Farlington Marshes

Male Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

Sunday 13 April

A mixture of sun and cloud but, once again, a stiff cold breeze, to ensure plenty of clothes required for the morning visit to Farlington Marshes too undertake the anti-clockwise circuit.  A Black-headed Gull overhead as I set off followed by a lone Mute Swan on the small pool on the left leading up to the seawall.  On the muddy harbour itself a few Herring Gulls and then on to the viewing point.  Here it was obvious that the wintering Wigeon had now departed but still a feeding flock of about forty Black-tailed Godwits accompanied a by a single Avocet and a dozen or so Teal.  A single Coot below me and off to the left three Little Egret an a Heron.

Away beyond the first fence the sight of the well-spread Canada Geese and the first of so many Shelduck and the occasional Lapwing.  Both Carrion Crow and Cormorant flew overhead and as I moved on down the track to the first bend the sight of a pair of Mallard in the ditch to my left. This part of the walk proved very quit but as soon as you looked inland to the marsh itself no end of resting Shelduck in every direction plus a single Oystercatcher.

Male Greenfinch Carduelis chloris

Taking the now opened short cut pat the far seawall I came across a handsome Linnet and once again back on the seawall the area produced a few more Oystercatchers at the water's edge.  Then it was time for a short rest overlooking the Deeps where all the gravel islands held scores of Black-headed Gulls.  At the back more Mallard and Shelduck plus a quartet of Shoveler.  It was here that I found the sheltering flock of about forty Dunlin and a two dozen Redshank. 

Redshanks Tringa totanus and Dunlins Calidris alpina sheltering below the bank

In the background many more Canada Geese.  Cetti's Warblers were calling and a Moorhen put in an appearance.  On the far, grassy bank amongst the resting Black-headed I also found a quartet of Mediterranean Gull.

Mediterranean Gulls Larus melanocephalus surrounded by Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus

Continuing on towards the turn inland and to the old barn I found a Blackbird and trio of Woodpigeon on the the other side of the ditch plus a pair of Gadwall at the last pond.  Turning inland I came across a flock of about thirty Starling and then a Skylark overhead.  Not a lot of activity at the lagoon in front of the old barn but a few more Coot and Moorhen so a slight diversion on the way back to the car to take the riverside path a few hundred yards before bearing off to the right through the bushes back towards the exit.  An Avocet feeding n the river along with more Herring and Black-headed Gulls plus another couple of Little Egrets and more Shelduck.  As I started the riverside walk both Goldfinch and Greenfinches in the nearby trees and even a Collared Dove resting on top of the traffic sign on the adjacent A27 highway. The final bird of the morning's visit was a hunting male Kestrel continuously hovering above me as it searched for its midday meal.

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Lapwing, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull,  Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Skylark, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet.

Mainly Dunlins Calidris alpina sheltering below the bank

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