Fishlake Meadows, Romsey

 Wednesday 14 January

A very cold start to the day and with congested traffic on the M27 it took twice as long to reach Fishlake Meadows in Romsey for what was intended to be a short visit.  Not only 0C but very few birds on show and truing to see the water from the canal path was proving very frustrating due to the low-lying mist over the water and meadows.  Just about make out a trio of Mute Swans from the canal path but that was all.

The atmospheric canal at Fishlake Meadows

Upon arriving in the car park both Magpie and Woodpigeon on the grass and then off down the canal path into the reserve proper.  Both a Blackbird and Robin in the nearby trees and no shortage of resting Woodpigeons. s I walked on down more Robin and another Blackbird before coming across the second Magpie of the morning.  

Robin Erithacus rubecula

A Song Thrush was singing from a bush on the other side of the canal and at last sight of the number of singing Blue Tits.  Ere long I was taking the path through the gate on the left down towards the far end and approach to the screens.  As I approached the the next turn a Heron flew across the path in front of me and disappeared into the nearby tall grasses tot the right.  With a deep puddle at the end of the path and only waring trainers, I decided to turn round and retrace my steps back towards the car park.  However, resting in the log grass now on my left, I came across a resting cock Pheasant, looking very handsome despite the cold and misty conditions.

Cock Pheasant Phasianus colchicus

Once back on the canal path more Robins and then a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the tall trees on the other side of the canal.  Passing the turn to the car park I continued on and under the road bridge to take the path up to the main road and over to the viewing point overlooking the main water.  Very misty with a good number of resting Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls but no sign of any Coots, ducks or geese.  But another trio of Mute Swans before just making out the resting Cormorants on the far bank almost hidden by the low mist.  So ended the short visit and still no sign of a Great White Egret this year.

Distant Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo in the hidden mist

Birds seen:

Mute Swan, Pheasant, Cormorant, Heron, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Magpie.

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