time I got back to the Scrape a handful of Black-headed Gulls and a pair of Gadwall also on the island.  As I left I stopped to study the resting female Chaffinch on a small rosebud bush alongside a Meadow Pipit with both taking their leave as a male Kestrel came to hover nearby.

Male Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

Back at the Spit I walked as far as possible to get a closer look at the two Great Black-backed Gulls feeding a fish carcase alongside a number of Carrion Crows with a background of Brent Geese and at least sixty Oystercatchers.  On the lee side the resting Wigeon along with 28 Canada Geese and a single Greylag Goose enjoying their company.

Canada Geese Brant canadensis with (nearest) Greylag Goose Anser anser as seen below with Black-headed Gull Larus riddibundus

Moving on I stopped to have a few words and compare sightings with fellow birder, George Baker who pointed out the Common Gulls amongst the mainly Black-headed Gulls.  Meanwhile, a lone Starling was posing atop a sign post on the opposite side of the Spit as I continued homewards and found a lone Feral Pigeon feeding on the shore and a pair of Dunlin at the path exit towards Newtown Road.

Common Gull Larus canus with Wigeon Anas penelope

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Pintail, Goosander, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Little Egret, Kestrel, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Sky Lark, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, Chaffinch.

Female Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs

Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

Robin Erithacus rubecula

Starling Sturnus vulgaris looking larger with the tail shadow

Curlew Numenius arquata

Redshank Tringa totanus

Pintail Anas acuta

A few of the 70 Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus seen today

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