Hamble River

Saturday 9 August

A quiet day and with high tide approaching in about an hour I decided on a quick walk up the Hamble River to the conservation area and back.  Out at 10.30 and back fifty minutes later.  Well over a hundred Black-headed but only a quartet of Herring Gulls.  Walking along the riverside path a Pied Wagtail and then the first of seven Little Egrets on site.  However, pride of place probably goes to the solitary Knot that was sleeping amidst a half-dozen Black-headed Gulls.

Knot Calidris canutus

On the now almost flooded pool on the right a trio of Curlew and then a pair of Whimbrel in addition to more Black-headed Gulls and Little Egrets. Also present a half-dozen Black-tailed Godwits.  Arriving at the conservation area I found more Black-headed Gulls along with 70 resting Black-tailed Godwits and at lest a score of Redshank.  A couple of Rock Doves (Feral Pigeons) flew across the back accompanied by a Woodpigeon and off to their right a pair of carrion crows.  Also in the bay a couple of Mallard.

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus

Time to make my way back home and I finally found the Oystercatcher I had been hearing as it flew past me.  A trio of Canada Geese in a garden at the back of the meadow and the Pied Wagtail still frequenting the path and allowing me to walk to within two metres before moving to the embankment below.

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Mallard, Little Egret, Oystercatcher, Knot, Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Curlew, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Pied Wagtail, Carrion Crow. 

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