Warsash and Solent Shores

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis

Saturday 23 August

Out along the Warsash shore with Ron Orenstein and down to the Split before carrying on along the Solent shore to the Meandering Pool and back before high tide.  But with high water rapidly moving over the flats it was, perhaps, important to move quicker than normal to check the beaches before encountering a high tide upon the return journey.  So, once at the harbour and start of the shore walk both a few Herring and Black-headed Gulls along with the first of the Black-tailed Godwits.

As we moved along to Strawberry Fields we picked up more Black-tailed Godwits along with a good number of Redshank and a quartet of Turnstone.  way towards the pier we could see many Black-headed and a few Herring Gulls plus the foist of 17 Little Egrets to be seen during the morning. But only a couple of Oystercatchers.  Behind us both Robin and Woodpigeon then a pair of Carrion Crows.

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus

Once at the pier, on the north side a Greenshank, Curlew and Whimbrel whilst the southern side held the main flock of Black-tailed Godwits along with another Curlew, couple of Herons and more Oystercatchers. Also present eight Mallards on the sea edge.  A Magpie was seen on the ;awn of the new extra large house behind us.

Greenshank Tringa nebularia

Checking the resting Black-headed Gulls we also found at two Common Tern. At least a dozen Ringed Plover and then the arrival of a small flock of Starlings to join the foraging birds whilst further out a Cormorant flew upstream.

At the Spit we stopped to see a couple of feeding Sandwich Terns and looking on the still exposed gravel beach scores of Oystercatchers.

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis

Once at the Scrape time to check what was still present and included 40 Avocets, a juvenile Shelduck and at least two score Black-tailed Godwits.  A single Moorhen paddled across the water and at the back two more Common Terns plus a handful of Mallard.  Up above a hovering Kestrel and then time to move on towards the Meandering Pool.  The stretch between both waters produced a couple of Wheatear and then, once at the gorse area, not only more Stonechats and Linnets but also a Dartford Warbler.  Observing both Linnets and Stonechats we also discovered a handful of Common Whitethroat and so on to the Meandering Pool itself which produced a second Greenshank.

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

Making our return journey we found a single Great Crested Grebe on the water north of the pier whilst on the top of the scrape in the grass a couple of resting Heron accompanied by no less then 14 Little Egrets. Even a Barn Swallow over head to complete the birding with our thirty-fourth sighting.

Linnet Carduelis cannabina (above) and Whitethroat Sylvia communis

Birds seen:

Shelduck, Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Kestrel, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel. Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Barn Swallow, Robin, Stonechat, Wheatear, Dartford Warbler, Whitethroat, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Linnet.

Greenshank Tringa nebularia

Juvenile Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

Mainly Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta

Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa with Little Egret Egretta garzetta (far right)

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