New Forest Birding

Saturday 17 January

Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula (center) with Pintails Anas acuta (left) and many Dunlin Calidris alpina

Out whilst still dark to arrive at Normandy Lagoon on the Solent coast of the New Forest opposite the Isle of Wight south of Lymington before 8. Still cloudy and calm and the sun, at best, trying to make a belated entry but without much success.  But at least dry, only the slightest breeze and not too cold.  Even so, more than pleased to record 43 species during the 1 and 3/4 hours.

Whilst preparing to walk from the lane to the sea wall Blackbird, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Robin, Song Thrush, Woodpigeon, Magpie and Carrion Crow recorded. In the neighbouring fields mixed flocks of (mainly) Canada but also Brent Geese.  Even a lone Heron in the access field plus both Chaffinch and a handful of House Sparrows.

Once on the sea wall lots of Lapwing plus the odd Turnstone and Redshank and then the ducks, mainly Teal but also Shelduck, Gadwall, Pintail, Tufted and Wigeon.  In the distance a few Mallard plus a single Spoonbill and Little Egret along with a couple of Cormorant.  Obviously, not to be missed, the fifteen Avocet.

Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta near top

Once on the outer sea wall thousands of Dunlin to be seen rather than the hundreds from the previous viewpoint.  Not only many resting and feeding but out on the Solent near the exposed "islands" huge murmurations.  There might even have been many Knot but too distant and dull to be sure of their identification.  Also with the Dunlin scores of Ringed Plover, the odd Redshank and nearby Teal, Pintail, Wigeon and a couple of Brent Geese.  A Stonechat was seen n the fence below, first a female than a male, and at the back of the water many Oystercatchers and Black-tailed Godwit.

Pintails (top) plus a pair of Brent Geese Branta bernicla

Across the water on the grassy islands a group of 13 resting Spoonbill and a pair of Great Black-backed Gulls. As I made my way back another Great Back-backed Gull and a Black-headed Gull in the lagoon and then a pair of Mute Swans on Oxey Lake. leaving the lagoon I came across my first Meadow Pipit and as I crossed the meadow a couple of Redwing in the bushes and a Pheasant at the back of the field.  Once at the car a Wren foraging in the ditch opposite.

Ringed Plovers (centre) with Brent Goose (bottom) and Pintails (above left)

before driving on to nearby Pennington Marsh I stopped to check out Acre Pond and found both an Egyptian Goose and a passing Kingfisher.

Rest at last for the Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

Arriving at Pennington Marsh at 9.45 I stopped at the bend in the road in front of the access gate but no sign of the visiting Bean Goose.  Lots of Lapwing and certainly no shortage of both Canada and Brent Geese.  However, also lots of Shoveler plus Teal, Wigeon and Shelduck on the flooded area.  Nearby I also noted Carrion Crows, Magpies and a Robin.

Moving on to the end of the lane to park up I noted a large resting flock of both Oystercatcher and Black-tailed Godwit in the field behind the caravans along with many Canada and Brent Geese. So on down to Fishtail Lagoon noting the many Teal, Shelduck, Mallard and Lapwing on my right.  Around me a number of Blackbirds plus a Song Thrush in the bushes in front.  Both Meadow Pipit and a group of forty resting Curlew seen. Up on the sea wall looking back I could also pick out Coot and a distant Heron.  A Meadow Pipit posed for me as I approached the steps up to said sea wall.

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

However, at this point I received an urgent phone call to return home as guests had arrived so no chance of adding to my list or completing the usual circuit.  Cutting across the bushy are as the quickest way back I did check one of the larger pools and found a pair of Greylag Geese so a further two species in total to add to the day's total.  And no sooner in the car than the sun came out and the temperature shot up!

Greylag Geese Anser anser

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Brent Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan. Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Pheasant, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Spoonbill, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Kingfisher, Meadow Pipit, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Redwing, Blue Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch.

Teal Anas crecca (center left) and Dunlin

Pintail and mainly Dunlin

A few score of the thousand plus Dunlin Calidris alpina

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