Warsash and Solent Shore

Wednesday 13 August

A still, cloudy morning but not cold and ideal for birding, especially as it seemed to have kept many of the dog-walkers away from the coast. With low tide at 8.30 I was away by 11 o'clock to walk along Warsash shore past the Spit and on down past the Meandering Pool before starting on the return walk.  Certainly a most pleasant and rewarding time with some unexpected observations.  No sooner had I reached the harbour than my first Woodpigeon and a few Black-headed Gulls along with a Heron. More Black-tailed Godwits, a couple of Collared Doves and a Carrion Crow and I had arrived at the maritime pier.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Once a the pier chance to survey the water in front of me and note more Black-tailed Godwits, Redshanks and Little Egrets.  A Heron was near the water's edge and a second over towards the Spit. Continuing on round to the Spit itself, more of the same including both Black-headed and Herring Gulls.  Then, relatively close, a couple of Greenshank.  Also present a few Mallard and then a dozen Starlings flew over.  In the Spit inlet a couple of Curlew.  Whereas I had already noted about a dozen Oystercatchers in the are, looking at the far side of the Spit from the Solent shore I could see a flock of at least forty more.

Greenshank Tringa nebularia

What I did notice from afar were three Sandwich Terns resting on the very end of the Spit and once I reached the Solent shore a fourth was making its way north flying low and close to the shore to, presumably, join the above trio.

Distant resting Sandwich Terns Sterna sandvicensis

On down to the Scrape and fewer birds than I had expected; no doubt, most out n the mudflats busily feeding up.  Just the single Moorhen but at least 7 Avocet and a the same number of Canada Geese just before the latter took their departure.  Four more Little Egrets and a couple of Common Tern were also noted.

Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta

In the immediate bushes around the seating area in front of the Scrape at least a couple of Whitethroat and a quartet or more Stonechats.

Whitethroat Sylvia communis

Between here and the Meandering Pool I immediately picked up a couple of Wheatear with  third as I approached the gorse area.  This, latter, area also provided more Stonechats and Whitethroats.

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

Stopping a little way beyond the Meandering Pool I was able to pick out the small flock of resting Mediterranean Gulls below the wall on the beach at the bottom of the path down from Workmans Lane, albeit I only managed to find 23 of the reported two dozen.

Very distant Mediterranean Gulls Larus melanocephalus

Time to head on back to Warsash which produced a small flock of House Sparrows and near Spit a lone Cormorant.  At the water's edge below Strawberry Fields a lone Common Sandpiper amongst the Redshanks and Black-tailed Godwits and then a dozen Turnstone. All in all, a most enjoyable couple of hours or more.

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Mallard, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Kestrel, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Turnstone, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Stonechat, Wheatear, Whitethroat, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Goldfinch.

Juvenile Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

Curlew Numenius arquata 

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

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