Warsash, Workmans Lane

Male Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

Sunday 2 November   

Bright and sunny with a light to moderate wind but much colder then previous days as I arrive at the top of Workmans Lane for a walk down to the Solent shore including a diversion along the two sides of the horse field before carrying on.  Once at the shore, with the tide only just on the turn so no mud yet exposed, a walk along the cliff top to Chilling head then back up to Workmans Lane and on the car before driving home.  Just and hour and a quarter but very well worth while having seen a very close hovering male Kestrel and a resting Red-necked Grebe off shore on the Solent cliff path.

No sooner had I set off then a Robin low in a small tree to the left and looking over the hedge into the top of the horse field a half-dozen Rooks making their way to the nearby trees and a flock of over 30 Jackdaws above the trees.  Naturally, there were a few Carrion Crows also in the field.  As I approached the entrance to the horse field two Starling on the wires and then a third individual in the bust a few meters further on.  Checking the field on the shore side of the road a couple of distant Magpies.

Starling Sturnus vulgaris

Walking along the bottom of the horse field I could see a couple of Pied Wagtails and then, at the far end near the open stable, five Linnets.  Lots of water following the recent rain and at a large pool not o far away a number of Carrion Crows plus five Herring Gulls.  Also present in addition to more Carrion Crows was a flock of approximately 80 Starlings.  Continuing on down to the shore I came across a Wren as well as more Robins.

Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba

No sign of any mallards in the pool next to the shore but no sooner on the coastal path then a male Kestrel hovering above me.  Beautiful. Then, what I thought, a distant Great Crested Grebe resting about 50 metres out on the water.  However, having taken a couple of record photographs, upon returning home and increasing the size I could confirm the the bird was actually a Red-necked Grebe.

Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena

Making my way up the path from Chilling Head to Workmans Lane a single Black-headed Gull in the paddock along with two more Pied Wagtails. Then it was back up Workmans Lane, where I also added both Blackbird and Dunnock, to the car and home.

Dunnock Prunella modularis

Birds seen:

Red-necked Grebe, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, Linnet.

Hovering male Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

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