Fishlake Meadows

Monday 27 May

A lovely start to the day and at Fishlake Meadows, Romsey before 7.30 at the start of a mass birding site visit in the immediate area.  No sooner out of the car and greeted by Song Thrush and Wren followed by Robin, Chiffchaff and Woodpigeon.  Continuing on down the canal path past the singing Song Thrush I soon found the first of many Cetti's Warblers along with Blackbird and Great Tit.  Over to my left a Great White Egret was landing at a distant water and above me over twenty feeding Swifts.

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

Keeping an eye to the water on my left I noted both passing Greylag and Canada Geese with, nearer to me, the first Magpie.  As the sound became even more persistent, I soon found the calling male Cuckoo plus a second individual further away in front of me.  A couple of distant Mute Swans were also noted before a group of a dozen Tufted Ducks flew over and away to the back of the site as Common Tern moved in the opposite direction to the main water.  Meanwhile, continuing along the canal path I recorded Blue Tit, Blackcap, Garden Warbler and Whitethroat.

Male Cuckoo Cuculous canorus

Just before turning left towards the path leading the the screens I found the first Reed Warbler of the morning and half-way along this joining path stopped to follow a breeding pair of Reed Warblers along with a number of Sedge Warblers.  The Tree-creeper was still very active near the nest discovered on a previous visit and was now, presumably, feeding young in the nest on he old, dead tree. 

The feeding Tree-creeper Certhia familiaris

Behind me an approaching Buzzard landed on the nearby pylon and on the other side of the path a Kestrel rested on the same wires. More Mallards and a pair of Mute Swans on the small pond at the start of the path to the screens but too wet and muddy to make it worthwhile continuing so started on the return walk back to the car.  Once back on the canal path  it was obvious that there were at least thirty feeding Swifts along with as many as a dozen House Martins.  In the far distance above the trees a Red Kite was observed.  A Black-headed Gull was noted over to my right and nearer to the car I came into contact with the local Chaffinches.

Common Buzzard Buteo buteo

Leaving the car park I stopped on the main road to check the main water from the roadside viewing areas and noted a further fourteen Mute Swans along with a couple of Cormorant, a Coot and a Great Crested Grebe.  Right at the back a resting Little Egret above a couple of Greylag Geese and to their right a handful of Canada Geese.  But looking closer though the scope I could also make out a quartet of Egyptian Geese.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta abve two Greylag Geese Anser anser

Canada Geese Branta canadensis with Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca to the right

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Red Kite, Buzzard, Kestrel, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Cuckoo, Swift, House Martin, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, Chaffinch.

Other birds identified by "Merlin":

Moorhen, Dunnock, Spotted Flycatcher, Jackdaw, Reed Bunting.

Cuckoo Cuculous canorus

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