Normandy Lagoon and Pennington Marshes

Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula on Normandy Lagoon

Saturday 6 September

The start of a beautiful and warm sunny day so off to the New Forest and on the Solent coast at Normandy Lagoon below Lymington before 8.30 where I, surprisingly, found a great lack of birdlife.  Indeed, only two Black-headed Gulls recorded with most of the gulls and terns having departed. Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow and Magpie noted as I left the car approaching the sea wall with a number of passing Barn Swallows overhead.  Up on the sea wall and a couple of Stonechat on the fence below.

Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

At the far, eastern, end I could see a couple of Oystercatchers and a Little Egret whilst a little closer a pair of resting Cormorant. Continuing on round to the southern wall and looking at the small islands I found a few lapwing and then a couple of Redshank.  Two Pied Wagtails were foraging on the largest island immediately in front of me.  Towards the far side a Great Crested Grebe and a the first of three Greenshank. Just about to move on when I spotted the handful of Turnstone at the western edge of the island and on the water a couple of Little Grebe.

Nothing to add before reaching the end of the wall and time to retrace my step but now with the Sun mainly behind me.  First the discovery of a large roosting group of Redshank totalling over 60 individuals; all hunking down below the bank at the water's edge to escape the now very brisk wind.

Resting Redshank Tringa torquatus

A flash of white across the front of the next small island and then the discovery of a large flock of newly-arrived Ringed Plover with a count of 37.  But double-checking the distant photograph, I discovered not only a handful of Dunlin at the far end of the plovers but also a single Knot.

Resting Ringed Plover Charadrius Hiaticula - but look at the right-hand group!

Distant six Dunlin Calidris alpina and a Knot Calidris canutus

Time to head back to the car by passing the sailing group on Acre Pond where I came across a feeding flock of 25 House Sparrows enjoying the ripe blackberries. Here I found the Black-headed Gull along with eight Black-tailed Godwit and a trio of Rock Doves.  Thirty Starlings flew across and then a couple of Goldfinches in the bushes.  On the small island a Heron and making my way back along the lane to the car a Robin.

Making the short drive to Lower Pennington Lane I was at the car park at the end by 9.45 and, again, many Barn Swallows passing overhead.  A bust Cetti's Warbler behind the bushes in the reeds to my right and in the field to the left along with the herd of cows both a Carrion Crow and Magpie. taking the right-hand path towards Fishtail Lagoon I stopped to check the limited water to my right and found both a single Heron and resting juvenile Shelduck.

Taking the track below the bank to look at the water from the south, I found a singe Little Egret, a trio of Pied Wagtails on the island and a departing Cormorant which, in turn, revealed the Woodpigeon as I followed the bird's flight.  A pair of Stonechat were busy feeding ahead of me and a single Lesser Black-backed Gull flew west along the water.

Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

Reaching the end of the track I had chance to take a longer look at Keyhaven Lagoon in front of me which certainly seemed to hold most of the birds seen during the morning.  Whilst first checking a the handful of Curlew on the grassy sea to my left I then tried to make sense of water I was actually seeing.  Nearest to me a large resting lock of Sandwich Terns and to their right a good number of resting Canada Geese accompanied by25 Oystercatchers.

Resting Sandwich Terns Sterna sandvicensis

On the far, distant side a good number of resting Great Black-backed and a few Black-headed Gulls plus a small number of Redshank and Lapwing.

Distant Great Black-backed Gulls Larus marinus

Time to move on and retrace my steps back to Butts Lagoon which was devoid of bird life.  But off the southern corner on the bay seven Eider and a quartet if Great Crested Grebes.

Eider Duck Somateria mollissima

Eider Duck Somateria mollissima with Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus

Just a lone Snipe at the far end of Lower Penningon Lagoon but across the inward track on Oxey Lagoon a pair of Mute Swan with another Little Egret and a few Mallard. Then it was back along the path to the car pack and managing to record a couple of Linnet, trio of Robin and a quartet of Linnets. Still regular sightings of passing Barn Swallows but the last bird recorded was actually the only House Martin that I saw during my visit and a final total of 39 species for the morning.

Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Mallard, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Greater Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Sandwich Tern, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Stonechat, Cetti's Warbler, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Linnet.

Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

Eider Duck Somateria mollissima

Six of the seven Eider Duck Somateria mollissima

Resting Canada Geese Branta canadensis and Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus

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