Fishlake Meadows, Romsey

Thursday 10 July

Another lovely day with clear blue skies and hardly a breath of wind.  Up early and at Fishlake Meadows, Romsey by 6.50 before the weather got too hot. Upon arrival immediate sightings of Wren, Woodpigeon, Chiffchaff and Goldcrest.  Making my way along the canal path into the reserve proper I found a Chaffinch at the very top of a large tree and in the distance, on the water to my left, first a few Mute Swans and Greylag Geese then a Heron perched on the tree platform.. (Indeed, "Merlin" informed me that an Osprey was calling but I failed to find the raptor.)  However, a quartet of Swifts in the sky above the water.

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs

Continuing on along the canal path both Blue and Great Tits noted along with a juvenile Robin.  As expected I soon came across the first of at least five Magpies.  Now the Cetti's Warblers were making themselves known to all and sundry and along came a Blackbird.  A Dunnock landing in the middle of a small bush to my left remained long enough to get a quick photo. An Osprey passed high overhead moving westwards at a gentle pace.

Dunnock Prunella modularis

Moving on down to the linking path to the screen walk I managed to eventually find both the calling Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch.  In the trees to my left a pair of Long-tailed Tits and then it was of down to the screens noting the Reed Warblers and a pair of Carrion Crows.  Nothing to be seen from the right-hand screen other than the Great White Egret that flew over and moving on to the left screen a better, heat-hazed, view of the second Great White Egret.  Also present a handful of both Greylag Geese and Mallards.  And as I started back a score or more Greylag Geese flew into the water area.

Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus major 

As I walked back along the inking path I stopped to get a distant record shot of a Sedge Warbler and a pair of Stonechats were noted atop a small bush.  Turning back ono the canal path a Song Thrush was foraging on the path in front of me and more Blackbirds and a trio of Magpies.

Distant record shot of Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Rather than straight to the car park I walked on and under the road bridge to access the viewing area from the main road.  Not as many species as I had hope but 14 Mute Swans and a quartet of Egyptian Geese along with the newly-arrived Greylag Geese.  A pair of Great Black-backed Gull with a juvenile and at the back of the water both a Cormorant and a Little Egret.  Finally, just as I was about to walk back to the car park and make my way home, a pair of Common Terns put in an appearance.

Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Great White Egret, Osprey, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Swift, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting.

Great White Egret Egretta alba

Great Black-backed Gulls Larus marinus

Juvenile Robin Erithacus rubecula

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