Weston Shore, Southampton

Monday 14 April

Brent Geese Branta bernicla with a Mute Swan Cygnus olor

By 9.40 I was in the southern car park at Weston Shore at the top of Southampton Water immediately before the dock.  Sadly, the tide was further in than expected so an earlier visit might have produced more.  In the end over forty Carrion Crows on the remaining beach as the tide was half-way in along with a score or more resting Herring Gulls.  Just the one Oystercatcher in front of me bout another handful at the northern end of the beach.

Mute Swan Cygnus olor

Moving to the northern car park nearer to the docks I found the other Oystercatchers along with a couple of Mute Swans.  Walking the nearby path alongside the fenced off woody area a few Woodpigeon but very little else so back to the original car park.  One of the Mute Swans and a party of seven Brent Geese had moved downstream and were now in front of the car park with a couple more Oystercatchers.  Even a couple of foraging Rock Doves along the beach wall

Brent Goose Branta bernicla

Crossing the road I took a short walk through the adjacent Westwood Nature Park and found a selection of smaller birds to add to the many Carrion Crows, albeit there were mores in the wood itself.  First a Blackbird quickly followed by both Blue and Great Tits along with Chiffchaff, Wren, Robin and Nuthatch.

Birds seen:

Brent Goose, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Carrion Crow.

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