Oxey and Normandy Marshes

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

Saturday 7 August 

Fourteen members of HOS at the first meet in October at Oxey and Normandy Marshes led, as usual, by that enthusiastic, knowledgeable and experience preferred leader, Ian Packer.  Excellent birding in, for most of the three mile anti-clockwise walk, calm and cloudy weather but with light rain forecast from around midday, hence the last minute decision to actually carry my rain trousers as well as the mack!  In the event, the first few drops of rain did not fall until gone 1.30 as a couple of us decided time to perhaps head back to the cars after checking out Normandy Lagoon.  Bid of the day?  Probably either the Rock Pipit or Sparrowhawk.

Heading off to the path behind Maiden Dock past the Salturns Sailing Club we stopped in the leafy avenue for a good time checking the active birds in the trees and neighbouring bushes.  A few Chiffchaff then a number of both Great and Blue Tits.  Within minutes we had also added a handful of Long-tailed Tits along with Robin, Blackbird and Nuthatch. A Jay flew through the trees and then, in the bushes on the northern side of the path, a couple of Whitethroat, Blackcap and Dunnock.  A few of the group also noted a Chaffinch.  A Magpie was resting atop the adjacent bare branch and overhead both Carrion Crow and Woodpigeon.  Moving along a little further many more of the tits and Chiffchaff in the small treed to the left and over the meadow opposite a trio of Sand Martin along with  handful each of both Barn Swallow and House Martins.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Time to take the narrow path towards the shore with a dozen Canada Geese in the field to our right. A trio of Starling flew over right to left and in the opposite direction a half-dozen Cormorant.  Just before passing through the gate we took a closer look at the western end of Moses Dock and found a couple of Little Egret, a few Mallard, single Teal and a Redshank.  No sooner had the lone Black-headed Gull passed over and we all had a good sighting of the Kingfisher as it dashed across the water before returning to rest amongst the leaves of an oak tree at the water's edge.  Continuing on on the main track away to our right we saw a couple of House Sparrows feeding on the blackberries and away to our left a distant Heron.  Finally, approaching the path up to the sea wall, we stopped to admire the male Wheatear to our right before finding both Black-tailed Godwit and Redshanks at the western end of Oxey Lagoon.  Meanwhile at the astern end of Pennington Lagoon on our right, a pair of Mute Swans and a quartet of Little Egrets.

Redshank Tringa totanus

Once up on the seawall the birds seemed to come thick and fast starting with a group of six Eider Duck on the Solent close to shore.  At the end of the spit revealed by the lower water level a Curlew and number of Oystercatchers plus a singe Herring Gull.  The small number of birders from another party just ahead with raised cameras drew my attention and reaching them I, too, was able to see the foraging Rock Pipit.

Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus

Moving on and checking Oxey Lagoon e found more Black-tailed Godwit and both Redshank and Greenshank.  A small spring of Teal took off from the water and, on the far shore sharing space with the ponies, a quartet of Yellow, a few members also saw Pied Wagtails.  Nearby on the grass a single Skylark, Lapwing and, by now, scores of foraging Starling.  Excitement overhead as a Raven passed by harried by a Carrion Crow whilst over the sea a lone Lesser Black-backed Gull along with more Black-headed Gulls. Meanwhile, out on the Solent the first Great Crested Grebe of the morning and a single Turnstone flew west along the shore.  On the far side, another Eider Duck. On the far "island" a pair of Great Black Gulls and another would be found resting at Normandy Lagoon.

Lovely to see the Eiders Somateria mollissima

Moving round towards the salterns marsh we watched the arrival of a lone Shelduck and then stopped the watch a small charm of Goldfinch with a number of Linnets arrive at the blackberry bushes to our left.  far away in the distance a circling Buzzard and so on to Maiden Dock.  Here another pair of Mute Swan and on the gravel "island" near Moses Dock a dozen Rock Doves (Feral Pigeons) and at least 150 resting Ringed Plovers plus a very small number of Dunlin.

Lots of Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula

And so on to Normandy Lagoon where we spent some time, including a stop for our picnic lunch - and sang "Happy Birthday" to Amanada Cameron.  Some observed a Greenfinch as we approached and noted that many of the Ringed Plover had now moved across to this lagoon where there were more Dunlin but not in great numbers.  Lots of Redshank and another Greenshank before being joined by a single Grey Plover. 

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola

In addition to the Black-headed Gulls and a few Canada Geese at the back of the water we also found Oystercatcher, Heron and both Little and Great Crested Grebes.  Just two Turnstone in with the Ringed Plovers but watching from the steps, "Tern Island" held a single resting Mediterranean Gull and on a post on the far side a resting Sparrowhawk.  The raptor moved abut whilst we watched and I even manged to find it sitting on an open post in side elevation rather than with its back towards us.  However, it was soon moved away by a Magpie that took its place but remained on a nearby post although much concealed by the surrounding foliage.

The resting Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus about to be ousted by a Magpie Pica pica 

A great morning's birding in great company, even if we (I) did not find the recently seen Little Stint and neither Curlew Sandpiper nor Spotted Redshank present on this occasion but, on the other hand, Jackdaws seen as I passed through both Lyndhurst and Lymington in both directions.

Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Mallard, Teal, Eider Duck, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Kingfisher, Skylark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Rock Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Wheatear, Blackbird, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet.

Two Turnstone Arenaria interpres with the Ringed Plovers

Dunlin Calidris alpina plus 4 Redshank (awaiting confirmation as they look more like Spotted Redshank)

Greenshank Tringa nebularia

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola

Little Egret Egretta garzetta assurting his authority

Grey Heron Ardea Cinerea

A vert lonely Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Departing Mute Swan Cygnus olor

Yet more Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

The distant Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus

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