New Forest Ponds plus Lepe then River Itchen

Nuthatch Sitta europaea

Thursday 30 January 

A beautiful clear, calm and sunny day with not a cloud in sight albeit rather cold following a light frost overnight.  Picking up friend Richard Osman at 9.30 we were at Eyeworth Pond by just after 10am for a 25 minute stay to check what was about. Song Thrush, Collared Dove, Blackbird, Starling and Dunnock all recorded as we approached the site and all but the first two seen again on site.  More than a score of hungry Blue Tits feeding on the deposited seed around the gate and they were joined by a small number of Great and a couple of Marsh Tits.  Also present a Nuthatch along with a few Chaffinch and couple of Robin.  On the water itself 18 Mallard but no Mandarin Duck on this occasion.

Marsh Tit Parus palustris

Moving less than a mile over to Janesmoor Pond we found a small number of Blackbirds plus a Mistle Thrush and exploring the far side of the pond not only came across another Mistle Thrush and more Blackbirds but also a lone Fieldfare.

Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus

Cadnam, our third pond of the morning and less than a mile away, produced a different set of birds as we made a clockwise walk around the water.  Plenty of Robins to be heard and seen with all the other species congregated on the water and bank nearest the car park, no doubt awaiting some food! A good number of Mallards accompanied by a pair of Canada Geese and a single Muscovy Duck.  In the nearby bare trees both House Sparrows and Chaffinches and then, at the back of the car park in the nearest trees, a small number of Blue and Great plus a single Coal Tit taking advantage of the seed put down by a visiting birder.

Blue Tit Parus caeruleus

Approaching mid-day so we decided on a quick visit to Lepe shore on the Solet opposite the Isle of Wight with a picnic stop at Exbury on the way.  The local playing field produced a good-sized flock of Jackdaws along with Carrion Crows and both Blackbirds and a couple of Mistle Thrushes.  Our twenty minute stop at Lepe shore gave sufficient time to scope the lagoon where we found a couple of Mute Swans, Canada Goose and a Heron on the distant bank.  Nearer to us on the southern shore a Shelduck a handful of Lapwing followed nearby by a number of sleeping Curlew and two Redshank. A few Black-headed Gulls were flying over or resting on the water and making our way back to the car we also encountered a Magpie and trio of Pied Wagtails.

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus

Time to move on and head back to Southampton so that we could park at the Swan Hotel in Mansbridge and take a lovely walk downstream alongside the River Itchen as it passed through the park. A lovely 90 minutes spent here in the sunny afternoon as we walked as far as Woodmill and back with an immediate sighting of the first of many Long-tailed Tits. A few House Sparrows flitting around the trees behind the hotel and then a pair of Mute Swans graceful floating south downstream of the appropriately named hotel. Having passed under the road bridge to continue our walk we came across a most handsome Grey Wagtail on a branch resting atop the river and then the first of the three score Mallard we were to encounter.  Whilst under the bridge we watched a couple of local Rock Doves depart from their resting place.  And on the opposite side of the river the fist of the very many Black-headed Gulls we were to encounter on the walk.

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea

Great Tit, Woodpigeon and Magpie were recorded before finding a pair of resting Greylag Geese under the opposite bank.  The approach a sharp bend to the left we found both a Moorhen and a pair of Little Grebe working the wider stretch of the river.  Towards the end of the outward walk we came across a pair of Canada Geese and a Pied Wagtail and once, having crossed the road to Woodmill itself, found scores of Black-headed and a single Herring Gull on the large lagoon in front of us.

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

Time to start the return walk and, apart from more Long-tailed and Great Tits, we also found Robin, Goldcrest and Chiffchaff plus the Grey Wagtail we had seen on the outward walk.  A beautiful birding day in Richard's pleasant company and a final total of 40 species.

Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Mallard, Muscovy Duck, Little Grebe, Heron, Buzzard, Moorhen, Lapwing, Curlew, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch.

Marsh Tit Parus palustris

Blue Tits P.caeruleus with a Marsh Tit P.palustris

Great Tit Parus major

Very hungry Blue Tits Parus caeruleus

Goldcrest Regulus regulus

Carrion Crow Corvus corone

Greylag Geese Anser anser

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