Hamble River, Warsash

 Sunday 22 December

Wigeon Anas penelope

A dry, sunny start to the day so I took the opportunity of a quick walk up the Hamble River to the conservation area and back.  Mind you, by the time I was almost half-way the wind picked up and it became even colder! A lone Redshank as I approached the river quickly followed by a single Black-headed Gull.  Once past the ferry pier a Turnstone and more Redshanks and Black-headed Gulls.  A resting Grey Plover was well s[potted close to the water line and then the first flock of resting Wigeon.

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola

Moving on up the river I found a few Teal and a single sleeping Greenshank.  There were now more Brent Geese to be seen albeit the total of just over fifty individuals were well separated from start to turning point.  On the exposed meadow mud flat many more Black-headed Gulls and 18 Shelduck. A group of a dozen Woodpigeon were feeding on the lawn of a large house to the rear.

Sleeping Greenshank Tringa nebularia

On the river side at the entrance to the bay leading to the inlet water supply, a few Brent Geese and a further pair of Oystercatchers accompanied by a handful of Dunlin.  Once at the conservation area another small flock of Wigeon and a pair of Herring Gulls with a Heron resting in the long grass to the rear.  A lone Carrion Crow was foraging on the bank.

Oysterctchers Haematopus ostralegus with Dunlins Calidris alpina

Making my way back to the start, a sleeping Curlew was found a the water's edge and then a single Blackbird on the path from river to road.

Sleeping Curlew Numenius arquata

Birds seen:

Brent Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Cormorant, Heron, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Carrion Crow.

Redshank Tringa totanus

Teal Anas crecca

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