Lower Hamble River

Friday 15 March 

Just a short pause outside the house to let the final shower cease and dry weather take over before taking a walk up the Hamble River to the conservation area and back with friend Richard Osman.  Cloudy and lots of standing water on the footpath but no lack of birds albeit in small numbers.  No sooner at the waterside that a core of Black-tailed Godwits accompanied by a handful of Dunlin, Oystercatcher, a  few resting Brent Geese and a lone foraging Turnstone.  Many more Brent Geese as we worked our way up river and also additional Dunlin and Oystercatchers.

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

Once past the ferry pier the first Curlew and Redshank and then a score of Knot and a dozen Grey Plover at the water's edge. On the meadow side of the path a Greenshank and then we were amongst the remaining Wigeon and a half-dozen Teal. At the back the first of four Shelduck seen during the walk and a lone Little Egret.  More Herring than Black-headed Gulls at first although more of the latter towards the conservation area.

Greenshank Tringa nebularia with Wigeon Anas penelope behind 

On the water itself a Cormorant was seen flying down towards the confluence with Southampton Water and not far off shore a fishing Black-throated Diver and, a little nearer to the shore, a lone Great Crested Grebe.

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus

Once at the conservation area the first of three Carrion Crow came to rest on the hulk to our right and making our way back down river we recorded both Rock Dove and Magpie with a single Woodpigeon atop an electricity pole near the car park.

Birds seen:  

Brent Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Great Crested Grebe, Black-throated Diver, Cormorant, Little Egret, Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, Knot, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Carrion Crow.

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