Farlington Marshes

 Friday 21 June

A beautiful, warm morning with hardly a breeze as, accompanied by friend Richard Osman, we spent a few hours walking the anti-clockwise path around Farlington Marshes to coincide with an incoming tide.  Almost 40 species recorded and a great mix of small birds at the start, then a stead sighting of water birds followed by some great sightings on the new gravel islands of the Deeps before finally finishing with the arrival of eleven Mediterranean Gulls whilst observing the lagoon in front of the shelter near the end of our walk.

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

As soon as we left the car we were recording Blue and Great Tits, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and a resting Kestrel.  Ere many minutes we had also added both Black-headed and Herring Gulls along with Carrion Crow and Woodpigeon with a single Whimbrel feeding on the mud below the seawall.

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis

Continuing on down towards the viewpoint we added many Linnet plus a couple of Whitethroat.  A Cormorant few over us and once at the viewpoint we were able to observe Mallard, many Redshanks, Lapwing, Coot, a couple of Oystercatcher , two Herons and a Little Egret.

Linnet Carduelis cannabina

Round the first bend to give a better view over the marsh where we soon noted both the many Canada Geese and Shelduck.  A lone Lapwing appeared to be guarding a nesting area.  Further back a couple of Mute Swans and the Buzzard seen fifteen minutes earlier was till resting on he distant fence.

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Continuing on we came across more Carrion Crows, Great Crested Grebe and the first of three Magpies.  A large flock of Starling were busy feeding near the cattle and a couple of Moorhen were paddling up the nearby stream. below us the first calls of the local Reed Warblers.

Carrion Crow Corvus corone

Rounding the bend to head inland we were once again surrounded by Linnets but also a lovely male Reed Bunting and a Sedge Warbler, albeit trying its best not to be photographed!

Find the hiding Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

The Deeps with its newly created gravel islands was a mass of bird activity with the Black-headed Gull breeding area to the right and both Shelduck and Avocets towards the middle and back.  The left-hand (southern) island held a resting Redshank and a pair of Ringed Plovers which appeared to be nesting.

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

Making our way across the marsh to the final lagoon we disappointed not to record ether Cattle Egret or Skylark but, in addition to the gulls, we did note a single Swift and approaching the reedbed a flurry of Reed Warblers across the top of the reeds.  Once at the seat, time to check out the Mallards, Coots,  , Moorhens and a family of Little Grebe with a foraging Heron in the background.  Then the arrival of the Mediterranean Gulls to complete the birding, apart from the Collared Dove seen as we departed the site on the return journey to Warsash.

Mediterranean Gulls Larus melanocephalus with a single Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Mallard, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Whimbrel, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Swift, Blackbird, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting.

Whitethroat Sylvia communis

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

Buzzard Buteo buteo

Greenfinch Carduelis chloris

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus high water roost

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