Warsash and Solent Shore

 Monday 9 September

Dry but cloudy with a strong breeze as I walked past the harbour and along to the Spit before continuing on down past the Scrape to the meandering Pool and back.  Not a lot about but plenty of Oystercatchers and Black-tailed Godwits.

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

A few Black-headed Gulls and a dozens of Black-tailed Godwits on the shore below Strawberry Fields plus the odd Turnstone a small feeding flock of Redshank.  Strange, as yesterday, to see the single Mallard amongst them.  Nearer to me a trio of Carrion Crows and on the path in front a Woodpigeon whilst up above a pair of Magpies in the large tree to the left.

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

Near the pier a Robin then far more foraging Black-tailed Godwits and a handful of Herring Gulls amongst the Black-headed Gulls.  Across the water near the end of the Spit I could see a couple of Little Egret along with a number of Oystercatchers.  Once at the Spit and looking on the Solent side the exposed shingle held over a hundred Oystercatchers and more Little Egrets.  Then, on an exposed "island" further out a couple of individual Great Black-backed Gulls.

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus

Passing through the small copse to access the Solent shore both Chiffchaff and Blue Tit noted as well as another Robin and then on down to  the Scrape.  Not a lot on the water, probably given its high level following Sunday's heavy rain, apart from two Little Grebe and six Mallard. Half a dozen Linnets in the gorse area and once at the Meandering Pools just a small party of a dozen Mallard.  And so back home to Warsash with nothing new to report other than a Fox watching me from cover at the back of the gorse area.

Just too late, the Fox Vulpes vulpes turned and moved away

Birds seen:

Mallard, Teal, Little Grebe, Little Egret, Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Chiffchaff, Robin, Blue Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Linnet.

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